Spring at Carr Vale

Spring at Carr Vale

Mark Beevers records the sightings from the first week of March at Carr Vale.

First week of March was pretty quiet but here is an update. Regulars include up to 136 Wigeon (8th), 40 Gadwall (2nd and 7th), 67 Teal (7th), 18 Tufted Ducks, three Goosander (5th), six Great-crested Grebes, pair of Oystercatchers, a few Snipe and a few Chiffchaffs all noted daily. More notable records are: Two male Shoveler (to 2nd), two Dunlin briefly, first winter Iceland Gull, Peregrine, seven Chiffchaffs and five Siskins on 1st whilst on 2nd Peregrine, Siberian Chiffchaff and 11 Siskins (south). On 3rd just one Shoveler remained (until 7th), Redshank, Peregrine, Siberian Chiffchaff, three Grey Wagtails (north) and 17 Reed Buntings on the mound table. Just the regulars present on 4th apart from a Grey Lag Goose and a Water Rail but on 5th Grey Partridge calling at dusk, two Water Rails calling at dusk, Golden Plover, 29 Snipe counted out at dusk, Peregrine, 22 Fieldfare, three Redwings and Cetti’s Warbler calling at dusk. The 6th was again quiet apart from the regulars but things picked up nicely on 7th when first an adult Yellow-legged Gulls was found (new for the year, species 96), then a superb adult summer plumaged Mediterranean Gull appeared followed shortly afterwards by a pale first winter Iceland Gull. The Med Gull was wearing a red ring white a white alpha-numeric code but the wind was too strong to read the combination and as there are several ringing projects (from countries like Poland, Slovakia, Latvia and Lithuania at least) without more detail I can’t identify where it originated from. Also on 7th a pair of Shoveler, 25 Pheasants (five males), 46 Fieldfare south-west, six Redwings and four Grey Wagtails. A different (darker with different bill markings than yesterdays bird) first winter Iceland Gull came in with 500+ Herring Gulls on 8th when 13 Buzzards and Peregrine were also seen. Steady birding.