Nosterfield Bird and Natural History Review April 2025

Andrew (Andy) M Hanby

Barn Owl Amanda Hart

The month started well, with 75 species recorded on 1st, including seven Little Ringed Plover and 38 Chiffchaff, whilst 85 Whoopers Swans flew north, and another 44 decided to stay for the day.  In addition, 217 Golden Plover also headed north, a very good April count for us.  The next day, a White Wagtail was reported, a subspecies that amassed eight bird-days during April, but with no more than two on any given day.  Additionally, a pair of Mandarin put in the first of five appearances around the northern part of the recording area.

On 3rd a steady movement of 530 Black-headed Gulls headed north.  The Green Sandpiper again put in one of several appearances in the Langwith area.  It is apparent that one or two of this species are commonly found here, but their movements are a mystery, with many observers failing to see one for weeks at a time.

On 4th and 5th two Barnacle Geese were present, including one with a white neck-collar, B89.  This was originally ringed at Scorton in 2022 and was seen both at RSPB Saltholme and in Lincolnshire prior to visiting us.

B89 Tim Jones

An exciting day on 6th was blessed with two Little Gulls and our first Sedge Warbler of the year.

Little Gull Ian Webster/Joe Fryer

An Osprey was also briefly present.  In total Osprey were seen on 12 days during the month, with two on 12th, involving a minimum of four individuals.  This is considerably up on the previous two Aprils - in April 2024 this species was seen only on four days and just six the year before that.

‘Fishburn’, the male Osprey                        Deborah Drake

Firsts for the year were regular and on 7th a rather tardy Wheatear was found near the North Lake, followed the next day by a singing Common Redstart at Well bend and a Reed Warbler on 10th.

Wheatear                                     Mike Smithson

Another Little Gull was on the Reserve on 11th and the next day, an uber rare for us, a Goshawk over the Well area.  Almost as impressive were eight Mediterranean Gulls and three Bitterns on 13th.  The only Common Scoter of the year so far, a female, appeared on Langwith Lake the next day.

Bittern and Mediterranean Gulls aplenty                             Sean Jones/Tim Jones

Whimbrel was added to the list on 16th as one flew north over Flasks Lake.  The next day saw a Bar-tailed Godwit, two Wheatears, a Common Redstart and three Lesser Whitethroats. Arguably, 133 Black-tailed Godwits on the Reserve provided more of a spectacle on 18th.

Greenshank made an early debut on 19th, with five on the Reserve, whereas three Common Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler the same day, were pretty much on time.

Greenshank (top) with Oystercatcher and Black-tailed Godwit supporting (bottom) Mike Smithson/Sean Jones/Nathan Beer

In the main, the recording area does poorly for Swallows, so 104 in the area on 21st was most impressive.  Additionally, five Yellow Wagtails were present, with our first Common Tern sighting of the year.

After a lull in action, another Bar-tailed Godwit was found on 24th which was still there the next day, when Whimbrel, Greenshank, two Raven and five Cetti’s Warblers between them made for a very interesting day.  The fortunes of Cetti’s Warbler in our recording area have changed dramatically.  April 2025 amassed 31 bird-days of this species, whereas in 2023 there was one April record and none in 2022.  They are very much a feature of climatic change.  In the early 1980s the most reliable place to see this species in the UK was Stodmarsh in Kent, with sightings north of the Thames a real rare event.

Cetti’s Warbler, Garden Warbler and Whitethroat        

Kevin and Bernie Thornton/Gareth Jones

The 28th was the start of a ‘purple patch’ for the area.  The star bird was a male Green-winged Teal on the Reserve, with a supporting cast of three Wood Sandpipers present and another two headed north. 

Green-winged Teal and Wood Sandpiper                                                 Tim Jones

The teal was gone the next day, but five Barnacle Geese, 57 Ruff through and a Temminck’s Stint provided a good measure of compensation.

Temminck’s Stint Tim Jones

Good days birding throughout the month of April                                        Dave Ward