3rd: March…… Started off with some great news …One of the local birding lads had seen and heard Little Owls close to one of the villages near home. I hadn’t seen Little Owl in my local patch for years … so this sighting was a real bonus. Little Owls are not rare – but they are certainly elusive.
At this time of year – early Spring, they are declaring their territories and looking for a mate. So the birds are very vocal and easy to locate!! So it was great to go down to the site where they had been seen. Within a minute it was great to hear a calling bird but no sign of it …. however just as we drove off … my Mrs. with her eagle eyes had spotted one on the top of the hedge.
Sure enough there it was on top of the hedge with a full-on laser look …brilliant … what a fierce looking thing…first one I’ve seen locally for about 6 years!!
5th March….Watching Barn Owls is always a great privilege so it was a real treat to watch one hunting just off the Egton road above Rosedale.
8th March….Some great news filtered through today … about a summer plumaged Red Necked Grebe at Burton Riggs near Scarborough .. however due to family commitments I could not down tools and go immediately!! Well I certainly watched the Bird information services closely over the next couple of days … keeping my fingers crossed!!!
11th March… The twitch is on !!!… Me and the the Mrs went over to Burton Riggs today, I was keeping fingers crossed that it was still there … I needn’t have worried …. the Grebe gave point blank views what a stunning bird!! Red Necked Grebes are sometimes seen off the coast at Filey Brigg in winter… usually they are ‘blobs’ seen one minute then the other disappearing into the swell. Not the case this time, brilliant views of an amazing bird. Hats off to the finder … Thank you!!
13th March…..A trip to Nunnington Hall today, produced the first singing Chiff-chaff of the Spring; Always good to hear the first Chiff-chaffs then you know Spring is on its way.
18th March….Took an early Spring Trip over to Castle Howard today … It was a really nice run out. There were crocuses showing really well.. the Toads were very busy!! Bird wise it was pretty quiet, but there was a very nice Red Crested Pochard on the small lake below the Atlas fountain.
19th March… This evening I had a brilliant evening watching Barn Owls above Pickering … stunning birds .. Keeping fingers crossed they nest in the same area as last year!!
22nd March….Well it’s that time of year again when two iconic species return to the upland moors above Rosedale namely Wheatear and Ring Ouzel … both these birds make the moors their homes for the summer and return to Africa come September.
The Ring Ouzel is quite easy to find when they first arrive .. but after they have mated and the adult birds are rearing chicks they are notoriously difficult to approach closely … chattering down the hill side at the slightest disturbance.
Wheatears on the other hand are relatively easy to see and approach … but on this visit I saw none. However, there was one cracking Ring Ouzel showing really well on the Bilberry .. a great bird to see and photograph!! I have no worries about seeing Wheatear, so I will have to pick them up on another visit.
28th March……there is one animal that has eluded me for a number of years … let alone photographing it.. the Adder. I have always been too late, too early or the weather has been too cold and I have missed the opportunity.
This year with a bit of inside information and lots of optimism I was on a mission!! So me and the Mrs had a visit up to Ellerburn. And within 5 minutes the Mrs had one pinned down .. couldn’t believe my luck !! Within half an hour we had seen at least 6 six and the camera was in over drive … what a brilliant time with these gorgeous reptiles!! Thanks again to the Mrs with her eagle eyes!!!!
29th March ….. A visit over to Scampston Hall east of Rillington; again very quiet bird wise, but Comma butterflies were out.. these being the first ones I have seen this Spring.
31st March….A great way to end March….with another visit to see the Barn Owls in Pickering that I have been watching for the last few weeks near a local woodland.
