March 2026 Wildlife Update

Spring is definitely here – some of our summer migrants have arrived, the bluebells are starting to flower and April showers seem to have started early. Here’s Conservation Officer Sophie’s wildlife highlights for March.

Avian highlights

• American Wigeon – likely the same bird that has been moving around locally, and visited here in January too, he spent a few days on Heron Meadow before departing.  Only a few of these are recorded each year in the UK, so a really exciting record for Ferry Meadows
• Lapwing – although these are fairly common through the valley, not a species we see at the park in great numbers. 3 individuals were spotted by one of our wildlife survey volunteers on the new reedbed area in Gunwade Lake – almost certainly a first for that area of the park and shows that the habitat improvement works are having a positive affect already
• Firecrest – one of the UK’s smallest bird species, this one was likely a winter migrant passing through. Not a bird we have recorded here in recent years so a great spot by one of the regular bird watchers in the Park.   
• Swallow – another of our summer visitors, the first arrival was seen on 28^th March, over Heron Meadow
• Sand Martin – first arrivals were spotted on 2^nd March, 18 days earlier than last year. While it is lovely to see them back from their winter in sub-Saharan Africa, and very active around the nesting bank on Lynch Lake, their early arrival is a little worrying and shows the changing climate conditions not just here, but across the world. 

Other sightings

• Weasel – an individual has been seen more regularly over the last month. Stoats and Weasels are easily confused – the best way to distinguish between them is the tail. Stoats have a longer (around half of its body length) tail with a bushy black tip, while Weasels have shorter tails that are totally brown in colour.
• Smooth Newts & a Bank Vole – spotted on the first reptile & amphibian survey of the season last week.
• Otter – occasional sightings, mostly in Gunwade Lake.
• Bats – the first bat survey of the season produced 4 species (Common & Soprano Pipistrelles, Noctule, and one of the Myotis species), a pleasant surprise for a very chilly evening.
• Bluebells & Wild Garlic – both are starting to bloom, and the wild garlic smells amazing! The bluebells are a little way off full bloom, but are starting to flower. Bluebell Wood and Thorpe Wood are the best places to spot these. Please stick to the paths to take your photos of bluebells – if they are damaged by people or dogs walking or sitting amongst them, they will die off and take many years to recover. It is also illegal to pick bluebells so please look but don’t touch. 

Happy wildlife spotting! Email us at visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk if you spot anything exciting this month.