April 2016 - poor weather dominated

April is often a quiet month for numbers, especially if migration is slowed by weather conditions. The weather across April didn't avail itself for netting - a session at one site turned into a ride clearance session and netting opportunities were thin on the ground across the whole of the month - the result was a lowly total of 66 new birds; less than half that of April 2015.

Blackcap featured at most sites but Whitethroat and Chiffchaff were only at Bedfont and Wraysbury and Lesser Whitethroat, Garden and Willow Warbler only at Wraysbury. Top species for the month was Lesser Redpoll when a short visit to Chobham (another session curtailed by windy weather) resulted in 18 new birds, just beating Blackcap on 17.