April 2002 Summary

April proved to be a quite superb month with regard to the variety and quality of the birds recorded at the reservoir. Highlights included the second Osprey of the year and a second Merlin being seen. Wildfowl were again well represented with a drake Wood Duck and a flock of Common Scoter being the cream of the crop. By the end of of the month nearly all the usual migrants had returned, and many of the resident birds were already nesting.

 

Species Highest Count Date Notes
Great Crested Grebe 64 14th At least four pairs nesting
Cormorant 25 2nd  
Grey Heron 5 3rd  
Mute Swan 6 24th Pair nesting-Flock of five present for the one day
Greylag Goose 1 10th-15th Presumed feral bird
Canada Goose 25 3rd Pair nesting
Wood Duck 1 14th-16th Drake-presumed escapee
Wigeon 2 14th/19th Pair
Teal 18 14th  
Pintail 1 14th-16th Drake
Shoveler 2 9th Two drakes
Tufted Duck 5 14th  
Common Scoter 8 2nd Five drakes and three ducks
Osprey 1 16th  
Sparrowhawk 2   Both male and female seen on different dates
Buzzard 7 3rd  
Peregrine 1   Present on several dates
Merlin 1 10th Female
Kestrel 2   Male and female present throughout month
Moorhen 3 1st  
Coot 10 15th At least two pairs nesting
Lapwing 2 20th  
Snipe 1 14th  
Common Sandpiper 17 20th First bird on 14th April
Black-headed Gull 8 16th  
Herring Gull c.65 2nd  
Lesser Black-backed Gull 9 19th  
Stock Dove 3 3rd  
Little Owl 2 20th  
Green Woodpecker 2 3rd/14th  
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 20th  
Skylark 1 3rd  
Sand Martin c.55 1st  
House Martin c.30 28th First bird on 15th April
Swallow c.80 28th First bird on 1st April
Grey Wagtail 1 24th  
Stonechat 2 8th  
Song Thrush 2 15th  
Sedge Warbler 1 22nd First bird on 22nd April
Cetti's Warbler 1   Present most of the month
Whitethroat 2 24th First bird on 24th April
Blackcap 2 20th First bird on 15th April
Chiffchaff 6 21st  
Willow Warbler 2 20th First bird on 8th April
Goldcrest 2 3rd  
Long-tailed Tit 2 24th  
Nuthatch 2 14th  
Treecreeper 2 24th  
Jay 3 20th  
Raven 1 28th  
House Sparrow 9 3rd  
Bullfinch 4 14th/18th Up to three pairs present
Yellowhammer 1 3rd  
Reed Bunting 2   Present most of the month