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MARCH
Despite newspaper headlines the first of the month was NOT the actual start of Spring .. only Meteorological Spring! A knowledgeable scientific friend confirmed that the real start would be around the 20th of the month .. Astronomical Spring .. subject to the timing of the equinox!! I hope you are still with me .. all very confusing. What we all enjoyed was the wonderfully sunny early days with temperatures rising to 17 Celsius .. British Weather at its most bizarre. The middle part of the month quickly reverted to night frosts and chilly to cold northerly winds .. some early bird nest site searchers were undoubtedly caught out but bravely battled the elements to get their new breeding season started. Garden action covered Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robin, Greenfinch, Collared Dove, Dunnock and Wren. In the case of the Robin; I was bringing in logs for the wood burner and he/she flew out of a small crack half way up the pile! A torch showed some base leaves as a start of a nest and to avoid crush when the logs move during stripping I was forced to block the hole. Sad but the bird will have to find somewhere safer .. there are plenty of choices elsewhere in the garden.
We did manage to get a night away in north Norfolk but too late for the very large skeins of Pinkfeet Geese that gather on Holkham Freshmarsh during the winter months. But the overall birding experience was great and we were able to spend time hide watching at Holme and Cley next the Sea in warm sunshine. We did not manage to fit in Titchwell RSPB reserve this time but I would strongly recommend the site .. particularly for bird watching beginners. Good close views of Redshank, Common Teal (our smallest duck), Shoveler and Avocet .. the latter species including many returning migrants .. having arrived back from southern Europe where they over winter. Also the majestic Marsh Harrier patrolling the reed beds looking for prey. In my February notes I mentioned the Blue Tit box nesting choice and true to form the pair are busily taking in nest material ..even when as you will see from the photographs of the recently erected scaffolding for needed roof repairs .. the birds just use the bars as perches and have not been at all concerned about a tangle of steel surrounding the nest box. And the Wren now has 600 + piles of Suffolk roof tiles to search through every morning for insects .. his own personal climbing frame .. so clever and resourceful.
Despite newspaper headlines the first of the month was NOT the actual start of Spring .. only Meteorological Spring! A knowledgeable scientific friend confirmed that the real start would be around the 20th of the month .. Astronomical Spring .. subject to the timing of the equinox!! I hope you are still with me .. all very confusing. What we all enjoyed was the wonderfully sunny early days with temperatures rising to 17 Celsius .. British Weather at its most bizarre. The middle part of the month quickly reverted to night frosts and chilly to cold northerly winds .. some early bird nest site searchers were undoubtedly caught out but bravely battled the elements to get their new breeding season started. Garden action covered Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robin, Greenfinch, Collared Dove, Dunnock and Wren. In the case of the Robin; I was bringing in logs for the wood burner and he/she flew out of a small crack half way up the pile! A torch showed some base leaves as a start of a nest and to avoid crush when the logs move during stripping I was forced to block the hole. Sad but the bird will have to find somewhere safer .. there are plenty of choices elsewhere in the garden.
We did manage to get a night away in north Norfolk but too late for the very large skeins of Pinkfeet Geese that gather on Holkham Freshmarsh during the winter months. But the overall birding experience was great and we were able to spend time hide watching at Holme and Cley next the Sea in warm sunshine. We did not manage to fit in Titchwell RSPB reserve this time but I would strongly recommend the site .. particularly for bird watching beginners. Good close views of Redshank, Common Teal (our smallest duck), Shoveler and Avocet .. the latter species including many returning migrants .. having arrived back from southern Europe where they over winter. Also the majestic Marsh Harrier patrolling the reed beds looking for prey. In my February notes I mentioned the Blue Tit box nesting choice and true to form the pair are busily taking in nest material ..even when as you will see from the photographs of the recently erected scaffolding for needed roof repairs .. the birds just use the bars as perches and have not been at all concerned about a tangle of steel surrounding the nest box. And the Wren now has 600 + piles of Suffolk roof tiles to search through every morning for insects .. his own personal climbing frame .. so clever and resourceful.
In December last year I highlighted the Dunnock but did not elaborate on the females' unusual mating habits. Sadly she is the trollop of the garden bird world. As the real Spring develops watch carefully and you will notice the obvious dashing flight sessions but note particularly the rapid wing flicking. The female actively seeks male attention but monogamy is not in her dictionary; she will have up to 5 males in tow at any one time and often breeds with all of them during the nesting season! Maybe Darwinian .. survival of the fittest? What I do know is that she has a pretty trilling song and a "kind" face with a twinkle in her eye. Also the nest is a masterpiece of fine twigs, moss intertwined with hairs and she lays bright pure blue eggs. Certainly one of the wonders of the natural world. A Sparrow and shy at coming forward ... she is not!!
One more arrival on the 20th .. not seen but heard ... the haunting call of the Eurasian Curlew. They had good breeding success locally in 2024 so hopefully numbers are on the up. On the 22nd a Little Owl was calling from our front field for the first time in over 12 months!! So welcome .. a pair bred in our garden box in 2018 but the box was taken over by a large swarm of tree bees and it took ages to clear them out. Occasionally the Little Owl will use the box for roosting but they have not bred again since. Fingers crossed! On the insect front I noted the first Red-tailed Bumblebee on the 25th .. real Spring at last. Incidentally if you hear a quiet tapping sound at this time of year it is either the Blue or Great Tit chipping away at the edge of the entrance hole to make it more smooth.
One more arrival on the 20th .. not seen but heard ... the haunting call of the Eurasian Curlew. They had good breeding success locally in 2024 so hopefully numbers are on the up. On the 22nd a Little Owl was calling from our front field for the first time in over 12 months!! So welcome .. a pair bred in our garden box in 2018 but the box was taken over by a large swarm of tree bees and it took ages to clear them out. Occasionally the Little Owl will use the box for roosting but they have not bred again since. Fingers crossed! On the insect front I noted the first Red-tailed Bumblebee on the 25th .. real Spring at last. Incidentally if you hear a quiet tapping sound at this time of year it is either the Blue or Great Tit chipping away at the edge of the entrance hole to make it more smooth.
Lastly a little test .. can you tell a Wood Pigeon from a Stock Dove? The former constantly hacking away at all new foliage and messing on your car. The latter uncommon ... a very shy gentle hole nesting member of the same Columba Latin family grouping but so different when observed closely. A pair feed around us regularly but one sat on the wire for just a few minutes and I was able to get a quick shot through an upstairs window. Slightly smaller than the Wood Pigeon but with no white patches on the wing or neck .. just a beautiful shimmering green neck patch which showed nicely when the bird turned his head. Pink bill and feet. Sorry no prizes!
Roll on April .. even with showers.
Brian Taylor
Roll on April .. even with showers.
Brian Taylor