March in the UK is a time of change. The days grow longer, the first daffodils shake off their winter weariness, and the air carries that unmistakable scent of spring. But for Britain’s birdlife, March is more than just a seasonal shift—it’s a departure lounge and arrival gate rolled into one.

As we bid farewell to some winter visitors, we throw open the doors to a fresh wave of summer migrants (coming over ‘ere, eating our seeds). It’s like an avian airport terminal, with the only delays caused by an unexpected headwind.

Bon Voyage! Birds Heading North and East

First, let’s tip our hats to the birds packing their bags and heading back to their breeding grounds in northern and eastern Europe. These winter guests have made themselves quite at home in the UK over the past few months, gorging on our wetlands, fields, and shorelines. But as the mercury rises, so does their urge to head back. Like my dog, they don’t like it too warm, a mild British winter is quite enough.

The chatter of fieldfares and the wistful ‘tseep’ of redwings have been a staple of our hedgerows and fields all winter. These Scandinavian thrushes have spent the colder months dodging British rain instead of braving Nordic snowstorms, but now they’re gathering in flocks, ready to hop back across the North Sea. There doesn’t seem to have been so many this year, maybe because Scandinavia had a mild winter?

Whooper Swans and Bewick’s Swans

The elegant whooper and Bewick’s swans, which have graced our lakes and wetlands, will soon be setting course for Iceland and Siberia, respectively. With their haunting calls and effortless gliding, they’ve been a winter treat for twitchers but as the ice melts in their breeding grounds, they know it’s time to leave us.

Then there are brent geese. These small, dark geese, which have spent the winter grazing on our coastal marshes, are gearing up for a marathon flight back to the Arctic tundra of Canada and Siberia. That is some journey without in flight entertainment and no food. A bit like a Ryan Air flight for humans but with less cretins.

Many of our wintering ducks—like wigeons and teals—are preparing to swap our wetlands for breeding sites in Scandinavia and Russia. You might still hear the distinctive whistling of the wigeon for a little longer, but soon they’ll be off, leaving our resident ducks to cry a collective ‘thank god for that’ and reclaim their ponds in peace.

Welcome Back! The Summer Birds Are Arriving

But as these birds bid us farewell, we barely have time to feel sentimental before our skies fill up with new arrivals. March and April herald the return of some of the UK’s most beloved summer visitors—birds that have been sunning themselves in Africa and southern Europe and are now making the long journey back to raise their young in our green, yellow, paved and astroturfed pleasant land.

One of the first to touch down is the wheatear, a smart little bird with a peachy chest and a white rump (which inspired its original name, “white arse”). Wheatears are long-haul travelers, with some making the incredible journey from sub-Saharan Africa to the UK in just a few weeks. They should have arrived already, if not they will soon.

Sand Martins, Swifts, Swallows and House Martins

Look to the skies over your rivers and lakes, and you might see the first sand martins returning in the next week or so. These nimble little brown-and-white birds are the vanguard of the swallow family, scouting the way for their more famous cousins who follow a few weeks later. They nest in sandy riverbanks and quarries, busily chattering as they dart over the water.

Speaking of famous cousins, it won’t be long before swifts, swallows and house martins follow suit. By mid-April, their joyful, acrobatic swoops will become a familiar sight once more, hopefully setting up home in my garage port and eves once again. Swallows, with their elegant forked tails, and house martins, with their neat white rumps, bring a true sense of summer with them. I can sit and watch them for hours in the late afternoon and long summer evenings.

Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers and Many More

If you walk through a woodland this month, listen for the first repetitive “chiff-chaff” call—an unmistakable sign that these little warblers have arrived in numbers. Their close cousins, the willow warblers, will follow a little later, filling the air with their beautiful, descending song. In fact some of the lazier chiffchaffs having given up migrating and now stay all year, particularly down here in Hampshire.

Then there are flycatchers, reed warblers, white throats and many more, all turning up in our gardens, riverbanks and woodlands. And who can forget the cuckoo (I nearly did) swooping in, conning other birds to hatch their young then clearing off again. The cuckoo is one of the shortest stayers but causes chaos and noise, despite still being rare to spot. It’s gone by July, presumably much to the relief of the rest of the bird population it harassed.

Ospreys

For many birdwatchers, one of the biggest spring highlights is the return of the osprey. These magnificent fish-eating raptors are making their way back from Africa, ready to reclaim their nesting sites at places like Rutland Water and Loch Garten. They’re basically the film stars of the migration world, drawing huge crowds wherever they go. If you get lucky, you will see them passing over southern England on their way.

I think I saw one a couple of years ago but I got over excited trying to capture on camera and it all ended up in a blur, so I never really knew whether it was or not. First world hell for an amateur birdwatcher.

The Great Exchange

So, as March gives way to April, keep an eye (and an ear) out for these changes in the bird world. It’s a time of movement, anticipation, and fresh beginnings. Our winter guests may be leaving, but in their place come new voices, new songs, and a fresh dose of excitement when a swallow or a warbler is spotted for the the first time.

Out there somewhere, housemartins and swallows are making their way across the Sahara and they might just nest at your house or in your garage port. So be nice to them, they have come a long way to show you their sky dancing moves.

Spring is here, and the sky is alive once more.