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Latest wildlife sightings – March 2022

After what felt like a very long, wet winter, our staff and visitors were overjoyed to feel the arrival of spring – and we think it’s safe to say the wildlife on our nature reserves was, too!

With numerous storms behind us and the sun finally shining, it was wonderful to see you all out enjoying nature at the wild places we look after. There was so much to see in March, with countless signs of spring lifting the spirits.

Brockholes

It didn’t take long for the celebrations to begin at Brockholes – the in focus team spotted our first returning sand martin on 10 March! Small and agile, these zippy little birds fly here all the way from Africa each year, nesting in the specially designed sand martin wall that sits next to The Lookout hide.

Chiffchaffs also returned, and the first swallow was spotted a little later in the month. Curlew numbers were recorded reaching up to 90, with the birds usually dropping in from midday onwards to feed and rest. They’re on their way back to their hilly breeding grounds after wintering on the coast, and will nest on the ground in the grass, so keep your dog on a lead and stick to footpaths when you’re walking in the countryside.

The bittern was still on the reserve in March, seen occasionally in the reed fringes on Meadow Lake, but we also enjoyed a new visitor – an osprey. First seen flying over Brockholes, it then fished in the Ribble and has dropped by on a couple more occasions since it was first spotted. The Ribble Valley is on the osprey migration path, so we’re looking forward to seeing more of them over the coming weeks.

Other March wildlife sightings at Brockholes included:

  • A few pairs of tree sparrow (uncommon here)
  • Two jack snipe around the edge of Number One Pit island
  • Redwing
  • Kingfisher
  • Treecreeper
  • Bullfinch
  • Lapwing
  • Green sandpiper
  • Redshank
A wooden bird hide standing on a pebbly shore next to a lake at Mere Sands Wood

The new Fletcher hide at Mere Sands Wood replaces the Cyril Gibbons hide, which was sadly burned down.

Mere Sands Wood

Last month, Mere Sands Wood showed just why it’s such a wonderful place to watch spring unfold. Newly arrived chiffchaffs filled the sun-dappled woods with their distinctive song; blackthorn, hawthorn and elder trees burst into life with blossom and buds; and freshly emerged butterflies and hefty queen bees sunned themselves on the paths. Small birds were busy nesting, with wrens, long-tailed tits and treecreepers making nests around the reserve.

But it wasn’t only the wildlife that was busy – our team has made brilliant progress on the improvement works around the Visitor Centre. The bridge is in and the ponds are almost finished, ready to revegetate as the year rolls on. We’re also very pleased to announce that we have finished replacing the Cyril Gibbons hide – the new and improved Fletcher hide is now open! It’s a great place to sit and try to spot a kingfisher.

Lunt Meadows

As well as Brockholes, Lunt Meadows had a visiting osprey that was also later seen flying over our Seaforth Nature Reserve. That wasn’t the only sign of spring at Lunt Meadows – skylarks were heard singing early in the morning before oystercatchers chimed in and squeaked through the rest of the day. Avocets also returned, and we’re really hopeful they’ll have a successful breeding season here.

A male blackcap, with a grey body and black head, sitting on a twig covered in thorns

Male blackcap by Janet Packham Photography

Middleton Nature Reserve

Gadwall and pochards paddled on the pools alongside little grebes in March. A water rail was heard calling at the Tim Butler Pool, and visitors were overjoyed to hear the first two Cetti’s warblers of the year bursting into song. Chiffchaffs, too, made themselves known to passers-by, and the first blackcap pair of the season were recorded sitting silently in a tree. We also heard a green woodpecker and spotted comma, peacock and brimstone butterflies out sunning themselves before flitting off to feed.

Heysham Nature Reserve

Heysham Nature Reserve really comes alive in spring, and it won’t be long until the birdsong here reaches incredible levels. In March, visitors recorded:

  • Chiffchaff
  • Goldfinch
  • Greenfinch
  • Bullfinch
  • Long-tailed tit

We also spotted a crafty jay, a sneaky sparrowhawk and a great-spotted woodpecker flying between the trees. A water rail was heard calling from the marsh, and both male and female brimstone butterflies were seen on the wing.

We can’t wait to see what April brings to our nature reserves. With even more wonderful wildlife to see and hear as spring progresses, why not get out there and see what you can spot? Use one of the buttons below to tell us all about your sightings on social media.

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