APRIL saw no major rarities but nonetheless there was much of interest for local birders. Summer migrants arrived en masse and many of these were significantly earlier than average.

The first swallow was seen at Streetlam on the 2nd, yellow wagtails were at Bolton-on-Swale the next day and a very early house martin was at this site on the 5th. Willow warblers and blackcaps were reported by mid-April and even swifts, one of the later migrants, were quite widespread by the month-end.

The earliest cuckoo I have had reported were two birds calling near Sowerby on 19th but there have been very few other reports of the species. The cuckoo appears to have become very much scarcer over recent years and I now rarely hear them in the lowland areas although there is still a healthy population on the moorland fringes.

Other birds were on the move too, most notably an unprecedented passage of black-tailed godwits on the 18th. This brought 81 to Scorton, 38 to Nosterfield and smaller numbers to three other sites. Some of the godwits were in full summer plumage and this showed them to be the race which breeds on Iceland, distinguished by more extensive colouring on the belly and an overall darker brick-red plumage.

Other waders seen included, at Nosterfield, knot and greenshank and at Bolton-on-Swale whimbrel, green sandpiper and, among the regular flock of curlew at this site, a single bar-tailed godwit.

Pinkfooted geese were also passing through the area with skeins reported over Richmond and near Masham and smaller numbers of birds mingling with the local greylags. This included up to 26 at Bolton-on-Swale and nine at Nosterfield.

A marked movement of meadow pipits through the Nosterfield area involved an estimated 550 birds and an amazing total of six rock pipits were also seen here. Other sightings at this site included a pair of red-breasted mergansers, a single osprey, two Mediterranean and one yellow-legged gull, a hobby and both Arctic and common terns.

Finally other records of note included a probable hawfinch in Over Silton forest, a hobby near Thornborough and, at Bolton-on-Swale, 32 whooper swans and a red-crested pochard.

The latter bird was presumably the same one seen on Teesside later in the month.