March 2009

Highlights
Ring-necked Duck, drake on the Nene Washes
Black Redstart, female/first-winter male at Swaddywell pit
Black-necked Grebe, summer-plumage bird on Nene Washes
Waxwing, two at least at British Sugar, Woodston
Iceland Gull, worn juvenile bird at Tanholt pit late on
Cranes, pair still around

© Peter Beesley
Black Redstart at Swaddywell Pit

Baston & Langtoft Pits
Pink-footed Goose, 3, north of Grummitt's scrape, 6-7.3.09,
On 1.3.09:
Little Egrets, 4+,
Mealy Redpolls, 2+ still by Gull Pit,
Siskins, c30,
Lesser Redpolls, c10,
Shelducks, 4,
Nordic Jackdaws, 2,
Green Sandpiper (Cross Drain), 1,
1 Corn Bunting singing by Cross Drain, 1,

On 29.3.09
Pink-footed Goose, 1, fields on north side,
Sand Martin, c30, over Ocean,
Little Ringed Plover, 2, on New Works,
Ringed Plover, 1, New Works,
Little Egret, 1, New Works
Goldeneye, 12, (3 drakes) ARC Pit,
Red-crested Pochard, 20,
Oystercatcher, 3,
White Wagtail, 1, New Works

Deeping Lakes,
Goldeneye, 27, lots of displaying birds well into month,

Farcet Fen
On 16.3.09:
Wheatear, 1,
Chiffchaff, 1,
Pied Wagtail, 7,
Fieldfare 90+;
Brambling, 1, female, 17.3.09
Chaffinch, weirdly deformed bird in garden, 18.3.09,
Hen Harrier, 1, female, 26.3.09

Ferry Meadows
Mealy Redpoll, 1, with singing Lesser Redpolls near Orton Mere, 16.3.09,
Chiffchaff, first singing birds on 16.3.09,
Little Egret, 1, on Overton off and on mid-month,
Sand Martin, 7, on 17.3.09, increasing to 50+ on 23.3.09, 100+ on 30.3.09
Common Gull, 120, on Overton, 20.3.09,
Ruddy Shelduck, 2, on Overton Lake, 29.3.09,
Swallow, 1, over Gunwade, 29.3.09
Goldeneye, 1, male lingered into April,

© Peter Farbridge
Siskins in a garden in Orton Longueville, 23.3.09

Maxey pits
Little Ringed Plover, first pair on 14.3.09, two pairs by 16.3.09
15.3.09:
Ringed Plover, 7, 3 pairs and 1 bird looking like a tundrae
Oystercatcher, 2
Little Grebe, 9, 4 pairs plus 1
Shelduck, 12, 6 pairs
Teal, 95
Redshank, 8
Green Sandpiper, 8
Barn Owl,

Nene Washes
Ring-necked Duck, 1, drake on flood at March Farmers with Tufted Ducks, 22.3.09,

© Mark Hawkes
Drake Ring-necked Duck, March Farmers, 22.3.09

Black-necked Grebe, 1, summer-plumaged bird on flooded fields on 14.3.09 (first on reserve since 2001),

© Mike Weedon
Black-necked Grebe, central drove, Nene Washes, 14.3.09
Water Pipit, 3, at least, 14.3.09, 5 on 19.3.09,
Hen Harrier, satellite-tagged sub-adult male in Ring's End area in first two weeks,
Black-tailed Godwit, count of 2,650 in one flock, 14.3.09


© Mike Weedon
Black-tailed Godwits dotted for counting, 14.3.09


© Mike Weedon
Young Peregrine, 14.3.09
Peregrine, 2, at least including a juvenile, 14.3.09


© Mike Weedon
Whooper Swans on central drove

Old Sulehay
Bullfinch, 1, calling like a northern-race bird, 1.3.09

Swaddywell NR

© Peter Beesley
Black Redstart at Swaddywell Pit
Black Redstart, 1, in stonecutting works area at edge of reserve, 21-22.3.09,
Wheatear, 2, male and female, 22.3.09,

Tanholt pits
Iceland Gull, 1, juvenile, 29.3.09,

Thornhaugh Quarry
On 1.3.09:
Snipe, 47,
Jack Snipe, 10,
Woodcock, 1,

Thurlby Fen,
Great White Egret, 1, reported on 4.3.09 and
On 1.3.09:
Brambling, 1,
Yellowhammers, c40,
Buzzard, 1,

Woodwalton Fen
Sand Martin, 2, 14.3.09, the first in the area this year

Woodston, Peterborough
Waxwing, 2, feeding on berries outside British Sugar office, Oundle Road, 28.3.09


© Mike Weedon
Waxwing, outside British Sugar, Woodston