Nosterfield Bird Review - March 2026

by Andrew (Andy) M Hanby

Spring is coming – hurrah!

The month started very well, with the Waxwing from last month making its final appearance, which was eclipsed in technicolour by our first Mandarin of the year.  Also reported were two Mediterranean Gulls and 45 Whooper Swans headed north - both species were a constant theme throughout March, with the former peaking at four on 10th.  Generally, Mediterranean Gull numbers are on the increase - see graph below.  This mirrors much more dramatic increases in the south, where counts in the hundreds are no longer noteworthy.

Mediterranean Gulls heading west

March counts per/observation hour of Mediterranean Gull

March is the peak month for Whooper Swan passage for us, and this year, there were only two days when the species was not seen!   Peak day was 23rd, with a total count of 247 which comprised 59 flying straight through north and another 188 on Langwith Lake.  In general, ‘about birds’ disappeared overnight.

Whooper Swans over Well Bend, heading WNW

Another theme, though somewhat more sparse, were observations of Eurasian White-fronted Goose.  Two were about and four moved north on 2nd and ones and twos were noted on several dates.  However, these observations were trivial to those noted on 7th and 9th – the former saw 277, comprised of 40 in a field by Ladybridge Lake and another 237, which U-turned over the area to return to feed in pastures outside the recording area.  The Ladybridge field also accommodated 410 Pink-footed Geese and 41 Whooper Swans, so it was quite crowded, but what a spectacle!  On 9th, the field was again busy, with 72 White-fronted geese happily feeding.

Signs of spring were everywhere, with Blackcap seen on six dates and up to 37 Chiffchaff on any one date.  Sand Martin trickled along, but were then present in good numbers from mid-month onwards.

Sand Martins seem to have been ahead of the curve in March.

The first Avocet of the spring appeared on 4th and was the herald of a disappointing month for this species.  There has been a gentle decline in March records of late, the cause of which is a matter of conjecture.

March records of Avocet

The 12th was blessed by a third year Caspian Gull on Flasks Lake, with a different individual there on 19th. 

It was a big day on 17th, with our first Osprey of the year heading north, whilst another two passed through before the month’s end.  The 19th produced another first for the year – three Little Ringed Plovers.  Whilst the latter species seems to arrive at roughly the same sort of time every year, the absolute number of records has grown dramatically, as detailed below.

The rise and rise of March Little Ringed Plover

Other highlights, before the month’s end, of scarcer species included a Barnacle Goose on 19th/20th, an Egyptian Goose on 22nd, a Jack Snipe flushed from vegetation adjoining Flasks Lake on 23rd, a Green Sandpiper on 26th and a Bar-tailed Godwit on 27th.   Woven into these were further much sought-after migrants, with Wheatear on 20th and Swallow and White Wagtail on 26th.

Wheatear

The month was generally poor for visible migration, but on the very last day, 434 Meadow Pipit, two Raven and an Osprey comprised a more than worthwhile watch and finale.