Although the weather has been variable it is certainly an improvement on last month. We have even managed a few sunny days and this has been reflected in the first butterfly sightings of the year, although none have been on the patch yet.. There were 33 species of bird seen on the patch this month including 3 new ticks for the year (Northern Wheatear; Dunnock and Great Spotted Woodpecker). This brings the total to 37 for 2014.
The patch highlight of the month was definitely finding one of the first Northern Wheatear to be recorded in London this spring ( The first record had been 2 days earlier). It always seems somehow more satisfying to find any bird on your own patch. Unfortunately it was only a brief view and I was not able to get close as it was on the private Golf course at the east end of the Tarn and only a small area is visible. But great luck for it to be in that area and for me to be watching at that time.
There is much activity going into nest building. One of our boxes has Blue Tits but not sure the other is occupied yet. The Waterbirds are pairing up and this has led to some fighting between pairs of geese as they stake their claims on potential nesting sites.
Have been continuing to do the winter thrush survey but now we are just seeing Blackbirds – all the rest seem to have moved out. Am continuing to survey for BTO over the summer on another bird survey but although it is local, unfortunately its not in the patch area. I will be recording the Butterflies and Dragonflies on the patch over the summer and am looking forward to our first sightings now April has dawned
Greylag Goose [sp] (Anser anser)
Canada Goose [sp] (Branta canadensis)
Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)
Mallard [sp] (Anas platyrhynchos)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Grey Heron [sp] (Ardea cinerea)
Great Cormorant [sp] (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk [sp] (Accipiter nisus)
Common Moorhen [sp] (Gallinula chloropus)
Eurasian Coot [sp] (Fulica atra)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Common Pigeon [sp] (Columba livia)
Common Wood Pigeon [sp] (Columba palumbus)
Rose-ringed Parakeet [sp] (Psittacula krameri)
Great Spotted Woodpecker [sp] (Dendrocopos major)
European Green Woodpecker [sp] (Picus viridis)
Eurasian Jay [sp] (Garrulus glandarius)
Eurasian Magpie [sp] (Pica pica)
Western Jackdaw [sp] (Coloeus monedula)
Carrion Crow [sp] (Corvus corone)
Great Tit [sp] (Parus major)
Eurasian Blue Tit [sp] (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Eurasian Blackcap [sp] (Sylvia atricapilla)
Eurasian Wren [sp] (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Eurasian Nuthatch [sp] (Sitta europaea)
Common Starling [sp] (Sturnus vulgaris)
Common Blackbird [sp] (Turdus merula)
European Robin [sp] (Erithacus rubecula)
Northern Wheatear [sp] (Oenanthe oenanthe)
Dunnock [sp] (Prunella modularis)
Common Chaffinch [sp] (Fringilla coelebs)
European Greenfinch [sp] (Carduelis chloris)
European Goldfinch [sp] (Carduelis carduelis)
White-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)
Pete's Favourite Things 