An Iberian Chiffchaff in Staffordshire was the rarest bird to be discovered during the month and constituted the first record for both the county and the West Midlands region while the long-staying Rufous Turtle Dove continue to entertain the crowds in Oxfordshire. Further highlights included two male White-spotted Bluethroats, a flurry of Hoopoes, a couple of Wrynecks, a Stone Curlew and at least three Purple Herons. Rare wildfowl was represented by the long-staying Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire and a Green-winged Teal in Nottinghamshire while lingering winter scarcities included a Snow Bunting, a Lapland Bunting, three Great Grey Shrikes and a surprising number of Waxwings.   Bewick’s Swan Single adults were at Willington Pits (Derbys) on 20th and Watermead Country Park (Leics) on 21st.   Whooper Swan Five were still at the traditional wintering site of Clayworth Common (Notts) on 2nd, two were at Ellesmere (Shrops) on 2nd and 3rd and the over-wintering adult on the River Severn at Worcester was last seen on 6th.   Eurasian White-fronted Goose An adult at Barton-in-Fabis (Notts) on 24th was relocated at nearby Attenborough NR on 25th and 26th.   Brent Goose A pale-bellied individual was at Frampton-on-Severn (Gloucs) on 11th while a dark-bellied individual was at Venus Pool NR (Shrops) on 16th.   Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Venus Pool NR (Shropshire). Photo: Jim Almond   Green-winged Teal A drake was at Kilvington Lakes (Notts) from 15th to 19th.   Garganey There was a widespread showing of nearly fifty birds during the month including an incredible tally of eight at Watermead Country Park (Leics) on 9th.   Greater Scaup A female was at Rutland Water on 1st and three were at Whitemoor Haye (Staffs) from 3rd to 5th.   Lesser Scaup The immature female at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) was noted most days throughout the month. Female Lesser Scaup at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucestershire). Photo: Brian Stretch Eider A female was off Severn Beach on 16th.   Long-tailed Duck The long-staying drake was last reported at Rutland Water on 6th and another drake was at Cotswold Water Park (Gloucs) on 1st and 2nd.   Common Scoter A drake continued to linger around Northwick Warth and Severn Beach (Gloucs) until 6th and a female was at Rutland Water on 29th.   Red-breasted Merganser Single pairs were noted at Draycote Water (Warks) on 5th and Rutland Water on 9th.   Quail A male was heard singing at Chedworth (Gloucs) on 28th.   Great Northern Diver An adult and two juveniles remained at Carsington Water (Derbys) throughout the month.   Slavonian Grebe A long-staying bird remained at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon) until 11th and another was at Eyebrook Reservoir (Leics/Rutland) from 2nd to the end of the month.   Black-necked Grebe A very poor showing of this previously regular spring passage migrant. Just three were birds were noted and all at Belvide Reservoir (Staffs): one on 1st and 2nd and two on 19th.     Shag Unseasonal records concerned singles briefly at Sence Valley Forest Park (Leics) on 12th and Willington Pits (Derbys) on 29th.   Bittern One was reported at Doxey Marshes (Staffs) on 16th.   Great White Egret One was noted around Frampton-on-Severn (Gloucs) on 2nd, 6th and 8th.   Purple Heron A probable flew over New Fancy View (Gloucs) on 4th, an adult was reported at Stanford Reservoir (Leics/Northants) on 16th and two were reported flying east over Stanwick Pits (Northants) on 24th.   White Stork One in the Derby area was noted over Pride Park on 18th and roosting on a lamp post at Findhern on 20th.   Spoonbill A second-summer individual was at Upton Warren NR (Worcs) briefly on 22nd.   Honey Buzzard One flew north over Kingsbury Water Park on 27th.   Marsh Harrier Over fifteen were noted during the month including two adult males on 22nd: at Belvide Reservoir (Staffs) and Morton Bagot (Warks).   Hen Harrier Single ringtails were noted at the Long Mynd (Shrops) on 17th, Whixall Moss (Shrops) on 18th, Essington (Staffs) on 19th and Brigstock Country Park (Northants) on 23rd.   Rough-legged Buzzard Singles were reported over Pleasley Pit Country Park (Derbys) on 6th and Warborough (Oxon) on 30th.   Osprey Following a report of no fewer than four passing through Ogston Reservoir (Derbys) on 4th, around another fifty were noted passing through the region although no doubt there was some duplication of records between sites.   Spotted Crake One first discovered at Brandon Marsh (Warks) in late March lingered until 9th.   Common Crane An adult at Otmoor RSPB (Oxon) on 5th had relocated from Buckinghamshire, while three flew over Berkeley (Gloucs) on 7th, one flew over Whixall Moss (Shrops) on 10th, one was at Idle Stop (Notts) on 7th, two flew over Redditch (Worcs) also on 7th, one was again noted at Otmoor RSPB (Oxon) on 22nd, the same day that two flew over Idle Valley NR (Notts) and one flew over Ravenshead (Notts) on 24th.   Stone Curlew One was at North Luffenham airfield (Rutland) on 20th where special access was arranged to view this scarce, but increasingly regular passage visitor to the region.   Grey Plover Singles were at Rutland Water from 11th to 13th, Willington (Derbys) on 12th, over Kings Mill Reservoir (Notts) on 14th, Uttoxeter Quarry (Staffs) on 19th, Otmoor RSPB (Oxon) on 23rd, over Chasewater (Staffs) on 26th, two at Rutland Water on 27th, one at Summer Leys NR (Northants) on 29th with two there the following day.   Knot Inland, one was at Chasewater (Staffs) on 2nd.   Sanderling Three were at Chasewater (Staffs) on 13th with one remaining to the following day, while singles were at Drayton Bassett (Staffs) on 20th and Draycote Water (Warks) on 26th.   Curlew Sandpiper Single adults were at Aylburton Warth (Gloucs) on 24th and Severn Beach (Gloucs) on 30th and two were also at Belvide Reservoir (Staffs) on 30th.   Bar-tailed Godwit One at Radley Pits (Oxon) on 27th and 28th heralded one of the strongest spring passages of recent times. The first wave occurred on 29th when no fewer than seventy were noted moving north-east overland in addition to a minimum of 1,700 along the Severn Estuary, while the following day another one hundred or so moved north-east overland and numbers rose to at least 2,200 on the Severn Estuary.   Male Bar-tailed Godwits at Marsh Lane NR (West Midlands). Photo: Stuart Andrews Spotted Redshank One was at Drayton Bassett Pits (Staffs) on 10th and four were at Summer Leys NR (Northants) briefly on 30th.   Wood Sandpiper A notable and early influx took place as the month progressed with at least 30 being reported including four together at Summer Leys NR (Northants) on 29th. Wood Sandpiper at Ryall Pits (Worcestershire). Photo: Ian & Sue Lavell Turnstone In Nottinghamshire, one was at Kilvington Lakes and two were at Attenborough NR on 30th. Arctic Skua In Gloucestershire, several were noted off Severn Beach from 21st including up to three on both 22nd and 23rd, one on 24th, two on 29th and one on 30th while further upstream, a dark-morph was noted flying north over Slimbridge Wetland Centre on 29th. Ring-billed Gull An adult was at Newnham-on-Severn (Gloucs) during the evening of 4th. Iceland Gull The regular juvenile continued to roost at Foremark Reservoir (Derbys) until 3rd.   Kittiwake A high count of eight were noted at Rutland Water on 4th while single adults were at Ogston Reservoir (Derbys) on 6th and Grimsbury Reservoir (Oxon) on 25th.   Little Gull Over 120 were noted during the month with peaks counts comprising eight at Upton Warren (Worcs) on 18th, 10 at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon) on 10th and a very impressive 24 at Draycote Water (Warks) on 18th.   Sandwich Tern A notable influx took place early in the month when singles were noted at Long Eaton Pits (Derbys), Grimsbury Reservoir (Oxon), Hoveringham Pits (Notts), Shustoke Reservoir (Warks), Stanford Reservoir (Northants), two at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon) and four at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) all on 2nd, while the following day singles were at Attenborough NR (Notts) and Aqualate Mere (Staffs) and one was at Blithfield Reservoir (Staffs) on 4th. Another two were at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon) on 6th, two flew over Rutland Water on 10th, one at Lower Moor (Worcs) on 18th was presumably the bird at Upton Warren (Worcs) later the same day. Further records included two at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon) on both 19th and 23rd, one at Summer Leys NR (Northants) and two at Severn Beach (Gloucs) on 23rd, up to four were at Earlswood Lakes (Warks) on 25th and one at Draycote Water (Warks) on 30th.   Sandwich Tern at Upton Warren NR (Worcestershire). Photo: Ian & Sue Lavell Arctic Tern Following singles at Eyebrook Reservoir (Leics) on 11th and Farmoor Reservoir on 17th, numbers increased with 60 noted moving north-east past Severn Beach on 21st and then a widespread influx occurred during the last few days of the month bringing another 200+ to the region, the largest singles counts being 46 at Carsington Water (Derbys) on 28th and 20 at Cropston Reservoir (Leics) on 29th.   Little Tern The first records occurred on 19th when three made a brief visit to Earlswood Lakes (Warks) and one was at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon) while one was at Rutland Water on 20th.   Black Tern Three early birds at Clayhanger Marsh (W Mids) on 9th were followed by around another 130 across the region including the largest single count of 12 at Idle Valley NR (Notts) on 22nd.   Rufous Turtle Dove The long-staying first-winter remained faithful to Chipping Norton (Oxon) throughout the month.   Short-eared Owl Singles were noted at Harrington disused airfield (Northants) on 7th and 8th, Misson (Notts) on 8th and Aust Warth (Gloucs) on 10th and 14th.   Hoopoe Singles occurred briefly at Chatsworth Park (Derbys) and Condicote (Gloucs) on 7th, Upton Warren NR (Worcs) on 9th, Henley-on-Thames (Oxon) on 12th and in a private garden in Walsall (W. Mids) during the final week of the month.   Wryneck Although this species is to be expected during the autumn, spring records are much scarcer. One was at Cannock Chase (Staffs) on 15th being reported again on 17th and one turned up in a garden at Bottesford (Leics) on 26th.   Water Pipit One was at Slimbridge Wetland Centre on (Gloucs) 1st and two were reported at Winforton (Herefords) on 8th.   Waxwing Following the large winter influx, there was still a surprisingly large number of double-figure counts across the region although by the end of the month most of these were in the north and east of the region.   Bluethroat An elusive white-spotted male was at Upton Warren NR (Worcs) on 26th and 27th. The bird was discovered late afternoon and gave fleeting views during the evening. The following morning it was noted singing but disappeared mid-morning and was not seen again. Incredibly, another white-spotted male was present on exactly the same dates at a private site in a neighbouring county. Male White-spotted Bluethroat at Upton Warren NR (Worcestershire). Image: Andy Warr Black Redstart Singles were noted at Lutley Wedge (W.Mids) on 3rd, Warren Hills (Leics) on 9th, Silverdale Colliery (Staffs) on 15th, Preston (Gloucs) on 17th, Rutland Water on 18th and 19th and Warwick on 19th.   Ring Ouzel Around eighty were reported across the region with the Cotswolds typically attracting the highest numbers including eight on Cleeve Hill (Gloucs) on 6th and 12 on Bredon Hill (Worcs) on 15th. Male Ring Ouzel on Bredon Hill (Worcestershire). Photo: Andy Warr Iberian Chiffchaff A singing male discovered at Horton (Staffs) on 24th remained until 27th and constituted the first county record. Iberian Chiffchaff at Horton (Staffordshire). Photo: Neil Thorneycroft Great Grey Shrike Three long-staying birds were still present early in the month: at High Vinalls (Herefords) until 2nd, at Bredon Hill (Worcs) until 8th and at Cannock Chase (Staffs) until 12th.   Hawfinch Up to nine remained in the Wyre Forest (Worcs) early in the month.   Lapland Bunting A male was at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) on 1st.   Snow Bunting A late bird, a stunning male, showed well at Earl’s Hill (Shrops) on 10th. Male Snow Bunting at Earl's Hill (Shropshire). Photo: Jim Almond Copyright: Birding Today (Copyright of photos remain with the credited photographers).