March anticipation
MARCH can be a good month for catching up with winter yearlist omissions and, hopefully, new arrivals. The right winds and conditions, especially southerlies or south-easterlies, could yield Sand Martins and, towards the end of the month, Swallows and House Martins. Most years I see all three before April on my patch at Titchfield Haven in Hampshire – much earlier than they used to arrive. Other early migrants to keep an eye out for are Willow Warbler, Northern Wheatear, Little Ringed Plover, Garganey, and maybe even Sedge Warbler. My earliest patch Sedge
Warbler was on 23 March 2022 – a welcome surprise while wandering along the Titchfield canal path!
Sandwich Tern and Common Chiffchaff used to be on my ‘early migrant’ list but with both now wintering in and around the Solent, it’s not unusual to catch up with them in early January. That said, it is still good to note the arrival of ones that do migrate. The first Sand Martin or Northern Wheatear of March always brings excitement and confirmation that spring has arrived. If you don’t already keep notes of migrants, it’s a good habit to get into.
Seawatching is always worth a try in March, if you’re lucky enough to live near the coast. Stormy conditions – for me in the Solent that would be murky with strong south-westerlies – might bring Kittiwakes, Northern Gannets, auks and maybe Northern Fulmar, divers or a skua. Calmer conditions make scanning the sea much easier, with the hope of auks, ducks or divers. In previous years there have been days with good movements of Red-throated Diver in March, which is always nice to see. I didn’t manage to catch up with Great Northern Diver in 2022, so am hoping this year will be different. As for duck, Common and Velvet Scoter and perhaps also Long-tailed Duck might appear – murky days will produce inland records, too, especially of Common Scoter.
Common and Mediterranean Gulls start passing through and arriving in March. Here in Hampshire, numbers of the latter increase as they congregate before moving on to breed nearby. With the species on the move back towards continental colonies at this time, ‘Med Gulls’ are worth keeping on your radar in March even if they are rare in your area. Common Gulls overwinter here in small numbers, but March can yield good counts before they head north. It’ll be the same for many patchbirders in the southern half of the UK. Black-headed
Gulls are also congregating and moving through; on bright, clear days, watch for flocks moving eastwards at height. Little Gull is also a possibility. Easterly winds in March are the key for this beautiful gull and sometimes passage can be quite impressive through inland areas.
Another classic March mover is Meadow Pipit. I love watching them come in off the sea in all weathers. One of the best days I remember was a stormy seawatch, complete with multiple Northern Fulmars (unusual here), but also hundreds of Meadow Pipits and a Merlin chasing them over the Solent. I’m lucky enough to have Water Pipits on my patch and, by March, they are looking smart and pink. Even if this species isn’t regular near you, March offers the best chance to find migrants as they stage before heading off to breeding grounds.
The last two springs have started rather cold and clear – not ideal for patchwatchers. Hopefully 2023 is different.