Summary March 2016
Summary March 2016
Species this month = 63
New Species added to 2016 Year List in March= 7
Hen Harrier, Stonechat both at Riveside Road on 11th March, Black-tailed Godwit and Peregrine Falcon at Marshside 15th March, Twite Connah’s Quay 25th March, Chiffchaff at Connah’s Quay on 29th March and Barnacle Goose at Burton Mere Wetlands the same day.
New UK Life List Birds In March= 1
Twite Connah’s Quay 25th March
Running Total for the 2016 UK So Far = 109
Garden Birding
The garden is busy with birds, with a lot more Goldfinches in particular appearing. The pair of Mistle Thrushes and a pair of Stock Doves are daily visitors along with Starlings, Robin, Wren and Woodpigeons and Collared Doves. There have been more sunny days and with the clocks going forawrd we have a bit more daylight in the evenings. There are signs of some birds starting to collect nesting material but our bird box remains stubbornly empty !
Birding Group
We missed two weeks of Birding Tuesdays when we were on holiday in Lanzarote, the first was to Frodsham Marsh and the second was to Moore Nature Reserve. Apparently we did not miss anything too major. The next day, that I did make, was to RSPB Marshside where I got a couple of “year ticks” in the shape of a big flock of Black-tailed Godwits and a Peregrine Falcon. We also had nice views of Avocet and close views of Greater Scaup.
A return of the flu (yet again) meant we missed the Marbury Park morning which was the last day of the term, although we soon resume on the 5th with a visit to Moore Nature Reserve
Solo Days Out
As usual, if there is a high tide on the Wirral we will try to get there and the 10.2 metre high tide on the 11th March saw us go to Burton Mere Wetlands and then on to Riverbank Road where we got lots of birds of prey – perhaps even a daily record. Our sightings for the day included year ticks in the form of Hen Harrier and Stonechat.
On the 25th March we made our first visit to Connah’s Quay Nature Reserve which was fascinating and we also got a “life tick” in the form of a lovely flock of Twite; this had really been my main reason for joining the Deeside Naturalists Society, as this is a members-only reserve, but I think we will be going there a few times because it is a lovely quiet place and will probably be alive with spring migrant birds soon.
We did actually return to Connah’s Quay Nature Reserve and Burton Mere Wetlands on the 29th March. At the former we didn’t see any Twite this time (too late perhaps ?) but we got our first Chiffchaff of the year. We got another one at Burton Mere Wetlands and also a “year tick” Barnacle Goose.
The stand out feature of the month, apart from our Lanzarote birding which is summarised here, was definitely the Twite at Connah’s Quay but our high-tide visits to Riverbank Road are always wonderful and the one this month was no exception. Now we are looking for a bit of warm weather to accompany the increasing levels of sunlight. WIth Chiffchaff arrived and reports of Sand Martins, House Martins and even Swallows about, it won’t be long before spring is upon us – at last !!