FIVE TO FIND IN MARCH
March is the first month of true spring migration. Some of our wintering species are heading to the far north, while the first of our summer visitors are appearing. Here are five great birds to catch up with as spring kicks in. 1 REDWING
Although not a bird we really associate with spring (more with winter), March sees gatherings of these handsome little thrushes in woods, getting ready for their return to the continent and their far away breeding grounds. And part of this preparation is practising singing, which they do en masse, as a wonderful chorus, resembling the mass singing of flocks of Starlings. Listen as well as look for Redwings before their departure.
2 GREENFINCH
A bird which does exactly what it says on the tin, a male Greenfinch is a spectacularly bright green… er… finch. Much declined in recent years (partly due to disease), these angry looking fellows are at their best in spring, with their glorious ‘ butterfly’ display flight accompanied by the twittering, wheezing, almost ‘sneering’ song. Glorious.
3 DARTFORD WARBLER
Dartford Warblers are tiny but very hardy, surviving our (admittedly increasingly mild) winters, rather than migrating south like most other warblers. They are primarily birds of heathland, with heather and gorse, and can be shy birds, only appearing briefly to fly weakly between hiding places, or to deliver a brief scratchy song or call. Like most other Sylvia warblers, they show sexual dimorphism, with males having darker, richer colours than females.
4 GREY PLOVER
There are more than 40,000 Grey Plovers wintering in the UK. They are large, robust plovers, with thicker bills than the more delicate (and more abundant) Golden Plovers. And, living up to their name, they are predominantly grey birds in the winter. As the spring progresses, though, they (especially males) gain the spectacular, spangly upperparts and black underparts which give them their alternative, North American name: Black-bellied Plover. Unlike Golden Plovers, most Grey Plovers are coast-loving, beach, saltmarsh and estuary-loving waders. But, some do wander inland at this time of year, especially turning up on foggy, drizzly days which tend to ‘bring down’ waders, as they cross the country.
5 SPARROWHAWK
The beautiful little Sparrowhawk is an avian killer which is paradoxically welcomed and admired by many of us bird lovers! It is easily argued that in population terms, ‘the prey controls the predator’, though, so there is no need to feel bad about loving these wonderful raptors. At this time of year, look out for the spectacular diving and ‘sky dancing’ display flight, accompanied with odd yelping cries. If you don’t already love Sparrowhawks, this display will win your heart!