Nightingales at Fingringhoe Wick

7th April 2024

Early April now so looking forward to going to Fingringhoe Wick to see the newly arrived Nightingales. We normally go about the middle of the month but this year there have been report of two on the 3rd April and five on the 6th so off I go.

I went straight down to the normal hotspot by the picnic area from where you can hear the birds singing. Unfortunately when I got there there was a deafening silence so I spent my time looking at the hedgerows by the path to Robbie's Hide. There were only two Blackcaps singing but loads of Chiffchaffs although this one was the only one to show itself.

However there were quite a lot of insects flying which on closer inspection were hoverflies of three species.

Epistrophe eligans

Eristalis pertinax

Eupeodes sp.

There was also a Dark-edged Bee-fly, my first of the year.

Bombylius major

At that point a Nightingale started singing on the slope below the picnic area, but although being just 10 yards away, remained concealed. I then walked down past the Bunkhouse Pond where two birds were singing either side of the path. One area looked quite promising as, although there was plenty of cover, there were some open areas and a dead tree.

It took some while to get my first glimpse through a narrow tunnel through the foliage. Oh well, at least it was a start.

It then started performing a bit better although keeping within the bushes, singing all the time.

Eventually it broke cover and sang for a minute or so from the dead tree. Who said they were secretive?

Well what a superb morning  and also good to meet Adam Palmer. Now on to Abberton, hopefully for some migrants.