Local Wildlife Sightings, April 2026

 The dry spell continued from late March into the second week of April, when the weather became more unsettled, but Royston seemed to miss the 'April showers'. The temperature varied enormously, from somewhat cool to very warm, with temperatures in the mid-20s on the 8th and early on the 9th. Numbers of our two commonest warblers, the Chiffchaff and the Blackcap, continued to build during the first week, until virtually every copse housed at least one individual of each. However, it was only in the second week that other summer visitors were noted in the Royston area, with three Whitethroats (singing males) recorded between Royston Hospital and The Heath on the 10th. I also found three male Wheatears, a passage migrant, just off The Heath on the same day. Sadly, Willow Warblers have also become passage migrants in the Royston area in the last few years (they were fairly common breeders not so long ago) and so their lovely song is only heard here from the middle of April until early May. I was lucky to see a singing male not far from the house on the 13th.

Male Wheatear, Royston, 10 April

A visit to the dung heaps north of Ashwell rewarded me with good sightings of several Yellow Wagtails, two Wheatears, two breeding-plumaged male Reed Buntings, a Meadow Pipit and one or two Pied Wagtails when I visited, again on the 10th.

Male Reed Bunting near Ashwell, 10 April

Male Yellow Wagtail near Ashwell, 10 April

The very warm weather on the 8th prompted me to get the macro lens out for the first time in six months and do a little bit of insect photography in my local woodland. Four species of ladybird (7-Spot, 14-Spot, Harlequin and Orange Ladybirds) were found, together with common wasps and a good variety of hoverflies. A few Orange-tip Butterflies and a single Holly Blue butterfly were also seen, together with the ubiquitous (when the sun was out) Peacocks and Brimstones. However, there was no sign locally of Red Admiral or Comma butterflies, which also over-winter.

14-Spot Ladybird, Royston, 8 April

Hoverfly (Syrphus Family), Royston, 8 April

UK Wildlife Sightings, April 2026

 After a hiatus of three weeks, during which my bird watching was restricted to the local area, I visited the Norfolk coast on the 4th. I started at RSPB Titchwell Marsh, adding two summer visitors (a single Swallow and around 300 [!] Sandwich Terns) to my year list. Mediterranean Gulls were, surprisingly, the dominant gull species - it was interesting to see them mixing with the Sandwich Terns at the edge of the freshmarsh. A couple of Spoonbills made regular visits to the marshland between Titchwell Marsh and Thornham Harbour - I guess that they may be nesting further to the west at the Ken Hill rewilding estate? Two Red-breasted Mergansers were on the tidal marsh before flying off, whilst the long-staying female Scaup was still present there.

Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 4 April

Spoonbill in marshland between RSPB Titchwell Marsh and Thornham Harbour, 4 April

I moved a little west to Thornham Harbour - always a good spot for photographing wading birds - and was lucky to find my first Greenshank of the year in one of the channels. I suspect that this was an over-wintering bird, because the main spring passage of Greenshanks through the country doesn't start until late April. I know that a Greenshank over-wintered here in 2024-25, although most Greenshanks over-winter in Africa before returning to their breeding sites in Northern Europe (a few nest in the north of Scotland, but none nest in England).

Greenshank, Thornham Harbour, 4 April

Curlew having a Wash, Thornham Harbour, 4 April

My final destination was Old Hunstanton golf course, where a Great Grey Shrike (an increasingly rare winter visitor to the UK) had been showing for a few days beforehand. Unfortunately for me, it didn't show during my visit, although it had been seen an hour beforehand - such is life.

London's parks are of some interest for the bird photographer, because the wild birds there become quite tame and allow a closer approach than do those (say) in the Royston area. For this reason I took a photographic trip in to central London on the 9th to visit Regents Park and Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens, concentrating on the water birds on and around the lakes there. Regents Park was a little disappointing, with far more people (it was the school Easter holidays) than birds, although I did hear my first Reed Warbler of the year there. However, a couple of circuits of The Serpentine were more productive, with almost point blank close-ups of Cormorants and Gadwall, allowing me to photograph their plumage in good detail and also a bit of action out on the lakes. However, for an old man the walking involved on what was, at least initially, a very warm day, led to exhaustion by the end of the day.

Coot Nesting Activity, Kensington Gardens, 9 April

Cormorant on a Branch, Kensington Gardens, 9 April

Male Gadwall, Kensington Gardens, 9 April

Grey Wagtail, Kensington Gardens, 9 April

Local Wildlife Sightings, March 2026

 The warmer, drier weather of late February continued into March. No fewer than nine Brimstone and two Peacock butterflies were seen on a short walk that took me across the eastern side of The Heath and back by the side of Royston Hospital on the 2nd - my first local butterflies of the year and the first large insects (other than a few queen bumble bees) that I had seen locally in 2026. Up to 15 frogs were noisily occupying the garden pond and on the 4th the first clump of frogspawn was laid there. At last, I had other wildlife to think about apart from birds!

I made my now monthly visit to Scales Park (Meesden) on the 4th. Crossbills were again seen but, on a very misty morning, the surprise was to see large numbers of Siskins (I estimate 30-35) around the evergreens near the eastern end of the main ride. Were they passing through on their way north? The poor visibility may have forced them down, or perhaps Scales Park is a regular stopping off place in the early spring. A very noisy flock of Redwings had gathered at the tops of the trees. Perhaps they, too, were moving through, or at least preparing to move north.

Male Siskin, Scales Park, 4 March

On my way home I called in at Reed End. Two Little Grebes were seen at Phillup's Lake (a positive sign). All the Canada Geese had departed and just a pair of Tufted Ducks were on the lake - will they stay to attempt to breed, or will the resident pair of Coots chase them off? Towards Therfield, some of the farmland finches and buntings had dispersed, although I did see a flock of around 60 Corn Buntings in flight. One landed next to a male Reed Bunting, giving an interesting size comparison (image).

Corn Bunting (left hand bird) and male Reed Bunting, Therfield, 4 March

A singing Blackcap was heard near the Royston allotments on the morning of the 6th. Two Chiffchaffs were singing when I did a walk in the Fox Covert and Church Hill area on the 10th. There has been a steady increase in this warbler locally and nationally as a summer visitor over the last ten years, whilst the similar Willow Warblers have declined to the point of extinction in the local woodlands. Despite its plain appearance and monotonous song, I rather like the Chiffchaff, particularly as a harbinger of early spring. Just three Pasque Flowers were seen on Church Hill.

An Early Pasque Flower, Church Hill, 10 March

On the same day I made an afternoon visit to Amwell Gravel Pits. A pair of Oystercatchers were flying around excitedly and I was a little surprised to see two Herring Gulls mating on one of the tern rafts. A few Herring Gulls do breed in Hertfordshire and there was a report of an occupied nest at Amwell in 2024, so perhaps this pair will stay to breed. The Black-necked Grebe was still around, although I didn't see it on this visit.

Mating Herring Gulls, Amwell NR, 10 March

Another walk in the Church Hill and Fox Covert area on the 16th produced my second Peregrine sighting of the year, this time a young bird (some brown feathering seen in the tail), unsuccessfully chasing a small flock of Fieldfares. I didn't have my big lens with me, but I did get a couple of distant photos of the Peregrine, to confirm the ID. Several patches of flowering Dog-violets (the food plant of the caterpillars of both Dark Green and Silver-washed Fritillary butterflies) were seen and several more Pasque Flowers were blooming on Church Hill.

'Record Shot' of a young Peregrine over Thrift Farm, Royston, 16 March

Violets in Flower on Therfield Heath, 16 March

On the 17th, at the start of a spell of warm (for March), sunny weather, I went on my 9 mile 'round the villages' walk, taking in Hatchpen Farm, Reed village, Phillup's Lake (Reed End), the outskirts of Therfield village and the stretch of the Icknield Way between Therfield and Therfield Heath. At least 44 bird species were recorded (39 seen), as well as Brown Hares, Fallow Deer, Brimstone and Peacock butterflies, bumble bees and my first bee flies and hoverflies of the year. A pair of Canada Geese at Hatchpen Pond were the first for my 'Local Patch' list this year (Phillup's Lake is outside the two mile radius), but the chief interest was in a motley assortment of around 80-100 larger gulls that were sitting on a recently ploughed field. I took a few photos of them at rest before they flew farther away. At least one adult Great Black-backed Gull, something of a rarity in Hertfordshire, was standing a little way away. I managed to get a flight shot of this bird. When a helicopter flew over, the gulls flew up and wheeled around, enabling me to get some more flight shots, that I am now poring over and comparing with images of gulls in flight in 'Britain's Birds' (Hume et. al.), in order to try to improve my ID knowledge of these species - but enough of that 'anorak' activity for the moment.

Canada Geese and Moorhen, Hatchpen Pond, 17 March

Great Black-backed Gull in Flight, Hatchpen Farm (Reed), 17 March

Further on, as I approached Phillup's Lake, I could see a couple of smallish, dark birds feeding over the lake. Could they be very early swallows on passage? I'll never know, because by the time I got close enough to identify them they had gone - a mystery never to be solved. On the lake, Canada Geese (apparently three pairs) had returned, but the Tufted Ducks had gone. Two Little Grebes, starting to develop their summer plumage, were still present (but at opposite ends of the lake). Redwings and Fieldfares were noticeable by their absence (had they departed for Scandinavia?). The only summer visitors definitely recorded were half a dozen Chiffchaffs.

Little Grebe, Phillup's Lake, Reed End, 17 March

Red-legged Partridge, Hatchpen Farm, 17 March. Hundreds (Thousands?) of these birds are released every year at Hatchpen for shooting during the autumn and winter. This is one of the lucky survivors.

I made a return visit to Hatchpen on the 20th. There was no sign of gulls and the Canada Geese had gone, but in their place was a single Grey Heron - a bird which, like the Canada Geese, is generally widespread and common but which I rarely see on my local patch.

Grey Heron, Hatchpen Pond, 20 March

Two local fields, including one that is directly to the south of my housing estate, have been acquired by a holding company that has submitted plans to build 280 houses on the land. These plans have been vigorously contested locally and the planning application has been turned down. However, the developers have submitted an appeal that will be heard in May. Hopefully, the appeal will be lost and the land spared. Whilst this has been going on the land has been left to form 'weedy fields' and this has encouraged a flock of Yellowhammers to move in and take advantage of the seeds provided. I estimate that 30-40 birds have been present from February onwards on 'my' field - always a delight to see. Long may they continue here! On the morning of the 28th at least three newly-arrived Blackcaps were singing from the bushes around the field.

I made my first visit since last autumn to the Tring Reservoirs on the 26th. I was hoping to see some early hirundines there, but had no luck. The car park at Wilstone was still closed due to ongoing construction work (although it appeared that this was nearly finished), so I had to park at Drayton Beauchamp and walk across a couple of fields to the hide. Two pairs of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were seen (they nest here), but little else until I was about to leave, when a pair of Mandarin Ducks appeared from the inlet at the side of the hide. They were chased further away towards the reed bed by an aggressive Coot (well, most Coots seem to be aggressive in the spring). The next thing I knew the male had a Common Frog in his mouth and was attempting to swallow it which, after much effort, he eventually did - head first! Needless to say, I hadn't witnessed this behaviour before. The frog didn't appear to put up much of a fight: I wonder whether it had been found deceased? Anyway, this kept me entertained for an extra 20 minutes.

Lesser Black-backed Gull Pair, Wilstone Reservoir, 26 March

Male Mandarin about to swallow a Frog, Wilstone Reservoir, 26 March

I made a brief visit to Phillup's Lake on the 27th. The only 'ever-presents' there appear to be pairs of Coot and Little Grebe, a few Mallards and Moorhens. Tufted Duck numbers (three on this occasion) and Canada Goose numbers (two) oscillate wildly, suggesting (in particular for the Tufted Ducks) that the lake serves as a brief stopping off point during these birds' travels. One bird that I don't normally see there was a Cormorant, which flew off as soon as I pointed my camera at it.

Cormorant, taking off from Phillup's Lake

After a wet January and February, March proved to be a dry month and, after a few spells of light rain to the 29th, a long, dry spell commenced in Royston, stretching well into April.

 

UK Wildlife Sightings, March 2026

 With relatively mild, settled weather and a gentle breeze I decided to go Goshawk hunting at Cockley Cley (Norfolk) on the 3rd. Early March is the best time of year to see Goshawks displaying, although they can be seen in February if weather conditions are right. After 75 minutes of waiting, only lots of Buzzards and a single Red Kite had been seen. However, as I tried to photograph an overhead Buzzard a second bird, clearly a hawk, came into view. People around me said that it was only a Sparrowhawk. Certainly it looked small, but it was fairly high. Eventually I managed to get a 'record shot' of the bird that wasn't blurred. Later examination showed lengthwise striping along the underside of the bird (perpendicular to the barring along the wings and tail), pointing to the fact that this was a young Goshawk - probably a male - success! The image is shown below.

'Record Shot' of a Juvenile Goshawk, Cockley Cley, 3 March

I called into Lynford Arboretum on the way home, on the off-chance that I could see a Hawfinch. A quick check of the feeding station near the 'Shepherd's Baa' cafe netted me my first Brambling of the year (a female). Surely, things couldn't get any better? Oh yes, they could! Sitting at the top of the tallest tree in the paddock was a Hawfinch. I managed to get a few photos before it flew down, not to be seen again.

Hawfinch, Lynford Arboretum, 3 March

The best was still to come. As I continued a walk that I regularly take through the forest I came across signs warning me to watch where I stood, as it was the time of year for migrating frogs and toads. A few yards further on, by the side of a lake, I came upon a mass of courting and mating Common Toads - probably 60 to 70 with more, sometimes 'piggybacking', arriving at the lake as I watched. Forty minutes later I had photographed toads (individuals, couples and even a 'threesome') from every angle. Some spawn had already been laid. The lake is well away from the nearest road, so hopefully mortality as the toads make their way to the mating pond from every direction will be low. I was a herpetologist before I became a bird watcher, so seeing these toads performing was a joy to see.

Common Toads in Amplexus, arriving at their Breeding Lake, Lynford, 3 March

Common Toad 'Mating Ball' (two males and a female), Lynford, 3 March

On the 5th I made my annual pilgrimage to the North Yorkshire coast, visiting RSPB Bempton Cliffs and Filey Brigg. At my age, I shouldn't still be making this 400 mile round journey in a day, but needs must on this occasion. Maybe next year I'll stay longer in Yorkshire and check out some of the other wonderful wildlife areas in my 'home' county. Lots of Gannets, Guillemots and Razorbills were on the cliffs at Bempton, in flight or (in the case of the last two) loafing on the sea. I couldn't find any Puffins - there has been mass mortality out at sea due to the effects of storms, but in any case it is also a little early in the season for Puffins to appear. Fulmars were much in evidence on the cliffs and Tree Sparrows, Linnets, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were present in big numbers around the reserve. A Barn Owl was seen briefly. The tide was in when I arrived at Filey, meaning that I couldn't walk out along the Brigg at sea level, but I was able to walk along the top of The Brigg and look down towards the rocks at the end, where Oystercatchers and other, unidentified waders were roosting. Adult and juvenile Shags flew past the rocks. 

Gannet Pair, RSPB Bempton Cliffs, 5 March

Razorbills on the Cliffs at Bempton, 5 March

Fulmar in Flight, RSPB Bempton Cliffs, 5 March

Tree Sparrow, RSPB Bempton Cliffs, 5 March

I was back on the North Norfolk coast on the 11th. I had missed Long-tailed Ducks on my two previous visits this year, but finally located a group of 8-10 birds on the sea, between Titchwell and Brancaster. They were too far out to get decent photographs. A large flock of Mediterranean Gulls (I was told that 102 birds had recently been counted) was seen on the freshmarsh. It will be interesting to see how many stay on to nest at Titchwell. Moving on to Holkham Park, I had hoped to see a Ferruginous Duck on the lake there, but a 90 minute search failed to reveal the bird: other bird watchers similarly left "empty handed". A very large flock of Barnacle Geese was seen in the park. However, all the birds appeared to have been ringed. Were they part of a collection? Finally, I hurried down to the sea at Holkham Gap. This involved a walk of over half a mile across the beach - the tide goes out a long way here! I was rewarded with views of flocks of hundreds of Common Scoters, which seem to be resident here during the winter months, but which I hadn't seen elsewhere along the Norfolk coast this winter. Some images taken on this trip are below.

Marsh Harrier in Flight, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 11 March

Mediterranean Gulls (and Shelduck), RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 11 March

 

Barnacle Geese (Captive Flock?), grazing in Holkham Park, 11 March

A few days of sunny weather from the 17th encouraged me to make afternoon visits to RSPB Lakenheath Fen (Suffolk) on the 18th and Welney (Norfolk) on the 19th. Highlights of a quiet but enjoyable walk around the Lakenheath reserve were several Roe Deer, Whooper Swans and half a dozen different wader species. I had been hoping to see a very early Garganey or a very late Water Pipit, but neither materialised. The next day I stopped in Welney village to see the reported Glossy Ibis (image below). All three egret species (including my first Cattle Egrets of the year) were on the same flooded fields. On the WWT reserve, ten distant Cranes were on Lady Fen. Wader species seen included Avocets, Redshank, Ruff, Snipe and several Black-tailed Godwits, some of which were developing their summer plumage. Garganey had been sporadically reported from here since the 14th, but there was no sign of this rather secretive bird on my visit.

Glossy Ibis, Welney, 19 March

Redshank, WWT Welney, 19 March

I joined an RSPB coach trip to Abberton Reservoir on the 22nd. I wasn't leading so, as I frequently do, I decided to go off and 'do my own thing'. Having been round the reserve I headed off along the Layer de la Haye causeway, to the Billett's Farm screens, hoping to see the male Canvasback, a very rare American duck which had been associating with male Pochards (it looks very similar to them) in the previous week. My efforts were unsuccessful but Steve, probably our best and most experienced bird watcher, did eventually catch up with it. I then walked along a footpath to the Layer Breton causeway (the others came by coach a little later) and was rewarded with views of at least three Russian White-fronted Geese (winter visitor) and three Spoonbills, two of which were nesting with another individual nearby, perhaps hoping that a mate would turn up soon. Between us we managed to record 82 bird species - quite an impressive total considering that this is an inland site.

Nesting Spoonbills, Abberton Reservoir (from the Layer Breton Causeway), 22 March

Russian White-fronted Geese, Abberton Reservoir, 22 March

Having failed to see Water Pipits (a rare winter visitor) at other sites this year, I was encouraged to make another visit to the Staines Reservoirs on the 24th by a report of four birds there early in the morning. They were exactly where they had been reported on 'Birdguides' by the observer (thank you), about 200 metres along the bank of the south basin from the western end of the causeway that separates this from the north basin. Fortunately I had my telescope with me to confirm their identity - they could be separated from the numerous Meadow Pipits that were present by their strong white supercilia and their relatively unmarked greyish-blue backs (they appeared to be developing their summer plumage). Being distant, I only managed to get poor 'record shots' of the birds, but hopefully the two images below will convince the viewer of their identity when compared with the Meadow Pipits.

Poor 'Record Shot' of a Water Pipit (note the Supercilium), Staines Reservoirs, 24 March

Meadow Pipit (this Bird lacks a Supercilium), Staines Reservoirs, 24 March

Local Wildlife Sightings, February 2026

 With the exception of a few days in the first half of January, the weather in the first six weeks of 2026 was dull, dank and dismal. Rainfall in this part of the country was well above average but not excessive, and sunshine was at a premium. We were lucky to avoid the extreme rainfall and flooding in the south west of England or the heavy snowfall and 20+ days without sunshine in Aberdeenshire, but the late winter weather here was pretty miserable, nonetheless. No unusual birds were seen in or from the garden, although Stock Doves were back, underneath the feeders, from late January. In the surrounding area, large flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares were seen. Were these birds new arrivals, driven out of The Continent by continuing bad weather, returning birds from further west or had they been around locally, out of sight and hearing, throughout the winter?

Stock Dove in my Garden, 1 February

I was lucky to get a glimpse of a wintering Bittern when I visited Amwell on the 2nd. It crossed a patch of cut reeds near the White Hide (as seen from the viewpoint) before I had time to get my camera ready. There are possibly two Bitterns wintering here, but they are very hard to see! A large flock of Lapwings was flying about, looking for somewhere to land - most of the islands had been submerged as the water levels had risen during this very wet period.

Lapwings with Egyptian and Canada Geese, Amwell, 2 February

'New' birds for the year seen on local walks included a Raven, seen near Royston Hospital on the 11th, and three Golden Plovers, seen off the Icknield Way north of Therfield on the same day. A Barn Owl (or, rather, the top of its head) was seen on the 17th in the same owl box near the bottom of Church Hill where it had been seen last December. Three Stonechats (one male) were in the same area and another male Stonechat was seen along the Icknield Way, still in Hertfordshire, between Royston and Flint Cross on the 6th. A flock of an estimated 110 Corn Buntings were seen in fields and bushes between Therfield and Reed End on the 9th, having been joined by three Reed Buntings and 40 Yellowhammers, but there was no sign here of the large numbers of Chaffinches that had been seen in this area in January. Nine Tufted Ducks (a record) were seen on Phillup's Lake on the same day, but numbers of Canada Geese had declined from 36 to three.

Male Stonechat, seen between Royston and Flint Cross, 6 February

Female Stonechat, Thrift Farm, Royston, 17 February

A few of around 110 Corn Buntings seen between Therfield and Reed End, 9 February

'Record Shot' of one of three Golden Plovers, Therfield, 11 February

Kestrel, Reed, 11 February

I made another visit to Scales Park on the 10th. Once again, Crossbills were present and on this occasion a big group of 20 individuals was seen. I also saw my first local Marsh Tits of the year (two), flushed a Woodcock and saw a Raven.

Male Common Crossbill, Scales Park, 10 January

Reports of a Black-necked Grebe at Amwell encouraged me to visit on the 17th. In addition to the grebe (image below) I saw both female Smew, which have been present on Great Hardmead Lake for several weeks, but have generally been hard to see.

Black-necked Grebe, Amwell, 17 February

The weather improved slightly towards the end of the month, although remaining unsettled, but little of interest was seen on my local walks. Redwings continued to show more or less wherever I went and towards the end of the month a few were heard singing. On the 27th I headed back to Watersmeet LNR in St Albans for a very productive hour, seeing Siskins and Redpolls on the feeders there. One of the Redpolls was brighter and whiter than the others, suggesting that it might be the flammea sub-species, formerly regarded as a separate species - Common or 'Mealy' Redpoll. Since all Redpolls are now regarded as a single species I didn't spend too much time poring over my photographs to see whether I could confirm its identity to sub-species level. I'm not even sure whether it was captured on my camera - a couple of my Redpoll images are shown below.

Redpoll 1, Watersmeet LNR, St Albans, 27 February

Redpoll 2, Watersmeet LNR, St Albans, 27 February

I also saw my first Blackcaps of the year (two males) here, heard a Cetti's Warbler and saw a Peregrine (presumably one of the Cathedral pair), which circled overhead before flying off. The only disappointment was failing to see a Bullfinch, a bird that has been reported here from time to time but is becoming vanishingly rare locally. Watersmeet is a lovely, bird-filled little reserve and well worth a visit (particularly in the winter months) if you get the chance, but bear in mind that, being near the river, it can be quite boggy!

Male Siskin, Watersmeet LNR, St Albans, 27 February