Monthly ornithological summary for: April 2008

Firecrests - two in Abney Park Cemetery, 14th;

Osprey (4th, Clissold Park),

Red Kite (16th, Stoke Newington Reservoirs) &

three Common Buzzards (16th, 23rd & 25th) overhead in NW Hackney;

Tawny Owls breed successfully in Abney;

Spring migration in full flow, with most trans-Saharan species returning

Always a fascinating month ornithologically, April this year was no exception, with the ebb and flow of spring migration at the fore. The overlapping spectacles of wintering species returning to more northerly European breeding areas, and the much-vaunted arrival of long distance, trans-Saharan migrants returning to the Borough ensured most days were entertaining locally.

The month began as March ended, with changeable conditions making for unpredictable movements during the first week. Rather more classic winter species were on the move, with Bramblings (a star bird of the previous month) finally vacating the borough - three over Clissold Park on the 4th were followed by the last singles at the feeders at Stoke Newington Reservoirs on the 5th and 7th. Sightings of Siskins were likewise much more eventful, with eight on the 2nd at Stoke Newington Reservoirs, and nine on the 4th at Clissold Park (six over and three down).

Linnets, a regular but never numerous migrant in the Borough, were comparatively frequent, with singles recorded on the 2nd, 15th, 17th, 20th, and 21st. Redwings, omnipresent in suitable habitat throughout March in good numbers, understandably became equally hard to come by, with the last birds recorded on the 17th and 23rd. Clissold Park's wintering Shovelers, reduced to a hardcore of five birds by the end of March, finally left on the 12th.

Conditions for the rest of the month continued to be distinctly changeable, with rarely a settled weather system dominating; hence migratory arrivals were somewhat scattershot. Meadow Pipit movements overshadowed previous spring records by a considerable distance. Single figures on several days in the first half of the month were eclipsed by two dates: 31 north on the early morning of the 2nd (Stoke Newington Reservoirs) was impressive enough, until a total of 107 over the area on the 4th (all between 1030 and 1300, and mainly north over Clissold Park) set a formidable record for a spring day count in the Borough.

Waders are always at a premium in Hackney owing to the paucity of suitable wetland habitat; Stoke Newington Reservoirs, and occasional flyovers, account for the vast majority of (fairly meager) annual records, and this month was no exception. Water levels remained high at the reservoirs, but the predictably welcome presence of two species still occurred. Green Sandpipers (one to two) were present from the 2nd to the 10th, and the more arguably migratory presence of Common Sandpipers (two) were recorded on 18th - 20th.

Returning warblers are one of the main highlights of April, and all eight regularly recorded species put in welcome appearances to varying degrees. Phylloscopus warblers were pleasingly numerous, with both Chiffchaffs and (especially) Willow Warblers moving through the Borough in relatively good numbers. Chiffchaffs were recorded on most days, moving through in single figures, and generally ebbing by mid-month. Willow Warblers first appeared on the 2nd, with two singing birds at Stoke Newington Reservoirs; from thereon, a perpetually changing presence of birds passed through the regular sites in single figures, with totals of up to six on many days not unusual. A peak of 10 on the 16th was the highest count, and perhaps not isolated.

Sylvia warblers were largely represented by Blackcaps in the first part of the month, with a constant presence in single figures (especially Abney Park Cemetery) throughout; one or two singing birds at all suitable sites, including local gardens and railway sidings, was not uncommon. Several 'surges' of migrants were noted during the month, with a peaks of 12 on the 17th and 11 on the 11th in the cemetery: the same site had an average of seven singing birds in the last half of the month. The first Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroat were recorded on the morning of the 22nd at Stoke Newington Reservoirs, both birds being singing males, while the first Garden Warbler of the month was seen and heard at Middlesex Filter Beds in the south of the Borough on the 27th, with a second bird singing in Abney on the 29th.

The first Reed Warbler sang from the perimeter of the East reservoir on the morning of the 16th, and from then on, birds were recorded on every visit, with a peak of six on the 24th and four singing birds on several dates; Sedge Warblers weren't far behind, with the first arrival on the 17th, and two recorded on several dates thereafter. Annually recorded in small numbers but never predictable in spring, a fine male Yellow Wagtail low over Clissold Park on the 15th was this month's only record.

April's passerine highlights however were undoubtedly the pair of Firecrests which frequented Abney Park cemetery on the 14th. Located after a heavy shower, contact-calling and very mobile, these beautiful sprites are barely annual in Hackney and provided a real treat for several local observers.

Common Terns are regular visitors to the Borough between April and September, the best places to see them being the Lea Navigation, Stoke Newington Reservoirs (where post-breeding birds from a nearby colony often use the West Reservoir to feed juveniles) and Clissold Park (the main lake offering close views of fishing birds in the summer months). The Reservoirs provided all this month's records, with the first single on the 16th, another on the 20th and two on the 22nd.

Late March, all of April and early May is the peak period for large raptors over Hackney. Over the last several years of more dedicated observation, local observers have witnessed a pattern emerge (which also applies to the rest of inner London generally), involving this period of the year, usually combined with suitable weather conditions - warm, mainly settled airflows, providing thermals for large birds of prey to drift over the Borough, often during the middle of the day.

After a Red Kite over Abney and a Common Buzzard over Hackney Marshes at the end of last month, April was again productive for skywatching, with five individuals of three species recorded over Hackney's airspace. An Osprey over Clissold Park (only the second Hackney record, after a flyover in April 2006) on the 4th was a fine harbinger, and the 16th saw both a Common Buzzard drift west over the park and a Red Kite over Stoke Newington Reservoirs; two further Common Buzzards were recorded, one over Abney Park Cemetery on the 23rd, and one over Stoke Newington High Street on the 25th. Each buzzard sighting involved a different individual.

Other raptors included omnipresent Kestrels and Sparrowhawks, with local pairs seen on most days at traditional sites, and a single Peregrine (chasing and catching a Feral Pigeon) over Clissold Park on the 4th. Abney's family of Tawny Owls, first located in mid-March, were regularly seen in the cemetery throughout the month, with the two fledglings becoming increasingly mobile (although never far from an adult).

Hirundines, always an evocative and classically migratory family, moved through in respectable numbers this month, with all three species recorded regularly, especially in the the latter half. Swallows were especially numerous after a late start, with counts in single figures on many days from mid-month, and peaks of 35+ (in two hours) on the 20th and 18+ on the 21st (both at Stoke Newington Reservoirs).

House Martins were also often recorded over several sites, usually in single figures, but for a peaks of c15 on 20th and 20 on the 27th; Sand Martins followed a similar pattern, with a regular presence but no particularly high counts except for 30 on the 27th.

Swifts, perhaps the most quintessential urban summer bird, arrived slightly later than in previous years, with the first bird recorded on the 25th. Several more followed on the next day, and then an isolated peak arrival occurred on the 27th, with a minimum of 250 birds over the Borough (including at least 200 at Stoke Newington Reservoirs). The last few days of the month saw single figures on most days, indicating the majority of our local breeders were still to arrive.

Interesting wildlfowl records were few and far between, with local breeders and summering birds accounting for most records. Gadwalls at Stoke Newington Reservoirs numbered between 10 and 20, Tufted Ducks between 30 and 50, Common Pochards between 15 and 25 and Mallards between 10 and 20. Clissold Park held smaller numbers with an average of eight Common Pochards, 12 Tufted Ducks and 10 Mallards.

Never an easy species to catch up with in the Borough with no more than a handful of records annually at best, Shelducks put in brief early morning appearances at Stoke Newington Reservoirs on the 17th and 21st, each record involving a pair. Even scarcer locally are records of Mandarin, and so a sighting of a female flying down the River Lea at Hackney Marshes on the 24th was unusual.

Both common Grebes maintain a breeding presence in the Borough at at least two sites, with Little Grebes omnipresent at the reservoirs and in Clissold Park (where two pairs are present this spring); Great Crested Grebes are represented as usual by two pairs at the reservoirs. Records of Rose-ringed Parakeets, formerly a scarce bird in Hackney, have increased during the last few years, and by last year regular sightings were coming from several sites. Breeding, although yet to be proven, may well occur in Clissold Park this year, and singles or small groups are now a common site in the north of the borough, often visiting bird feeders.

we welcome your sightings, records and photographs of all wildlife in the Borough - contact us at info@hackneywildlife.org.uk

While many of the sightings described are biased towards the north-west of the Borough (owing largely to this area's quality of sites), we'd like to encourage participation and records from across Hackney. Other good places to enjoy birds and other flora and fauna in the Borough include Hackney Marshes, Middlesex Filter Beds, The River Lea, and various parks and open spaces; site guides will appear on the website in the near future.

The sites which provide many of the records above are open to the public and free, except Stoke Newington East Reservoir, which has no public access. However, good views of most of the reservoir can be obtained from the New River path (which runs along the reservoirs northern fringe), and from the raised platform at the foot of most northern of the three tower blocks which overlook the reservoir on Bethune Road. The West Reservoir can be viewed in full from the New River path, and from the West Reservoir Centre.

Mark Pearson