Birds to look for in Apr / May
1. Hirundines
- Sand Martin – first birds recorded in WVBS from 29th March
- Swallow – first birds recorded in WVBS from 4th April
- House Martin - mainly from mid / end-April
2. Warblers – most should be in by end-May
- Chiffchaff – In in large numbers now
- Willow Warbler - first birds recorded in WVBS from 29th March
- Blackcap - first birds recorded in WVBS from 31st March
- Sedge Warbler
- Reed Warbler
- Common Whitethroat
- Lesser Whitethroat
- Garden Warbler
- Cetti’s Warbler
- Grasshopper Warbler
3. Wagtails
- Yellow Wagtail – record all birds seen
- Grey Wagtails – now setting up breeding territories. All records please
4. Cuckoo – anytime now
5. Spotted Flycatcher – late May / early June
6. Ducks and Geese
- Shelduck – now moving back inland to breed
- Garganey – recorded daily in the county
- Wigeon - returning to breeding areas soon, record last sightings
- Teal - returning to breeding areas soon, record last sightings
- Shoveler - returning to breeding areas soon, record last sightings
- Pochard – any records please
- Tufted Duck – all breeding records please
7. Inland Waders
- Oystercatcher - now moving back inland to breed
- Lapwing – Note any breeding records
- Green Sandpiper – passage birds are present
- Common Sandpiper - passage birds should be present from mid-April
- Redshank - Note any breeding records
- Snipe - Note any breeding records
8. Gulls
- Little Gull – keep an eye out for passage birds
- Record flock sizes and species
9. Woodpeckers
- Great Spotted and Lesser Spotted Wdpkrs are far easier to find now before all the trees are in full leaf
10. Raptors
- Hobby – first birds are arriving in county
- Sparrowhawk
- Goshawk
- Common Buzzard
- Hen Harrier – possible late birds
- Marsh Harrier – have returned to breeding sites
- Red Kite – a few wandering birds in Norfolk
11. Winter Thrushes – record last return passage birds
- Redwing
- Fieldfare
12. Finches
- Brambling – last return passage birds
- Siskin – last return passage birds
- Redpoll
- Linnet - note flock size
13. Mainly on coast
- Wheatear
- Redstart
- Black Redstart
Waders– many will be in breeding plumage
- Bar-tailed Godwit
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Whimbrel
- Spotted Redshank
- Greenshank
- Knot
- Grey Plover
- Turnstone
- Dunlin
- Ruff
- Avocet
- Curlew Sandpiper