On Tuesday morning a message came over the radio that there were good numbers of swifts over the reedbed. I looked at the date on my watch and remarked "28th April. Right on cue." Over the years I have come to expect the mass arrival of swifts to occur within a day or two on 27 April. Yes, we had a couple of early arrivals almost two weeks ago, but this was the first sign that swifts were arriving on mass. I haven't checked but I expect that there was a good arrival of swifts at many other sites that day too. A few house martins may be seen among the large sand martin and swallow flocks too.
Swallows are back at the sluice too - photo by Jon Evans
Other migrants have arrived this week too. Garden warblers can now be heard singing in several parts of the reserve - testing your ID skills as they are often singing close to the very similar sounding blackcaps. The first lesser whitethroats have arrived, while common whitethroats are much more noticeable too. Most of the songbird migrants are now present, though numbers will continue to increase over the next few days. Nightingales, in particular, remain in short supply.
The first little terns are beginning to pass through the Scrape, along with a few Sandwich terns, but it's been a good week for waders with regular reports of greenshanks, spotted redshanks, ruffs, bar-tailed godwits, whimbrels, green and common sandpipers, the first wood sandpiper and good numbers of dunlins seen. The pair of little ringed plovers remain on West Scrape, and the stone-curlews are beginning to show more often from the North Wall watchpoint. Please only watch the latter form this location to reduce disturbance to these rare breeding birds. Also present on the Scrape have been up to six Mediterranean gulls, one or two Caspian gulls and a pair of garganey at North Hide yesterday.
A great white egret continues to be seen around the reedbed, though generally remains hidden from sight. Similarly, four common cranes have been in flight several times this week - if you are in the right place at the right time. Two spoonbills flew west today, too. Bitterns put in occasional appearances but can be heard more easily, and the marsh harriers are in full display. At least three hobbies are now hunting above the reeds, and a peregrine is sometimes seen over the Levels.
Otters are becoming less frequently seen - as is often the case in spring - but adders are still showing regularly along the adder trail. Orange tips are perhaps now the commonest butterfly on the reserve.
There's lots of greylag goslings around now too - photo by Ian Barthorpe