First Cuckoos call as spring migration picks up

Female and male Garganey at RSPB Cors Ddyga (Michael Thackeray)

A brief flow of southerly air last week brought warm weather and an open door for summer migrant birds, although cold wind and rain over the weekend may lead some to question the wisdom of their early arrival. It’s a trade-off: get back to Europe first to claim the best territories but take the risks of Welsh April weather. Among the ‘firsts’ last week were Whitethroat at Talacre, Lesser Whitethroat at Bagillt, Sedge and Reed Warblers at RSPB Conwy, Grasshopper Warbler at RSPB Cors Ddyga, Redstart on the Great Orme, Whinchat at Eglwyseg and Tree Pipit at Carmel Head. The first Cuckoo in the region was at Llanbedr last Tuesday, but more were heard subsequently at Pensychant, Aber Falls and Aled Isaf reservoir. Several readers report Swallows returning to shed and barn nesting sites last week.

Water levels at RSPB Cors Ddyga on Friday looked perfect for dozens of Lapwings sitting tight on nests alongside a mix of ducks: the last few Wigeons and Pintails yet to depart to the north, a pair of Garganey in from Africa (perhaps the same as had been on Cefni reservoir earlier in the week), and two Green-winged Teal from North America, with a third trans-Atlantic teal at Llyn Celanedd near Bangor. A Blue-headed Wagtail fed between the legs of dozens of Golden Plovers, resplendent in black-and-gold suits, and at least 40 White Wagtails were scattered across the reserve, taking a break on their journey to Iceland.
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A Hoopoe near Tywyn was perhaps the same as in Aberdyfi earlier in the week, a Little Gull was at Porthmadog’s Llyn Bach, and three Spoonbills and a Cattle Egret in the Flintshire part of RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands. The satellite-tagged Icelandic Merlin that spent the winter commuting between Ynys Enlli and Uwchmynydd finally made the first step towards home last week, making the sea crossing to the Isle of Man.