Fortunately towards the end of the month, we were graced with a lot of sunny weather and much warmer conditions which should be conducive to the start of the breeding season.
21st April
Greylags strolling along the mudflats in the evening sunlight.
22nd April
Swallows have arrived back - seen flying over the Wetlands Centre buildings.
First Large Red Damselfly seen this season - a female sp.typica.
Mallard pair on Paisley Pools.
Canada Goose on Paisley Pools - looks as if they have already started breeding.
Speckled Wood - a pristine specimen. Again a first sighting.
Greylags on Paisley Pools - a pair perhaps!
Blackbird singing from Lonning hedgerow.
Little Egret on Paisley Pools . . .
. . . and taking off.
Tree Sparrows were noisily chattering along the Lonning hedgerow.
Whimbrel in flight over Hay Meadow Pools . . .
. . . and foraging below.
Whimbrel taking off.
24th April
Willow Warbler.
Willow Warbler searching for insects.
Male Orange-tip Butterfly.
female Orange-tip.
Green-veined White Butterfly.
25th April.
Red Admiral Butterfly
Lots of Orange-tip Butterflies about.
26th April.
Buff-tailed Bumblebee nest searching.
Belties with calves on Holton Fen.
Adult Grey Heron on north end of Paisley Pools.
Buzzard about to land.
Buzzard on Power line.
Canada Goose and Moorhen confrontation.
Female Reed Bunting near Phragmites.
Juvenile Robin on fencepost near Phragmites.
Juv. Robin and Belties on Holton Fen.
Male Chaffinch was in full song from Hawthorn hedge near Phragmites.
Little Egret, Pintail and Shoveler on Holton Fen.
Whimbrel landing on Hay Meadow Pools.
Whimbrel on Hay Meadow Pool margins.
Shelduck and Redshank on Hay Meadow Pool.
Oystercatchers displaying.
Lapwing seeing off a corvid.
Buff-tailed Bumblebee nest searching along Lonning bankside.
Tree Sparrow along Lonning hedge.
Swallow near hide predator fence.
27th April
Red Admiral on marshside brambles.
30th April
Cloudscape (cumulonimbus) over Discovery field.