Saturday March 12th to Tuesday March 22nd

Annual Report

Our 2015 Annual Report is now back from the printers. Please see the attached for how you can order a full colour, glossy, A4 hardcopy.

Late News

On February 9th, Keith Kerr found a new species for Tice's Meadow which he has spent the past 6 weeks dissecting and identifying: A Rove Beetle (Tachinus rufipes).

(c) Keith Kerr - Rove Beetle

(c) Keith Kerr - Rove Beetle

Saturday March 12th

Richard Seargent reported a Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, a Little Egret, 6 Snipe, 2 Water Rail, a Chiffchaff and a number of singing Redwing this morning.

A work party was held this morning with 10 volunteers spreading wood chippings on the muddy footpaths.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteers Working Hard

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Newly Laid Wood Chippings

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Newly Laid Wood Chippings

Sunday March 13th

Richard Seargent reported a Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret, 19 Snipe, a Water Rail, 2 Greylag Goose and a Siskin during visits this morning and afternoon. Richard reported 54 species today.

Richard also reported a Small Tortoiseshell on the wing behind Horton's Mound - the first reported butterfly of the Spring.

In addition, John Hunt reported 3 Green Sandpiper, 45 Wigeon, 80+ Teal, 7 Shoveler and 2 Chiffchaff this morning.

John noted that one of the Little Egrets present this morning was the ringed bird "B, K". This bird was rung as a nestling in North Cotes, Lincolnshire, on June 10th 2013. The sightings we are aware of are shown below:

Date	Location	Notes
10/06/13	North Cotes, Lincolnshire	Rung as nestling
15/08/13	Ironbridge, Shropshire
31/08/13	Venus Pool, Shropshire
06/10/13	Durleigh, Bridgewater, Somerset
20/10/13	Ludford Bridge, Ludlow, Shropshire
01/12/13	Tice's Meadow	KPD
09/12/13	Tice's Meadow	KPD
19/03/14	Moor Green Lakes, Berkshire
24/03/14	Tice's Meadow	DB
30/12/14	Tice's Meadow	KC
31/12/14	Tice's Meadow	ME
18/01/15	Tice's Meadow	KPD
13/03/16	Tice's Meadow	JH

(c) John Hunt - Little Egret

(c) John Hunt - Little Egret

(c) Richard Seargent - Grey Heron

(c) Richard Seargent - Chiffchaff

(c) Richard Seargent - Fox

Monday March 14th

No reports.

Tuesday March 15th

No reports.

(c) Alex Potts - Chiffchaff

Wednesday March 16th

No reports.

Thursday March 17th

Frank Boxell reported 4 Little Egret, a Water Rail and a Buzzard today.

(c) Alex Potts - Chiffchaff

(c) Alex Potts - Chiffchaff

(c) Alex Potts - Chiffchaff

Friday March 18th

Mark Elsoffer spent 8 hours on site today and reported 2 Little Egret, 2 Lapwing, 9 Grey Heron, 14 Mallard, 10 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, 3 Pochard, 148 Wigeon, 80 Teal, 13 Shoveler, 2 Egyptian Goose, 3 Skylark, 2 Bullfinch, 50 Redwing, 120 Fieldfare, a Stonechat, 2 Chiffchaff, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard.

The count of 148 Wigeon is a new site record.

In addition, John Hunt reported 2 Green Sandpiper this morning.

(c) Alex Potts - Chiffchaff

(c) Alex Potts - Long-tailed Tit

Saturday March 19th

Graham King reported a Green Sandpiper, a Dunlin, 4 Chiffchaff and 3 Stonechat today.

Dunlin is the 83rd species recorded on site this year.

Sunday March 20th

John Hunt reported 2 Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 0 Lapwing, 18 Shoveler, 24 Wigeon, 60+ Teal, 3 Greylag Goose, 2 Egyptian Goose, 3 Skylark, and 3 Chiffchaff this morning.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported 19 Snipe, 2 Water Rail, 2 Stonechat and 2 Grey Wagtail this morning.

Monday March 21st

John Hunt reported a Little Egret, 4 Lapwing, 78 Wigeon, 18 Shoveler, 28 Stock Dove, a Red Kite, a Sparrowhawk and 3 Buzzard this morning.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported a Green Sandpiper, a Little Ringed Plover and an adult Yellow-legged Gull this afternoon.

Little Ringed Plover is the 84th species recorded on site this year.

Tuesday March 22nd

Andy Little made 2 visits to Tice's today and reported a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Little Ringed Plover, 10 Greylag Goose, a Kingfisher, a Sand Martin, 3 Chiffchaff, 42 Fieldfare, a Red Kite and 2 Buzzard.

Sand Martin is the 85th species recorded on site this year.

As Andy was about to leave Horton's Mound at 17:52 he spotted a Common Crane! It flew from west to east, circled the site twice, and then disappeared off to the east.

This is the first recorded sighting of Common Crane on site - the 187th species of bird recorded at Tice's Meadow and the 86th species recorded on site this year.

In addition, Carey Lodge reported 2 Mediterranean Gull this morning.


Butterflies
Today's welcome sunny weather heralded the first multiple butterfly sightings of the year.

Lindsay Patterson, our Butterfly Recorder, walked his first transect of the year and reported 5 Brimstone, 1 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Red Admiral.

Carey Lodge also reported 2 Brimstone and several Small Tortoiseshell.
Richard Horton also reported Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell.

(c) Andy Little - Mute Swan

(c) Kevin Duncan - Common Toad