by Donald Wilson
March: Spring migrants arrive - and a five Grebe month!
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March for me can be a bit like February in that it is a transition month, with wintering birds still around, although in fewer numbers, but it is also when spring really starts to kick off!
With the weather generally fair, with good amounts of dry, sunny days throughout the month, spring did arrive, and with it came quite a few of our spring arrivals. Is it just me, or are some of these species arriving even earlier than usual this year? Not surprisingly, this means we have had more species this month than in both January and February, as the arriving spring migrants are here before some of our long-staying winter visitors have left to breed. Before we get to the spring migrants, let me tell you about two very special Grebes in Clyde this month. |
Black-necked Grebe © Andrew Russell
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I, for one, was absolutely over the moon with the sighting of the Ardmore Black-necked Grebe. What a stunning bird, a new one for me in Clyde, and a full-blown breeding plumaged bird—wow! For those who made the pilgrimage, it generally performed well and long enough for many to catch up with it. The last Clyde record was in 2018, a one-day bird at Balgray Reservoir.
Black-necked Grebes used to breed in Angus at Loch of Kinnordy with up to nine pairs, but for some reason, by 2022, they had completely disappeared, with the last breeding attempt in 2021. It is now a non-breeder in Scotland. Even in UK terms, it is a rare breeder.
The returning Red-necked Grebe was spotted at its usual haunt of Hogganfield Loch and is still present as I write this. We are very lucky to have had one visit us here in Clyde over the past five years, albeit on passage, probably to its northern / eastern European breeding grounds. Even as a passage migrant it is as scarce bird in the UK let alone Scotland! It has attempted to breed in Scotland but breeding attempts are sporadic, mainly in the north and few in number. The best place to seen them is in Lothian around Gullane, particularly in early autumn, however recently their numbers have been dwindling.
For those who put the effort in during the Black-necked Grebe’s stay, a “five-Grebe day” was possible, with Little, Great Crested, Red-necked and Slavonian Grebe all available too. Will this ever happen again in Clyde? A very rare achievement anywhere in Britain in one day!
The only other member of the Grebe family that we get in the UK, is the American Pied-billed Grebe which is a mega rare bird! Those lucky enough to be birding and indeed twitching in 2014 had a good chance to catch up with one on Loch Thom which was seen on and off for at least 5 days.
Black-necked Grebes used to breed in Angus at Loch of Kinnordy with up to nine pairs, but for some reason, by 2022, they had completely disappeared, with the last breeding attempt in 2021. It is now a non-breeder in Scotland. Even in UK terms, it is a rare breeder.
The returning Red-necked Grebe was spotted at its usual haunt of Hogganfield Loch and is still present as I write this. We are very lucky to have had one visit us here in Clyde over the past five years, albeit on passage, probably to its northern / eastern European breeding grounds. Even as a passage migrant it is as scarce bird in the UK let alone Scotland! It has attempted to breed in Scotland but breeding attempts are sporadic, mainly in the north and few in number. The best place to seen them is in Lothian around Gullane, particularly in early autumn, however recently their numbers have been dwindling.
For those who put the effort in during the Black-necked Grebe’s stay, a “five-Grebe day” was possible, with Little, Great Crested, Red-necked and Slavonian Grebe all available too. Will this ever happen again in Clyde? A very rare achievement anywhere in Britain in one day!
The only other member of the Grebe family that we get in the UK, is the American Pied-billed Grebe which is a mega rare bird! Those lucky enough to be birding and indeed twitching in 2014 had a good chance to catch up with one on Loch Thom which was seen on and off for at least 5 days.
Red-necked Grebe © Ian Fulton
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Pied-billed Grebe (photo from 2014) © Ian Fulton
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Let's turn our attention now to the spring migrants that have been arriving throughout the month. The end of the first week of March got off to a good start with two drake Garganey among 400 Teal at Wards Pond, RSPB Loch Lomond, which was an early record for this species. April into May is usually a better bet for finding this species, so hopefully there will be further sightings in Clyde this spring.
Chiffchaff were widely reported, with individuals seen singing at Hogganfield Loch and Alexandra Park on March 7th, and later at Balmore Pool, Erskine, Lanark, and Newton Mearns on March 8th. Most of these birds will have arrived back at their breeding sites now and will be singing their familiar onomatopoeic chiff-chaff call somewhere near you, I’m sure.
We’d already had our first (very early) Sand Martin back in February, but more have started to arrive this month, with seven at Strathclyde Loch on March 8th and at other sites (Balmore Pool, RSPB Baron’s Haugh, to name a couple). Towards the end of the month, we had approximately 1,000 feeding on insects at Strathclyde Loch on March 29th.
Little Ringed Plover was first recorded on March 19th and 20th at Loudon Pond, but I'm sure April will bring more records for this species. An Osprey was noted to have returned to the Loch Lomond area on March 20th, with more records from the same area since — one was seen off Port Glasgow on March 22nd too.
Culter Glen in South Lanarkshire is an important site for Ring Ouzel, with two, then three, seen from March 21st onwards.
Sandwich Tern and Wheatear were both first noted at Lunderston Bay, Gourock, on March 21st, with further Wheatear sightings since at Wards Pond, RSPB Loch Lomond, Whelphill, Crawford, Camps Reservoir, and Culter Glen.
There have been some intermittent sightings of Swallow, with one at Greenock Esplanade at dusk on March 22nd and another with two House Martin among all those Sand Martins at Strathclyde Country Park on March 29th. Six House Martin were also recorded by the River Calder, Lochwinnoch, on the same day.
The first Willow Warbler was recorded on March 29th, with one calling at Carbeth and another singing in Campsie Glen on March 30th.
Five Gannet were seen fishing off Cloch Road, Gourock on March 29th.
Waders continue to move inland to breed, with Ringed Plover seen on the scrape at RSPB Lochwinnoch on March 17th, six at Lilly Loch, Airdrie, on March 12th, and eight at Loudon Pond/Douglas Water Pool on March 20th. Redshank were noted at Balmore Pool, with two individuals on March 17th and three at Loudon Pond on March 20th. Black-tailed Godwit on passage were seen at Newshot Island on March 9th and three at Wards Pond, RSPB Loch Lomond, on March 22nd.
Chiffchaff were widely reported, with individuals seen singing at Hogganfield Loch and Alexandra Park on March 7th, and later at Balmore Pool, Erskine, Lanark, and Newton Mearns on March 8th. Most of these birds will have arrived back at their breeding sites now and will be singing their familiar onomatopoeic chiff-chaff call somewhere near you, I’m sure.
We’d already had our first (very early) Sand Martin back in February, but more have started to arrive this month, with seven at Strathclyde Loch on March 8th and at other sites (Balmore Pool, RSPB Baron’s Haugh, to name a couple). Towards the end of the month, we had approximately 1,000 feeding on insects at Strathclyde Loch on March 29th.
Little Ringed Plover was first recorded on March 19th and 20th at Loudon Pond, but I'm sure April will bring more records for this species. An Osprey was noted to have returned to the Loch Lomond area on March 20th, with more records from the same area since — one was seen off Port Glasgow on March 22nd too.
Culter Glen in South Lanarkshire is an important site for Ring Ouzel, with two, then three, seen from March 21st onwards.
Sandwich Tern and Wheatear were both first noted at Lunderston Bay, Gourock, on March 21st, with further Wheatear sightings since at Wards Pond, RSPB Loch Lomond, Whelphill, Crawford, Camps Reservoir, and Culter Glen.
There have been some intermittent sightings of Swallow, with one at Greenock Esplanade at dusk on March 22nd and another with two House Martin among all those Sand Martins at Strathclyde Country Park on March 29th. Six House Martin were also recorded by the River Calder, Lochwinnoch, on the same day.
The first Willow Warbler was recorded on March 29th, with one calling at Carbeth and another singing in Campsie Glen on March 30th.
Five Gannet were seen fishing off Cloch Road, Gourock on March 29th.
Waders continue to move inland to breed, with Ringed Plover seen on the scrape at RSPB Lochwinnoch on March 17th, six at Lilly Loch, Airdrie, on March 12th, and eight at Loudon Pond/Douglas Water Pool on March 20th. Redshank were noted at Balmore Pool, with two individuals on March 17th and three at Loudon Pond on March 20th. Black-tailed Godwit on passage were seen at Newshot Island on March 9th and three at Wards Pond, RSPB Loch Lomond, on March 22nd.
Chiffchaff © John Agnew
As I mentioned earlier, many of our long-staying winter birds are still with us, but we start this section with the Whooper Swan that have started to depart for their breeding grounds in Iceland, with 36 individuals recorded at Ravenstruther on March 3rd, alongside large flocks of Pink-footed Geese. 42 of these beautiful swans, with their yellow and black bills, were observed northeast of Garrion Bridge on March 12th. 68 were noted resting on Barr Loch, RSPB Lochwinnoch, on March 18th, with approximately 50 seen flying over the same area at sunset. Another 54 birds were recorded flying north over Lochwinnoch on March 24th, while 13 were seen heading north over Balgray Reservoir on March 26th. There were fewer geese around this month, but a Todd's Canada Goose was reported near Ravenstruther on March 26th, associating with Pink-footed Geese.
Two female Long-tailed Ducks off Newark Castle, Port Glasgow, on March 22nd was a new species for the year, as was the Great Northern Diver off Ardmore towards Gourock, seen on March 16th and 31st. Red-throated Divers peaked at 20 individuals at Ardmore Point on March 20th, while Slavonian Grebes at the same location totalled eight on the same date and up to 17 at the end of the month with some in summer plumage.
Also not ready to leave yet, the drake Smew remained a consistent presence at Broadwood Loch, Cumbernauld, throughout March. A female Lesser Scaup was seen on Barr Loch, recorded from March 6th (subject to assessment by BBRC) and may still be in the vicinity. A female (Greater) Scaup was at Newshot Island on March 1st, while a drake was on Barr Loch from March 9th–11th. A hybrid drake Shoveler x Blue-winged Teal spent a couple of days at RSPB Lochwinnoch from March 4th–6th.
Green Sandpiper were still seen frequently at RSPB Baron's Haugh, with six on March 1st, seven by March 9th, five on March 20th, and six again on March 27th. Seven Greenshank were at Finlaystone Point on 16th March. Jack Snipe sightings included 11 at Cathkin Marsh on March 16th, two at Balgray Reservoir on March 13th, and three at Balgray Reservoir on March 26th.
Great White Egrets have been in the area since September last year and continued to be seen at their favoured locations this month. Sightings came in from Barr Loch, RSPB Lochwinnoch (1st March), at RSPB Loch Lomond and Forrestburn Reservoir (Airdrie) the next day and between Carstairs Junction Bridge and Eastfield Farm on the 3rd. Mid-month, three individuals were seen along the River Clyde at Pettinain/Carstairs Junction area. Towards the end of the month, one was frequenting RSPB Baron’s Haugh/Carbarns area. Little Egret records included one at Newshot Island on March 1st, one at RSPB Baron’s Haugh on March 19th, up to three around Cardross / Ardmore later in the month and three at Pettinain/Carstairs Junction too.
It won’t be long before our summer Blackcap will start to arrive, but we have had a small number wintering this year and a male was a regular visitor to a Netherlee garden, seen across the month. The probable Siberian Lesser Whitethroat continued to attract attention at Austine Drive, Hamilton including the first signs of singing on March 13th.
Two female Long-tailed Ducks off Newark Castle, Port Glasgow, on March 22nd was a new species for the year, as was the Great Northern Diver off Ardmore towards Gourock, seen on March 16th and 31st. Red-throated Divers peaked at 20 individuals at Ardmore Point on March 20th, while Slavonian Grebes at the same location totalled eight on the same date and up to 17 at the end of the month with some in summer plumage.
Also not ready to leave yet, the drake Smew remained a consistent presence at Broadwood Loch, Cumbernauld, throughout March. A female Lesser Scaup was seen on Barr Loch, recorded from March 6th (subject to assessment by BBRC) and may still be in the vicinity. A female (Greater) Scaup was at Newshot Island on March 1st, while a drake was on Barr Loch from March 9th–11th. A hybrid drake Shoveler x Blue-winged Teal spent a couple of days at RSPB Lochwinnoch from March 4th–6th.
Green Sandpiper were still seen frequently at RSPB Baron's Haugh, with six on March 1st, seven by March 9th, five on March 20th, and six again on March 27th. Seven Greenshank were at Finlaystone Point on 16th March. Jack Snipe sightings included 11 at Cathkin Marsh on March 16th, two at Balgray Reservoir on March 13th, and three at Balgray Reservoir on March 26th.
Great White Egrets have been in the area since September last year and continued to be seen at their favoured locations this month. Sightings came in from Barr Loch, RSPB Lochwinnoch (1st March), at RSPB Loch Lomond and Forrestburn Reservoir (Airdrie) the next day and between Carstairs Junction Bridge and Eastfield Farm on the 3rd. Mid-month, three individuals were seen along the River Clyde at Pettinain/Carstairs Junction area. Towards the end of the month, one was frequenting RSPB Baron’s Haugh/Carbarns area. Little Egret records included one at Newshot Island on March 1st, one at RSPB Baron’s Haugh on March 19th, up to three around Cardross / Ardmore later in the month and three at Pettinain/Carstairs Junction too.
It won’t be long before our summer Blackcap will start to arrive, but we have had a small number wintering this year and a male was a regular visitor to a Netherlee garden, seen across the month. The probable Siberian Lesser Whitethroat continued to attract attention at Austine Drive, Hamilton including the first signs of singing on March 13th.
Buzzard © John Chapman
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Nuthatch © John Agnew
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Other sightings this month included confirmation that our Glasgow University Peregrine had laid eggs this month and the pair were regularly seen on the Gilbert Scott Tower. A Peregrine was also reported from Ardmore South Bay on March 5th and 16th, as well as one hunting at Broadwood Loch on March 16th and an immature bird at Glen Fruin on March 22nd. Red Kite were seen at several locations, including west of A811 near RSPB Loch Lomond on March 6th, Campsie Glen on March 21st, and Drumfad, Glen Fruin, on March 23rd.
Finally this month, a noteworthy count of 41 Tree Sparrow at Flenders Farm, Clarkston, on March 25th.
Finally this month, a noteworthy count of 41 Tree Sparrow at Flenders Farm, Clarkston, on March 25th.
Mistle Thrush © Frank Gibbons
So we've added 15 species since February - as follows:
| Garganey | Long-tailed Duck | Black-necked Grebe | Little Ringed Plover | Sandwich Tern |
| Osprey | Great Northern Diver | Gannet | Guillemot | Swallow |
| House Martin | Chiffchaff | Willow Warbler | Ring Ouzel | Wheatear |
This brings the list to 159*
(157 confirmed - *Yellow-legged Gull subject to assessment by SBRC. Lesser Scaup subject to assessment by BBRC. )
The March total is the best of the year so far at 148 species - down to the mix of spring migrants and long-staying winter species.
So again, another cracking month with some top-drawer birds on offer, let’s see what April brings!
You can read my preview of April birding in the area here. How long before the first Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler, Whimbrel or Tree Pipit? Do stay tuned for the next review.
A full current species list, month by month for 2025, can be viewed here - the order and nomenclature follow the Clyde list.
We welcome any corrections or suggestions - please do get in touch at: https://www.birdsinclyde.scot/contact-us.html
So again, another cracking month with some top-drawer birds on offer, let’s see what April brings!
You can read my preview of April birding in the area here. How long before the first Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler, Whimbrel or Tree Pipit? Do stay tuned for the next review.
A full current species list, month by month for 2025, can be viewed here - the order and nomenclature follow the Clyde list.
We welcome any corrections or suggestions - please do get in touch at: https://www.birdsinclyde.scot/contact-us.html