March 2019

Monthly report March 2019

General: coverage and weather
Average temperature was 4.7 degC, 1.9 degC over the normal. Highest temperature was 7.9 degC (28th), and lowest 0.2 degC (31st). Total rainfall was 132.1mm. Most rainfall in one day was 20.8mm (7th). Strongest wind speed was 25.7m/s (8th). Total number of species in March ended on 65 versus 73 the previous year.

Raptors:
Few species or numbers; the local Peregrine Falcon and one to three White-tailed Eagles were noted almost daily. Otherwise there was a Merlin on the month last day.

Shorebirds:
The Mute Swan from October 2017 is still present. A flyover Whooper Swan was noted on the 22nd. Two pairs of Mallard took up residency during the month. There was little of note on the seabird front. The years first tringa was in the form of a flyover Redshank on the 29th. From the middle of March up to 4 or 5 displaying Snipe were noted at various localities.

Passerines:
Low numbers and few species of new arrivals in the middle of March. A male Black Redstart was seen at various localities in the Austrheim area on the 17th. A pair of Stonechat were in the area between Veito and Herberg on the 21st and 30th and a male in the same area on the 23rd. Large flocks of Starling between the 13th and 30th totaled between 100 and 245 individuals, otherwise few days with three figure numbers of other species during March. A Rook from February was also noted up to the 23rd March.

Ringing:
No Activity in Merkeskogen during March.

Year ticks:
There were 18 new species for the year in March: White Wagtail (13th), Linnet (15th), Fieldfare (16th), Snow Bunting, Chiffchaff and Black Redstart (17th), Black-headed Gull and Whooper Swan (22nd), Wheatear (23rd), Brambling (24th), Dunnock (27th), Redshank, Yellowhammer, Blackcap and Mistle Thrush (29th), Lesser Redpoll and Golden Plover (30th) and a Merlin (31st).

Rarities/local scarcities:  
No species that fall into this category were noted.