Wing Tips: What to see in March

Wrens under roses, and Robins are smitten... as we spread our wings and soar beak-first into March, nature is undoubtedly waking from its slumber. With the colourful confetti cannon that is spring primed to fire, some of the best sights to see this month are just a wing tip away.

From romantic Robins to ravenous Wrens, there’s all kinds of amazing action taking place for home birds to admire. Venture further afield and you might spot a pair of in-spiralling Buzzards preparing to nest or hear raucous Rooks rebuilding their rookeries.

One thing’s for sure, spring is well and truly on its way, so let’s take a look at our top five birding spectacles to catch this March.

Did you see it!? That tiny flash of brown flitting through the undergrowth? You’d be forgiven for thinking it was a Field Mouse. But on closer inspection, it was probably a ravenous Wren foraging for tasty insects and spiders.

These miniature, mousey-brown birds are our most common breeding birds and love to race through the nooks and crannies in our gardens, woodlands and farmland. Despite their small stature, these pocket-sized Pavarottis know how to project; in fact, they’re one of our loudest garden birds.

You’ll be familiar with their song – an intricate aria of high-pitched whistles culminating with a rapid-fire trill. March is the perfect time to hear belting Wrens as they prepare to enter their blush-inducing breeding season. Every spring, males build several nests and sing their hearts out to woo and breed with multiple females!

The UK’s favourite bird is a Christmas staple. However, the brightly breasted Robin is actually here year-round. Despite their adorable appearance, these plucky little birds will aggressively defend their territory, especially around the breeding season. So, if you hear their soulful song this month, they’re probably shouting, “stay off my patch!”.

On that note, if you spy a Robin in March, the odds are it’s in the mood for love and prepared to fight for the privilege... sometimes to the death! That’s why this month is such a fantastic time to get outside and watch for Robins – they're all action!

Conversely, one of the cutest interactions you might see is the male Robin feeding the female. At this time of year, we’re often asked if Robins are nesting earlier than usual and already feeding their chicks. No, this sweet exchange is part of their courtship – a male showing the female he can provide. Think of it as a Robin love language: he says it with worms, while we might say it with chocolate!

Robins are also renowned for following us humans as we garden, as we dig up lots of tasty worms and invertebrates. But the species' comfort around us also extends to their choice of nesting sites. In fact, their preference for open-fronted nests has led them to turn up in overturned plant pots, car bonnets and even an airplane engine!

If you see a large bird of prey soaring high above UK woodlands or countryside, the odds are that you’ve spotted a Buzzard. The most common bird of prey in the UK, Buzzards have broad, round wings with ‘finger-like’ feathers at their tips and love to ride thermal air pockets to scout for prey.

March is a fantastic time to go Buzzard-watching as they’re also preparing for the breeding season. For Buzzards, that means one thing: aerial courtship displays. It begins when the smaller males catch thermals and rocket into the sky, high above the females who promptly join them in a scintillating spectacle of soaring spirals.

During the display, which is repeated throughout the season and into the summer, the Buzzards' unmistakeable ‘mewing calls’ pierce the air. So, get outside this March and train your eyes on the skies - you might just catch these spiralling love birds in your sights.

The Rook isn’t a bird we often associate with spring. However, just like our best-loved garden birds and awe-inspiring raptors, these crafty corvids are in the mood for love. These sociable birds nest in rookeries – large, communal roosts of messy nests peppered across clumps of mature trees.

Head outside for a walk in nature this March, and these early nesters can often be seen transporting absurdly large sticks as they look to repair their nests for the breeding season. 

With their black feathers and rough call, to the average birdwatcher, it can be difficult to tell Rooks and Carrion Crows apart. One top tip is that Rooks are almost always in flocks, while Carrions Crows are generally alone, in pairs or in small groups. If you get a close enough view, Rooks can also be distinguished by the bare grey-white patch at the base of their bills.

Think you saw a House Sparrow... think again. Dunnocks are one of many small, brown garden birds in the UK. Shy and often solitary, they’re easily dismissed as another species. In fact, they’re often referred to as the ‘Hedge Sparrow’ despite not being a sparrow at all!

March is a brilliant time to bag a Dunnock (metaphorically), as nothing makes them overcome their bashful nature like the prospect of love. This month, they’re loud, they’re proud and you’ll almost certainly recognise their wonderful warbling song. They also have breeding habits that would make a Wren blush.

Male and female Dunnocks mate with multiple partners across multiple territories. Plus, females will often mate with one partner openly, and another in secret. There is some method to her mating madness, though; convince two males that your chicks are theirs and they’ll both help to provide for them... now there’s a wing tip for you!

We hope you feel inspired to try and see some of these birds and events this month. We’d love to hear how you get on. You can share your photos with us at NotesonNature@rspb.org.uk We’ll share some of the best in a future issue of Notes on Nature.

Please be mindful when taking photos not to disturb wildlife or habitats. Further guidance can be found in The Nature Photographer's Code of Practice.