MARCH saw the appearance of the first summer migrants with an Osprey over Nosterfield on the 8th taking the prize for the earliest arrival.

This was closely followed by Chiffchaffs with a notable influx on the 13th. By the month end these little warblers were well established with, for example, eight singing birds in the vicinity of Ainderby Steeple.

Sand Martins first appeared from the 20th but the cooler, foggy weather towards month end slowed their arrival and they were still absent from many of their breeding areas. Two Swallows were spotted near Masham on the 27th and both Wheatear and Little Ringed Plover were also recorded before month end.

More surprisingly, an exceptionally early House Martin was seen with the Sand Martins at Nosterfield on the 21st.

As predicted, there was another good movement of Whooper Swans through the area in March with birds seen at most local waters.

Highest count was a magnificent 107 birds at Nosterfield but there was also a notable herd of 70 birds seen on Thorpe Farm pools on the A66.

Scarcer visitors in March included this superb Snow Bunting, above, photographed in Nosterfield reserve car park by Eric Ward. An unusual visitor to a Richmond garden was a “Nordic” Jackdaw. This is the race of Jackdaw which breeds in Scandinavia and is principally distinguished from our race by a white collar under the grey nape.

Red Kites were seen at Nosterfield and over Romanby and up to 150 Pinkfooted Geese and seven Whitefronted Geese were at Carthorpe Mires.

The wintering Caspian Gull was still being spotted in the roost at Lingham up to midmonth and up to four Mediterranean Gulls were also seen in this area. The “Med” gull is one of those species which has radically changed its status from being a very rare winter visitor to a regular summer resident and now a breeding species too.

Another bird which has seen a similar change in status is the Avocet. Only one of these striking symbols of the RSPB had been seen in the area at the time I wrote Birds of the Northallerton and Richmond Area. Now they are regular breeders and this month eight birds were at Newsham ponds, seven at Nosterfield and one at Marfield, near Masham.

Other wader sightings in March included Green Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit at Newsham and four Ruff and Bar-tailed Godwit at Nosterfield. Looking forward to April, this can be a great month for rarer birds with sightings such as Beeeater, Hoopoe, Black-winged Stilt, Ring-billed Gull and White-tailed Eagle all seen in recent years. April can also be a good period for birds of prey, particularly on a fine day with light southerly winds. Osprey, Marsh Harrier and Red Kite are all now annual visitors.

A lucky observer might even pick up something rarer like Black Kite or Honey Buzzard perhaps drifting along the escarpment of the Hambleton Hills. As always, I would be interested to hear of any unusual sightings at nick.morgan1@virgin.net.