The switch of the calendar from February to 1 March and meteorological Spring had no influence whatsoever on a change in birds over the first 10 days or so of this month, which included a few days of wintery weather and a snow covering on the 5th, there was a brief sign of Spring in the middle of the month before rain set in.
A trip to the West Dean area on the morning of the 5th had a meagre show of 2 Hawfinches but good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing in the fields and my first Red-legged Partidge of the year.
A visit to Selsey on the had many of the regular species with 9 Great Northern Divers, c 50 Common Scoter, 15 Sandwich Terns and 2 Velvet Scoter. and a quick drop in at Siddlesham had the regular Spotted Redshank and 9 Avocet by otherwise litte else.
A midweek patch of improved weather saw me do a pre-work visit to Black Down with great highlight being a male Wheatear, my first Spring migrant and a decent early inland record, a few seem to have arrived overnight as were reported elsewhere, the usual Woodlarks were in full song a a few Stonechats and Dartford Warblers were visible and the Great Grey Shrike was still there and gave reasonable views.
My first singing Chiffchaff of the year were at home on the 17th when 3 turned up together in the Goat Willows outside the back door.
A further visit to Selsey on the 18th produced the 2 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Eider and a highlight when 5 Little Gulls flew through on an eastward movement and some of the c30 Sandwich Terns also looked like they were on the move.
An attempt at a Black Down bird survey on the 19th was rather hampered by a cold northerly wind, although the Great Grey Shrike was still there.
A further visit to Selsey on the 25th was rather thin on the ground of species although the 2 Long-tailed Duck were still there, 2 more Eider and 54 Brent Geese moved East and there was a single Wheatear at Church Norton.
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| Woodlark |
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| Wheatear |
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| Wheatear |
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| Great Grey Shrike |
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| Great Grey Shrike |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Frog Spawn |
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| These might be Toads |
