The first Wheatear!

31 March - The first Wheatear of the spring is always an exciting moment, in this case a very smart male feeding from the fence posts at Blakehill - amazing to think that this bird has made a return trip to Africa before coming back to the UK to breed. Two mobile males present this afternoon, also the Curlew quite vocal but not seen, and a late party of 29 Fieldfares moving east, heading back to the continent to breed. Migration magic and every time it happens I find it just as amazing as the previous year!

Misty Coombe Hill

30 March - A foggy start in the Severn Vale, but when the mist cleared, 3 drake Garganeys and a female roosting, viewed from the Grundon Hide ........ One woke up and gave very good views swimming amongst the vegetation. Also displaying Redshanks and Lapwings, and my first Sand Martin of the spring.

The Oxford “Moors”

28 Mar - On a beautiful early spring morning, firstly, Otmoor...... early songsters including Reed Buntings and Cetti’s Warblers, with Blackcaps joining the Chiffchaffs in good numbers. Displaying Lapwings and Redshanks, a Curlew, and a group of 8 Ruff on Big Otmoor, also 2 flyby Snipe (but none heard drumming). A pair of Marsh Harriers carrying nesting material over the reedbed, Bitterns apparently present but not seen today. At Farmoor, Fairly quiet on the reservoir but a 1st-summer Med Gull feeding on the emerging insects amongst all the Black-headed Gulls, and a Little Ringed Plover on the causeway. At Pinkhill the most surprising sighting was a Barn Owl hunting in full sunlight mid-morning.

Blakehill

25 Mar - An afternoon check on Blakehill revealed no Wheatears yet, but the Short-eared Owl was out well before sunset, giving good albeit distant views. Otherwise fairly quiet apart from the usual Skylark chorus.

CWP waders........

25 Mar - Recent days have been fairly productive for waders in CWP, Pit 200 and Pit 305 (Eysey) are currently looking fairly promising, despite threats of development. Early Little Ringed Plovers on passage have joined Redshanks and Green Sandpipers, pairs of Oystercatchers have been mobile, and a couple of Black-tailed Godwits and two one-day Avocets have been more unusual visitors - a flock of migrant Golden Plovers visited Eysey flood, and Snipe and Curlew have been regular at the lagoon from Twitcher’s Gate. let’s hope for a good spring migrant season.

Owls.........

21 Mar - Both Barn Owl and Short-eared Owl seen out hunting in good light at Blakehill, well before sunset. The Barn Owl was being harried mercilessly by Crows, whereas they left the SEO alone...... why? A small flock of Fieldfares, with a few Redwings mixed in, also seen - presumably on the way east back to Scandinavia. My first Snipe of the year for this site also flew over.

WWT

20 Mar - A short visit to Slimbridge this morning, making the most of early access for members. Excellent views of an obliging Water Rail from Willow Hide, also russet-colored Black-tailed Godwits moulting into summer finery, and displaying Avocets. March is a quiet month, between winter and spring, and the weather can flatter to deceive.