April 2026 Ramsbury Bird Notes by Paul Swan

Woodlark

April is a peak month for nest building and egg laying. One of the busiest birds at this time is the male wren which can build up to seven or eight nests before trying to persuade a female to choose one and produce a family. We have had a wren nesting in a bird box for the last three years, and a male has already built the beginnings of a nest and is singing its heart out to try and 'sell' it. We shall see if the offer is taken up. The wren is our commonest bird, with over 10 million pairs in the UK. By contrast, the woodlark has around 2,500 breeding pairs. So, it was wonderful to receive a report that at least one pair has been seen here in Loves Copse.

Our summer visitors have started to arrive, and we have seen willow warblers, chiffchaff, blackcaps, and Cetti's warblers, all singing. The swallows should arrive in early April, to be followed by the house martins and finally the swifts towards the end of the month.

Special sightings have been to see siskins in our garden, song thrushes and mistle thrushes on the walk past the Manor and a kingfisher at the Prior bridge. We even heard a Tawny owl calling in the afternoon.