Slavonian Grebe, Spoonbill and Little Terns were among the highlights of an excellent April. The month also saw Osprey, Garganey and Common Redstart, which hasn't been recorded for two years, added to the year list as well as most of the expected waders and summer visitors.
In all, 97 species were seen across the month which was the same as last year. But with 24 additions to the year list, the running total of 123 is only bettered by 2018's remarkable and rarity-rich 126. Common Scoter, Black-necked Grebe and Black Redstart are three of the likely birds still missing along with Hobby which should be seen in May.
After a near three month stay on its favoured bank at the north end of High Maynard, the White-fronted Geese finally discovered its migratory urges with the last sighting on April 24th. The first - and perhaps only - Garganey of the year was a female found by DaD on No 1 late on the 26th. More obliging and definitely more colourful was a stunning Slavonian Grebe in near full breeding plumage which spent all of the 13th on Lockwood. It's the first at the Wetlands since another one-day bird in November 2018 which itself was the first for five years.
Osprey is just about annual at the Wetlands but birds in Spring usually power their way north to get to their breeding grounds. This was not the case with the female found and photographed by PG on the 27th which circled leisurely over the reservoirs before moving south.
Red Kites were seen on at least six days, just like last year, but the six across the 26th was a high count. A Buzzard was also seen on the same day in good passage conditions with sightings on two more dates. A second Great White Egret of the year was seen on the 10th. Spoonbill remain scarce visitors at the Wetlands with the bird seen briefly by TR, PR and TG on the 28th around No 1 island the first since the astonishing flock of 11 in September 2023.
Ten species of waders were seen across the month - the same as in both 2024 and 2025 - with Whimbrel, Little Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Dunlin and Ringed Plover all new for the year. Oystercatchers were seen on the 8th and then regularly from the 20th with two on several days, suggesting they may be trying to breed nearby. The only Lapwing was seen on the 19th.
In recent years Little Ringed Plover seem to be getting scarcer and it has been the same again this Spring with just one brief sighting on Lockwood on the 11th. Lockwood also held a tamer Ringed Plover which stayed around for several hours on the 26th and the first of two Whimbrel on the 11th with a second flying over on the 22nd.
Dunlin, usually one of commoner passage waders, were late this year but a flock of three turned up on the 26th to make up for the delay. Common Sandpiper passage continued throughout April, building to a peak count of 17 on the last day of the month. The 30th also saw a Green Sandpiper on High Maynard with two more on Lockwood on the 22nd and one on the 27th. The only Redshank was one on the 7th which was one less sighting than Greenshank with records on both the 22nd and 30th. The surprise was that neither species of godwit has yet been seen with Bar-tails in particular turning up reliably in early Spring in recent years.
An immature Yellow-legged Gull was seen on both the 10th and 11th The first Common Tern of the year was on the 12th - a day earlier than last year - with around a dozen back by the 21st. Let's hope they have more success than last year's disastrous breeding season. Three Little Terns - the first since 2021 - flew south through the reservoirs on the 25th while SD photographed two Black Terns flying high in the opposite direction next day.
A Cuckoo was heard by MLP and DiD on the early date of the 19th around the 123 reservoirs but seemed to pass through quickly, Swifts were also early with the first on the 11th - nine days before last year's first bird- with local birds screaming around the reservoirs from the 19th, Just like last year, the first Swallow was seen on the 2nd with 20 feeding over the reservoirs on the 11th before continuing north. House Martins, which breed on the neighbouring filter beds, were two days later than last year with the first sighting on the 11th,
Willow Warbler passage continued in the first half of the month but, with largely fine conditions, numbers were not high. Our breeding warblers were remarkably consistent in their arrival dates withe the first Sedge Warbler on the 2nd (1st last year), Reed Warbler on the 7th (8th) and Common Whitethroat on the 8th, the same date as both 2025 & 2024. Only Lesser Whitethroat, four days earlier on the 18th, bucked the trend although GI picked up a very early for the reservoirs Garden Warbler which can take until the late summer to see some years.
A sublime Whinchat posed for two days on West Warwick @samodonnell25.bsky.social
Common Redstart has become so scarce at the reservoirs - except for the unwary trusting Merlin to identify its call from Chaffinch - that the female found around No 5 by ML on the 23rd was the first since 2023. There is no more beautiful British bird than a Spring male Whinchat so it was a delight that the bird found by CF on West Warwick, the first in London this year, on the 12th stayed for two days. A second made a much briefer stay on the same reservoir on the 27th.
The dry, bright conditions were ideal for Wheatears to continue migrating without stopping which helps explain why four on the 18th was the highest daily count. But there was a better showing from Yellow Wagtails which perhaps may be more affected by the northerly winds. After the first on the 6th, ten days later than last year, birds were seen or heard on at least six days eight on the 25th the highest total.
DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social
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