March had a mixture of weather with heavy spells of rain, a warm dry week, strong winds and a storm.
SIGHTINGS
Birds: Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzards, Tawny Owls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Common Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Siskins, Stonechats, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrush, Wrens, Goldcrest, Female Blackcap, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatches, Treecreepers.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Fox, Roe Deer, Noctule Bats.
Plants in flower: Gorse, Flowering Currant.
Fungi: Birch Polypore.
Pond Life: Pond Skaters.
Butterflies: Comma, Brimstone, Red Admiral.
Insects: Buff Tailed Bee, Hover Flies, Midges.
Despite periods of inhospitable weather, March appeared to be the start of an early Spring. Several species of insects and butterflies were seen on warmer dry days.
A Grey Heron was seen on several occasions flying along the Hazelwood tree canopy, sometimes perching on a Pine tree.
The female Blackcap was seen numerous times along Hazelwood path, as were the Bullfinches.
A surprise sighting of two Noctule Bats early afternoon, in flight, over the southern area of the site. One of the largest bats, reaching eight centimetres, it is sometimes mistaken for a Swift as it hawks for insects at treetop height.
Bird song filled the air during the month, with many species selecting nesting sites and making an early start gathering nesting material. Many of the nest boxes on site are now occupied.
The nest box survey was completed in early March, when the weather conditions were more favourable. 16 nests were found , 6 were not used and 12 new boxes were installed due to damage or found to be missing. A new Owl box was constructed and installed to replace a box which was destroyed when the tree on which it was located fell down several years ago.
