A Little Ringed Plover power couple, Avocets, and an influx of warblers
Every path here seems to carry a new song, and every lagoon offers a fresh surprise at this time of year.
Wildlife sightings from 29th March to 10th April 2026
Highlights: Avocet, Little Ringed Plover, Whitethroat, Little Gull
Over on the Millennium Wetlands, our breeding bird survey on 2 April painted a gorgeous picture of the season gathering pace. A brilliant 17 singing Willow Warblers were counte, that bright, cascading song spilling from scrub and willow like sunlight through leaves, alongside 4 confidently vocal Blackcaps, those “northern nightingales” whose fluting phrases always stop people in their tracks. It’s a real reminder that the wetlands aren’t just a place to see wildlife; they’re a place to hear it come alive.
On the reserve side, the soundscape has been shifting too, with the first Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers heard this week. There’s something wonderfully thrilling about those first scratchy, energetic bursts from deep in the reedbeds, like the marsh itself is clearing its throat and launching into a full chorus. And for an extra little spark of excitement, the first Whitethroat of 2026 was heard calling from the Michael Powell Hide. If you’ve never had a Whitethroat pop up mid-song (all brisk charm and busy energy) this is your sign to come and listen for that distinctive, cheerful “churr” from the hedges and brambles.
Meanwhile, the lagoons have been delivering proper headline moments. On the Freshwater Lagoon, Two Little Ringed Plovers have arrived and are already scoping out their breeding options - dainty, quick-footed and full of intent as they pick across the margins. Keep an eye on the shingle and short turf: this is exactly where their story begins. The featured photo of the Little Ringed Plover is by Neil Fermandel.
Also showing beautifully from 5 April were 2 elegant Avocets, sweeping those upturned bills side-to-side in the shallows with effortless grace. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, a Little Gull was spotted on 8 April, a delicate, buoyant presence that feels like a little gift for anyone lucky enough to catch it drifting over the water or rising with the chaos of the Black-headed Gull flock. Here's a photo of the Little Gull from David Westmacott.
Not to be outdone, the Dafen Scrapes produced a wonderfully unexpected visitor: a Pink-footed Goose. It’s the kind of sighting that makes you do a double-take, a reminder that migration can still throw us delightful curveballs.
And finally, the Saline Lagoon. On 8 April, a female Pintail brought sleek, understated elegance to the scene, while 485 Black-tailed Godwits and 169 Knot packed the lagoon, a shimmering, restless gathering that ripples and reshapes as they feed and roost. It’s loud, busy, and utterly mesmerising.
If you’re craving real hits of spring - birdsong, movement, and the sense that anything could appear at any moment now is the time to visit. Bring your ears as much as your eyes… the wetlands are telling their stories out loud.
