On the first day of the month we had perfect weather; it was dry, calm, bright and warm. The river level continued to drop back as there was less water coming down from the catchments area. Although it was windy at times, March turned out to be a very dry month with some good warm spells and the mercury hitting 18ºC more than once.
It was good to see a bit more activity out on the river this month, with skiffs and yachts from the local sailing clubs getting out and about on the water, a few more coasters plying their trade up to Perth Harbour.
There were railway contractors at work on the river bank sorting out an area that had been affected by erosion. The river had been working away at one section of banking which was getting a bit close to the main railway line, but the job is in hand and should soon be finished.
We were down at Newburgh early on this month, clearing up along the pathway at the back braes. There was the odd tree down blocking access, but these were soon cut up and cleared. Some other branches, suckers, rubble and litter were also cleared up.
The birds are starting to get territorial now and have started nest building. There is activity around a lot of the nest boxes and the ducks are dropping eggs around the place.
There are a few fish getting caught on rods further up the system just now, but one seal is eating well down at the harbour - it did not seem to mind the camera as it enjoyed its catch!
We have seen our first butterflies out and about, and the bees have been very active some days, and with frost all but a distant memory the mouse guard was off the hive by the end of the month.
The teal are beginning to move on and the last of the whooper swans have been flying overhead. The good weather this month has let us get on with a lot of our outside work. It was a fine chance to get on with some painting, so the brushes were out and we made a start on some of the cobbles and woodwork around the bothy.
Planting was another job on the agenda this month, there was a mix of Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Birch, Rowan, Larch and wild Rose planted about the place. After another good showing the snowdrops are past their best now, in some of the established areas the thicker bunches have been split up and moved around to cover more of the ground under the canopy of the trees.The weather just got better and better as the month drew to a close, new records were set up and down the country as the heat continued and the river was back to summer level as the catchments area dried up.
