Magnificent March - a summary

This summary for the whole of March 2019 was left until the last day - just to make sure that the fine start for wildlife didn't take a sudden U turn and pitch us into the gloom. Here in Sussex at least, after a cloudy, cool start this morning, the sun appeared, warming sheltered places against the fresh easterly breeze. 

This time last year this could have been snow - but this year it's just bountiful Blackthorn blossom over the river on 18th March 2019.

Looking back to records of last year, March 2018 was mostly overcast and drizzling - memorable only for the continuing icy Beast from the East. 

This month did start overcast, with some fine rain, but all seven bridge beams for the East bridge were installed during the first part of the day on 1st March, in good conditions and on the second day the huge crane was dismantled by another crane - all work carried out with loud song from robins, dunnocks and wrens in the vegetation and trees close by.

Rain had caused the river banks to burst - a normal occurrence on the riverside and this was welcome as the winter had been too dry. During the week, the first dandelions began to appear and Mallard duck paddled strongly along the river against the flow and grey herons were happy with an endless supply of frogs from the ponds and drainage basins. although the majority of the amphibians escaped into the plentiful pond-side undergrowth.  

Storm Freya arrived on 9th bringing windy weather with the sight of a red kite sailing fast in the wind on 11th. There was a short spell of rain and wind, the river level increased again. On 19th there were good views of two of the last redwing probably pausing on their way back to their summer habitat in other lands to the north and east. On 23rd the first migrant chiffchaffs arrived, filling the riverside with song (well chiff - chaff call) and greenfinches were heard to the north. On 26th the first migrant blackcaps were singing in willows to the south end and several Brimstone butterflies - male and one female were ranging along the banks. The following day a fine Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was seen in the same place - no coincidence - the attraction was some small clumps of Cuckooflower!

On the last day, 31st, last but not least, the first two migrant common whitethroats were singing in brambles on the river bank.

BEE-FLY on CUCKOOFLOWER  30th March 2019

The fly wings were moving so fast that it was not possible to identify which type this was but it certainly homed in to the Cuckooflowers which had only just opened.

Several clumps of Cuckooflower on the same bank had already attracted several Brimstone butterflies  and today attracted the first Small Tortoiseshell butterfly here.