Early March 2017

March 10th. Around were 5 Goldcrest, 2 Fieldfare, a Green Woodpecker, 28 Avocet and a Kingfisher.

March 9th. About were 24 Avocet, 2 Siskin and a Water Pipit.
Siskin, 9th March 2017
Photo - Kev Wilson
March 8th. On the reserve were 2 Siskin, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 400 Brent Goose, a Water Pipit, 13 Snipe, a Green Woodpecker, a Treecreeper, 23 Avocet, a Grey Heron and a Water Rail. Heading south were 250 Starling and 2 Rook.

March 7th. Around were 2 Fieldfare, 2 Brambling, 2 Siskin, a Green Woodpecker, a Water Pipit and a Grey Heron.

March 6th. Birds around included 2 Goldcrest, 15 Siskin, 250 Curlew, a Stonechat, a Water Rail, a Green Woodpecker and a Woodcock. Offshore were 40 Red-throated Diver, 3 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Great Crested Grebe. A pre-roost gathering of 117 Corn Bunting was exceptional by the Visitor Centre Car Park.
Stonechat, 6th March 2017
Water Rail, 6th March 2017
March 5th. No records received

March 4th. A Woodlark flew south over North Car Park early afternoon. On the water bodies were 33 Tufted Duck, 28 Little Grebe, 138 Wigeon, a Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Avocet, 3 Goldeneye (inc pair displaying) and a Kingfisher. Around were 3 Corn Bunting, 2 Siskin, 4 Goldcrest, a Water Pipit, a Green Woodpecker and 2 Fieldfare.

March 3rd. A morning seawatch produced a Black-throated Diver, 30 Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Crested Grebe and a drake Common Scoter. Around were 2 Goldcrest, 2 Fieldfare, a Merlin and a Water Pipit.
 The first decent dawn chorus was heard this morning with Blackbird, Song Thrush, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Wren, Mistle Thrush, Corn Bunting, Goldcrest, Great Tit and Robin all in song.

March 2nd. The morning high tide was a spectacle with 15000 Knot, 1500 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1300 Oystercatcher, 300 Sanderling, 4200 Dunlin, 5500 Grey Plover and 16 Ringed Plover. Other birds around were 40 Corn Bunting, 200 Linnet, 14 Redwing, a Peregrine, a Merlin and a Green Woodpecker. Offshore were 7 Red-breasted merganser, an Eider and 22 Red-throated Diver. A group of 10 Siskin flew south over Mill Hill.

March 1st. A Woodlark flew south over Mill Hill at 0840hrs, with possibly a second bird, found in a meadow to the north at 1200hrs. Also on the move early morning were 61 Chaffinch, 14 Siskin, 27 Jackdaw, 17 Linnet, 6 Rock Pipit, a Ruff, 2 Fieldfare, 12 Starling and 4 Rook south. On the reserve were 12000 Knot, 1500 Grey Plover, 350 Sanderling, 500 Dunlin, a Water Pipit, a Green Woodpecker and a Snipe.