April 2011 Bird Report

This April was mild and very dry, leading to plenty of insects.

Cormorants reduced through the month as breeding adults move off. 2 Little Egret on the 6th. Geese have been on eggs all month and the first Canada goslings appeared in the last week of the month and Greylags on  28th. The Egyptian goslings hatched last month are now half grown.

Most of the ducks move off to breed elsewhere but a few remain or pass through. 217 Tufted Ducks on the 6th are much reduced by month end. Several pairs of Gadwall remain, some may breed. Pair of Wigeon present at Grove Lake on 11th, 16th and 30th; Pochard on 27th and one long-staying Teal all month. Male Mandarins are loafing around as the females are collectively incubating 81 eggs in 5 nest boxes around the lakes. A pair Shelduck on 24th. Two families of Mallard ducklings by month end.

Red Kite over on 26th and regular Kestrel. First Hobby of the year on 22nd. Red-legged Partridge seen on 16th and 19th, probably a pair present.

Avocet present the whole day on the 6th. Up to 8 Little Ringed Plovers present all month. Dunlin on 6th. 2 Whimbrel all day on 22nd. Up to 4 Snipe throughout the month and Common Sandpiper, on 6th and 3 on 14th. Up to 2 Green Sandpipers present until 25th.

Common Terns from 6th, max of 9 by the month end.  Black-headed Gulls peaked at 34 on the 8th but potential breeders are beginning to stay over night on the Island.

Cuckoo Heard on the 10th, 13th and 14th. 2 Barn Owls and a pair of Little Owls present all month. Tawny Owl seen on 20th.

House Martin from the 12th, Sand Martins passing through and Swallows staying to breed in the numerous stables in the area and feed on the lakes all month. 2 White Wagtail on 12th and Yellow Wagtail on 9th and 14th. A good month for Wheatears with 11 bird-days reported.

Remaining Warblers arrived: Whitethroat on 6th, Sedge Warbler on 6th, Grasshopper Warbler and Wood Warbler passing through on 12th, Reed Warbler on 16th, Garden Warbler by the 18th.

Brambling passing through with at least 50 on 5th and some still on the 12th. Last Redpoll seen on the 17th. A pair of Yellowhammer throughout the month.

My unofficial count of species recorded for 2011 is 118, including the escaped Snow and Barnacle Geese.

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

Bruce Archer