April is the month when the return of migratory birds is the most noticeable. First migratory birds (geese, Eurasian skylark, northern lapwing, etc.) were noticed already at the end of February, but the largest number and diversity of species can be observed in April. Migratory birds return individually or in large flocks.
Latvia is crossed by thousands of geese, swans, cranes and other birds that fly to their nesting places further up north. In April also the farthest migratory birds return, those are species that spend winter in Africa – black and white storks, osprey, lesser spotted eagle, barn swallow and other.
Migratory birds can be watched in various biotopes – in the sea, lakes, forests, bogs and also on fields. The air is filled bird songs, you only have to listen to them and identify them.
Eurasian woodcock is one of the migratory birds that return to Latvia already in March. This is one of the rare wader species that live in forests. It is a common forest bird species in Latvia, but rarely can it be seen during the day. Most often it can be seen in the evening after sunset – then this bird has its mating time. Exactly at this moment the mating birds can be seen flying above tree tops to clearings – forest clear-cuts, glades or borders of forest. At dawn it is difficult to identify this species, but it has a very distinctive call.
In photo: Border of forest – a place where you can try to hear or even to see Eurasian woodcock
In April 3 to 4 eggs are laid on the ground, chicks hatch in May. The young, few hours after they have hatched, leave the nest together with mother bird. In October, November this species leave Latvia to fly to their wintering locations in Western Europe.
Expert, Aigars Kalvāns, offers to hear a recording of Eurasian woodcock’s call.