April 2006 Summary
April proved to be an extremely good month with regard to site scarcities and returning summer migrants. The main highlights included two Osprey sightings and two separate Shelduck. While a possible Hobby was seen and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was reported as being heard calling.
|
Species |
Highest Count |
Date |
Notes |
|
Great Crested Grebe |
20+ |
2nd |
|
| Little Egret | 2 | 20th | |
| Grey Heron |
3 |
14th |
|
| Mute Swan | 6 | Three pairs present all month | |
| Shelduck | 1 | 1st/18th | |
| Wood Duck | 6 | 23rd | Female and 5 ducklings, male seen on several dates |
| Mandarin | 3 | 27th | Single male seen on several dates |
|
Wigeon |
2 |
28th |
|
|
Teal |
4 |
15th/28th |
|
| Shoveler | 1 | 12th | Single drake |
| Pochard | 3 | 29th | |
| Tufted Duck | 8 | 17th-18th | |
| Ruddy Duck | 1 | 15th | Single drake |
| Osprey | 1 | 17th/19th | Unconfirmed report on 17th |
|
Peregrine |
1 |
2nd |
|
| Hobby | 1 | 15th | Possible following hirundine flock |
| Kestrel | 1 | 10th | |
| Sparrowhawk | 1 | 24th | |
| Snipe | 7 | 13th | |
| Redshank | 1 | 1st | |
| Common Sandpiper | 16 | 23rd | First bird on 5th |
| Black-headed Gull | 2 | 27th | |
| Herring Gull | 50+ | 25th | |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull | 30+ | 25th | |
| Stock Dove | 1 | 19th | |
| Yellow Wagtail |
1 |
20th |
|
| Meadow Pipit | 10+ | 20th | |
| Song Thrush | 2 | 18th | |
| Wheatear | 1 | 16th/23rd | |
| Green Woodpecker | 1 | 28th | |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 2 | 28th | |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker | 1 | 15th | Unconfirmed report of a single bird heard calling |
| Swift | 2 | 27th | First bird on 20th |
| Kingfisher | 1 | 17th/24th | |
| Cuckoo | 1 | 18th | One heard calling |
| Nuthatch | 1 | 22nd | |
| Treecreeper | 1 | 15th | |
| Marsh Tit | 2 | 15th | Reported as either Marsh or Willow Tit, though the latter is extremely rare |
| Reed Warbler | 1 | 29th | First bird on 29th |
| Cetti's Warbler | 1 | Heard on several dates. First heard on 15th | |
| Blackcap | 3 | 27th | First bird on 15th |
| Whitethroat | 4 | 27th | First bird on 21st |
| Lesser Whitethroat | 2 | 25th | First bird on 22nd |
| Chiffchaff | 10 | 20th | |
| Raven | 1 | 11th | |
| Lesser Redpoll | 4 | 2nd | |
| Bullfinch | 2 | 13th | |
| Reed Bunting | 2 | 15th/23rd | |
| Yellowhammer | 1 | 18th |