Birds to look out for in March/April

1. Winter Thrushes – should be getting return passage birds

• Redwing
• Fieldfare

2. Finches

• Brambling – coming into gardens now
• Siskin – should be coming into gardens now
• Redpoll
• Linnet – note flock size

3. Warblers

• Chiffchaff – Expect to hear first birds before next indoor meeting
• Blackcap
• Sedge Warbler

4. Wagtails

• Yellow Wagtail – mainly from mid / end-April
• Grey Wagtails – now setting up breeding territories. All records please

5. Hirundines

• Sand Martin – first birds are being recorded in UK
• Swallow – mainly from mid / end-April
• House Martin – mainly from mid / end-April

6. Ducks and Geese

• Shelduck – now moving back inland to breed
• Goosander – moving back to breeding areas soon, record last sightings
• Wigeon
• Teal
• Shoveler
• Pochard
• Tufted Duck
• Goldeneye – returning to breeding areas soon, record last sightings
• Pintail – returning to breeding areas soon, record last sightings
• Pink-footed Geese – returning to breeding areas, record last sightings

7. Waders

• Oystercatcher – now moving back inland to breed
• Golden Plover- returning to breeding areas, record last sightings
• Lapwing – Note any breeding records
• Green Sandpiper – passage birds should be present from now on
• Common Sandpiper – passage birds should be present from mid-April
• Redshank – Note any breeding records
• Snipe – Note any breeding records

8. Gulls

• Record flock sizes and species

9. Woodpeckers

• Great Spotted and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers are far easier to find during March before the leaves come on the trees

10. Mainly on coast

• Waxwings
• Brent Geese
• Common and Velvet Scoter
• Eider
• Scaup
• Bar-tailed Godwit
• Knot
• Grey Plover
• Turnstone
• Dunlin
• Ruff
• Curlew
• Divers
• Grebes

11. Raptors

• Sparrowhawk – Display during March
• Goshawk – Display during March
• Buzzard
• Hen Harrier
• Marsh Harrier – returning to breeding sites