Local Wildlife Sightings March 2025

 Plenty of warm, sunny weather greeted the start of the month, with temperatures peaking in Royston at around 16C. March has, on average, been the driest month of the year over the last 30+ years in Royston, and there was no appreciable rainfall here until well into the second week, when a cool, showery period set in. I saw my first local butterfly of the year (a male Brimstone) on the 9th and a few bumble bees were also recorded, but early March is generally a quiet period for birds, with winter visitors gradually dispersing and summer visitors yet to arrive. The dull, cool months of January and February had left plant development somewhat behind schedule, and there was no sign of Pasque Flowers emerging when I visited Church Hill on the 6th. Birds were still active around the garden feeders, with up to seven Chaffinches seen on some days. The regular Stock Dove was joined by a second bird, making it more difficult for the Woodpigeons to shoo them away, and a colourful variety of Feral Pigeons were also visiting regularly. Blackbirds were very active, with males developing their breeding plumage and starting to sing. A Mistle Thrush was heard singing nearby on a few dates. A Coal Tit was seen on the feeders on one occasion.

Male Blackbird on the Garden Fence, Royston, 11 March

One of many Feral Pigeons to visit the Garden, Royston, 11 March

Local walks were generally quiet, particularly in the first (sunny) week, when a single Lapwing at Greys Farm on the 3rd and a (the?) Little Owl, seen at dusk on Newsells Stud Farm, were the highlights. On the 11th a Raven was briefly seen displaying over a nearby wood before flying away to the east with another bird (its partner?). A flock of around 250 gulls on the ground at Hatchpen Farm was comprised mainly of Common Gulls (200+). A visit to Phillup's Lake on the same day produced a summer-plumaged Little Grebe and my first local Chiffchaff of the year (heard calling, not singing - could this have been an over-wintering bird?).

Some of the 250+ Gulls (mainly Common Gulls) seen at Hatchpen Farm on 11 March

I made two more visits to Amwell in the first half of the month, looking for the Red-necked Grebe that had taken up residence on a private lake surrounded by trees, which made viewing very difficult. I had no joy on my first attempt (on the 3rd) but did see a Common Snipe on the main lake. My second attempt, on the 12th, was successful although my views were restricted as the bird kept disappearing behind trees. This was my first ever Hertfordshire Red-necked Grebe and the first I have seen anywhere since 2023. Whilst at Amwell I saw the female Smew again and managed a few 'record shot' photos (one below).

Poor 'Record Shot' of the female Smew at Amwell (Great Hardmead Lake), 12 March

I went on from Amwell to Coopers Green gravel pits, near Welwyn Garden City. With extraction finished, the pits are now gradually being returned to farmland, with just a couple of lakes remaining, but there should still be some interesting birds turning up there, particularly on migration. Things were pretty quiet on my visit, although I did count eight Mandarin Ducks on one pit.

Four Mandarin Ducks at Coopers Green Gravel Pits, 12 March

Once again, the garden pond was blessed with some very noisy (in a good way) frogs. The first clump of spawn appeared on the morning of the 11th and two more clumps arrived on the 21st, after which things quietened down, although several frogs remained in the pond until the end of the month.

Frog and Frogspawn, my Garden Pond, 21 March

More warm weather in the second half of the month prompted hibernating butterflies to make an appearance, with Red Admiral, Brimstone, Peacock and Comma all being seen. A modest number of Pasque Flowers had made an appearance when I visited Church Hill on the 21st. A 'round the villages' walk on the 18th produced 40 bird species (36 seen), including several Chiffchaffs, a flock of 25 Chaffinches at Hatchpen Farm, a pair of Little Grebes at Phillup's Lake, eight Corn Buntings and 40 Yellowhammers between Reed End and Therfield, and the now inevitable Raven.

Comma Butterfly, near Royston, 18 March

Pasque Flowers, Therfield Heath (Church Hill), 21 March

Corn Bunting near Reed End, 18 March

Whilst other local walks provided little of interest, a second, early evening visit to Coopers Green gravel pits on the 19th was more successful, producing a Dunlin, a Little Ringed Plover (my first of the year), a Black-necked Grebe and seven Pintail.

 

UK Wildlife Sightings, March 2025

 The first ten days of March brought the longest, most settled period of sunny weather for well over a year, and with it the chance to get out and about. With my health restored, I visited WWT Welney, from where Common Cranes had been reported on previous days, on the 4th. I couldn't find the Cranes, with the Lady Fen trail being closed, but did manage to see my first (distant) Spoonbills of the year and, as an added bonus, saw a Cetti's Warbler at the edge of the main car park just before I left. Huge numbers of Whooper Swans could be seen from the visitor centre and seven Bewick's Swans were seen (and heard) in flight over the reserve.

More warm, sunny weather on the 5th encouraged me to visit the Goshawk viewpoint near Cockley Cley (Norfolk). Calm, sunny weather in March is ideal for seeing displaying Goshawks and I wasn't disappointed, seeing at least four birds during a 40 minute stay. I moved on from there to Cley on the North Norfolk coast. I walked right round the reserve, seeing two more Spoonbills (close enough to photograph, unlike the Welney birds) and lots of wader species including Ruff. My target bird, however, was Twite, a flock of which had been reported between Cley and Salthouse. These were duly tracked down with the help of another bird watcher: the photos (against the light, into the wind and with a fairly distant flock of small birds - my excuses) aren't great but I've included one for your interest.

Two Spoonbills on Arnold's Marsh, Cley, 5 March

Twite (Birds on the left and Front Right), Cley NWT, 5 March

Male Wigeon, Cley NWT, 5 March

It is all too rarely nowadays that I have the chance to see a 'lifer' in the UK, but one such bird is Richard's Pipit. This pipit breeds in Siberia, and is often seen on migration in the autumn along the east coast. I've tried to connect with it on at least three occasions and failed, so a (very rare) wintering bird at Newport Pagnall (near Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire) was always going to be a target, and I went across to see it on the 7th. Various road closures meant that it took far longer than anticipated to get there and then a good half hour searching in a large expanse of open parkland ('Bury Field') to see it, but eventually I did and spent another hour following it as it moved around a large area of grassland, often coming close to the numerous resident Meadow Pipits. The larger size, upright stance and lack of flank markings (see images below) separated it from the Meadow Pipits, but the most obvious field character was its call as it took flight - a short, House Sparrow like 'cheep'.

Richard's Pipit, Newport Pagnall, 7 March

Richard's Pipit, Newport Pagnall, 7 March

After a short break, during which time most of my bird watching was done locally, I went on three trips in a week. A glorious, sunny day on the 20th encouraged me to visit North Norfolk again, firstly to RSPB Titchwell where bird photography was uppermost in my mind. As usual, Sanderlings on the beach were a main focus of attention, but I also had good views of a Little Ringed Plover (my second in two days) and Marsh Harriers. Some very noisy Common Frogs were having a good time in pools near the Visitor Centre, whilst nearby I counted seven male Common Toads (which spawn later than Common Frogs), quietly waiting for the much larger females to arrive at the pond. I moved on to Stiffkey Fen where, at the third time of asking, I finally connected with the wintering Glossy Ibis.

Male Common Toad, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 20 March

Little Ringed Plover, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 20 March

Marsh Harrier (a young Male??) in Flight, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 20 March

Glossy Ibis, Stiffkey, 20 March

On the 23rd I joined my RSPB Local Group for a coach trip to Attenborough NNR, situated by the River Trent on the outskirts of Nottingham. Highlights here included lots of newly arrived Sand Martins, Goosanders and a wintering male Scaup. A few of us were lucky to observe a very early Sandwich Tern that passed through, as did a Kittiwake (we all missed this). Yet another Little Ringed Plover was also seen here, although I missed out on this one. Between us we recorded 74 species (71 seen).

Male Scaup, Attenborough NNR, Nottingham, 23 March

Great Crested Grebe courting pair, Attenborough NNR, 23 March

On the 26th I made my first visit for nearly a year to RSPB Minsmere and Dunwich Heath in Suffolk. Dunwich Heath holds a good population of Dartford Warblers and I was lucky to see two pairs and hear another male bird. Photographing them is never easy, but I managed to get a few 'record shots' including one of a female holding what appeared to be part of a spider's web - perhaps to be used in nest building? As I was walking up on to the heath a couple of Swallows flew past - my first of the year.

Female Dartford Warbler with (?) Nesting Material, Dunwich Heath, 26 March

Back at Minsmere I heard, but did not see a Sandwich Tern. Another Little Ringed Plover was on the scrapes, as were several feral Barnacle Geese. However, the stars of the show were the two Bitterns that wandered about in front of the Bittern Hide, showing quite well for at least half an hour. Neither seemed aware of the other's presence, although they were probably separated by less than 100 metres. One bird ('Bittern 1') was quite showy, whereas the other ('Bittern 2') was more circumspect and often disappeared into the reeds. This was one of the highlights of the year so far for me, and of course I took lots of photos. A third Bittern was later seen in flight near the Island Mere hide. Apparently 14 male Bitterns were 'booming' on the reserve when I visited, with the potential for more to arrive.

'Bittern 1', RSPB Minsmere, 26 March

'Bittern 2', RSPB Minsmere, 26 March

  

Local Wildlife Sightings, February 2025

 February saw a return to consistently dull and at times windy weather, with only a couple of sunnier days (the 5th and 6th) in the first half of the month. High pressure dominated, but with easterly winds blowing in lots of cloud and some rain from Europe and daytime temperatures averaging 5-6C, conditions could best be described as 'unpleasant' for outdoor activities, including bird watching.

Regular reports of a first winter Mediterranean Gull on the Boating Lake at Verulamium Park, St Albans, lured me out for a second visit of the year on the 4th and, after I hunted around for a bit, it appeared there briefly and I was able to take some photos of what was a second Hertfordshire 'first' for me here in a short period of time, following on from the Yellow-browed Warbler in January. I checked the cathedral for Peregrines (none seen) before leaving.

First Winter Mediterranean Gull, Verulamium Park, St Albans, 4 February

First Winter Mediterranean Gull, Verulamium Park, St Albans, 4 February

Local walks were hampered by cold, dull, dark weather, rain and slippery mud. Because of this I stopped taking my camera out with me, so I have no pictures of the flock of 25 Golden Plovers that I saw in flight over the Icknield Way near Therfield village on the 6th, nor of the Barn Owl that was hunting at Heath Farm in Royston on the same afternoon. Roll on spring, although there is no sign of it yet!

After two failed attempts to see the female Smew at Amwell, I tried again on my way back from Staines Reservoirs on the 12th. Once again I failed, although on this occasion I did catch up with a male Goosander (image below) on Hollycross Lake, as well as hearing both Chiffchaff and Marsh Tit. Failure unfortunately makes me even more determined to succeed, so back I went on the 20th. With a good deal of help from the local bird watchers, who kept seeing it when I was looking elsewhere, I finally tracked the bird down at the far end of Great Hardmead lake from the viewpoint, where it was preparing to roost in amongst at least six Goldeneye and 20-25 Tufted Ducks. Hard-earned success!

Male Goosander (on the left), Hollycross Lake, Great Amwell, 12 February

Unfortunately, illness meant that I was unable to do any more local bird watching in February, but I was back in action in early March: see my latest blog posts.

UK Wildlife Sightings, February 2025

 Anybody reading my blog posts will have noticed that my favourite area for bird watching is the North Norfolk coast and I was back there again on the 5th. I firstly visited Snettisham, where my chief target was a flock of Lesser White-fronted Geese, which had flown across the North Sea from Sweden, where they are part of a re-introduction programme. This species of goose is rare and declining and I have only seen a couple of individuals in the UK in the past. Purist 'listers' tend to ignore re-introduced birds, but in my view any bird that is capable of flying across the North Sea is definitely wild and goes on my list! I hope that these re-introduced birds thrive: will they return to Sweden to breed? Several Russian White-fronted Geese were also present at the same site, allowing a comparison of the two species. The most obvious differences between the two are the smaller size, more delicate bills and (particularly) the obvious eye rings of the Lesser White-fronts - check out the images below.

Two Lesser White-fronted Geese, Snettisham, 5 February

Russian White-fronted Geese, Snettisham, 5 February

Whilst I was at Snettisham I went south along the footpath from the RSPB car park to observe the high tide raptor roost, seeing a drake Scaup on the most northerly lake as I walked. It wasn't a particularly high tide (6.7M at Hunstanton), but the birds were pushed up close enough to get good views of the enormous numbers of (particularly) Bar-tailed Godwits and Oystercatchers. Knot, Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, Grey Plovers, Black-tailed Godwits, Turnstones, Avocets (25-30) and Curlews were amongst the other wader species seen.

Male Scaup, Snettisham, 5 February

Having had success at Snettisham I moved on to RSPB Titchwell. I had planned to do more photography here and left my telescope in the car, but as the sun disappeared behind high cloud I switched to looking for some of the rarer birds that I had missed on my visit in January. A Water Pipit showed occasionally on top of a partially submerged wall on the freshmarsh (viewed from the Parrinder Hide). My images of this fairly distant bird did not eliminate Rock Pipit entirely, but its behaviour and greyish back (see 'record shot' below) make me confident that it was a Water Pipit.

'Record Shot' of a Water Pipit on the Freshmarsh at RSPB Titchwell, 5 February

Six Velvet Scoters and a female Long-tailed Duck had been reported for some time amongst the Common Scoter flock that had taken residence on the sea off Titchwell Beach this winter. The birds were too far away for me to clearly identify through my binoculars, until a single (female?) Velvet Scoter, showing characteristic white patches on the wings, flew away from the flock - a photograph confirmed its identity. I took several photos of the flock, both on the sea (where at least three female Velvet Scoters could be identified) and in flight, where the Long-tailed Duck could just be made out on a couple of the photos when they were cropped and 'blown up' - see the poor 'record shot' below. Because I couldn't identify the Long-tailed Duck through the binoculars, however, I won't include this bird on my year list.

Poor 'Record Shot' of a distant Velvet Scoter in Flight (note the White Wing Bars), RSPB Titchwell, 5 February

Poor 'Record Shot' of a Female Long-tailed Duck (Right Hand Bird) and Scoters in Flight, RSPB Titchwell, 5 February

All in all, this was a most productive day, when 73 bird species were seen.

My next sortie on the 12th was in the opposite direction, to Staines Reservoirs off the M25 (junction 14). I have been here quite a few times now. The reservoirs are an excellent site for wintering divers and our rarer grebes. My main target was Great Northern Diver, which I duly saw. Also present were no fewer than ten Black-necked Grebes, six on the north basin and four on the south basin. The grebes were starting to moult into their breeding plumage. Whenever a grebe became separated from its colleagues they would wait for it to catch up, or even head towards it - very cute! A single rather pale looking 'Herring-type' gull was also present close to the causeway that separates the two basins. I still have major problems separating these three species (Herring, the rarer Yellow-legged and the even rarer Caspian) at just about any age, despite years of 'experience'. I guess that, as I approach 70, I'll just have to accept that I'll never quite 'get there'. Anyway, my guess is that the gull (image below) is a second winter Herring Gull.

Great Northern Diver, Staines Reservoirs, 12 February

Four Black-necked Grebes, Staines Reservoirs, 12 February

(Second Winter Herring?) gull, Staines Reservoirs, 12 February

A weekend in Margate with my partner on the 14-16th provided little of bird watching interest. Ring-necked Parakeets have been established here for many years and certainly made their presence felt. Fulmars were present on the 'white' cliffs and I found a Rock Pipit on the under-cliff between Margate and Broadstairs. On the way back I persuaded her to let me take a detour to Oare Marshes, but the Spoonbill(s) that were regularly being reported from there were nowhere to be seen.

A slight upturn in the weather (more sunshine and not quite so cold) encouraged me to go back to Norfolk on the 19th. The first stop was at Lynford Arboretum, and this time I was lucky to not only see Marsh Tits (quite a few were coming to bird food left at various parts of the arboretum) but also a female Brambling (my first of the year) and a female Hawfinch.

Marsh Tit at a Feeding Site, Lynford Arboretum, 19 February

I moved on to Heacham (South Beach), where a flock of Snow Buntings had been reported for several days prior to my visit. The birds were soon tracked down by fellow bird watchers and I was able to get a few photos. One bird (a female) appeared to have a small twig stuck in its bill (image) - I hope that it managed to extricate it.

Female Snow Bunting with Small Twig, Heacham, 19 February

Male Snow Bunting, Heacham, 19 February

Finally, I popped in to RSPB Titchwell. The weather had become duller, so I didn't do much photography. I watched what I thought was the Water Pipit from the Parrinder Hide (close examination of the images showed it to be a Meadow Pipit) and got a few photos of a Snipe. The tide was out, and I could see the distant (as usual) Common Scoter flock, but couldn't find the Long-tailed Duck amongst them, although it apparently was there. However, as I walked out to the rocks that had been uncovered, I had a brief view of a Purple Sandpiper flying east. Fortunately it landed by a rock pool and I managed to get a single frame showing just enough of the bird to confirm its identity. Purple Sandpipers are uncommon wintering birds in Norfolk and are more likely to be seen on rocky coasts (I have often seen birds at Sheringham, although I missed out this year). I have seen them before at Titchwell and also at Thornham Harbour, but they are rare here. I just had time before it got dark to see the roosting Tawny Owl along the Fen Trail, and then it was 'homeward bound'.

Purple Sandpiper, Titchwell Beach, 19 February

Common Snipe, RSPB Titchwell Freshmarsh, 19 February

The February coach trip for my RSPB Local Group involved a visit to Blashford Lakes, a reserve on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire, on the 23rd. The visit got off to an exciting start when, shortly after arrival at the visitor centre, we saw an adult White-tailed Eagle circling above our heads! The bird was presumably associated with the release of juveniles on the Isle of Wight over the last few years. Unfortunately, nobody was able to get a picture of the bird before it flew off. Other highlights of the visit included a Black-necked Grebe, lots of Goosanders and Pintails, Lesser Redpolls and Siskins as well as an escaped 'exotic' Maccoa Duck (the first I've seen - if I hadn't been warned of its presence I might have mistaken it for a female Ruddy Duck) and one, probably two first winter Yellow-legged Gulls. A Firecrest was seen by some, but unfortunately not by me.

Male Goosander, Pintail and other Ducks, Blashford Lakes, 23 February

Maccoa Duck ('escape'), Blashford Lakes, 23 February

Redpoll, Blashford Lakes, 23 February

Three Siskins and a Greenfinch on a Feeder, Blashford Lakes, 23 February

Treecreeper, Blashford Lakes, 23 February

Illness prevented me from doing any more bird watching in February, but I was back in action in early March - see my latest blog posts for further details.

 

Local Wildlife Sightings, January 2025

 Heavy rain on New Year's Day and almost throughout the following weekend (30+mm by the 5th) suggested that 2025 was going to be no improvement, weatherwise, to 2024. However, a 'cold snap' from the 6th brought with it some welcome winter sunshine, even if daytime temperatures barely reached 0C. I took the opportunity to do lots of local walking, as well as to visit some of Hertfordshire's 'honey pot' sites. A walk around my Local Patch on the 3rd (another sunny day) produced 42 bird species (40 seen): nothing special, but it was good to be out getting exercise in the sunshine, after several days of grotesque over-indulgence. Likewise, 37 bird species were recorded on a walk to Heydon Pig Farm along the Icknield Way on the 10th. With the ground very hard, not many gulls were seen at the pig farm. However, Ravens, a wintering Chiffchaff and hundreds of Starlings were present and good numbers of Fieldfares (but no Redwings) were feeding on berries in bushes along the way.

Fieldfare near Heydon, 10 January

I missed out on the female Smew at Amwell on the 6th, but did see a male Red-crested Pochard there, as well as lots of gulls which included a Great Black-backed Gull.

Male Red-crested Pochard (on the left) with a Common Pochard, Amwell, 6 January

Another glorious day on the 9th encouraged me to visit St Albans. A rare, wintering Yellow-browed Warbler had been drawing in the crowds at the Verulamium Park. This tiny bird, not much bigger than a Goldcrest, showed well at times at the edge of the lake and I was able to get a few 'record shots' of it as it dived about an Oak Tree, presumably hunting for tiny invertebrates. This was a Hertfordshire 'first' for me, taking my species list up to 200. Nearby, the local Peregrines were showing well on the Cathedral, although I missed out on seeing a Black Redstart there (last winter's returning bird??).

Record Shot of the Yellow-browed Warbler, St Albans, 9 January

Peregrine on St Albans Cathedral, 9 January

I walked from the Verulamium Park to the attractive little Watercress Local Nature Reserve, where I was rewarded with a brief sighting of a Water Rail. Siskins and Redpolls were feeding in the Alder Trees, and a female Bullfinch visited one of the bird feeders.

News on the grapevine that a fairly large Starling murmuration (5,000 to 10,000 birds) was regularly occurring at RSPB Fowlmere encouraged me to visit on the late afternoon of the 13th. I decided to head for the Reedbed Hide, from where I presumed that I would get good views of the Starlings as they flew above the reedbed. However, by 4.30pm it was almost dark and all we had seen was a Barn Owl and a small group of Starlings. I decided to leave and, as I walked back to the main track, there were the Starlings performing behind the hide! It was virtually dark by this time, but I still managed to get a few photographs of the murmuration before the birds disappeared into the reedbed. There appeared to be far fewer than 5,000, but of course it is impossible to count them.

Starling Murmuration, RSPB Fowlmere, 13 January (converted to B&W for clarity)

Bird activity in the garden varied from day to day. There was no (apparent) return of the Brambling that I had seen on the last day of 2024. A Stock Dove visited on several occasions. Stock Doves nest nearby, but until recently they were very rare visitors to the garden. This bird is quite persistent, despite being chased around by the larger Woodpigeons. The dark days that were so common in December returned from the 15th, with very little sunshine but lots of cloud, mists and drizzle. Local walks were generally uneventful, although I did see a flock of Lapwings (my first local Lapwing sighting since 2023) at Greys Farm on the 15th. The flock didn't stay, however. Ravens were recorded at a variety of locations and 22 Corn Buntings were at Hatchpen Farm on the 18th. Twelve Grey Partridges were seen in a field off the Icknield Way between Therfield Heath and Therfield on the 22nd.

Stock Dove in my Garden, 17 January

News of up to four Short-eared Owls appearing regularly in fields at Holwell (north of Hitchin) provoked a visit on the 17th. I arrived in time to see three in the air together, and managed a few 'record shots' whilst I was there. The field over which they were hunting presumably contained lots of Field Voles, their favourite prey. A Grey Heron, standing quietly in the middle of the field, may well have been waiting to gobble up some voles as well.

Short-eared Owl, Holwell, 17 January

Short-eared Owl with admirers, Holwell, 17 January

On the 23rd I visited Bramfield, near Hertford, where Hawfinches had been regularly reported this winter. I was lucky to see one almost immediately, high in a tree in the churchyard, and later heard others hidden in the churchyard Yews (their calls are similar to, but louder than, those of the Robin).

Hawfinch in Bramfield Churchyard, 23 January

My 'Big Garden Birdwatch' for an hour on the 25th produced nine species (about average for the BGBW), but this included the first Feral Pigeon that I had ever recorded on a BGBW count, Feral Pigeons having not previously been seen in the garden before 2024. I ventured to Wilstone Reservoir on a very dull afternoon on the 28th. Great Egret, Wigeon and Teal were amongst the sightings, but there was no sign of a reported Goosander. I looked hard through a very large (mainly) Black-headed Gull roost, but couldn't find any rarities. The following (sunny) day I went on my 'round the villages' walk, recording 45 bird species including my first local Redwings of the year and Ravens in Royston, Therfield and Reed. An unusually large number of Kestrels were recorded - possibly the rain of the previous couple of days had flooded their prey (particularly voles) out of shelter?

Kestrel, Therfield, 29 January