March 2022

We started our Cornwall weekend at St Agnes Head, where we saw a Skylark feeding in one of the car parks. On Chapel Porth beach, a pair of Rock Pipits were foraging around the car park. Further along the coast, there was a pair of Stonechats, and a Chough was seen flying along the cliff with some Jackdaws.

Skylark [Adult]

Rock Pipit [Adult Winter]

Stonechat [Male]

Rock Pipit [Adult Winter]

Newlyn, Pendeen, Cape Cornwall & Land's End 3rd March 2022

We went to Newlyn Harbour to look for the Kumlien's Gull. A Juvenile Red-throated Diver was asleep in the harbour near the car park. It eventually woke up for a swim around. This individual didn't seem very well, as normally on calm days other Divers would be far out on the open sea. This one on the other hand, remained in the harbour until at least mid-March. I managed to spot the Kumlien's Gull as it flew around & landed on the harbour wall. After a couple of minutes resting, it flew off back towards the sea. We headed to Pendeen to look for another rarity: a Rose-coloured Starling. We didn't see it the first time. We headed to Pendeen Lighthouse for lunch and a look around there. A few Gannets flew past the headlands. We managed to see the 1st Winter Male Rose-coloured Starling in the Lower Boscaswell Estate occasionally showing well on the roofs of the houses & dropping down into private gardens to feed. We made a brief visit to Cape Cornwall near St Just, then on to Botallack made famous by the BBC TV series "Poldark". A Raven flew overhead. We finished the day watching the Short-eared Owls near Land's End.

Red-throated Diver [Juvenile]

Kumlien’s Gull [Adult Winter]

Rose-coloured Starling [1st Winter Male]

Short-eared Owl [Adult]

Rose-coloured Starling [1st Winter Male]

Short-eared Owl [Pair]

Penzance, Newlyn & The Lizard 4th March 2022

In Penzance we saw the Sanderlings, Purple Sandpipers & Turnstones resting on the rocks near the harbour. In Newlyn Harbour, the Red-throated Diver was still present in the harbour. We went back to see if the Kumlien's Gull was showing, sadly not on that day. The Turnstones were foraging along the harbour wall on the previous day & this day. A Lobster was also seen in the harbour that morning & surprisingly still moving. Well it was, until sadly the Gulls had a go at it. We headed down to the Lizard to look for the Choughs, starting in Kynance Cove. The Corvid seen was a Raven. A further 2 more birds were seen in the roadside field, on the approach to Lizard Point. No Choughs from the point, but a Rock Pipit & Pied Wagtails. A couple of Fulmars flew along the coast. Plenty of Rabbits grazing near the houses. We had a quick look around Hayle, but very few Waders. There were Common Redshank, Greenshank & Little Egret feeding in Copperhouse Creek.

Sanderling [Flock Winter]

Turnstone [Adult Winter]

Lobster

Raven [Adult]

Rabbit [Adult]

Fulmar [Adult]

Greenshank [Adult Winter]

Raven [Pair]

Little Egret [Adult Winter]

Cornwall 5th March 2022

We had more luck with the Chough flying along & feeding on the North Cornish Coast.

We went back to Newlyn for our final quest to see the Kumlien's Gull. A Grey Wagtail was foraging in the river. Unfortunately we missed the opportunity of seeing the Kumlien's Gull swimming on the water in the harbour by a couple of seconds, before it flew over the sea wall. A Cormorant was swimming nearby. We finished the day by watching both Short-eared & Barn Owls. A couple of Female Adders were basking in the sun along the hedgerow.

Chough [Adult]

Grey Wagtail [Female]

Kumlien’s Gull [Adult Winter]

Great Cormorant [Adult Summer]

Kumlien’s Gull [Adult Winter]

Short-eared Owl [Adult]

Barn Owl [Adult]

Adder [Female]

Cornwall 6th March 2022

Our final day in Cornwall, we back to the North Cornish Coast for some more Chough action.

On our way home, we popped to Chapel Amble near Wadebridge. We found 6 European White-fronted Geese, feeding with some Canada Geese.

Chough [Adult]

European White-fronted Goose [Flock]

Forest of Dean 9th March 2022

We went to the Forest of Dean to look for some Bramblings. We saw about 4-8 birds around the feeding station along with Chaffinches, Jay, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits, Blackbird and Nuthatches. In another part of the forest we saw a Female Hawfinch, Goldcrest and Greenfinches. Cannop is the usually a good place to see the Mandarin Ducks & we saw quite a lot during our visit. This is the main stronghold for this species in Gloucestershire. A few Greylag Geese are seen in the area. One of the Mandarins was still in middle of it's moult into breeding plumage.

Bramblings

Brambling [Male Summer]

Brambling [Female]

Jay [Adult]

Hawfinch [Female]

Goldcrest

Greenfinch [Male]

Blackbird [Female]

Nuthatch [Adult]

Bramblings

Brambling [Female]

Bramblings

Mandarin [Female]

Mandarin Duck [Male Moulting]

Mandarin Duck [Male]

Kingsgate Park, Yate 13th March 2022

Me & Dad popped up to Kingsgate Park to see what was about. Black-headed Gulls had moulted into Summer Plumage. On the main duck pond was an Adult Common Gull.

Black-headed Gull [Adult Summer]

Common Gull [Adult Winter]

Chipping Sodbury 17th March 2022

Me & Dad had a walk around Chipping Sodbury Common, but was fairly quiet. Only saw a Small Tortoiseshell [1st one of the year].

March 2022

Devon 18th March 2022

We went to Devon to see Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. When we arrived at our location, we saw a Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming on one of the trees. Loads of Wood Ants were seen on the forest floor. Saw our 1st Comma of the year. In the afternoon, we went to a site for Dartford Warblers. There was only Stonechats, when we were there. Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatches, Coal Tits, Blue Tits & Great Tits fed on the feeders by the car park. We a quick look at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB on our way home. There were some Eurasian Wigeons about & 3 Little Egret. No Ring-necked Duck & Spoonbill for us that evening.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker [Male]

Comma

Coal Tit [Adult]

Stonechat [Female]

Stonechat [Male]

Eurasian Wigeon [Flock]

Llittle Egret [Adult Summer]

Latteridge 22nd March 2022

While I was working at Organic Blooms, I photographed a singing Great Tit & Peacock Butterfly.

Wapley Bushes LNR, Yate 24th March 2022

While Dad was working at home, me & Mum walked up to Wapley Bushes LNR. A few Common Starlings & House Sparrows were calling in the hedgerows along the railway line. A Small Tortoiseshell perched on some stinging nettles near the railway bridge. A Magpie was seen perched in the tall tree. We heard a Woodpecker drumming in the woods, which I thought was Great Spotted. However when it called, it was a Green Woodpecker. So probably that's what was drumming. The only time that Green Woodpecker drum on tree trunks, is when they're making a nest hole.

Magpie [Adult]

Common Starling [Adult Summer]

Small Tortoiseshell

Slimbridge WWT 25th March 2022

While Dad was working at home, he dropped me & Mum at Slimbridge WWT for the day. A Collared Dove perched in the tree by the entrance ramp. In the Rushy Pen, we found long staying Chiloe x Eurasian Wigeon Hybrid. This Male even had a call very much like Eurasian Wigeon. A pair of Canada & Greylag Geese were from the Martin Smith Hide. Also a Jackdaw. The 3 Snow Geese which have been present most of the winter, showed very well on the Tack Piece from the Martin Smith, Robbie Garnett & Stephen Kirk Hides. All 3 remained on site until the end of the month. Two of the GCP Cranes: Chocolo & Kia showed very well on the Tack Piece, but later came to closer into view & were seen from the Martin Smith Hide. One of the Great White Egrets flew past the Robbie Garnett Hide towards the Dumbles. Plenty of Black-headed Gull flew over the water in front of Stephen Kirk & Robbie Garnett Hides. A Peacock fed on Blossom along the Holden Walkway. We spent a bit of time up the Estuary Tower. A Little Egret flew west. At least 196 Eurasian White-fronted Geese & 3 Greenland White-fronted Geese were still present. Two Pink-footed Geese also fed amongst the flock. All 3 species remained until early April. A couple of Oystercatchers fed along the edge of Middle Ground Pool. Avocets were also in good numbers. We also saw a Fox run past. Another hybrid on the Tack Piece, this time a cross between a Snow & Bar-headed Goose. The Ross's Goose remained at distant on the Tack Piece, which then later move to Frampton Pools. The Barnacle Geese at Slimbridge WWT are feral stock. A Blue Tit kept visiting the Knott hide, presumbly at first glance catching Spiders, but more likely it can see it's own reflection in the windows. A Wren was seen briefly along the walkway. A Male Pintail showed very well close to the Robbie Garnett Hide. A Female Brimstone perched on a Daffodil near the Martin Smith Hide. A Common Redshank was seen in the Rushy Pen & the Wigeon Hybrid was still present. A Common Chiffchaff was singing down at South Finger. I photographed some captive South African Comb Duck. We had a look at South Lake. There were black-headed Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Cormorants, Shovelers & Cattle Egrets around the island. A few Rooks & Jackdaws were foraging around the cafe. I went back to the Rushy Pen for a few more images of the Wigeon Hybrid. A couple of Avocets were alsio present. We had a check of the roadside fields, but no Glossy Ibis.