March migration update
23 Mar 2014
In stark contrast to the second half of March 2013, mild weather this March has seen a flurry of activity in the natural world. Signs of spring have included many butterflies on the wing, including Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock alongside the classic early-emerging species: Brimstone.
Migrant birds have been arriving too. Chiffchaff is already featuring on more than 30% of complete lists submitted to BirdTrack and the reporting rate has been climbing about a week ahead of the historical average. The first wave of Little Ringed Plover and Wheatear have arrived. There's been a smattering of Garganey records and a Sedge Warbler has already appeared in southeast England. Perhaps more surprisingly, Yellow Wagtails were recorded at several locations in the second and third weeks of March and a Garden Warbler, a species typically arriving in mid April, was photographed (in a garden - also unusual!) in southern England. For more updates about what's arriving and what is expected soon, check out the BTO's Migration Blog.
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