Barcelona, April 2026

 My partner and I spent a few days in Barcelona in mid-April, enjoying the food, the museums, the Gaudi architecture etc. Amidst the sightseeing I did keep my eyes open for interesting birds. In common with just about every European city, Barcelona was full of Feral Pigeons. However, I was slightly surprised to see so many Collared Doves, particularly as this species is declining in numbers in the UK. Having seen Monk Parakeets on a previous visit, it was no surprise to see them whizzing around the city parks. Yellow-legged Gulls were by far the commonest gull species. Swifts were already present in good numbers (do they double brood here?) and House Sparrows were fairly common.

Yellow-legged Gull, just off 'The Rambla', Barcelona, April 2026

Monk Parakeet, Ciutadella, Barcelona, April 2026

Smaller birds included many that are common in the UK and a few (Serin, Sardinian Warbler, Crag Martin) that are very rare in the UK but very common here. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were plentiful. A single Iberian Chiffchaff was heard (I'm not sure whether this species breeds in the Barcelona area or was just passing through). An unidentified warbler, possibly a Western Orphean Warbler, was heard singing.

Sardinian Warbler, Parc Guell, Barcelona, April 2026

Serin, Parc Guell, Barcelona, April 2026

I was a little surprised to see Cattle Egrets in Ciutadella Park, particularly as there was no sign of cattle there! Had they escaped from the nearby zoo? One bird was seen standing on a litter bin - were they feeding on scraps? Cattle Egrets would, I'm sure, be present in the surrounding countryside. Perhaps they nest in the city and fly out to feed - an unsolved mystery.

Hoopoes are always a delight to see and we were lucky to see one feeding on the side of the road, close to the Miro Museum on the side of the wooded Montjuic Hill. This was the most bird rich habitat that we visited - I'm sure that, with more time, I could have built up a decent bird list here. Butterflies were thin on the ground despite the warm weather, although I did see Speckled Wood, Painted Lady and Red Admiral. No species not to be found in the UK could be identified.

Cattle Egret in Breeding Plumage, Barcelona, April 2026

Hoopoe, Montjuic Park, Barcelona, April 2026

All in all, an enjoyable stay with lots of sightseeing in warm, sunny weather and a few interesting birds along the way.

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. 

14-Spot Ladybird, Royston, 8 April

Hoverfly (Syrphus Family), Royston, 8 April

The Willow Warbler was still singing on the 19th, on my return from a short holiday in Barcelona (I'll eventually put out a short post about the birds that I recorded there), but was not recorded subsequently. However, a second Willow Warbler was singing on The Heath (Old Rifle Range) on the 29th and I managed to get a photo of this one (below). Swallows returned in good numbers, being seen at and around their usual summer haunts during the later stages of April. I saw two at Hatchpen Farm on the 19th, but a far more interesting bird was the male Mandarin Duck seen at Hatchpen Pond on the same day, the first that I've seen on my local patch although I have seen them in Kelshall and Sandon. The bird was not seen on subsequent visits.

I recorded a total of seven Lesser Whitethroats on a walk round the villages of Therfield and Reed on the 21st, included one that showed surprisingly well for me (these birds are notorious 'skulkers') at Reed End (A further two were singing at the east side of Therfield Heath on the 29th). A House Martin, seen briefly at Phillup's Lake, was my first of the year. Corn Buntings (at least 40) were still flocking near Reed End, whilst similar numbers of Linnets were seen in the Therfield area, but in pairs or much smaller groups. Whitethroats were numerous by the end of the month, and a male was singing perhaps 300 metres away from the house in the field hedgerow that backs onto my estate.

Male Mandarin Duck (with Female Mallard), Hatchpen Farm (Reed), 19 April

Common Buzzard at Hatchpen Farm (Reed), 19 April

Willow Warbler, Therfield Heath, 29 April

A visit to Amwell on the 20th was rewarded with a sighting of two early Swifts. I also added Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler and Common Tern to my year list. A Little Ringed Plover was doing display flights in front of the viewpoint, and I managed to photograph it in flight - the image (by no means perfect!) is shown below.

Little Ringed Plover in Flight, Amwell NR, 20 April

April proved to be an exceptionally dry month, with no appreciable rain throughout. A prolonged zone of high pressure over the country gave us lots of sunshine, sometimes accompanied by a chilly easterly wind, but with temperatures climbing to 18-20C on occasion in the second half of the month. Migrant passage, presumably helped by the settled weather, was a week or two earlier than usual. I had a busy afternoon on the 24th, firstly heading east from Royston to visit Dernford Farm Reservoir, where no fewer than 18 Black Terns (a passage migrant that doesn't breed in the UK) had paused for a few hours, then heading west to Gamlingay where, after a bit of a 'yomp' along tracks in a massive, bare field, I found a single Dotterel (up to eleven were reported from here during the following week), my first for three years. Dotterel are almost extinct as a breeding bird in the UK, with just a few nesting on the Cairngorm plateau, where I have seen them in the past. At the end of the month, there was a major (record?) passage of Wood Sandpipers through the country, with birds seen in Hertfordshire at King's Meads, Amwell and Rye House. I saw six at the former site on the afternoon of the 29th. Like Whimbrel and Dotterel, Wood Sandpiper is a very rare breeder in the UK, exclusively in the north of Scotland, and these birds were probably heading for Scandinavia. Breeding was, of course, well under way by the end of the month, with a juvenile Robin, seen in my local woodland on the 21st, being the first passerine fledgling to be seen.

Black Tern in Flight, Dernford Farm Reservoir, 24 April

'Record Shot' of a Dotterel, Gamlingay, 24 April

Two Wood Sandpipers at King's Meads (Hertford), 29 April

I had hoped that the Crossbills at Scales Park would stay on to breed. However, I did not record any on visits near the start (2nd) and end (27th) of the month. Siskins were still around on the first visit, but not on the second when the only birds of interest were a couple of early Swifts and two Ravens, which were chasing away a Red Kite, presumably from near their nest site.

Butterflies and other Insects

The warm, sunny, dry weather in April provided an unusually large number of butterfly sightings. Brimstone and Peacock butterflies were seen throughout the month, although in gradually declining numbers, whilst the first generation of Holly Blue butterflies and the only generation of Orange Tips had excellent springs, being seen just about everywhere. Green-veined Whites increased in numbers as the month wore on, as did numbers of Speckled Wood butterflies. Indeed, this was the dominant species of butterfly seen on my visit to Scales Park on the 27th, when over 30 were seen. Red Admiral butterflies appeared towards the end of the month, suggesting that these were migrants from Europe, rather than over-wintering butterflies. No Commas were seen locally, indicating either a poor breeding season in 2025 or poor survival of wintering butterflies. On the 28th I saw my first local Brown Argus butterflies and the following day I recorded some Small Heath butterflies, the first to be reported in Hertfordshire. A few butterfly images are shown below.

Male Brown Argus, Royston, 28 April

Male Orange Tip, Royston, 24 April

Small Heath Butterfly, Royston, 29 April

My macro lens was put to good use in the second half of the month as I explored the local woodland looking for invertebrates. These included a 'new' sawfly, Tenphredo temula, which I haven't recorded before (although it is apparently common). Several different species of hoverfly were seen, of which one of the largest was Myathropa florea (image below). This is also locally common. However, the fly Myopa pellucida is, according to Brock, uncommon in the UK. I suspect that this is more to do with the fact that very few people bother looking for them! The flies were photographed mating on two separate days, and on both occasions I noticed that the upper fly (presumably the male) spent much of the time fanning its wings rapidly. Was this to cool them both down or was there another reason, and is this behaviour seen in other fly species?

Hoverfly, Myathropa florea, Royston, 29 April

Sawfly, Tenphredo temula, Royston, 27 April

Mating Flies, Myopa Pellucida, Royston, 21 April

Finally for April it is worth mentioning that I saw several Common Lizards, on or near The Heath.

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

As I was leading an RSPB coach trip to RSPB Minsmere (Suffolk) on the 26th I made a reconnaissance trip on the 22nd. I called in at Barton Mills to see whether the toilets had re-opened (they hadn't so it would, unfortunately, be necessary to travel directly to Minsmere on the 26th). Whilst at Barton Mills I recorded my first Garden Warbler of the year. Nightingales were singing near the visitor centre at Minsmere and Sand Martins were using the nearby sand bank. I stayed on the reserve this time and recorded around 70 species, including Bearded Tit, Kittiwake, Bar-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel. I took a detour on the way back, visiting Westleton Heath, where I saw and photographed my second UK Iberian Chiffchaff (the first was seen five years ago only a couple of miles away, at Dunwich Heath). I photographed the bird and was pleased to see the image (below) used in the Birdguides weekly round-up of bird sightings. Some very noisy Stone Curlews were calling nearby, but I failed to see them, despite being told where to look. Dartford Warblers and a Wheatear were also seen here - I may go back in the future for a better look at Westleton Heath.

Sand Martins at RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk, 22 April 

Sandwich Tern in Flight, Minsmere, 22 April

Male Ruff in Breeding Plumage, RSPB Minsmere, 22 April

Iberian Chiffchaff, Westleton Common, 22 April. Note the yellow lower mandible and yellow eye-stripe, features the differentiate this bird from Common Chiffchaff (it also has a more varied song!)

The return visit to Minsmere went very well, with an amazing 108 species being recorded by our 43 members. A Whimbrel was again present, I saw Bittern in flight, Bearded Tit and my first Hobbies and Common Sandpipers. Butterflies seen included Green Hairstreak and Small Copper and we didn't lose anybody, so I can count this as a successful day!

Common Sandpiper, RSPB Minsmere, 26 April

Small Copper, RSPB Minsmere, 26 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.