by Andrew (Andy) M Hanby
Black-tailed Godwits over the Reserve Photo: Andy Hanby
Day One of April welcomed our first two Swallows of the year and a flock of 13 Lesser Redpolls headed north.
Other species present were more thematic for the whole month and provide a segway into waders, which are having a good spring in the recording area, presumably associated with the very high water levels on the Reserve and nearby flooded fields. Good numbers of Curlew remained, with a count of 216, boosted by a large flock ready to migrate, on fields near Well bend. By 18th, this flock had dwindled to 120 and, to the chagrin of the observer, cleared off by midday when he was leading a ‘Curlew Tour’. Black-tailed Godwits continued their phenomenal run, with a peak of 217 on 17th April and a monthly bird day total of 2,609. These too started to dwindle in number, but more towards the last third of the month; the new ‘Kids on the Block’ – Whimbrel put in an unexpectedly strong showing, but more of that later.
Credits to Trektellen
Adult Mediterranean Gulls were also present on 1st and seen in total for ten days, with up to four adults and at least one second calendar-year bird.
First (but second calendar) year Mediterranean Gull Photo: Andy Hanby
On 2nd and a sharp eyed observer, with an even sharper camera, picked out a colour ringed Common Gull JO411 on the mud at Flasks Lake. It had been ringed as an adult female (4+ years old) on 24 April 2021 at Ekebergsletta, Oslo, Norway and seen again locally there in 2021 and 2022. The Nosterfield observation appears to be the first sighting abroad, 937km from home!
A male Osprey, always great to see, was over Langwith Lake on 5th, and was thought to be our first of the year at the time, until a late received record of one on 26th March emerged. The next day was also interesting and encouraging, with a fine drake Garganey and a Knot on the main Reserve.
Garganey on the Reserve Photo: Mike Smithson
One of few decent visible migration days occurred on 7th, with 739 Sand Martins moving south into a stiff SSE wind. Also moving were a total of six White Wagtails, all of which stopped briefly on the Reserve before continuing on. As a bonus, one and later two Arctic Terns appeared on the Reserve, a very early date for us.
A female Osprey was reported at Lingham Lake on 8th, also a female Common Scoter on Langwith Lake followed by three smart drake birds on the Reserve the next day. The 9th also hosted the first Common Redstart of the year, a smart male, which was still lurking on the Reserve the next day.
Common Redstart Photo: Andy Hanby
Five Knot and two Sanderling moved through north on 13th and 228 Common Gulls headed south in the afternoon. Four each of Wheatear, Common Redstart and Lesser Whitethroat and a further appearance of the South Henge Corn Bunting brought much cheer to 14th. Three days later, 14 White Wagtails were on Keith’s Field and Wheatears peaked at six, a high count for us.
Two distant Ospreys soared above West Tanfield on 18th, followed unexpectedly the next day by 23 Whoopers Swans heading north and a further 28 on 20th.
Common Gulls heading south Photo: Andy Hanby
On 21st we had our second decent visible migration day of the spring, with 487 Sand Martins, 210 Pink-footed Geese and our first two Swifts of the year moving north into a light headwind. Whilst 21st was good, the following day was outstanding! A grey day with a northerly wind and heavy bands of rain really delivered the goods, with 87 Arctic Terns, 14 Sanderling and a Knot through. To add to this largesse, grounded birds included 13 Turnstone, a Common Scoter and 153 Redshank – awesome!
Wheatear at South Henge Photo: Andy Hanby
The following few days were calmer, with variety in the form of a Bar-tailed Godwit on 23rd, coinciding with a rather more impressive movement of this species along the south coast and up the Severn estuary. A smart Whinchat was near the North Viewing Screen on 24th – a great reward for an itinerant Flamborough birder popping in on his way to the dentist.
On an almost windless 26th it was another good visible migration day, with 477 Sand Martin, 30 Fieldfare, 95 Swallow, 25 Pink-footed Geese, two Lesser Redpoll, a Grey Plover and 18 Whimbrel north.
Under normal circumstances, 18 Whimbrel would be spectacular for us, but another 65 moving north the next day was astronomical and coincided with the peak monthly counts at various sites along the south coast. Thereon to the end of the month and into May, as I write, Whimbrel are a constant feature. Also on 27th, 27 Golden Plover headed north and one of the few Merlin sightings of the year so far, occurred.
On 28th it was grim weather-wise, with constant heavy rain. A long session in the North Viewing Screen for 99.9% of the time produces virtually nothing, but in that 1% (the space of three minutes), at least 50 Arctic Terns headed north – the first a singleton and three minutes later at least a further 49 in a large swirling and fast-moving flock.
Arctic Terns blast past the North Viewing Screen in grim conditions Photo: Andy Hanby
The last two days of the month ended well, with three new male Garganey and a Wood Sandpiper.
Common Sandpipers were regularly seen throughout the month Photo: Tim Jones (Harrogate)
Andy Hanby 08/05/24