April 2025 - A summary of observations.

April is the month when most summer visitors arrive in Britain to breed, yes, some are early arrivals reaching us from mid-March, and indeed, migration continues into May, but most arrive in April. There is a greater urgency for migrants to reach their breeding grounds in spring as birds need to secure their territories in order to breed, whereas late summer/autumn migration is a more protracted affair.

April also sees the departure of our winter visitors with the most obvious birds being Thrushes, most wintering birds would have left our shores in March but flocks of Fieldfares and Redwings can still be seen moving through in good sized flocks. I have seen Fieldfares on my patch as late as the first week in May.

Selected Diary entries for April 2025

1st April

An early morning visit to Thompson Water was intended as an arrivals day.  Thompson Water held up to 4 singing Cetti's Warblers with one seen which knew how to evade being seen as all views was of the bird within tangled vegetation habitat.  A pair of Mandarins and a single Little Egret overflew.  My first Swallow of the year arrived over the water as I was preparing to leave.

On nearby heathland, a single singing Willow Warbler (first of year) was heard in typical breeding habitat comprising regenerating Birch scrub.

6 April

Wretham Heath (0655-1100). Visited Langmere and Ringmere. Water levels in Langmere remained very high. Wildfowl present were Greylag Geese, Egyptian Geese (Pair with 2 goslings), Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, and Tufted Duck. A single Snipe was seen on the shore of Langmere where probing to feed.

Many species were disturbed and put up when a Goshawk passed by. Although unseen, a Raven was heard calling.

A pair of Woodlarks seen in a large clearing from the path leading to Ringmere, one bird was seen high in a Larch where singing.

A search along the Hereward Way for Snakes produced a single female Adder and two Grass Snakes in trackside heather.

At the wardens house a pair of House Martins were present, also in the area was a three-figure count of Rooks.

10 April

At Bodney Slip two singing Blackcaps and singing Chiffchaff present. A Grey Heron passed over.

Evidence of early morning passage of winter Thrushes seen with 21+ Fieldfare flying east, also 6 Redwings high east before dropping into woodland.

Two Mistle Thrushes in song, one of these distant in largest willow by Watton Brook. An occupied Carrion Crow nest was in a large willow.

Close by along the roadside was a pair of Stonechats in suitable breeding habitat along with a pair of Dunnocks.

2 pairs of Linnets seen and a pair of Starlings on wires. 

12 and 13 April Northamptonshire)

A couple of days spent in the Nene Valley in Northamptonshire produced evidence of passage migrants and recently arrived summer visitors.  Areas visited included Stanwick Lakes and undulating footpaths through farmland near Little Addington.

On the 12 April near the village of Ringstead I walked a small section of the Nene Way, here, Blackcaps were numerous as were Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers.  One singing Willow Warbler located.  A single Little Egret flew over.

The evening of the 12 April I walked the rolling farmland near Little Addington, I wanted to check a large strip of land used for game cover, having arrived at the site it was clear the land had been recently turned and I immediately considered Wheatear as a possibility.  Walking along the strip using a hedgerow for cover, I intermittently checked the turned land, I then saw a flash of white flying low over the land, checking the bird, this was a 1st summer Northern Wheatear. This stunning Wheatear typically had an upright, alert carriage, and ran over the land when chasing probable food items.

An early morning visit along the Nene Way and Stanwick Lakes was of interest with two early singing Whitethroats along the Nene valley.  A number of Cetti's Warblers were heard with one seen singing in the open in a Hawthorn.  A Sedge Warbler and Willow Warbler were singing in suitable breeding habitat.

The return walk along Nene Way ascending from the River Nene produced a stunning 1st summer Northern Wheatear in typical open country habitat.

1st summer Northern Wheatear along the Nene Way near Little Addington 13 April 2025

14 April Titchwell Marsh

An excellent morning at Titchwell with my good friend Andy Egan.  Highlights included two Little Ringed Plovers, one Common Sandpiper, one booming Bittern, displaying Marsh Harrier, and Sandwich Terns fishing offshore.  Several Mediterranean Gulls over the car park area.  At Choseley a single Sand Martin flew west.

One of two Little Ringed Plovers seen on the Freshwater Marsh at Titchwell on the 14th

16 April

A walk along the Peddars Way at Great Cressingham produced a couple of singing Whitethroats along with one singing Lesser Whitethroat (My first of the year).

18 April

A visit to Hockham was to be productive, firstly, 3 singing Garden Warblers was quite an early date for this Sylvia species, also present within fen-like habitat held at least 6 Water Rails and within a forest clearing a Tree Pipit was watched for some time singing from isolated treetop song-posts as well as displaying its conspicuous song-flight.  Also present in the clearing was singing Willow Warbler, a male Stonechat and Marsh Tit.

Singing and displaying Tree Pipit at Hockham 18 April 2025

19 April

At a local site near Hockham the obvious highlight was finding a singing Redstart, a very scarce breeding bird in the Brecks.

20 April

A pair of Stonechats seen at a known breeding site at Bodney and closer to Watton a single Raven was watched for some time circling low over a field, sometimes alighting on the same spot in a field where probable food was present. The Raven was often mobbed by Carrion Crows, it was possible to appreciate the size difference between the species. 

Raven at Threxton 20 April 2025 

21 April

An interesting movement of at least 2 Mediterranean Gulls passing over Watton (from garden)

25 April

At Little Cressingham a Stonechat was food carrying, indicating successful breeding and a single Raven was watched flying low and North and calling as it went. 

26 April

Two Swifts seen over Watton (from garden) were my first records of this species this year.  The last week of April is a typical arrival date for this species which is one of the later arriving summer migrants. 

28 April

Another productive day in the local Brecks.  Firstly, a visit to Thompson Water held 10+ Reed Warblers (although much inaccessible areas will hold more), Sedge Warblers, a Garden Warbler, 3 singing Cetti's Warblers, and two calling male Cuckoos.

A nearby area of heath and common held 6+ singing Willow Warblers, 3 Garden Warblers, Chiffchaff and Blackcaps.

At another site in Thompson a 'reeling' Grasshopper Warbler was present in prime breeding habitat, a good local record. 

Over Watton 4 Swifts seen overhead.

29 April

My first Hobby  of the year was seen over Watton early morning, and a site less than a mile from home held 2 singing and displaying Snipe, one Lesser Whitethroat, four Whitethroats, Stonechat, and several Reed Buntings in good breeding habitat.

One of two singing Snipe near Watton 30 April