March 2010 - bird news

Not many stand-out birds this month but the Raven reported flying south-west over the Garden Centre at 1310 on 18th by visiting birder Pete Mantle would be only the second record for the site. He followed this up 10 minutes later with a Common Buzzard flying SW too. The following morning on the 19th at 0653 Bob Watts picked up two drake Garganey flying low SW from the direction of Wood Green Reservoir. This is only the 2nd site record, the first since 1999.

Just the one Woodcock record this month, one pick up flying over Alexandra Park Road at 1750 on the 11th. Two Lapwing sightings on the east bank of Wood Green Reservoir on the mornings of 2nd and 16th were noteworthy for being the first perched and twitchable individuals this century! There were three Peregrine sightings during the month and one Red Kite on 26th just outside the park but heading towards it at 1430. On the gull fron two immature Great Black-backed Gulls with 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over the Circus Car Park, represented just the second record this year.

Summer migrants arrived in the shape of Chiffchaff on 15th followed by brief sightings of a male Wheatear on 21st 0745-0750 at the back of the North View Road gardens and then the same or another early afternoon near the Conservation Pond at Platform 3. Willow Warbler on the 25th with up to 4 by the month end was followed by 3 Swallows on 31st over Top Field.

Wintering visitors were on the wane but flocks of 80+ Redwing between the Rose Garden and Deeer Enclosures on 6th and 7th were notable. At least 3 possibly 4 Water Rails were present in the Conservation Pond and from the bridge in the Conservation Area. There were occasional Siskin sightings with 4 on 12th.

Also of note during the month was a Reed Bunting NE early morning on 23rd, peak counts of 9 Jackdaws and 10 Meadow Pipits on 28th, 3 Kingfisher sightings during the month, 14 Jays on the 1st and the return of the smart drake Tufted Duck x Pochard hybrid to the Boating Lake at the end of the month.