The start of spring is always a joyful moment, but like in February, most of the news in March comes from the southern part of the WP. Mega-rarities and notable records - we will guide you through them...

Azores

The Swallow-tailed Kite was present on Pico until 8 March. Other sightings across the islands included a Semipalmated Plover, an American Black Duck, a Great Blue Heron, a Snowy Egret, and two American Herring Gulls. The identification of the Empidonax on Corvo in September 2024 has now been confirmed through DNA analysis as an Alder Flycatcher, marking the eighth record for the WP

British Isles

An American Bittern was difficult to observe near Cork, Ireland, from 18 March. The modest invasion of Oriental Turtle Dove from last autumn in Europe reached Northern Ireland this month, with the land’s first record attracting many visitors from 15 March. The seventh Canvasback for the UK returned to southeast England and was well observed from 7 March. A Forster’s Tern also returned this year and was beautifully photographed along the English south coast from 28 February. The identification of the probable Stejneger’s Scoter in Scotland has now been confirmed with better photographs, representing only the second UK record after the bird from 2022–2024. Long-staying birds in Ireland included the Redhead until 20 March, and a Harlequin Duck, Double-crested Cormorant, American Coot, and Northern Harrier through the end of the month. A popular Hooded Merganser attracted many visitors in southern England. As in the Netherlands, the Pied Crow from 2018–2019 was not accepted in the UK due to the high likelihood of ship assistance or escape. Following Golden Pheasant and Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Ruddy Duck has now also become a Category C-blocker. The population is no longer considered self-sustaining or is regarded as extinct by the BOURC.

Northern Europe

The Short-billed Gull was still present in the Faroe Islands on 1 March. Only the tenth Stejneger’s Scoter for Norway returned near Trondheim on 8 March. A male American Black Duck was seen from 24 February well into March on remote Longøya in northern Norway. The Dusky Thrush in Copenhagen continued to delight Danish birders until 20 March.

The Netherlands

The first twitchable Black-faced Bunting for the country was still present on the isle of Texel all month, apparently still enjoying its stay.

Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala, Texel, 29 March (Han Zevenhuizen)

After positive reports about the planned release of the famous Spectacled Eider, the bird unfortunately passed away on March 15. Shortly before the scheduled release on Texel, a worm infection flared up again and the bird stopped eating, after which it died a few days later. There is a wish to conduct an isotope analysis through bone research. This may provide clues about the origin of the bird. The first winter record of White-headed Duck since 2012 was in the Weerribben. Winter records of this species may be considered less suspect than those in late summer.

White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala, Weerribben, 22 March (Daniël Boer)

Central Europe

A Belted Kingfisher remained in Brittany, France, until the end of the month. Also in Brittany, a juvenile Northern Harrier was seen on 29 March, representing the fourth record for France.

Eastern Europe

After more than 300 dead Yelkouan Shearwaters were found along the Bulgarian coast, fears arose of a bird flu outbreak. However, research showed this was not the case, and the birds are now believed to have been drowned in fishing nets. South of Kyiv, Ukraine, an Azure Tit was seen on 1 March.

Southern Europe

The first Pallas’s Gull for Portugal was observed inland in central Portugal from 13–17 March. A Summer Tanager was present in a city park in Porto until at least 21 March.

Summer Tanager Piranga rubra, Porto, Portugal, 28 February (Adrian Jordi)

With 7,000 breeding pairs in 2024, the largest Audouin’s Gull colony is no longer located along the Mediterranean Sea but in the Algarve in southern Portugal. A singing Common Yellowthroat near Huelva on 9 March was a surprise, representing the fifth record for Spain.

Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas, Huelva, Spain, 9 March (Juanjo Cipriano)

The Cape Gull remained in Laredo until the end of the month. The third Black-throated Accentor for Italy was seen from 2–4 March near Sequals in the northeast.

Black-throated Accentor Prunella atrogularis, Sequels, Italy, 4 March (Matteo Cargasacchi)

Not far from there, the first Stejneger’s Scoter for the Mediterranean and for Italy was observed near Trieste on 29 March. Cyprus was doing well with a Caspian Plover, a Desert Finch, and a Namaqua Dove, raising expectations for more to come in April.

North-Africa

Two Masked Boobies were seen on 5 and 10 March in a Brown Booby colony on Brava, Cape Verde—only the fifth record for the archipelago. The White-tailed Tropicbird seen earlier this winter was no longer present, meaning breeding failed this year. Notably, a Black-headed Heron was discovered along the rocky coast during a boat trip on 5 March. The long-staying individual on São Vicente was still present, along with a Black Heron and a Red-billed Quelea. On Boa Vista, the Western Willet was still present, while an Allen’s Gallinule remained on Santiago until 2 March. Near Raso, a probable Ascension Frigatebird was filmed on 15 March. Two days later, no fewer than eight Red-footed Boobies were counted, and only the third Sooty Tern for Cape Verde was photographed near Raso. For WP sensu BWP twitchers, Mauritania always offers surprises in late winter, and this year was no exception. On 21 February, a Wahlberg’s Eagle flew past Cap Blanc, Nouadhibou, in northern Mauritania—only the fourth record for the WP sensu BWP.

Wahlberg's Eagle Aquila wahlbergi, Cape Blanc, Mauritania, 21 February (David Monticelli)

Also in Nouadhibou, the sixth African Crake for Mauritania was found on 14 March. Another individual on 27 March in Illizi represented the second record for Algeria. A Pied Crow was seen unusually far north in Algeria near Aïn Sefra at the end of March. Another individual has been present since December 2025 at Jbel Moussa, Morocco, and is now paired with a Northern Raven. On 21 March, a Cape Gull was again seen in Morocco, surprisingly far inland at Lac Dayet Srij near Merzouga.

Middle East

The first Three-banded Plover for Turkey was seen on 10 March at Hancağız Dam in Hatay Province, a well-known hotspot for vagrants. Unfortunately for the Turkish Twitchers, the bird was no longer present the following day.

Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris, Hancagiz dam, Gaziantep, Turkey, 10 March (Yakup Yener)

Not far from Hatay, in the village of Kırmıtlı, two two Black-faced Buntings were found on 21 March, also representing a first for Turkey. Near Haifa, the fifth Masked Wagtail for Israel was observed well on 13 March. The first record for Azerbaijan was on 24 March near Kürdəxanı. An immature Lesser Frigatebird was observed off the coast of Jizan, Saudi Arabia, on 13 March, although unfortunately no photographs were obtained. If accepted, this would represent the third record for the country and the eighteenth for the greater WP. In the UAE, at least two Black Drongos were seen on 13 March in Mushrif Park, Dubai. In Salalah, Oman, a possible Village Weaver was reported; if accepted as wild, this would be the first record for Oman. Long-staying birds in Salalah included a Bay-backed Shrike, Long-toed Stint, and a Black Heron.

Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta, Salalah, Oman, 22 March (Roman Kubacki)

A male Asian Koel at Al Wafrah, Kuwait, reported on 21 March, had in fact already been present since 2 March. This represented the second record for the country and for the WP sensu BWP, following the first in 2009. Given the increasing presence of this species in the Gulf states, it is unlikely to be the last record.

The Crystal Ball

If we may indulge in a bit of daydreaming about a mega rarity, then in April it makes sense to think of a Black Lark — the peak month in Europe for this species.

Black Lark Melanocorypha yeltoniensis, Korgalzhyn, Kazachstan, 15 May 2022 (Eduard Sangster)

A Hooded Vulture from the south could also turn up in April. Another mega would be an Eastern Phoebe, with the only record in the Western Palearctic still being the bird on Lundy, England on 24–25 April 1987.

Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe, Riding NP, Canada, 19 July 2024 (Eduard Sangster)

Demoiselle Crane is among the realistic possibilities in April, when it migrates in small numbers through eastern Europe. But even a Common Loon in summer plumage would already be fantastic, wouldn’t it?

Common Loon Gavia immer, Churchill, Canada, 12 July 2024 (Eduard Sangster)

Have you ever heard their eerie call ? And we don’t mean in a movie, where this sound is often used in (horror) films. We wish you lots of luck in finding all the aforementioned species!

We would like to thank all observers and photographers for their contributions to this report.

Eduard Sangster & Wim Wiegant