Birdwatching in March

Depending on the year, March can provide early excitement or lingering frustration of a seemingly never ending winter. Beginning with passages of American Wigeons, Gadwalls, Northern Pintails and Ring-necked Ducks waterfowl migration is at its peak by mid-month.

A trip to the eastern edge of Mogadore Reservoir along Palm Road in Portage County has historically provided views of 1000s of Ring-necked Ducks as soon as the ice recedes. By the end of March, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal will be passing through most inland areas as well as along the lakefront. Excellent tallies of many diving duck species will continue until the last third of the month. The first loons and grebe movements should appear by the middle of March and this is an excellent time to see the rare Red-throated Loon and Red-necked Grebe. 

Startling numbers of Double-crested Cormorants will cloud by month’s end. Turkey Vulture migration continues all March and if proper conditions exist, numbers of Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks will be noted along hawk watches at Perkins Beach and Lakeshore Metropark. The only shorebirds to be found will be Killdeer, American Woodcock and Wilson’s snipe. However, if there is a warm push at the end of the month, the lucky observer will see flocks of American Golden Plovers and Pectoral Sandpipers scurrying their way northward. 

Woodcock territorial flights will be in full force the last half of March and no one should pass up the opportunity to enjoy this ritual of spring. Although most birdwatchers are tired of gull watching by now, the first third of March often provides some the best gull watching of the year. Rarities may be found as droves of birds gather along the Lake Erie shoreline. In recent years, numerous species have been found. These include an incredible 20+ Little Gulls at the mouth of the Grand River in March 2000. Two adult Black-headed Gulls put in a prolonged stay along Lake Erie at E. 72nd St. and environs in spring 2002. Our first adult Mew Gull was at Headlands Beach State Park in March 2001. The majority of adult gulls will be in full nuptial plumage.  

The courtship and pair bonding will fascinate any student of bird behavior. This is an excellent time to search tangles and conifers for migrating owls. The pines and scrubby areas along the Lake Erie shoreline have provided many and urban sighting of Long-eared, Short-eared and Northern Saw-whet Owl during March. As much as many eager birders want to see them, Neotropical migrants are a long way from arriving at this time of year. Even such short-distance migrants as Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe and Tree Swallow are still only in the beginning stages of migration. Other migrants to be looked for by month’s end include: Brown Creepers, American Pipits, Yellow-rumped Warblers, an occasional Pine Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush, Field, Vesper, Savannah, Fox and Song Sparrows, Rusty Blackbirds, Eastern Meadowlarks and Purple Finches.

Be sure to check the Cleveland Rare Bird Alert for updates at 216 556-0700 or join us for the March meeting or on a March field trip. Click Here for meeting and trip times and locations. All are welcome.