02-Apr The April Migration Spectacle

Summary

This April, London becomes a stage for one of nature’s most captivating performances: the arrival and departure of migrating birds. From the first swallows heralding summer to the rare wryneck’s elusive call, the city’s skies and parks come alive with winged wonders. Discover how sand martins, nightingales, and even ospreys transform London into a birdwatcher’s paradise. But the spectacle doesn’t end there—witness the poignant farewell of winter visitors like pochards and wigeons. Return on 02 April to dive into the full story of London’s avian ballet and uncover the secrets of these seasonal travellers.

Article

Bird arrivals and departures

There is some variation as to when migrating birds make their first appearance this month, but the general sequence is regular enough. More recently some birds e.g. chiffchaff, blackcap and Cetti’s warbler, are choosing to remain in Britain as our winters are becoming less severe and this adds a little more confusion. Those traditionally associated with early April are sand martin, blackcap, sedge warbler, whitethroat and tree pipit. The numbers of goldfinch may also increase due to an influx of visitors from France and Spain. Having just arrived, all these birds have a habit of turning up in unexpected places and then moving on. Some birds, such as thrushes, travel by night, whilst others such as chaffinches, prefer the day. Thrushes can often be heard at night even if they are not seen.

02-Apr The April Migration Spectacle Section Image

02-Apr The April Migration Spectacle Section Image

The birds usually associated with the second week of April are swallows, willow warblers and yellow wagtails. Willow warblers are usually first noticed when we hear their unusual “descending cadence of notes”. The wagging tail and pure primrose colour seen near water generally betrays the first yellow wagtail. It can be separated from the resident grey wagtail by its greenish or brown back compared with the slate-grey back of the grey wagtail.

Swallows are a major herald of the summer to come. They are now returning to their favoured nesting sites such as the gables of old farm buildings. As with all long distance migrants, weather and other events conspire to interfere with any precise arrival time. In the past, many Londoners, including Dr Johnson, believed they dived into ponds for the winter and arose out of them phoenix-like in the second week of April. Equally extraordinary is the fact they may have spent the last month flying six thousand miles from South Africa which is where many chose to spend their winter.

02-Apr The April Migration Spectacle Section Image

02-Apr The April Migration Spectacle Section Image

In the middle of the month, whinchats and lesser whitethroats arrive whereas the heavyweights such as nightingales and cuckoos generally wait till the third week. Both of the latter two birds are now rarely heard within London’s boundaries and only then because they happen to be passing through. However, a visit to Bookham Common could be rewarded by hearing both. The female cuckoo has a distinct bubbling reply to the male’s familiar ‘cook-oo’. In Britain both birds are quintessentially associated with the start of summer. In other parts of Europe this accolade is given perhaps to the first oystercatcher or even starling.

02-Apr The April Migration Spectacle Section Image

02-Apr The April Migration Spectacle Section Image

A very rare bird that could possibly arrive at this time is the wryneck. It was once called the cuckoo’s servant as it just preceded the cuckoo. Its name derived from its peculiar habit of turning its head till it rests on its back, giving the impression it is dead. It has a ‘pea-pea’ call which has given rise to its other name, the pea-bird, although this call now must be one of the rarest of all April sounds.

Other rare migrants now passing could include ringed plover, sandpiper, wood warbler, nightjar and ring ousel. Among the raptors, hobbies and even ospreys could also make an appearance.

02-Apr The April Migration Spectacle Section Image

02-Apr The April Migration Spectacle Section Image

Towards the end of the month, it is the time to look out for garden warblers, turtle doves, redstarts and even grasshopper warblers. House martins, in good years, may now be arriving in substantial numbers. Their return to the same house they reared a family last year is another much anticipated moment, as is watching them collect mud from nearby puddles to upholster their old nests. When they first arrive back they fly continually around their old nest trying to decide whether to use it again or build a new one.

02-Apr The April Migration Spectacle Section Image

02-Apr The April Migration Spectacle Section Image

There are still a few birds leaving London for habitats which they prefer to breed in. There are also some that find a place they like here in the city and then decide to stay. The large number of water birds leaving our lakes makes them seem quite barren compared to midwinter. Birds still leaving may include pochard, wigeon, teal, pintail, shelduck, merganser, divers and possibly common scoters. There may even be a few straggler redwings, fieldfares, bramblings and siskins.

02-Apr The April Migration Spectacle Section Image

02-Apr The April Migration Spectacle Section Image

Large black-backed gulls will now have left to breed further north, leaving their juveniles behind. Black-headed gulls are still leaving for their preferred high moorland sites in the north of England and Common gulls even further north in Scotland. It is mainly immature gulls left that we see congregating along the edge of the Thames. Herring gulls can still be seen on landfill sites. Other birds moving north also just passing through London could include curlew, greenshank, ruff, common sandpiper, redshank and yellow-legged gull. Rainham marsh is a good place to see all these casuals and it is also worth listening at night for other overhead migrants.

02-Apr The April Migration Spectacle Section Image

02-Apr The April Migration Spectacle Section Image