March 2009
52 species so far this monthGreat Northern Diver
Little Grebe
Slavonian Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Little Egret
Dark-bellied Brent Goose
Red-breasted Merganser
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Buzzard
Oystercatcher
Mediterranean Gull >
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull >
Great Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Sandwich Tern >
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock >
Robin
Wheatear
Black Redstart
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit >
Great Tit
Magpie
Jackdaw >
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow >
Chaffinch >
Greenfinch
Goldfinch >
Linnet
March 3rd
No Sandwich Terns yet but a fine male Great Spotted Woodpecker at Wyke Road.
March 7th
The first Chiffchaff of they spring was singing at the northern end of the trail at Ilchester Road. At the same time a Buzzard was circling high over Abbotsbury Road.
March 9th
The Great Northern Diver was still in its usual place off Sandsfoot, with a Slavonian Grebe nearby. A first-year Mediterranean Gull was in Albert's bay and a Common Gull was an even rarer sight flying west over Newstead Road.
March 15th
With the complete absence of any wintering Blackcaps on the trail this year a singing bird at the western end of Old Castle Road was clearly a migrant. Several Buzzards around in the morning with one bird flying steadily north over Buxton Road looking very like a new arrival. A Green Woodpecker was being very noisy at Rodwell.
March 17th
The first Wheatear of the year was at Small Mouth, along with a Black Redstart.
March 22nd
At last a Sandwich Tern turned up in the harbour; also the first Linnet of the year, both exactly a week earlier than last year.
March 24th
Today got off to a good start with 3 Buzzards noisily displaying high over Rodwell. Then Great Northern Diver and Dark-bellied Brent Goose were late sightings off Downclose, with a Common Gull thrown in for good measure.
March 29th
A few more migrants starting to arrive now with at least 8 Sandwich Terns in the harbour and several Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps singing along the trail. A distant party of hirundines flying north over the harbour were probably Sand Martins but were too far away to be sure. Still 50 or so Mergansers in the harbour and a single Little Grebe at Small Mouth.
March 31st
At last a cloudy dawn and a few more migrants, including the first Willow Warbler of the year. Still 20 Great Crested Grebes and 50 Mergansers in the harbour.