April 2009 Bird Report

April has been relatively dry and mild, but the arrival of migrant species and passage birds has been much slower than usual.

The last Little Egret was on seen the 5th; the Grey Heron is nesting again this year and has young. A clutch of 6 baby Egyptian Geese was seen on the 2nd. The first hatch of Canada Geese was on the 29th. The wintering Shelducks have not been reported since 15th. The last Goosander was reported on the 11th, last Shoveler on the 15th, last Teal on the 18th and the only sighting of Pochard was a passing male on the 29th. One Wigeon remains, but no doubt will leave soon. There are at least one brood of Mallards by the 20th and 3 Mandarins on eggs in the nest boxes at the end of the month.  Coots have also hatched.

The local Buzzards seem to have built a nest within the recording area (a first), but it is not yet occupied. The 3 pairs of Little Owls along the north of the site have been very visible this month; but the Barn Owls less so as they are, hopefully, tending eggs, and benefiting from an increase in prey.

The Common Terns arrived on the 10th and there were at least 12 by the end of the month. Black-headed Gull numbers reached 135+ by month end. A probable Mediterranean Gull on the 22nd and a Black Tern on the 17th.  

The last report of the wintering Green Sandpipers was on the 19th, and Snipe on the 27th. Six, possibly 8 Little Ringed Plover and at least 8 Redshank have settled for the summer. The only passage waders recorded were a Dunlin on the 17th, an occasional Common Sandpiper from 11th onward and up to 5 Ringed Plovers.

The first Cuckoo was seen around the 23rd and Swifts from the 18th. The number of Swallows and Martins seems low.  Kingfishers have become very active along the river recently. A Meadow Pipit was displaying on the 13th and a few pairs of Skylarks are nearly always singing. Wheatears have been passing through in ones and twos. 6 Yellow Wagtails on the horse paddock on the 12th was a highlight, as was a White Wagtail for a few days mid month.

Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps arrived last month and numbers have increased. The first Willow Warbler was heard on the 3rd, Sedge Warbler on 6th, Reed Warbler on 15th, Garden Warblers arrived on the 16th and a passing Grasshopper Warbler on 18th.

Late Lesser Redpolls were still present at the end of the month and a few Bramblings were seen mid month. A male Yellowhammer was present all month.

As always, please report your own sightings on the record sheets in Colebrook Hide or send them to Ian Brown, the Moor Green Bird Recorder.

Bruce Archer