Local Wildlife Sightings, March 2026

 The warmer, drier weather of late February continued into March. No fewer than nine Brimstone and two Peacock butterflies were seen on a short walk that took me across the eastern side of The Heath and back by the side of Royston Hospital on the 2nd - my first local butterflies of the year and the first large insects (other than a few queen bumble bees) that I had seen locally in 2026. Up to 15 frogs were noisily occupying the garden pond and on the 4th the first clump of frogspawn was laid there. At last, I had other wildlife to think about apart from birds!

I made my now monthly visit to Scales Park (Meesden) on the 4th. Crossbills were again seen but, on a very misty morning, the surprise was to see large numbers of Siskins (I estimate 30-35) around the evergreens near the eastern end of the main ride. Were they passing through on their way north? The poor visibility may have forced them down, or perhaps Scales Park is a regular stopping off place in the early spring. A very noisy flock of Redwings had gathered at the tops of the trees. Perhaps they, too, were moving through, or at least preparing to move north.

Male Siskin, Scales Park, 4 March

On my way home I called in at Reed End. Two Little Grebes were seen at Phillup's Lake (a positive sign). All the Canada Geese had departed and just a pair of Tufted Ducks were on the lake - will they stay to attempt to breed, or will the resident pair of Coots chase them off? Towards Therfield, some of the farmland finches and buntings had dispersed, although I did see a flock of around 60 Corn Buntings in flight. One landed next to a male Reed Bunting, giving an interesting size comparison (image).

Corn Bunting (left hand bird) and male Reed Bunting, Therfield, 4 March

A singing Blackcap was heard near the Royston allotments on the morning of the 6th. Two Chiffchaffs were singing when I did a walk in the Fox Covert and Church Hill area on the 10th. There has been a steady increase in this warbler locally and nationally as a summer visitor over the last ten years, whilst the similar Willow Warblers have declined to the point of extinction in the local woodlands. Despite its plain appearance and monotonous song, I rather like the Chiffchaff, particularly as a harbinger of early spring. Just three Pasque Flowers were seen on Church Hill.

An Early Pasque Flower, Church Hill, 10 March

On the same day I made an afternoon visit to Amwell Gravel Pits. A pair of Oystercatchers were flying around excitedly and I was a little surprised to see two Herring Gulls mating on one of the tern rafts. A few Herring Gulls do breed in Hertfordshire and there was a report of an occupied nest at Amwell in 2024, so perhaps this pair will stay to breed. The Black-necked Grebe was still around, although I didn't see it on this visit.

Mating Herring Gulls, Amwell NR, 10 March

Another walk in the Church Hill and Fox Covert area on the 16th produced my second Peregrine sighting of the year, this time a young bird (some brown feathering seen in the tail), unsuccessfully chasing a small flock of Fieldfares. I didn't have my big lens with me, but I did get a couple of distant photos of the Peregrine, to confirm the ID. Several patches of flowering Dog-violets (the food plant of the caterpillars of both Dark Green and Silver-washed Fritillary butterflies) were seen and several more Pasque Flowers were blooming on Church Hill.

'Record Shot' of a young Peregrine over Thrift Farm, Royston, 16 March

Violets in Flower on Therfield Heath, 16 March

On the 17th, at the start of a spell of warm (for March), sunny weather, I went on my 9 mile 'round the villages' walk, taking in Hatchpen Farm, Reed village, Phillup's Lake (Reed End), the outskirts of Therfield village and the stretch of the Icknield Way between Therfield and Therfield Heath. At least 44 bird species were recorded (39 seen), as well as Brown Hares, Fallow Deer, Brimstone and Peacock butterflies, bumble bees and my first bee flies and hoverflies of the year. A pair of Canada Geese at Hatchpen Pond were the first for my 'Local Patch' list this year (Phillup's Lake is outside the two mile radius), but the chief interest was in a motley assortment of around 80-100 larger gulls that were sitting on a recently ploughed field. I took a few photos of them at rest before they flew farther away. At least one adult Great Black-backed Gull, something of a rarity in Hertfordshire, was standing a little way away. I managed to get a flight shot of this bird. When a helicopter flew over, the gulls flew up and wheeled around, enabling me to get some more flight shots, that I am now poring over and comparing with images of gulls in flight in 'Britain's Birds' (Hume et. al.), in order to try to improve my ID knowledge of these species - but enough of that 'anorak' activity for the moment.

Canada Geese and Moorhen, Hatchpen Pond, 17 March

Great Black-backed Gull in Flight, Hatchpen Farm (Reed), 17 March

Further on, as I approached Phillup's Lake, I could see a couple of smallish, dark birds feeding over the lake. Could they be very early swallows on passage? I'll never know, because by the time I got close enough to identify them they had gone - a mystery never to be solved. On the lake, Canada Geese (apparently three pairs) had returned, but the Tufted Ducks had gone. Two Little Grebes, starting to develop their summer plumage, were still present (but at opposite ends of the lake). Redwings and Fieldfares were noticeable by their absence (had they departed for Scandinavia?). The only summer visitors definitely recorded were half a dozen Chiffchaffs.

Little Grebe, Phillup's Lake, Reed End, 17 March

Red-legged Partridge, Hatchpen Farm, 17 March. Hundreds (Thousands?) of these birds are released every year at Hatchpen for shooting during the autumn and winter. This is one of the lucky survivors.

UK Wildlife Sightings, March 2026

 With relatively mild, settled weather and a gentle breeze I decided to go Goshawk hunting at Cockley Cley (Norfolk) on the 3rd. Early March is the best time of year to see Goshawks displaying, although they can be seen in February if weather conditions are right. After 75 minutes of waiting, only lots of Buzzards and a single Red Kite had been seen. However, as I tried to photograph an overhead Buzzard a second bird, clearly a hawk, came into view. People around me said that it was only a Sparrowhawk. Certainly it looked small, but it was fairly high. Eventually I managed to get a 'record shot' of the bird that wasn't blurred. Later examination showed lengthwise striping along the underside of the bird (perpendicular to the barring along the wings and tail), pointing to the fact that this was a young Goshawk - probably a male - success! The image is shown below.

'Record Shot' of a Juvenile Goshawk, Cockley Cley, 3 March

I called into Lynford Arboretum on the way home, on the off-chance that I could see a Hawfinch. A quick check of the feeding station near the 'Shepherd's Baa' cafe netted me my first Brambling of the year (a female). Surely, things couldn't get any better? Oh yes, they could! Sitting at the top of the tallest tree in the paddock was a Hawfinch. I managed to get a few photos before it flew down, not to be seen again.

Hawfinch, Lynford Arboretum, 3 March

The best was still to come. As I continued a walk that I regularly take through the forest I came across signs warning me to watch where I stood, as it was the time of year for migrating frogs and toads. A few yards further on, by the side of a lake, I came upon a mass of courting and mating Common Toads - probably 60 to 70 with more, sometimes 'piggybacking', arriving at the lake as I watched. Forty minutes later I had photographed toads (individuals, couples and even a 'threesome') from every angle. Some spawn had already been laid. The lake is well away from the nearest road, so hopefully mortality as the toads make their way to the mating pond from every direction will be low. I was a herpetologist before I became a bird watcher, so seeing these toads performing was a joy to see.

Common Toads in Amplexus, arriving at their Breeding Lake, Lynford, 3 March

Common Toad 'Mating Ball' (two males and a female), Lynford, 3 March

On the 5th I made my annual pilgrimage to the North Yorkshire coast, visiting RSPB Bempton Cliffs and Filey Brigg. At my age, I shouldn't still be making this 400 mile round journey in a day, but needs must on this occasion. Maybe next year I'll stay longer in Yorkshire and check out some of the other wonderful wildlife areas in my 'home' county. Lots of Gannets, Guillemots and Razorbills were on the cliffs at Bempton, in flight or (in the case of the last two) loafing on the sea. I couldn't find any Puffins - there has been mass mortality out at sea due to the effects of storms, but in any case it is also a little early in the season for Puffins to appear. Fulmars were much in evidence on the cliffs and Tree Sparrows, Linnets, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were present in big numbers around the reserve. A Barn Owl was seen briefly. The tide was in when I arrived at Filey, meaning that I couldn't walk out along the Brigg at sea level, but I was able to walk along the top of The Brigg and look down towards the rocks at the end, where Oystercatchers and other, unidentified waders were roosting. Adult and juvenile Shags flew past the rocks. 

Gannet Pair, RSPB Bempton Cliffs, 5 March

Razorbills on the Cliffs at Bempton, 5 March

Fulmar in Flight, RSPB Bempton Cliffs, 5 March

Tree Sparrow, RSPB Bempton Cliffs, 5 March

I was back on the North Norfolk coast on the 11th. I had missed Long-tailed Ducks on my two previous visits this year, but finally located a group of 8-10 birds on the sea, between Titchwell and Brancaster. They were too far out to get decent photographs. A large flock of Mediterranean Gulls (I was told that 102 birds had recently been counted) was seen on the freshmarsh. It will be interesting to see how many stay on to nest at Titchwell. Moving on to Holkham Park, I had hoped to see a Ferruginous Duck on the lake there, but a 90 minute search failed to reveal the bird: other bird watchers similarly left "empty handed". A very large flock of Barnacle Geese was seen in the park. However, all the birds appeared to have been ringed. Were they part of a collection? Finally, I hurried down to the sea at Holkham Gap. This involved a walk of over half a mile across the beach - the tide goes out a long way here! I was rewarded with views of flocks of hundreds of Common Scoters, which seem to be resident here during the winter months, but which I hadn't seen elsewhere along the Norfolk coast this winter. Some images taken on this trip are below.

Marsh Harrier in Flight, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 11 March

Mediterranean Gulls (and Shelduck), RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 11 March

 

Barnacle Geese (Captive Flock?), grazing in Holkham Park, 11 March

A few days of sunny weather from the 17th encouraged me to make afternoon visits to RSPB Lakenheath Fen (Suffolk) on the 18th and Welney (Norfolk) on the 19th. Highlights of a quiet but enjoyable walk around the Lakenheath reserve were several Roe Deer, Whooper Swans and half a dozen different wader species. I had been hoping to see a very early Garganey or a very late Water Pipit, but neither materialised. The next day I stopped in Welney village to see the reported Glossy Ibis (image below). All three egret species (including my first Cattle Egrets of the year) were on the same flooded fields. On the WWT reserve, ten distant Cranes were on Lady Fen. Wader species seen included Avocets, Redshank, Ruff, Snipe and several Black-tailed Godwits, some of which were developing their summer plumage. Garganey had been sporadically reported from here since the 14th, but there was no sign of this rather secretive bird on my visit.

Glossy Ibis, Welney, 19 March

Redshank, WWT Welney, 19 March