April’s Birds of the Month: Which birds will you see?

At this time of year, the UK’s coastlines host one of nature’s greatest spectacles: the seabird city. In spring, millions of ocean-wandering birds return to UK shores to raise their broods. These enormous colonies can be home to up to 25 breeding species of birds in the spring and summer. Auks, gulls, Gannets and more pack themselves tightly onto rocky ledges, taking intermittent trips out to the ocean to fish for food.  

Here are six of those birds that you could see if you plan a coastal break this month. If you can’t make it to the seaside, then don’t worry – three of these seagoing specialists have found ways to adapt to life inland.

Blue skies, the smell of vinegar-soaked chips, and the cackling calls of gulls overhead. A spring walk down the seafront just wouldn’t be complete without these infamous opportunists eyeing up our snacks. But here at the RSPB, we think gulls’ street smarts have undeservingly earnt them a bad reputation. This family of birds needs a public image makeover to showcase how intelligent, devoted and precious they really are. 
 
When you think of a ‘seagull’, it’s likely that a Herring Gull jumps to mind. But did you know that there are actually 12 regularly occurring gull species in the UK? The stocky Herring Gull is the second largest of the UK lineup. They’re identifiable by their light grey backs and pink legs, as both features separate them from the similarly sized Lesser Black-backed Gull. The pink legs and bright red dot on the bill, make them easy to distinguish from the (rather inappropriately named) less common Common Gull.

Spring and summer days are full of squawking and squabbling for Black-headed Gulls. These dainty gulls nest in tightly packed colonies, where safety in numbers gives the best chance for their chicks’ survival. Like other members of their family, Black-headed Gulls are adaptable, and these colonies are as at home on our coastlines as they are in our towns. Large groups of birds are often seen following tractors on our farmland, too.  
 
Despite its name, the Black-headed Gull actually has a chocolate-brown head in the breeding season – whereas, the rarer Mediterranean Gull has a full black hood. It has a dull red bill, and adults have a pale grey back with distinctive black primary feathers. In winter plumage, they lose their ‘black heads’ but their obvious black patch makes them easily recognisable.

Kittiwakes are one of the UK’s most numerous regularly occurring gulls, but perhaps the one we have the fewest close encounters with. They may look similar to other species of ‘seagull’ we see on UK shores, but their behaviour is quite different. They spend most of their lives out at sea, soaring over the sea in the pursuit of shoaling sandeels and other fish. Arriving on our cliffsides in the spring months to raise their chicks, their visit is short stayed as they leave for the open ocean again in summer. 
 
Kittiwakes don’t display the same chip shop scavenging behaviour as their relatives. The River Tyne is home to the most inland, urban breeding colonies in the world, where these gulls have substituted cliff edges for window ledges and bridges. There are now over 1,000 breeding pairs along the river.

Nicknamed the clown of the sea, the Puffin – with its bright bill and paddle-like feet – is one of the UK’s most charismatic birds. But did you know these birds aren’t always quite so colourful? 
 
Outside of the breeding season, Puffins have a greyscale getup. Their black and white feathers remain, but their bellies and heads fade to grey, and they shed their colourful beaks. Their legs, usually a bright reddish orange in summer, turn a muted yellow.  We don’t often see them in their winter wear, as they’re usually far out at sea. Tracking studies have shown that these small birds overwinter a long way from any coastlines. Many of the UK's breeding birds venture right out into the Atlantic, while others stay in the North Sea 

Despite what might be described as their ‘cute’ appearance, only standing at roughly 18cm tall, Puffins are agile hunters. They dive to catch their prey – sometimes as deep as 60 metres. 

The corvid or crow family can cause confusion, with multiple species having sleek, black feathers and heavy-set bills. But there’s no mistaking the Chough. It’s bright red bill and matching legs help this crow to stand out from the crowd. In April, as these birds settle on their territory, they’re known for their acrobatic, aerial displays, which see them diving and soaring. 
 
Choughs were persecuted throughout medieval times, as folklore told they were fireraisers and got their red legs and bill from paddling in the blood of Tomas Becket after his execution.  
 
Now, the biggest threats these rare birds face are loss of habitat and food sources, due to agricultural intensification and land abandonment. Feasting on soil, ground and dung-dwelling invertebrates, Choughs forage on grassland and heath, with short vegetation, near to their cliffside crevice and cave nests. 

On a rocky island, in the middle of an inland lake, a Cormorant stands with its wings outstretched. Despite being an agile underwater hunter, its feathers aren’t waterproof. In fact, wet feathers help this species to move quicker when on the prowl, reducing the bird’s buoyancy as it darts through the depths. Only moments ago, this Cormorant was wrestling with a writhing eel, swallowing it headfirst and whole. Now, it basks peacefully in the spring sunshine, drying out its damp plumage.  
 
These familiar fish-eating waterbirds are a common sight on both inland freshwater and along our coasts. The similarly looking, sea-faring Shag can confuse some of the most experienced birders on a coastal cliff. In the breeding season, Cormorants have white patches near the base of their beaks and on their thighs. They’re also a stockier bird than the slender Shag – the latter also sports a mohican-like crest during breeding season.

We hope you feel inspired to try and see some of these birds this month. We’d love to hear how you get on. You can send your photos to us at [email protected] We’ll share some of the best in a future issue of Notes on Nature.

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