I saw 71 bird species in March. My current year tally is 91 species, a bit short of my goal of reaching 100 by the end of March. That said, I’m 8 species ahead of where I was last year at this time.
On March 3, I dropped by Hillman Marsh and Point Pelee with my son and was able to add Green-winged Teal and Sharp-shinned hawk to my year list. On March 7, a night drive through the vicinity of Harrow after helping a friend move allowed me to hear and very briefly see an American Woodcock.
A local birder’s gathering on March 15th which brought me to Point Pelee, Hillman Marsh, and Wheatley Harbour. On the trip there I saw my first Turkey Vultures of the year. I *might* have seen a Northern Shrike, the view was too fleeting to be sure, but it seems to have been very near to the location of a recent sighting.
At Point Pelee, I saw my only lifer of the month (White-winged scoter), a King Eider (!), and Surf Scoters. I still need to find a Black Scoter one of these days! At Hillman, I added Great Egret and Rusty Blackbird to my year list.
Then, on March 21st, I stopped by the CKWW towers and got a photo of an Eastern Meadowlark. What a treat!
To conclude March, on the 28th I found some Bonaparte’s Gulls and Ruddy Ducks.
With the advent of April, things should start getting exciting in the birding world (if they haven’t already gotten exciting toward the end of March!)
According to eBird, there are 37 birds which I haven’t seen yet this year and have more than a 5% frequency in Essex County in April. So, I guess I have my work cut out for me! (in case you are curious, the most frequently seen bird on that list is Tree Swallow and #37 is Pectoral Sandpiper)
I will continue looking for rather common birds that have thus far evaded me this year: Eastern Screech Owl, Double-Crested Cormorant, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Sandhill Crane, and Horned Grebe. I must say that I’m also looking forward to the return of the Swallows! I’m thinking I might have to give up on seeing a Cackling Goose until next winter.
