End of month update from Carr Vale NR. On 26th Wigeon were back up to the winter maximum of 138, 16 Pheasants and nine Red-legged Partridges were counted, 13 Buzzards in the air included a kettle of nine, 120 Lapwings, distant Peregrine, three Brimstones and a Small Tortoiseshell. On 27th five Grey Lag Geese, 137 Wigeon, 49 Teal, 24 Tufted Duck (highest count of the winter), five Cormorants including two displaying, c1300 Black-headed Gulls, two Redpoll and the Marsh Tit along with a Small Tortoiseshell. 28th produced a juvenile Iceland Gull amongst c1500 Black-headed Gulls, 32 Gadwall (highest count of the year), a female Mandarin Duck (back on the year list after missing us last year), Grey Partridge calling at dusk, 23 Golden Plover and four Siskins. Throughout the period the two male Shoveler, two red-head Goosanders, up to five Great-crested Grebes, two Oystercatchers, up to six Snipe, up to four Common Chiffchaffs, the Siberian Chiffchaff all remained on site.
On 1st March great views at the juvenile Iceland Gull for ten minutes before it flew off, 135 + Wigeon, 30 Teal, 30 Gadwall, two male Shoveler still, female Goosander, two Oystercatchers, the first (two) Dunlin of the year, the Siberian Chiffchaff and an influx of Common Chiffchaffs with at least seven including five singing and two by the mound moving north along the river.