March 2010 started with heavy snow and low temperatures, had a very welcome mild, almost spring-like middle, then hit us with a 'sting in the tail' ending, with more heavy snow, just to remind us that winter was not quite over yet! March is definitely a 'crossover' month bird-wise up here, with most of our winter visitors like Geese, Whooper Swans and wildfowl still lingering, whilst the end of the month saw our first 'spring/summer' species return to their breeding grounds in this area. Bird day-lists increased slightly into the 40's and mammal day-lists remained steady between 5&8.
Wildlife highlights included:
Birdsong! After a long, hard winter, it's great to hear a 'dawn chorus' again.
The wintry weather continued to attract 'garden rarities' into my garden - including a new 'garden-tick' in the form of a Skylark.
Good views of Snow Buntings around the Cairngorm Mountain car park - despite the thousands of snowsports enthusiasts all around us!
Common Buzzards were seen to be displaying over local woodlands, making their characteristic 'peeww' calls whilst they did so.
Greater Spotted Woodpeckers were heard 'drumming' loudly on tree trunks.
The male Black Grouse began to properly 'lek' - strutting and jumping aggressively at each other whilst uttering their loud 'hissing' calls (see pic).
First sightings of the year in this area of Slavonian Grebe, Osprey, Red- Throated Diver, Black-Throated Diver, Grey Wagtail, Lapwing and Oystercatcher among others.
