Birds and other
wildlife recorded in March 2025
BIRDS:
Several sightings of Red Kites soaring overhead – always an uplifting view.
Buzzards were also seen but neither Sparrowhawk nor Kestrel. Keep looking – and
listening. Stock Doves were fairly
regular – including some displaying individuals, and of course there were
Woodpigeons, though nobody reported Collared Doves. Green and Great-spotted
Woodpeckers were around, and there were several records of the latter species
drumming, a sign of spring and a territorial note.
Commonly
observed species were Dunnock, Robin, Song Thrush and Blackbird; the “winter
thrushes” will have departed. Blackcaps –once very rare at this time of year,
but now more frequent – were recorded, and every tree seemed to hold a singing
Chiffchaff! Other common species were
Wren, Great Tit, Coal Tit and Blue Tit – the latter seen investigating one of
the nest boxes.
Nuthatch
and Treecreepers were noted, the latter usually quite hard to spot in its quiet
camouflaged movements. The common
corvids were around, the jackdaws often in small flocks; Rooks, Magpies, Jays
and carrion crows were also recorded. Finally, the finches; only two this month
– Chaffinch and Greenfinch
MAMMALS:
Grey Squirrel and Rabbit and the increasingly familiar Roe Deer. It is only
about a decade ago that the sight of a Roe Deer in the area was very
unexpected.
BUTTERFLIES:
Brimstone; Green-veined White; Red Admiral; Small Tortoiseshell (which is good
news as they had a poor year last year); Peacock; Comma. There will be plenty
more records as the spring progresses and the butterfly surveys flourish.
OTHER
SPECIES: Buff-tailed Bumblebee; Dotted Bee-fly; Frog spawn
Please
keep looking and send in your records. Even if it’s something you think is very
common, we still need to have the record!
