As we're now midway through March I did actually think that I'd be posting a little more about newly arrived migrants, but after early encouraging signs the easterlies set in, dashing any further hopes!
 |
| Chiffchaff - New arrivals each day! |
Last Thursday (12th) the Brandon team spent the morning preparing the Sand Martin structure and Islands on east marsh for the forthcoming breeding season. It was actually quite fitting that no sooner had we completed the task the first half dozen arrived while we were having lunch in the hide, then duly moved on through! That evening I spent a couple of hours at the Draycote Water Gull roost and despite connecting with a couple of Iceland Gull it was the first evening the Glaucous Gull had gone AWOL!
Since then I've spent many hours both at Brandon and around the patch in the hope of new arrivals. Despite the lack of It's very encouraging that at Brandon Marsh we're getting regular sightings of Willow Tits around the bespoke nesting boxes, I've connected at every visit. Also of note a couple of Marsh Tits were trapped and ringed by JR on the 'Constant Effort' site last Saturday.
 |
| Muntjac on Wigeon Bank |
Last Friday morning I spent an hour at Draycote Water in the gloom and despite close in views of the long staying Black-necked Grebe the best I could manage were the calls of Redshank and Grey Plover. Three Mediterranean Gulls over the past week back at Brandon, including one during today's visit. A definite increase in Chiffchaff numbers with six noted today and other species of note today included: Mistle Thrush (4), including one singing, Fieldfare (25 over), Goldcrest (4), Redshank (2), Oystercatcher (4), Snipe (9), Shelduck (2), Cetti's Warbler (2) and a Muntjac deer on Wigeon Bank was my 1st of the year!
