Local Patch Round-up For April 2026

Another month ends and what a great month it was on my local patch on the Humber Estuary it was.

I finished the local patch list on 135 species at the end of April after adding several great highlights through the month. The following is what i saw :

Friday 3rd

Today i decided to cover the Goxhill part of the local patch, which certainly proved a great decision, with some great sightings. The best of the bunch went to 2 Common Cranes which flew distantly east, with me finally adding this long awaited species to my local patch list at last!.

Other year list additions today, included a female Garganey with Teal at Goxhill Haven and a Redpoll flew overhead.

Some lovely species also seen, included a personal favourite as 48 Whooper Swans were recorded, including flocks of 14, 29 and 5, all eventually flying off west up the estuary.

Sunday 5th

A visit to East Halton today, saw very few sightings of note being recorded, but it was nice to see my first local Swallows of the spring and a male Great-spotted Woodpecker gave some lovely views in between the stormy conditions.

Saturday 11th

An excellent visit today, covering both Goxhill and East Halton, saw some great sightings during the day. 

At Goxhill Haven first thing, 6 lovely Arctic Tern were seen flying east and a Kittiwake followed in the same direction, with 3 drake Common Scoter drifting along on the outgoing tide. A welcome wader first for the year was seen here in the form of a lovely adult Greenshank, with the local Redshank flock.

As i arrived at East Halton, a few nice waders were recorded and included a first for the year in the form of 2 Sanderling, feeding with a few Dunlin near the Skitter, giving some great views. Also here were a smart summer plumaged male Ruff and a colour ringed Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit of which I'm waiting details on.

Other sightings at East Halton included 2 pairs of Pintail and a single Little-ringed Plover.

Saturday 18th

Another great visit today covering the Goxhill section of the patch, saw some great sightings being seen.

New for the year species included my first Whimbrel being recorded, with 7 birds being noted, with 5 flying west and 2 feeding with Curlew just east of Dawson City. In the same field as the 2 Whimbrel near Dawson City, a Little-ringed Plover was seen and 2 Wheatear were also added to the notes.

My first Cuckoo's were also seen near to the Haven, as a single bird arrived off the Humber and headed south inland, with a second bird flying west along the Humber bank.

Other summer migrants included, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Whitethroat, 4 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 House Martin and 14 Barn Swallow.

A Short-eared Owl showed nicely along Goxhill Marsh, the first for a few weeks.

As i walked along Horsegate Field Road, a Raven was seen flying west overhead, giving some lovely views. I never get tired of seeing these beauties.

Saturday 25th

Today i covered both Goxhill and East Halton, with another great days birding logged.

Two new for year species included 3 Yellow Wagtail as they all flew west and the amazing sight of 6 adult Mediterranean Gulls also flying west, the latter is the first flock of Meds i have seen on the patch.

Summer migrants had certainly picked up in numbers, with 14 Sedge Warbler, 18 Reed Warbler, 17 Swallow, 12 Lesser Whitethroat and 9 Whitethroat.

Other sightings included 2 Wheatear on East Halton Marshes and another Kittiwake, this time flying west off Goxhill Haven.

Away from birds, some nice insects were also seen and some of the species seen will be shared here.

A productive month, with some cracking birds and wildlife seen.

Whooper Swans, Goxhill Haven, 3rd.

East Halton Skitter, 5th.

Winter's Pond, 5th.

Passing Storm, 5th.

Male Great-spotted Woodpecker, 5th.

Passing Hailstorm, 5th.

Sanderling, East Halton Skitter, 11th.

Colour Ringed Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit, East Halton Skitter, 11th.

Male Ruff, East Halton Skitter, 11th.

Sunrise At Goxhill Haven, 18th.

Garden Snail, Goxhill Haven, 18th.

Female Wheatear, Goxhill Haven, 18th.

Platycheirus albimanus, Goxhill Tilery Ponds, 18th.

Peacock Butterfly, Goxhill Tilery Ponds, 18th.

Pipiza lutitarsis, Goxhill Tilery Ponds, 18th.

Nomada Flava, Goxhill Tilery Ponds, 18th.

Clarke's-mining Bee, Goxhill Tilery Ponds, 18th.

Epistrophe elegans, Goxhill Tilery Ponds, 18th.

Ruard's Lane, Goxhill.

Leucozona leucorum, Winter's Pond, 25th.

Eupeodes luniger, Winter's Pond, 25th.

Eristalinus aeneus, Winter's Pond, 25th.

Solar Halo Over Goxhill Marsh, 25th.

Dawson City, 25th.