The second cold snap of the winter froze most of the ponds on the park on the night of the 4th, but this spell of winter was short-lived. By the 7th birds were again in full song as milder Atlantic air pushed in from the west, raising daytime temperatures to 7C. The middle of the month however, again proved that winter was not far away. Several nights of severe frosts left many of the smaller water bodies on the park frozen solid. Overnight frosts were a feature of much of the remainder of the month but by day, the temperatures rose to 12C on the sunniest days.
A Grey Wagtail, associating with a Pied around the offices, on the morning of the 7th was the first record of this species since mid-December. Grey Wagtails had become regular wintering species in the last three years, but this is the first winter without any regular birds since 1999-2000. This individual was seen again on a number of dates later in the month. Another sign of lengthening days and the coming spring was the overhead westerly passage of Skylarks and odd Meadow Pipits, on the 7th, as they headed back towards their breeding grounds. Many birds started to break into song during sunny days with a chorus of Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks, Chaffinches, Blackbirds and even two Song Thrushes delighting the perceptive listener. Up to four Song Thrushes were still on the northern site early in the month along with the resident Mistle Thrush trio. A few Redwing continued to feed under the young plantations. The first Goldcrest of the spring passed through on the 20th.
The high tide roost of waders continued to be a daily feature of the northern site, with up to 43 Ringed Plovers being the most notable species. There were also 20-70 Lapwing and a notable peak of 204 Dunlin with the usual 10-22 Redshank. On the new lagoons, the number of Snipe increased to 47 on the 10th before the muddy areas froze over. However, the birds quickly re-occupied the site with 54 counted on the 25th. Gulls were also a daily feature with 3-400 Black-headed and Common Gulls taking advantage of the new ponds. With such an aggregation of small gulls there was always the possibility of a rarer species accompanying them, so a first-summer Mediterranean Gull seen on the 13th was an almost expected addition to the list of birds so far recorded in the park in 2003.
Lengthening days stirred waterfowl into action. Coots and various ducks started to establish nesting territories in preparation for the coming spring. Gadwall numbers started to build up, with ten birds present by the end of the first week on Pond B and eighteen birds by mid-month. The total of Pochard and Tufted Duck varied daily as birds commuted between different pits in the area but peaked with 31 Pochard and 14 Tufted Duck. Little Grebes started to trill their spring display calls from Ponds B and D even during periods of sub-zero temperatures. The first pairs of Greylag Geese returned from the middle of the month to search out their prospective breeding sites with ten birds being in residence by the 18th. The first Canada Goose pair were hot on their heels returning by the 24th. Greylags nest early with the first brood of young having been seen in the first days of April in both 2001 and 2002.
A late evening vigil on the 4th proved to be rather productive with the resident Barn Owl peering out of its adopted nest box at the same time as four, and possibly six, Sparrowhawks came in to roost. Three Water Rails were calling from the southern reedbeds. A visitor reported a Water Rail walking down the main path in front of him on a fortuitous visit later in the month. As the Middle Lagoon started to dry out a single Water Rail could be seen feeding on the open mud under the dead trees; a most unusual sight for this elusive reedbed dweller. A Great Spotted Woodpecker took to feeding on the dead trees just above the mud at the month end but the whole winter has passed without a single sighting of Green Woodpecker. This is rather disappointing as single birds had wintered for two consecutive seasons prior to this one.
The feeding stations were popular with good numbers of tits, Robins, Dunnocks, finches, Blackbirds and a few Reed Buntings being regular visitors early in the month before vandals struck and removed or destroyed all of the feeders. Prior to this pitiful act Long-tailed Tits again frequented the Pasture Road peanut feeder where there were up to 11 Blue Tits at one sitting. This no doubt reflected a very large turnover of birds. Mallard and Moorhen though, are not usual birds at most garden feeding stations!
The alders lacked feeding finches compared to January, but odd Goldfinches were still seen and two Lesser Redpolls occurred 17th. The Stock Doves continued to display around the nest boxes and good numbers of Woodpigeons were present especially in the evenings when up to 50 gathered to roost in the woodlands and the thorn hedgerows.