Car problems (I eventually had a new clutch and gearbox fitted) restricted my movements in the early part of the month, although I did manage to get away to Suffolk for the weekend with my partner (in her car) from the 8th to the 10th. On one of our walks we passed RSPB Minsmere reserve, where I added a new species (barnacle goose!) to my year list but, with bird migration 'on hold' due to northerly winds in the UK and storms in France, I wasn't missing out on anything exciting. However, the weather improved considerably from the 10th, with temperatures reaching 20C by the 13th, and the common migrant species came flooding in to the country. With the car repaired I visited a couple of Hertfordshire 'hot spots', Amwell and the Tring reservoirs, on the 14th. I classify Amwell as 'local' (see my concurrent blog post for April), whereas the more distant Tring reservoirs yielded a swallow (my first hirundine of the year!), around 20 common terns (at Startops End) and, bizarrely, a pink-footed goose (a very rare winter visitor to Hertfordshire) at Wilstone, where I was able to photograph it both on the reservoir and in an adjoining field.
Common Tern in Flight, Startops End Reservoir, 14 April
Two Little Egrets, Wilstone Reservoir, 14 April
Pink-footed Goose, Wilstone Reservoir, 14 April
I visited the Pegsdon Hills reserve on the following evening, partly to do a reconnaissance for a forthcoming RSPB walk and partly to look for ring ouzels, which had been reported there. After much searching I managed to see a male bird, close to the top of Deacon Hill. Two visits to Fingringhoe Wick EWT reserve, on the 19th and 24th, followed. Fingringhoe Wick, situated near Colchester on the estuary of the River Colne, is renowned for its high population of nightingales. My visit on the 19th was a 'recce' for the RSPB Local Group coach trip on the 24th. Nightingales were seen and (more importantly) heard on both visits, with all the RSPB Local Group members being able to see at least one nightingale on the coach visit - success! I also saw a whimbrel on both occasions and, on the 24th, insect sightings included green hairstreak butterfly, large red damselfly and scorpion fly.
Green Hairstreak Butterfly, Fingringhoe Wick EWT, 24 April
Nightingale, Fingringhoe Wick EWT, 24 April
Record Shot of Whimbrel, Fingringhoe Wick EWT, 19 April
Another warm, sunny day on the 21st saw me at RSPB Titchwell Marsh again, where I added Temminck's stint and Sandwich tern to my year list. I had hoped to take more images of sanderling for one of my photographic projects but the birds proved rather flighty. However, several ringed plovers, outside the roped-off nesting area near Thornham Point, proved more obliging, as did a flyover marsh harrier.
Marsh Harrier, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 21 April
Ringed Plover, Thornham Point, 21 April
April was an extremely dry month, with no rain in Royston after the 8th. However, as the month progressed the wind swung round again to the north and conditions became cooler and cloudier. Bird migration slowed down again, too. I did manage one more outing, to RSPB Lakenheath Fen on the 28th, where I was able to add hobby, cuckoo, reed warbler and greenshank to my year list. A garganey was seen on the Hockwold Washes, where an impressive selection of waders included avocets, three male ruff in breeding plumage and both bar-tailed (an inland rarity) and black-tailed godwits.
Male Garganey, RSPB Lakenheath Fen, 28 April
Singing Sedge Warbler, RSPB Lakenheath Fen, 28 April
Singing Whitethroat, RSPB Lakenheath Fen, 28 April
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