Bird News: March 2025

The 1st was a glorious sunny day and at least half a dozen Robins were singing in the Littlewood Reserve. Long tailed tits were collecting nesting material there and a Woodcock was roosting. Kingfishers were on New Rhyne and Little River on the 3rd and the latter site had a flock of 76 Linnets. Ravens (up to four) were noisy over north Yatton during the early days of the month.

Thursday the 6th was sunny and almost warm. Three Cetti’s Warblers were singing along the Strawberry Line. The highlights were a Water Rail which scurried past in one of the ditches and a Mistle Thrush in Moor Drove. 31 species were recorded in an hour and a half between. Biddle Street and the River Yeo at Moor Lane bridge.

Two days later the weather was still warm and sunny. A circuit from Wemberham to Phipps Bridge produced at least 750 Linnets in five flocks, all perched in trees and bushes twittering away. I have been told that there are two fields which have been planted with bird seed near Hewish and that is not far from Wemberham as the Linnet flies. There were Kingfishers on the Yeo and on the Little River. A Red Kite circled over Congresbury and what may have been the same bird did likewise over our Kenn Moor Reserve. Nearby at dusk on the 14th two Barn Owls were hunting together by Kenn Moor Road.

Marsh Tits visited a garden feeder by Cadbury Hill mid month and on the 22nd several parties of Linnets totalling at least 200 birds were in the Wemberham Lane area. A Black Redstart was in a member’s garden in Cleeve on the 25th and the Strawberry Line was alive with bird song with Chiffchaffs leading the way. A Stonechat was singing on our Congresbury Moor Reserve and another male was present nearby visible from the Strawberry Line. Just one Snipe remained on Congresbury Moor but there was a bonus in the form of a Jack Snipe.

A sunny morning on the 30th provided the first report of Swallows, two over the River by Moor Lane Bridge, Congresbury and one over Chestnut Park Estate. In Wemberham Lane my first Willow Warbler of the Spring was singing.

Your sightings and pictures are always very welcome at birds@yacwag.org.uk.

Trevor Riddle