Local Patch Round-up - March 2026

 Another month ends and we are moving into spring proper now and the hope for some spring surprises.

The following is a summary of sightings for March from Goxhill and East Halton.

Sunday 1st

Good coverage of the Goxhill part of the local patch today, saw a decent 66 species being recorded.

Highlights went to a singing male Chiffchaff seen in Dawson City and later on, 2 lovely Bearded Tit along Goxhill Marsh. 

Some good counts of waders and wildfowl included 2500 Pink-footed Geese feeding in fields along Goxhill Marsh and 350 Curlew in the same area. A decent count of 45 Goldeneye were seen on the Humber off Goxhill Tilery, with 2 Jay still nearby.

Saturday 7th 

A very productive visit today, saw me visiting East Halton in the morning and then walking from Goxhill Haven to Dawson City in the afternoon, adding 4 new for the year species to the local patch list.

The first was a Raven which flew north along Skitter Road adding another record to the recent run of sightings over the past few years.

At Goxhill a well timed visit saw myself and Charlie seeing not only a smart 1st winter Caspian Gull at the Haven, but also a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers which flew west along the tideline here. The former was colour ringed with PE1P on a yellow darvic ring and had been ringed in Poland.  The latter sighting of the Mergs, are the first i have seen as a pair since 1987ish, as i only usually record them in autumn as singles and usually redheads, so what a great record!.

Other nice sightings from the day included 3 Barn and a single Short-eared Owl, 3 Whooper Swans at East Halton Skitter, 2 Ruff and still 625 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits on East Halton Marshes and the lovely sight of 2 Kingfishers at Winter's Pond.

Saturday 14th

A decent visit again today covering Goxhill and East Halton, saw only 1 NFY species, a Green Sandpiper, which was seen flying over the saltmarsh towards Dawson City. This continues a run of records of this species in recent years in spring.

Some decent counts on East Halton and Goxhill Marshes, included 47 Shelduck, 458 Curlew, 650 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits and 47 Redshank. The 2 Ruff from my previous visit were also still at East Halton.

Saturday 21st 

Another visit today walking from Goxhill Haven to East Halton and back, saw things starting nicely at Goxhill, when a Raven flew west at Goxhill Haven first thing and was then followed by some lovely close views of a hunting Barn Owl.

Just west of the Haven, 3 Whooper Swans were on the Humber off the old boatyard, continuing the recent run of sightings.

The only notable sighting at East Halton, was a NFY Common Scoter, with a Drake watched drifting along on the out going tide.

Some notable counts included 13 Cetti's Warblers(12 singing males), 257 Curlew and 558 Wigeon, with the wintering Black-tailed Godwits now dropping to 18 birds at East Halton.

Thursday 26th

A good walk around the whole patch today, saw 71 species entering ebird, with highlights going to a cracking Corn Bunting just west of Goxhill Haven, another or the same first winter Caspian Gull at Goxhill Haven, but this time only seen briefly as it flew past me. A Green Woodpecker near Chapel Field Farm was nice to hear 'Yaffling' away as i passed by and my first 2 local Sand Martins were seen at Goxhill Tilery Ponds.

Other notables during the visit included a 'Booming' male Bittern, 2 Siskin and 3 Bearded Tit.

Friday 27th

An evening visit to East Halton today after taking Mrs R shopping, saw a pretty productive visit, with me adding 3 NFY species, which included 9 Avocet feeding on the Humber mud, just north of Winter's, a lovely pair of Great-crested Grebe on Winter's itself and a smart male Little-ringed Plover on East Halton Marshes.

A single Knot was seen feeding in amongst a flock of Redshanks between Winter's and Killingholme Haven and a single Barn Owl was watched hunting along East Halton Marshes before i left for home.

Sunday 29th

The last visit of the month in some rubbish weather to East Halton certainly made it worthwhile putting up with the rain, when i found a Little Stint feeding with a single Dunlin and the usual Redshank flock between Winter's and Killingholme Haven. I tried to get near the flock to attempt to get some video or photos of the Stint, but the Redshank flock kept flushing in usual Redshank fashion, very frustrating!.

A few other notables seen during the visit included a pair of Little-ringed Plovers now on the marshes, 21 Icelandic Black-tails, the pair of Great-crested Grebes still and singles of Barn and Short-eared Owls.

A pretty decent month overall, with some great birding enjoyed.

Dawson City, 1st

Ruby Tiger Caterpillar, East Halton Skitter, 1st

One Of The Cute Locals, Goxhill, 1st.

Coltsfoot, Goxhill, 1st.

Colour-ringed Caspian Gull, Goxhill Haven, 7th.

Goxhill Marsh, 14th.

Sunrise, Goxhill Haven, 21st.

Common Buzzard, Dawson City, 21st.

Blackthorn Blossom, East Halton Skitter, 21st.

Hoverfly Species, Eristalis pertinax, East Halton Skitter, 21st.

Winter's Pond, 27th.

Ringing Details On The CR Caspian Gull

Setting Sun Over Redhouse Wood, 27th.