March 2023 in Bicknor Wood

March was the wettest in England for 40 years. The paths have been very soggy, but at least the pollen levels were dampened. Windy conditions were also seen during the month, but no major damage was done.

The first Hawthorn in leaf was noted on March 7th.

The avian winter visitors have moved on to make way for the spring arrivals. The last Goldcrest was seen on March 13th and the last Redwing was noted on the 15th. The first Chiffchaff was reported on March 18th. 

A Tawny Owl was also reported calling from the western end of the wood.

By 21st, as many as 8 Chiffchaffs were singing lustily in the woods with a concentration around the Burnt Oak Glade.

The Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been drumming constantly. The male finds that the bat boxes make good sounding boards.

Goat Willows produce a lot of pollen and are important food sources for early insects. The rain and high winds will have reduced the effect on allergy sufferers.

The first Wood Anemone was sighted on 21st, but it was flowering thick and fast by the 29th. The first Bluebell was seen on 29th.

On 27th, a pair of Nuthatches were seen taking an interest in nesting box no. 19. They were carrying mud and smearing it around the inside of the entrance hole to reduce the aperture. 

Unfortunately, the birds then rubbed the mud away as they passed in and out with scales of bark that they use as nesting material.

Boxes 1, 7, 8, 12, 15, and 18 have elicited attention from Blue Tits and box 9 from Great Tits. 

Many birds were seen carrying nesting material. As well as those above, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Jay, Robin, Dunnock and Long-tailed Tit have also been seen carrying nesting materials.