Catching up

A catch up on things, 10th March I had my earliest ever Sand Martins, 2 over Lea Farm Lake, the female Goosander was still gracing our waters 16th and my first Redshank that morning, 3 distant Fieldfare might be it for this winter, 1 more Sand Martin and a Pochard.

March 20th I had been out early that morning, but we'll never know if I just missed finding it, but happily it didn't matter because Jo did and I always love a Little Gull;

Sadly I did miss the Red-legged Partridge Geoff found perched on the hand rail of the new bridge at Teal scrape ditch outlet. Blackcap singing 22nd, 6 Little Egret over, 83 Shoveler, 1 Pochard.

23rd I was away all day and luckily again for me, Lea Farm's first Common Scoter stuck around til when I got there at 18:00.

I'm on a pitiful 93, the park hit 100 23rd March with Common Scoter, the first Wheatear dropping in later that day.

27th 30 Redwing SE of all directions, 7 Sand Martin prospecting the wall, 94 Shoveler Lavell's.

Laughable progress

I'm still getting out most mornings at, or near dawn. I was about 10 minutes too late for the Red-breasted Merganser on Saturday morning. The female Goosander remained until near 07:30, but slipped away almost unseen. She did the same this morning, but whilst the Peregrine was causing havoc.

The park year list has been totting up, mine has done next to nothing, only adding 4 since the sawbill fest began, Skylark, Grey Wagtail and Coal Tit 17th Feb, but only Kestrel since.

Meanwhile I've missed a Stonechat after a work party, but with a broken phone I didn't even hear about it, then a Linnet, then a Redshank, another Green Sandpiper and yesterday the earliest ever Sand Martin by 8 days.

Hmmm...

A drizzly morning as we wait for the storm to roll in tonight, but good views of Peregrine, 40 winter thrushes, most likely Fieldfare, 3 Goldeneye, 60+ Shoveler, 40+ Teal, 4 Little Egret, 2-3 Cetti's heard, c40 Snipe on Sandford and to cap things off 3 separate vews of Stoat in and out of the hedgerow of Sandford near the double pylon, even flushing it out for John at the end....... A lifer would you believe!