April sees the main arrival back of nearly all our summer visitors, save perhaps Spotted Flycatchers that typically appear in early May. With the counterflow of departing winter visitors too, this month is one of, if not the best month to be out birding, offering observers the chance to record a great variety of species. April is a month when literally anything can turn up anywhere so expect the unexpected and get out looking!
A good place to start are waterbodies as most returning migrants seek out the water and rich feeding opportunities they offer. That said, high ground can also be worth checking – hilltops and ridges – as Wheatears, Whinchats, Redstarts, Ring Ouzels and plovers may choose to stop off there. It can sometimes be difficult to know where to check first lest you miss a passing migrant. April definitely has its own share of ‘FOMO’ (the Fear of Missing Out)!
The first two weeks of April sees many of our familiar summer visitors arrive en masse with some that have maybe appeared in March in ones and twos, such as Swallows, Sand Martins and Wheatears, arriving in larger numbers. Joining them are House Martins that are typically in mixed hirundine flocks over water prior to their dispersal to traditional breeding sites.
Wherever there is water, wagtail numbers are likely to grow with rain showers often bringing ‘falls’ of large flocks of birds. In addition to Pied Wagtails and their
European counterparts, the White Wagtails, early April sees the bulk of our Yellow Wagtails arrive. It is always worth checking these too for European races such as Blue-headed or hybrid ‘Channel’ birds. Synonymous with the wagtail flocks are Meadow Pipits feeding up before departing north and among them rarer pipits such as Rock and Water Pipits have been found on occasion.
Common Terns also arrive back and with them a chance of passing Arctic, Black or Sandwich Terns. April is also a great time to find waders with Common Sandpipers making an early appearance along with regular passage migrants such as Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits. Towards the end of the month Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel will also be on the move and can turn up in small flocks. On still nights, April is a good month to listen for the seven-note whistling call of Whimbrel migrating overhead.
Warblers are of course one of April’s highlights with, it sometimes seems, each day bringing back a familiar song. Initially, Willow Warblers join the increasingly vocal Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps but before long, the songs of Whitethroats, Sedge and Reed Warblers are added. By the end of the month, the warbled chorus should be complete with Garden Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat and Grasshopper Warblers arriving later in the month.
Another familiar although sadly diminishing returning voice is that of the Cuckoo as, true to the old saying, “In April, come he will”. Less tuneful but no less welcome are the screams of Swifts overhead that should be back with us around 20th April – a typical date for their return. Hot on their heels will be those aerial masters, the Hobbies, perhaps the only bird that can catch a Swift!
With eyes to the skies, hot days with rising warm air can be a good time to check the thermals for soaring birds. Common Cranes and White Storks are possible but raptors too enjoy these conditions along with herons, egrets and Spoonbills. Ospreys continue to move north but migrating harriers are a possibility too.
April is a month of movement and as well as all the arrivals we also say goodbye to our winter visitors. Fieldfares and Redwings will disappear north as the month goes on along with Common Gulls and wintering wildfowl. By the end of the month the summer set is firmly in place with courtship and nesting the order of the day. Witnessing the change is as much a part of the enjoyment as finding the birds!
Wherever you choose to look this April, keep your binoculars to hand and enjoy what has to be the year’s most exciting month!
April Rares:
Little Tern – Tring (2024)
Bluethroat – Amwell (2015)
Penduline Tit – Tyttenhanger GPs (2018)
Spoonbill – Amwell (2019)