Spring Arrives in North Ferriby

April is always an interesting month - with a blend of both seasons. It has been slow to take off this year, with colder weather keeping migrants at bay. Indeed, there has been a significant gap this year between arrival of migrants in the south and the north - with a good couple of weeks between arrivals on the south coast and here in Yorkshire.

But arrive they have. After Chiffchaffs were the first to arrive and a single Blackcap was possibly a bird that had wintered in the UK - there was a break in the action. The reed pond has held increasing waterfowl with Teal, Pochard and Gadwall all regular. The Gadwall quickly moved to the river where they still are to date. Water Rail still eludes me visually, but I have heard it three times now, all seemingly from the same part of the pool.

This Gadwall pair have taken up residence on the Humber at North Ferriby

Chiffchaff singing at Welton Water

A Little Grebe has returned - and whilst elusive at times feeds out in the open from time to time. It is still on its own at the moment, so it will be interesting to see if a partner comes to join it in the coming weeks.

Little Grebe - typically elusive

A Goldcrest is frequent around the Reed Pool and there are now two Green Woodpeckers at the far end of the Walkway. A Buzzard flew east along the Humber early on the 16th April while certainly the raptor highlight was a Marsh Harrier which spent 10 minutes on the evening of the 9th hunting over the Ings field before departing towards Hessle.

Marsh Harrier in fading light over the Ings field

Hovering over the Ings Field before heading towards Hessle

In a normal year, Hirundine arrival is Sand Martin first, then Swallow, House Martin and finally Swift last to arrive. This year migration has been on it's head - so the first was a House Martin on the 13th April followed by the first Swallows on the 14th April. The first Sand Martins were over the open ground near Melton (which i will call Brickyard Lane for the purposes of this blog) on the 18th April. All hirundines are still in short supply but I think the floodgates are about to open.

Willow Warbler made a welcome return on the 12th April with a single singing at Welton Water on the same day as my first patch Kingfisher. Birds are now in on the Walkway as well as Brickyard Lane. Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler have also made their first showing on the 18th, the former at Brickyard Lane and the latter at Welton Water.

The first Sedge Warbler of the year at Welton Water - 18th April

Finally - a trip to the other side of the river produced a Cetti's Warbler. A new bird in the north, it's recent expansion has been pretty epic with each year seeing a movement further to the north. There are a number of singing birds on the south bank now and after reports of singing birds on the north side too, it has been a pleasure to hear my first on patch at Brickyard Lane on the 17th April. A walk the following morning then produced 5 singing birds - each with their easily recognised bursts of song. These are elusive birds however, so I have had to make so with just a flight view so far!