MARCH was a rather quiet month for local birdwatchers, although there were one or two highlights.

Pick of the sightings was a flock of five garganey at Nosterfield.

This lovely “summer duck” is normally a scarce visitor and this was the largest flock so far recorded in the area. Up to seven avocets were also seen and hopefully point to birds nesting again. The long-staying red-necked grebe and longtailed duck at this site continued to entertain visitors, with the latter bird still present at the time of writing.

The mixed March weather meant summer migrants were not numerous, but a small influx on the 15th brought chiffchaffs to Garbutt Wood and Nosterfield, and a very early willow warbler to Thorpe Farm. Another warmer spell on the 20th saw the first reports of ring ouzel, little ringed plover, sandmartin and wheatear. An osprey was seen at Cowesby on the 27th.

As the southern migrants flew in, northern breeding species were leaving, and this brought some good flocks of whooper swans, with 25 over Thorpe Farm, 15 at Newsham ponds, up to 14 birds at Nosterfield, and ten at Great Langton.

Pink-footed geese were also passing through, with the largest flocks including 71 at Nosterfield and 44 at Scorton.

A flock of 16 barnacle geese was seen at the latter site, and a marked influx of shelduck late in the month was also interesting.

Other sightings in March included small numbers of waxwings still in the Boroughbridge Road area of Northallerton, a scaup at Scorton, and Iceland and Mediterranean gulls, Egyptian goose, ruddy shelduck, water rail and red-breasted merganser, all at Nosterfield.

April is one of the best months for waders, while marsh harriers and osprey are also regular visitors and red kites are seen more often.

It is also a good month for merlin.