Rickys Birding Blog: March- Patch sightings, Patch Lifer, Father & Son time and birdwatching at Football!

After the Beast from the East had past temperatures stayed cold but soon got a little milder with a few sunny days but remained pretty miserable

Highlights of the month would be the Caspian Gull I found on the 9th March. Among some Herring gulls I picked it out as firstly looking " interesting" to say the least. I started to go through the features and at this point a couple of birders approached me and asked if I had seen the Caspian gull. I was now more confident that I was right to go with my gut instinct of it being a Caspian ! Although just coz we felt it was I still wasn't 100 per cent and after a few pictures and going away to chew it over ( and a few respected birders given there help as regards ID) I was happy. This was a uk lifer for me and my 125th patch bird species !

Not as rare but for me equally as exciting was finding 3x Bullfinches on the 21st. These stunning birds aren't rare of course but although I know there resident I'll rarely connect with em. I made sure I soaked it up , as these are my Favourite British bird .

Male BullFinch

Male and Female BullFinch

A pair and a single Male were observed among some Thickets and brambles before making there way into some bushes and trees.

I managed to connect with this pair again on the 29th and watched as they fed among the buds . Superb birds and in there spring ,breeding plumage ,simply striking . A little video below of what I saw over them 2 days here:-

https://youtu.be/FOhi445hRGw

Now before I list some sightings , I would like to say another highlight from the month for me was seeing how keen my son George (6yr) was to come along to the Patch with he's binoculars' to see what was on the Broad . We went straight after he's footy training. It was very cold and damp but this didn't stop him insisting we went to check out what was there. I was very proud of him to say the least! Ill Include some pictures below-

George checking the railway line in hope of a Fox!

Georges notes from the visit

Now back to the highlights from the patch and starting off with what was seen On the Broad it self the main highlights were -

Pochard x 22 on the 4th but dropping to 10 on the 9th and a single male remaining till the 29th.

Drake Pochard

Tufted duck numbers peaked at 78 on the 5th , 49 on the 13th and down to 24 on the 29th.

Gadwall went from 52 on the 4th and then down to 15 on the 18th and 17th on the 29th.

Shoveler were at 12 (6pr) on the 4th, 9 on the 15th,17 on the 22nd and 8 on the 25th.

Teal as usual tricky to count as so many tucked away but counts of 18 on the 4th were down to 4(2pr) on the 29th were observed.

Drake Wigeon and pair of Shoveler

The single drake Wigeon was only seen on the 4th but not after.

As mentioned in previous blog post I had my patch tick of a Drake Pintail on the 4th & 5th , a nice Redhead Smew on the 5th and the Goosander on the 4th. But on the 18th after a fairly average visit a Pair of Goosanders flew over heading South/east which was a nice sight .

Drake Goosander

* Of note it's worth mentioning that local birder Bill had spotted 2x Red Crested Pochards in the afternoon of the 17th march , no doubt the same birds which Justin lansdell had found on Whitlhngam in the morning the same day.

I tried to find them the next day but no luck. One to look out for in the coming years !*

Back to the Broad and a couple of Lapwings sightings were recorded on the 5th , where 9 birds were seen on the West Shingle Beach and 6 on the 13th but none after this date.

A pair of Oystercatchers were seen on the 4th and there after on every visit . (Digi scpe Picture below taken by my son George)

George enjoyed finding these Oystercatchers

Total of 5x Common Snipe recorded flying off from the East marsh on the 4th & 22nd but in a late visit on the 25th at least 16 were seen departing at dusk and Formed a tight flock over head. Many more were heard afterwards but I couldn't be sure if I was double counting or not.

That same date of the 25th while joined with Matthew Shore I had 2x Male Tawny Owls calling as darkness set and then had the joy of watching a Barn Owl hunt around the Broad edge and across the Marsh. We listened to at least 3x Water Rails calling as we continued to watch the Barn owl .

While we watched we were alerted to the Marsh in front of us. A call which we both thought was not "bird like " and after a little while we agreed it was an Otter. In fact we saw one in the dyke and then at least 4 were calling in and among the dykes in front of us. A wonderful sight to see as they went made there way through the marsh !

Finally of note a Little Egret was seen on the 13th, A single Kingfisher was seen on 4 visits and 3x Stock Doves seen on every visit accept on the 29th when I had 4.

Little Egret

Nice to also see a Red Legged Partridge calling on the West beach on the 15th , a bird not regularly visual seen here .

The month ended with my first real signs of spring with some returning birds to the patch. A Blackcap seen and heard briefly singing on the 29th and then a singing Chiffchaff on the same date, These were both my earliest spring records for these species at the patch !

In all a very good month and now ready for some calmer, more milder April with some passing and returning migrants to look out for!

I'll end my post with a quick couple of picture of my trip to the London staduim with my son George to see our club West Ham play Southampton which I'm happy to say ended in us winning 3v0 much to me and my sobs joy!
But it was our experience along the canal river and with the Ponds. Gardens around the Stadium which I wanted to share. It was great to be able to share all 3 of my favorite loves in life in one day- My son ,Wildlife and my club I support West Ham United ..... Good times indeed⚒