A cold, frosty and wet January gave way to a rather benign February with temperatures finally inching above average in the latter weeks of the month. A drier March delivered plenty of early spring migrants, and throughout the period, the newly restored Coldstream Marsh became the Reserve’s birding hotspot!
Encouragingly, wildfowl numbers were higher than in recent winters, most notably for Common Pochard, (image of male below) which experienced an influx towards the end of January, peaking at 36 on February 2nd and representing the Reserve’s highest count since January 2003!
Other notable wildfowl high counts during the first quarter included 88 Tufted Duck (March 14th), 17 Teal (January 3rd), 16 Shoveler (March 26th), and 14 Gadwall (February 3rd), with the ‘new’ Coldstream Marsh attracting the bulk of the reported Shoveler and Gadwall. Less expected wildfowl included regular sightings of a male Goosander between January 16th and March 22nd, with two males roosting on January 27th, and three (2 males and a female) present on February 27th. (image of male below)
A Black Swan was sighted on January 29th, while Wigeon were logged on February 2nd (a male), March 16th (2 pairs) and March 29th-30th (a male).
Great Crested Grebes were present throughout with numbers increasing from six in January to ten in March with at least one pair at a nest by the end of the month, while estimates of wintering Water Rail from the Pond’s reedbeds reached 11 on January 3rd, a species often heard but rarely seen.
A Great White Egret (image above) took up residence in early January and was a regular sight at the Coldstream Marsh throughout the quarter with reports of two, often seen together, on January 2nd and 29th, February 4th and March 3rd and 7th. The highest count of Little Egret received was of seven roosting on the evening of March 3rd while seven pairs of Grey Heron are nesting on Pine Island (the same nest count as in 2024).
A Woodcock (image above) was a surprise encounter at the Brookly Stream corner on January 3rd and may have been a cold weather migrant after a particularly hard overnight frost.
Reports of winter passerines were few with the best being 100 Siskin at Chestnut Grove on February 3rd and a notable six Firecrest all logged along the southern side of the reserve between Chestnut Grove and Westover Road on January 3rd. Notable winter roost counts included 210 Magpie and 200 Starling on January 2nd, and 700 Jackdaw on January 19th.
March heralded the first signs of spring migration with plenty of new arrivals and flyover migrants. An influx of six Common Chiffchaff on the early date of March 6th kicked things off. None were singing, suggesting they were short stay migrants. A Little Grebe magically appeared on the Coldstream Marsh on March 7th, remaining for a few days before relocating to the main pond on March 18th.
Overflying migrants included a Raven and 65 Chaffinch all heading east on March 9th, followed by a small influx of migrant Redwing around the reserve on March 10th when 32 were logged.
Migrant gulls included 40 Common Gull and two Mediterranean Gull heading over east on March 18th while counts of Black-headed Gull peaked at 400 on March 20th.
Another influx of Common Chiffchaff occurred on March 20th with six and all singing, likely marking the return of the reserve breeders, along with the first Blackcap of the spring (2 days earlier than in 2024).
The first Sand Martin of the year was logged on March 21st, heading slowly north on its own, (8 days later than in 2024) and was followed by a further five on March 28th along with the first (Barn) Swallow and House Martin of the spring. The first migrant Willow Warbler was logged on March 29th along with yet another influx of Common Chiffchaffs on March 30th when 14 were logged.
The only unusual raptor reported during the quarter was Peregrine Falcon (image below) with sightings from February 28th and March 18th and 23rd.
Other notable reports from March included at least four Cetti’s Warbler on territory in the reserves reedbeds and two pairs of Stonechats at the nearby MoD Fields. With the bulk of spring migration still ahead of us there is plenty to look forward to. Good birding!
Report written by William Legge
Contributing Observers: David Brassington, John Clark, Kevin Duncan, Andy Golder, Robert Hinson, Nikhil Kadyan, Jonathan Mist, R O’Connor, Stephen Perry, Sarah Slingo, Graham Stephenson and Richard Wright.
Credit Images: RSPB
www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/