April 2018 : Summary
UK Species Year List to April: 120
Total UK Species in April: 92
New “Year Ticks” in April: 22
New “Life Ticks” in April: 0
Our first real outing of the month wasn’t until a rather cold and windy trip up to the Wirral on the 6th April which took in Leosowe, Meols and Burton Mere Wetlands. The best birds of the day were at the last of these where we got four Med Gulls and ten Spotted Redshank.
On the 14th we went to Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve where we got our first Black-necked Grebes of the year as well as my first WIllow Warbler but by far the best bird of the day (or birds) was a small group of Bramblins – a bird I have not seen in a couple of years now and I have never seen more than one at a time before. Eight was a real treat.
On the 17th the birding group term started and we were at Neumann’s Flash where I got my first Sand Martin of the year. Other nice views of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps made it feel like spring may be around the corner at last. We found a Great Spotted Woodpecker excavating a newly chiseled hole which also confirmed that the breeding season is nearly here.
We had a trip down south to visit a relative and some friends and our round trip took in a number of birding sites as well icluding RSPB Otmoor on the 20th where we got our first hear (though not seen) Cuckoos of the year as well as our first Hobby and Grasshopper Warblers. All around the area there were Red Kites, now a very common bird in Oxforshire. We also got our first Linnets and Swallows.
We were also able to get to RSPB Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath NNR on the 23rd. At Ham Wall we immediately got great views of a pair of Common Cranes flying overhead. This was followed behind them by a pair of Great White Egrets so a great start to the day. We also got several Marsh Harriers adn Hobbies and had a total of twelve Blackcaps all in a group together ! Over at Shapwick Heath the high point was three Garganeys, two males and a female. It has been four years since I last saw a Garganey in the UK though I have seen them i the intervening period at the Sa Roca Pools at S’Albufera in Mallorca. We also got our first Common Tern of the year and at both Ham Wall and SHapwick Heath we continually heard Bitterns booming – though didn’t see any of them.
When we left Somerset we headed off to Bristol and took the chance to drop in at WWT Steart Marshes on a cold and wet day. We didn’t really see all that many birds though we had an interesting drive up to the other end of the reserve where it overlooks the Bridgewater Bay reserve. There were numerous Skylarks singing and a few flying high but in general the weather was too poor for much
When we left Bristol we spent a night in Slimbridge affording us the chance to visit WWT Slimbridge. The weather here was a bit better though always threatening ands not very spring-like at all. We got a year first group of Barnacle Geese but not much else new. There were, however, several Common Cranes around the site which was a delight. We got Kestrel and Peregrine and a Meditteranean Gull and a couple of Ruff. There were plenty of Sand Martins and Swallows flying over the pools and a good number of Avocet and Black-tailed Godwits on the scrapes.
So, not a bad month though it has been a late spring and often feels like it hasn’t yet arrived.
In the garden there are the usual array of birds though only new Starlings so far. The exciting news, however, is that at long last (four years waiting ?) a Blue Tit has chosen our camera-equipped nest box to nest in. Just before we left on our holidays it had been building the nest up and even sleeping in it occasionally. When we got back on the 29th there were eggs in the nest and she has been spending huge amounts of time incubating them. At first a male brought her the odd, miniscule, insect to eat but she has seemed to be having to provide for herself through accasionals forays out of the box. She seems quite settled and there are at least five eggs in the nest but there may well be more and I am sure I saw a sixth at one stage. Time will tell and I am expecting to see chicks around the 10th May – ish. It has been great fun following the progress and we keenly await chicks !
New “Year Ticks” in March: 22 Species
Barnacle Goose at WWT Slimbridge on 28th April
Black-necked Grebe at Woolston Eyes on 14th April
Brambling at Woolston Eyes on 14th April
Cattle Egret at Burton Mere Wetlands on 6th April
Common Crane at RSPB Ham Wall on 23rd April
Common Tern at Shapwick Heath on 23rd April
Common Cuckoo at RSPB Otmoor on 20th April
Gargany at Shapwick Heath on 23rd April
Goldcrest at Moor Nature Reserve on 14th April
Grashopper Warbler at RSPB Otmoor on 20th April
Grey Wagtail at ??? on 22nd April
Hobby at RSPB Ham Wall on 23rd April
Linnet at Shapwick Heath on 23rd April
Red Kite at RSPB Otmoor on 20th April
Reed Warbler at RSPB Ham Wall on 23rd April
Sand Martin at Neumann’s Flash on17th April
Sedge Warbler at RSPB Otmoor on 20th April
Sand Martin at WWT Slimbridge on 28th April
Spotted Redshank at Burton Mere Wetlands on 6th April
Swallow at RSPB Otmoor on 20th April
Willow Warbler at Woolston Eyes on 14th April
Yellowhammer at Shapwick Heath on 23rd April