April Arrivals

April is a really exciting month for birding as it's peak spring migration time and you never know what might turn up.

The month got off to a flying start with this cracking male Ring Ouzel I found late one afternoon on North Hill, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire. It could be heading to breed in Britain or perhaps further north in Europe. 

In the past, I've only really gone up to my local patch, on Marcle Ridge, Herefordshire, to do visible migration watching (vismig) - this spring however, I've been going up there regularly to see if any migrants have dropped in, having never watched the site in spring before. 

This 1st-summer male Wheatear was one of a flock of 7 Wheatear I saw up there one afternoon - the next day, the flock was nowhere to be seen; they had just stopped-off briefly for a refuel before continuing on their journey.

This male has some rather distinct orangey-buff tones on the underparts and well marked facial patterning, more so than on other males. I think it is a mixed gene 'intergrade' type, perhaps from the Icelandic breeding populations, or almost certainly from a northerly latitude breeding population. 

Its not very often I get to see a Chiffchaff's plumage up close, so it was really good to have some lovely close views of this one.

Since around the the 15th of April, there's been a slight drop in Chiffchaff numbers locally to me. I think this is because a lot of the early passage birds have moved through and now mostly all that's left are the local breeding birds.

I was really pleased to see this beautiful Sandwich Tern which dropped into the South Lake at WWT Slimbridge one morning.

Slimbridge usually has a few Sandwich Terns go through every spring but mostly over the river, so to have one on the South Lake was very rare. 

The Sandwich Tern's spring migration route takes them from their wintering grounds on the West African coast, up past the Spanish and French coasts before migrating through the English Channel, some stopping short to breed on the Britain's southern coasts, while others will continue onwards through the channel, moving to their breeding sites on the north east coast of Britain or even to Northern Europe. 

Occasionally, pushed north by wind and weather patterns, some are forced to migrate through the Severn Estuary. Once through the Severn they probably split off, some heading over land towards the north east coast, while others head towards the south coast.

So far, this spring has been an exceptional one for Sandwich Tern migration on the Severn Estuary, with over 12 recorded this season.

Some of the other highlights from the past few weeks whilst volunteering at Slimbridge include Wheatear, Whimbrel, Yellow Wagtail, Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, a large flock of 36 Swift, Mediterranean Gull, Little Ringed Plover and stunning breeding plumaged Dunlin. A few days ago, I also found a probable (you can barely ever be 100% certain with sub-species) arctica Dunlin sub-species; a scarce migrant from Greenland, which can sometimes turn up on the Severn in late April or early May.

April is a good month to see Willow Warbler on passage; I've seen upwards of 75 on my local birding sites in the past few weeks. 

The Willow Warbler's range appears to be changing; populations in England are decreasing, whereas those in Scotland, Wales and N. England seem to be remaining stable and in some cases even increasing. This is believed to be linked to a warming climate and more information can be found here. 

I took the above photo at Bury Ditches in Shropshire, an Iron Age hill fort surrounded by mixed coniferous and deciduous woodland with some great clear-fell habitat. There were at least 35 Willow Warblers, most of which will probably stay to breed - a truly wonderful sight. 

Another fantastic bird utilising the clear-fell woodland habitat at Bury Ditches were Tree Pipits ('Tripits'), another summer migrant from Africa, with at least 25 singing and displaying. Their parachuting display flight is a great spectacle to watch, as they launch themselves off a perch, steadily gain height, before plummeting down to earth once again, singing their trilling notes all the while. 

Orange-tip butterflies are starting to emerge now, as well as Comma, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue and Brimstone. 

Various species of solitary bee are starting to emerge too, namely Red Mason, Flavous Nomad, Gooden's Nomad, Chocolate Mining, Grey-patched Mining, Tawny Mining and Gwynne's Mining. 

Greater Stitchwort, Cowslip, Primrose, Bluebell and the occasional Common Spotted and Early Purple orchid are among many other spring plants popping up in the hedge banks, meadows and woodlands close to my home.

Other birds I've seen locally in the past few weeks include 3 newly arrived Whitethroat, a female Black Redstart, a flock of at least 2 Bar-tailed Godwit which flew over my house at around 10pm, 4+ Redstart in local orchards and an early Cuckoo, Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler.

I'm looking forward to seeing what I can find in May...