March Bird List

March birding proved to be average once again, although the 23 new year birds exceeded the 16 I had last March. In traditional fashion, March came in like a lion and out like a lamb. Early snowfall eventually gave out to some warmer temperature and plenty of heavy spring rain. The range in weather contributed to a variety of birds. I enjoyed some of the new arrivals while still viewing winter birds like juncos even late in the month.

Great-horned owls, bald eagles, bluebirds, and mourning doves are all nesting. I have seen many birds, including red-tailed hawks and American crows, carrying nesting material. Other birds are busy with their courtship rituals, including the woodcock, Cooper’s hawk, mallards, and Canada geese. No one can argue that spring is anything but a glorious time to be birding. Of course the best part, spring migration, is just getting going. Soon we will be sorting through shorebirds, warblers, and all of the others migrants passing through or arriving home.

Below is my March list. I could have done better on the waterfowl, and missed a few that I would have liked to have added to March, but still not a bad month overall. Also brings my year total to 80, which is behind last year’s pace but that is ok.

1. Sharp-shinned hawk
2. Hermit thrush – One particularly friendly bird followed me along as I hunted for arrowheads for almost 20 minutes.
3. Barred owl
4. House sparrow
5. Mute swan – near Horseshoe Lake, IL (Madison Co.)
6. American coot – There is a lone coot at my fishing hole that often hides in the thick brush by shore and only crashes out onto the open water when I am a few feet away. Scares me every time.
7. Ring-necked duck
8. Bufflehead
9. Ruddy Duck
10. Redhead
11. Cooper’s hawk
12. Canvasback
13. Wood duck – several birds already paired up. Some have mentioned seeing large flocks, but all of the ones I saw were already in mating pairs.
14. Eastern phoebe – trickled in early in the month, then seen/heard in decent numbers as March wore on.
15. Chipping sparrow
16. Woodcock – flushed a beautiful bird while bushwhacking looking for shed antlers.
17. Pied-billed grebe
18. Double-crested cormorant – flocks of them while in Olathe, KS
19. Bonaparte’s gull
20. Eastern meadowlark
21. Brown-headed cowbird
22. Purple Martin – observed on March 27 at Mallard Lake
23. Tree swallow – lone bird seen at the local fishing pond two days in a row.

So what is in store for April? I look forward to the noisy migrants that will be here any day; the waterthrushes, gnatcatchers, house wrens, and other warblers. Also expect great egrets, chimney swifts, and ruby-throated hummingbirds to be arriving so I am excited for the new season.

Thanks for reading, and check back next month to see what birds are passing through Missouri.