St George's Day brings report of first cuckoo

The first swallow was at Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe on the early date of the 2nd, but it was then the 20th before there was a significant arrival of the species. Similarly a single early house martin was over Ainderby Steeple on the 9th, but it was the 21st before there were widespread reports. The 21st also saw the first swifts over Nosterfield and Morton-on-Swale but they remained scarce through to the month end.

Given the unseasonably warm conditions, it's perhaps a little surprising birds didn't arrive early, but this seems to due in large part to the cool conditions around the Mediterranean. This meant, for example, "our" sand martins were still passing through Spanish ringing stations in late April.

I mentioned in last month's column that I was interested in sightings of cuckoo and I did receive a number of reports of birds with the earliest at Streetlam on the 23rd. Unfortunately, I received far more comments from people saying they hadn't heard a cuckoo for a number of years.

This bird's call is so inextricably linked with the English summer that it has given rise to hundreds of folklore tales. Growing up in Worcestershire, we had an old saying that the cuckoo was never heard before Tenbury Fair (April 22) and never heard after Pershore Fair (June 26).

Interestingly, the average date of arrival in Worcestershire has now shifted to around April 12, with the first birds usually appearing in Yorkshire a week or so later. It would have seemed inconceivable a few years ago that anyone might go a year without hearing it, but for many people this is now the sad reality.

I also suggested last month that it would be worth keeping an eye out for avocets in April. This distinctive black and white wader, well known as the symbol of the RSPB, has only appeared in the local area on a handful of previous occasions. However, with a rapidly expanding population and breeding in Northern England, the chances of catching up with this charismatic species have significantly increased. Between two and eight birds were seen in April with pairs at Newsham pond, Scorton Quarry and on two dates at Nosterfield.

Other waders' records included a small passage of black-tailed godwits with 18 on Newsham ponds and smaller numbers at Nosterfield, Masham and Bolton-on-Swale. Green sandpipers were seen at Bolton-on-Swale and Wood Sandpiper at Nosterfield.

Nosterfield also attracted a long-staying red-throated diver that was present throughout most of April. Other sightings of note included two white wagtails, a fine drake garganey, two different common scoters and a little gull at Nosterfield, a skein of 100 pinkfooted geese over Bolton-on-Swale and a mealy redpoll found amongst a flock of lesser redpoll in The Stang.

The escaped night heron which was seen around Northallerton and Romanby earlier in the year was refound on the Tees near Low Coniscliffe in April. More surprisingly, what was probably the same bird was then seen in Lancaster later in the month.

May can be one of the best months for scarcer waders with species like little stint, sanderling and wood sandpiper, all regular in recent years and always the possibility of a major rarity turning up. Nosterfield and Bolton-on-Swale are the best sites and it is also worth scanning these reserves for terns with common, Arctic and black all commoner in May than any other month.

Birds of prey will also be on the move and it's a particularly good time to look for ospreys as they pass through to their northern breeding sites. Spotting one is purely a matter of luck but productive sites in recent years have been along the Swale near Great Langton and in the West Tanfield/Nosterfield area.

It's also a great month for woodland birds, so I would recommend an early morning visit to sites like Whitcliffe Woods near Richmond or the lovely Woodland Trust reserve of Hackfall Woods near Masham.