March Blog

February really was a amazing month, not only that it was my 20th anniversary month but I generally had a amazing month Birding outside and at home.

For the first time this year I visited my local patch Cammo Estate Nature Reserve. After it started off quiet birds started to appear. The highlight was I was standing near the canal watching a couple of Blue Tits on the tree a blue flash zipped past me and my immediate reaction was to look to my right to the tree next to me and to my amazement I couldn’t believe what I saw a Nuthatch. This was the first time I had seen one on my local patch so I immediately took out my phone and took a photo and a filmed it too before it flew off I was very excited but it didn’t stop there I turned back to look at the Blue Tits when a Robin happened to perch right in front of me at close range as if it was saying ‘Why are you not paying me any attention?’ So I did take a photo of it then it flew off. I did see more Robins after along with Great Tits, Magpie, Woodpigeon & a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling.

Ever since I started putting mealworms out on my window feeder & the tub on my feeder pole there’s been a lot of birds going to them both. On this occasion a Robin was on them. I didn’t manage to get a photo of the bird on the window feeder but did when it was on the tub but did manage to get a photo of a Blackbird at the window feeder who has been there quite regularly.

February was quite the stormy and wet month and on the week of my 20th anniversary it was looking wet especially on my actual 20th anniversary but day before was looking nice and sunny so I decided to visit my first ever local patch The Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and celebrate a day early. I had a lovely morning watching Robins, Woodpigeon, Crow, Great Tit, Moorhen, Mallard, Moorhen & Black Headed Crow. A Kingfisher had recently turned up at the pond and was causing quite the stir on Facebook Groups & Twitter so I thought I’d have a look and see if I’m lucky. On arrival there were a couple of people there with cameras at the ready so I took my place and it didn’t long till a person next to me pointed out and said ‘There it is’ and sure enough there it was perched on the tree. It was quite far away so didn’t get the best photo but I could see it properly through my binoculars until it disappeared. What a incredible end of the day. The next day on my actual 20th anniversary I was gutted I couldn’t actually go out Birding because of rain so it gave me the opportunity to think back and reflect on what a incredible decade it’s been and wonder what will happen now till my 30th anniversary in 2032.

Two days later I decided to visit a new exhibition at The Museum of Scotland ‘Audubon’s Birds Of America’ On my way to the museum I spotted a bird I never expected to see in the City Centre it was a Grey Wagtail wondering about. Normally you’d see them alongside rivers and canals so to see one in the city centre was pretty amazing.

The exhibit itself was amazing each room had lovely paintings of exotic birds along with sketches and models. In each room felt so calming with its calm music and bird calls and the gift shop itself dedicated to that exhibit is worth the wonder too. The exhibit runs until 8th May.

I decided to go to Figgate Park that weekend because it was beautiful glorious day. On arrival I was greeted by a Robin on the tree and on the pond itself saw lots of Gulls from Herring to Black Headed along with Mallards,Gooseanders, Tufted Ducks, Moorhens, Canada Geese & Blackbird. I was really hoping to see The Water Rail that had been popping up recently but there was no show probably because as it was a lovely day the park was really busy with people who were quite noisy but I’ll visit again and fingers crossed I’ll get lucky.

I was invited back as a guest on ‘The Casual Birder Podcast’ to talk about my 20th anniversary and what I’ve been doing recently. The interview was due to take place on the 18th but because of Storm Eunice that hit the UK it was rescheduled till the following Wednesday the 23rd. It went really well I really enjoyed my time in the show and the hour went in just like that. The interview will be out later in March. Before the interview I was watching a Blackbird staring at the window feeder probably wondering to go on it or not. He probably did once I left for my interview so got some photos.

That’s my 20th anniversary month over but I’m celebrating my 20th year all throughout 2022 and I’m looking forward to what March has in store for me all will be revealed in next months blog.