April 2024 Summary
New “Year Ticks” in April 2024: 20
New “Life Ticks” in April 2024: 0
Total Species for 2024 so far: 88
On the 9th April the birding group visit to the Wirral for a high tide was made more difficult by the predicted storm which meant that large parts of the Wirral were awash with water leading to some dramatic scenes – especially at Parkgate where we got excellent views of a panicked Water Rail. We also heard a Green Woodpecker close to the car park at Burton Mere Wetlands.
The following week, on the 16th April we went to Pennington Flash. It turned out that the car park was closed so we had to walk from the main road. This seemed to deter a lot of the usual visitors there so it was very quiet which made for a splendid visit. We got our first Common Tern of the year and first Chiffchaffs and WIllow Warblers as well as a first Blackcap of the year as well as several other new species to add to our year list.
The last birding group outing for the month was on the 30th April at Macclesfield Forest which turned out to be a very warm and sunny day and netted us a number of year ticks including Mandarin Duck, Kestrel, Pied Flycatcher and Grey Wagtail
Year Ticks in April 2024
| Waxwing | 2 Apr at Wythenshawe |
| House Martin | 9 Apr at Burton Mere Wetlands |
| Green Woodpecker | 9 Apr at Burton Mere Wetlands |
| Meadow Pipit | 9 Apr Riverbank Road |
| Water Rail | 9 Apr Parkgate |
| Pied Wagtail | 9 Apr Parkgate |
| Stock Dove | 16 Apr at Pennington Flash |
| Common Sandpiper | 16 Apr at Pennington Flash |
| Common Tern | 16 Apr at Pennington Flash |
| Chiffchaff | 16 Apr at Pennington Flash |
| Willow Warbler | 16 Apr at Pennington Flash |
| Blackcap | 16 Apr at Pennington Flash |
| Reed Warbler | 16 Apr at Pennington Flash |
| Bullfinch | 16 Apr at Pennington Flash |
| Sand Martin | 16 Apr at Pennington Flash |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 16 Apr at Pennington Flash |
| Mandarin Duck | 30 Apr Macclesfield Forest |
| Kestrel | 30 Apr Macclesfield Forest |
| Pied Flycatcher | 30 Apr Macclesfield Forest |
| Grey Wagtail | 30 Apr Macclesfield Forest |
