March 2024 Monthly Challenge

[Gord]

March is definitely the kick-off for Spring Migration in the Fraser Valley. While we usually get our first spring swallows in late February, more start to show up as the month of March progresses. Mountain Bluebirds and Say's Phoebe are eagerly awaited and do show up in March. Rufous Hummingbirds also return sometime in March. Good places to bird during this time, especially to see a bluebird, is the Hope Airport and Columbia Valley

Breakdown by year for March

2008 – 123 species recorded
2009 – 107 species recorded
2010 – 110 species recorded
2011 - 117 species recorded
2012 - 107 species recorded
2013 - 123 species recorded
2014 - 117 species recorded
2015 - 125 species recorded
2016 - 115 species recorded
2017 - 103 species recorded
2018 - 115 species recorded
2019 - 127 species recorded
2020 - 115 species recorded
2021 - 113 species recorded
2022 - 123 species recorded
2023 - 117 species recorded

Average species for March: 116


Last updated April 1, 2024

Species seen to date 120


March is where we start to turn the page from winter to spring. The first migrants that start to move are the waterfowl and gulls. Of course the anticipated bluebirds have usually shown by mid-month if not sooner. If swallows didn't return by late February they'll for sure show up in early March and be followed by the first Rufous Hummingbirds.

Tundra Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Snow Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Canada Goose
Cackling Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Pintail
Gadwall
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Green-winged Teal
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Ring-necked Duck
Redhead
Canvasback
Ruddy Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
American Bittern
Great Blue Heron
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Ruffed Grouse
Sooty Grouse
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Northern Harrier
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Wilson's Snipe
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
California Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Mew Gull
Short-eared Owl
Barn Owl
Barred Owl
Great Horned Owl
Western Screech Owl
Northern Pygmy Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared Dove
Band-tailed Pigeon
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Shrike
Say's Phoebe
Common Raven
American Crow
Canada Jay
Steller's Jay
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bushtit
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Marsh Wren
American Dipper
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Mountain Bluebird
Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
American Pipit
Brown-headed Cowbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Pine Sisken
House Finch
Purple Finch
Evening Grosbeak
Pine Grosbeak

[kenneth2019]

Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Rock Pigeon
Great Blue Heron
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
American Dipper
Varied Thrush
Pine Siskin
Dark-eyed Junco
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird

[Chris]

Did a snowshoe to Mount Kelly which is just across from the Allison Pass Snowshed. It wasn't a birding outing but I did encounter a Sooty Grouse. It even started hooting after we passed it.

[gabi]

Northern Pintail and Eurasian Wigeon in field in Abbotsford.
Pacific Wren in Abbotsford, Page Road, lower trail
Cooper’s Hawk - Abbotsford

[kenneth2019]

House Sparrow - Chaplin Wetlands
Belted Kingfisher
Green-winged Teal

Ruby-crowned Kinglet - end of Limbert rd
American Kestrel
Red-tailed Hawk
Trumpeter Swan

Horned Grebe - Sasquatch Park

Greater Scaup - Harrison Lagoon
Redhead

[Wetlander]

We,ve a couple of Fox Sparrows, and a White Throated Sparrow has been hanging out for over a month now.

[oldfulica]

Wilband had a few singing Marsh Wrens and 4 Ruddy Ducks today.

[Gord]

Good ones, all.

I also added Sharp-shinned Hawk from our yard, Pileated Woodpecker from Chilliwack Mtn, Barn Owl from the yard this evening and Tundra Swan from Sumas Prairie. Added a bunch of gull species to go along with the Glaucous-winged Gull we already had up there. Definitely some gull movement going on with more California, Ring-billed and Mew Gull showing up. Thayer's and Herring Gull have increased as well.

Len, wonder if we'll get more Marsh Wrens in the Fraser Valley other than Willband. Kev, great to hear you've had some nice ones at your yard. Ken, good to see a Ruby-crowned Kinglet made the winter. Tough little birds!

[kenneth2019]

Downy Woodpecker - Our Yard

Gadwall - GBHNR
Hairy Woodpecker
American Coot
Bushtit

[Chris]

Northern Harrier from East Chilliwack yesterday.

[oldfulica]

A Redhead from Harrison Lagoon Mar. 9 if it hasn't been recorded yet. It may have a damaged eye.

[Chris]

That eye doesn't look great unless it's just blinking. I think it's been there for a few months.

Canvasback
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
can be added.

[Gord]

Thanks, all. Added Glaucous Gull and Golden Eagle as well.

[oldfulica]

Mar 10, 2024 18:36:36 GMT -8 Chris said:

That eye doesn't look great unless it's just blinking. I think it's been there for a few months.

.

You're right Chtis, it is blinking. I checked another shot and the eye was open.

[josterhold]

Hi Birders

A few species can be added to the March list from the Ryder Lake area:

Pine Grosbeak
Northern Pygmy Owl
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

A Merlin was seen flying over downtown Chilliwack.

Jason O.