Arrivals of the first summer migrants

From mid-March each year the first summer migrants begin to appear  on the patch with arrivals soon settling down to sing and reaffirm their territories, or passing through on their way to their breeding grounds elsewhere in the country, or indeed beyond.

One of our earliest returning migrants is the Chiffchaff, my first this year was on 11th March at a local sewage treatment works, a type of facility which provides a microclimate and good feeding for newly arrived birds.  Following this first bird, Chiffchaff numbers began to increase from mid March with some sites holding several singing birds.

Male Blackcap

The last week of March usually sees the first Blackcaps arriving on territory, my first of the year was at Bodney on 27th March.  The beautiful song of the Blackcap always brightens woodland which may still be in the final grips of winter.

Blackcaps are found in a variety of habitats with most seen in open woodland, they will readily use overgrown hedgerows, scrub, and mature gardens.

Female Blackcaps differ from males in appearance by their brown caps, although be aware, all juvenile Blackcaps have brown caps until males moult into the familiar black caps.

On 4th April, I visited Croxton Heath hoping to find Adders, however, none were found, but, I did locate at least 4 Willow Warblers, a species which arrives the last day of March, but most in the first days of April. 

My first Swallow of the year was a male bird seen at Saham, this was likely a passage bird as I watched it flying purposefully west along a river valley until lost to view.

Wheatear at Bodney 14 April (One of 3 birds together)

Another early migrant is the Wheatear, this species usually arrives in latter half of March, however, this year my first were seen at Bodney on 14th April, on this occasion 3 birds were seen together (2 males and female).  Wheatears are birds of open country, typically on rolling grassland, farmland, and upland moors.  Nest sites include disused Rabbit burrows and cavities in stone walls. 

Wheatear is an old English word, it's modern translation means 'White Arse' owing to its large and highly distinctive white rump which is particularly visible on the flying bird.

At the time of writing (16th April) look out for and listen for the first Cuckoos and in the last week of April, look to the sky for the first Swifts.