The Slavonian grebe present in the drain at Chapel St Leonards departed in the first week of the month after a near two-week residence.

A few wintering geese remained early on with white-fronted goose and barnacle goose both recorded on Huttoft Marsh. Whooper swan numbers dropped significantly to just single figures near the Boygrift Drain.

Four short-eared owls were seen together over Sandilands Golf Course on 6 March. Good numbers of meadow pipit and skylark have also been recorded displaying on the Golf Course which have not been recorded in previous years.     

Birds of prey have certainly dominated throughout March with record numbers of red kite migrating through the country park (eight birds noted over the month). These increased sightings clearly illustrating just how well this species continues to spread throughout the UK.

An osprey flew south over the sea at Marsh Yard on 19 March. Four buzzards in off the sea on 4 March were likely to be birds of continental origin as UK birds seldom move far.

Anderby Marsh has proved quite popular over the month with water levels remaining relatively high. A pair of redshank, lapwing and shelduck remained throughout with displaying noted from all three species. A migrant black-tailed godwit remained for two weeks and curlew numbers peaked at 62. The first ‘white’ wagtail of the year (the northern Europe equivalent to the pied wagtail) was noted on 6 March. Water pipits were noted on several dates with at least two birds in near summer plumage.

The great white egret recorded on Huttoft Marsh during February was again present on several dates in March. A male bearded tit was again recorded at Huttoft Pit.  

Over 5,000 bird records collected over January-March by the local birders soon to be sent to the Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership. An impressive 142 bird species had been recorded by the end of March.

Non-avian highlights

The first frogs and toads were recorded at Chapel Six Marshes on 16 March.

A couple sightings of harbour porpoise were again recorded with one from Wolla Bank on 13 March and four together from Marsh Yard on 19 March.

Good numbers of peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies have been noted throughout on fine days.

Several early spring flowers have been seen in recent weeks with lesser celandine, coltsfoot, primrose and cowslip.

Brown-tailed moth caterpillars now emerging throughout the country park. These caterpillars and their webs can cause irritation to the skin and should be avoided.

Top five species to look for in April

1. Green hairstreak butterfly (coastal footpath from Chapel Six Marshes to Anderby Creek the best place to see, particularly around hawthorn trees on warm days from mid-April)
2. Cuckoo (Chapel Six Marshes to Anderby Creek)
3. Sedge warbler (widespread throughout in any reed habitat)
4. Yellow wagtail (often seen feeding amongst cattle at Anderby Marsh or Huttoft Marsh)
5. Harbour porpoise (best looked for on calm days, sightings tend to pick up during the spring and summer months, Chapel North Sea Observatory is a good place to see them)