Birding in March, the first spring migrants

Spring migration starts. Wheatears, sand martins and chiffchaffs arrive, ospreys return, and the last winter geese head north.

Updated 26 September 2026

What's around in March

First arrivals

• Sand Martin: usually the first hirundine, from early March over lakes and reservoirs.
• Wheatear: from around 10 March on short coastal turf. The white rump is the giveaway.
• Chiffchaff: song everywhere by mid-month.
• Little Ringed Plover: back on gravel pits and quarries mid-month.
• Garganey: the only summer-visiting duck. Small numbers on flooded meadows.
• Osprey: back from mid-March at Rutland Water, Loch Garten and other nest sites.
• Stone-curlew: returns to the Brecks mid-month.
• Late March: first Swallow, Blackcap, Sandwich Tern and Ring Ouzel on coastal headlands and uplands.

Leaving

Pink-footed geese and whooper swans head for Iceland. Redwing and fieldfare flocks gather before departure. Last chance for winter ducks and gulls.

Breeding season starts

• Bittern: booming at RSPB Leighton Moss, RSPB Minsmere and RSPB Ham Wall. Best at dawn and dusk.
• Lapwing, Curlew and Golden Plover: back on upland and farmland breeding grounds, displaying.
• Woodcock: roding at dusk from late March.
• Dartford Warbler and Woodlark: singing on southern heaths. RSPB Arne and the New Forest are reliable.

Where to go in March

• South coast headlands: Portland Bill, Dungeness, Beachy Head for first arrivals on a southerly.
• Rutland Water: ospreys back on the nests.
• Reservoirs: early morning for sand martins, little ringed plovers and passage gulls.
• Southern heaths: RSPB Arne, the New Forest, Thursley Common.

March tips

• Watch for a warm southerly. A south wind and a warm front bring the first big arrivals.
• Log your first dates. First wheatear, first swallow. Your own dates year on year show how spring is shifting.
• Ground-nesters start now. Keep dogs on leads on heaths and moors from March to July.