Recent news from Carr Vale (apologies for lack of recent posts, been a tad busy with other matters) is that there were occasional records of Grey Lag Goose, Wigeon were still in three-figures at the start of the period (129 on 14th) but by 25th had reduced to just 15 including one with a broken wing, Gadwall and Teal numbers remained fairly constant with maxima of 29 (18th) and 33 (19th) respectively whilst the immature male Goosander that had been present on most days for a few weeks was last seen on 22nd. Common Buzzards were very noticeable often in double-figures, a pair of Oystercatchers and varying numbers of Common Snipe were seen daily, Willow Tits were found in three areas and Chiffchaffs became well established with birds singing daily. The only record of note on 14th was a Polish ringed Black-headed Gull (yellow ring T6XE) though there was a trickle of Meadow Pipits north (20) whilst a Peregrine was seen on 15th when 28 Meadow Pipits flew north. Nothing worth reporting on 16th but on 17th a male Mandarin Duck flew north over Meadow Flash (being refound later on Tony’s Scrape), three Golden Plover, 17 Buzzards including a kettle of ten and 72 Meadow Pipits north. On 18th five Grey Lag Geese, Peregrine and the first Long-tailed Tits nest under construction whilst on 19th we had the splendid sight of 22 Whooper Swans overhead heading north. Also on 19th a male Shoveler, the first two Sand Martins of the year and a bunch of spawning Common Frogs. On 20th 23 Common Buzzards (most distant and to the south and west of us but viewed from the mound), 24 Pheasants (only three males), a calling Water Rail was the first for a while, 11 Snipe, a good count of eight Common Gulls, the first Kingfisher for some time, seven Siskins north, at least 15 Common Frogs still spawning and the four expected March species of Butterfly with singles of Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Comma with three Brimstones.