Northants birds

Cool northerlies and arctic air were the order of the week as we approach the end of April, during which time it was revealed that England has experienced its wettest eighteen months since records began in 1836.

However, this did not put the dampeners on migration and the opening weekend saw the first widespread arrival of Common Swifts of the spring, particularly on Sunday, 21st, with birds arriving en masse across southern England. This was reflected in our own arrivals with reports from four localities across the county.

While the swift movement was underway, there were two ducks seemingly intent on going nowhere. Both long-stayers, the drake Red-crested Pochard at Earls Barton GP’s new workings area and the female Ring-necked Duck at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR saw another week out in the Nene Valley.

The same could not be said, though, for two different drake Common Scoters, a first-summer and an adult, both of which paid fleeting visits to Stanford Res on 21st and 24th, respectively.

But it was back to the Nene Valley in which, unsurprisingly, the majority of the week’s waders were to be found. Following last week’s two, more Whimbrels passed through the county, with singles at Summer Leys LNR on 21st, 23rd and 26th and at Clifford Hill GP on 25th – none of which stayed for any appreciable length of time. The opposite applied to last week’s Bar-tailed Godwit found on the established seasonal floodwater at Lower Barnwell Lock, Oundle on the last day of the preceding week, remaining in situ until 23rd. It’s been the only one to date this year and we’re now entering the peak time for this species, so more should surely be on the cards.

Otherwise it was down to Black-tailed Godwits to keep up the momentum. Taking the lion’s share, Clifford Hill produced five on 21st and three on 23rd while, on the latter date, three visited Stanwick GP and two were found on pools in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth. Summer Leys also supplied two on 24th-25th.

Arguably though, it was Stanwick which produced ‘wader of the week’, that slot being filled by the year’s first Turnstone, which saw a full day out on 23rd.

But now from wader of the week to wader flock of the week and, although not scare or rare as such, Redshank numbers swelled overnight to put on an impressive show at Clifford Hill GP on 22nd, when a record-breaking seventy-one were gathered together on the northern shoreline of the Main Barrage Lake. Unremarkable at a coastal location, perhaps, but in Northamptonshire this is something truly special! Tagging along with them was a solitary Greenshank, while further individuals of the latter were also seen at Summer Leys between 21st and 23rd and at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR on the latter date.

A late Jack Snipe was found at Hollowell Res this week, also on 23rd.

And so we turn to terns. While numbers of the ‘Common’ variety built steadily as more continued to arrive, it was Arctic Terns that stimulated a little more interest. Against the background of a sizeable movement across the UK, we might consider ourselves short-changed given the pitifully small numbers dealt out to Northants. These can be duly summed up as three at Summer Leys on 22nd, followed by five there the next day, three at Clifford Hill on 23rd and one at Stanford on 26th.

Following an unconfirmed report of one in flight over Wood Burcote last week, a ‘subadult’ – probably third calendar year – Spoonbill materialised at Clifford Hill on 21st. Alas, its stay was short and it was up and away less than an hour after its discovery. Given the increase in numbers in the UK in recent years, the hope of more during this spring and beyond is well justified and there is every chance this will be fulfilled …

For now, though, bread-and-butter Cattle Egrets continue to occupy the (formerly) rare heron slot and this week’s consisted of three in flight over Summer Leys on 23rd, when two were also at adjacent Hardwater Lake, one flying west over Earls Barton GP on 24th and two in flight over Thrapston GP’s Town Lake on 25th.

Raptor sightings were again unsurprisingly dominated by, but not limited to, Ospreys. All were seen in flight and included singles near Harrington on 20th, near Welford and over Weston Mill (Northampton) on 21st and at Pitsford on 24th, while two separate males visited Hollowell on 26th.

This last day of the week also saw a Marsh Harrier over Stanford and a smart male Hen Harrier over Bucknell Wood. Adult males of the latter are rarely encountered in Northants.

And the county continued to hold on to its ‘wintering’ Short-eared Owls. Two were still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell, remaining there until at least 23rd, Harrington hung on to one throughout the period and one remained in the Brampton Valley on 25th-26th. A favourable change in the weather may yet hasten their departure.

But once again, the passerine spotlight was firmly on Ring Ouzels which, in common with the last species, appear to be determined to extend their stay in the county. Under the circumstances, it’s no surprise that the easily accessible Weston Mill bird again proved to be the most popular pull for local birders. Initially found last week on 18th, it remained settled in Miller’s Meadow, showing well to all comers throughout the period. Others were available, of course, with at least one – possibly two – at Harrington all week and two at Honey Hill between 20th and 22nd.

There were fewer Common Redstarts, however, comprising singles in the Brampton Valley and at Weston Mill on 20th and at Harrington on 20th, 22nd and 26th. A solitary, first-summer male Whinchat – the spring’s third – was discovered on Borough Hill on the last day of the week.

Meanwhile, Northern Wheatear numbers held steady. Harrington, where birds were seen almost daily, produced at least four on 22nd, three on 20th and two on 24th and 26th. Similarly, Clifford Hill held up to four between 22nd and 25th, four were between Harringworth and Laxton on 20th, three were at Blueberry Farm on 23rd, two were at Hartwell from 20th to 23rd and one was found on Borough Hill on 20th.

Now, that just leaves wagtails. Four sites held White Wagtails and, of these, Lower Barnwell Lock produced the highest total of four on 20th followed by one there on 23rd. Elsewhere, three were at Summer Leys on 22nd with two there on 23rd and singles on 21st and 25th, while further singles were present at Clifford Hill on 20th and on floodwater at Aynho on 23rd and 25th.

This last site also produced a male ‘Channel’ Wagtail from 23rd until the week’s end.

As spring continued to advance, the weather remained unsettled throughout the week, with early west to south-westerly winds swinging round to strong north-westerlies and northerlies by the end of the period. Amid high expectations, the county again chalked up a handful of firsts for the year, including a significant rarity and two more summer visitors.

With a good 75% of these now having clocked in, Garden Warbler and Whinchat were the two new additions this week and, while the date for the former was unremarkable, the latter sets a new record for the earliest arrival of its kind in the county.

The previous earliest arrival date for Whinchat was 15th April – a record set in 1984 and then equalled in 2015. Also noteworthy, a second Whinchat was found this week in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, on 17th.

Spring continued to shape up nicely with another drake Garganey found at Stanwick GP on 14th. It did not linger, however, unlike the long-staying drake Red-crested Pochard mobile around Earls Barton GP’s new workings area and still present on 18th. Top of the week’s wildfowl for some, though, appeared in the form of a drake Ferruginous Duck at Stanford Res, where it remained throughout the day on 15th. With records well and truly close to rock bottom in recent years, this species has become a true rarity in both Northants and the wider environs of the UK.

In decline internationally and of increasing conservation concern, it’s been a British Birds rarity since it was reinstated on their descriptions required list in 2017. Stanford has three earlier records to its name with birds in 1950, 1972 and 1997 and Northants as a whole has 26 previously accepted records, including a returning drake passing through Pitsford Res during the three Septembers of 2009-2011. Aside from a juvenile drake present at Daventry CP from the end of July until mid-September 2022 (accepted but origin uncertain), the only other county record this century was a first-winter drake at Daventry CP from December 2002 to February 2003, also visiting Hollowell Res in February 2003.   

Unlike the fleetingly rare, polished mahogany example above, the female Ring-necked Duck, while extending its stay at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR until at least 16th, appeared to attract scant attention.

On the wader front, the year’s first ‘viewable’ Whimbrel put in an appearance at Summer Leys LNR on 13th, followed by one in flight over Stanford on 18th.

Another first for the year was a Bar-tailed Godwit, found on the regularly watched flood meadow at Barnwell Lock, Oundle, on 19th. Otherwise, Black-tailed Godwits continued to hold sway – principally at Summer Leys, where there were three on 16th, singles on 17th and 18th and two on 19th. Elsewhere, one visited Pitsford on 14th, two flew north-east over Daventry on 17th and two flew east over Far Cotton, Northampton on 18th.

Single Greenshanks visited Summer Leys on 13th and 16th and Stanwick GP on the last of these two dates.

Moving up the scale, a White Stork was reported over Summer Leys on 18th and an unconfirmed report of a Spoonbill flying east over Wood Burcote on 17th remained just that.

With two feet firmly on the ground, a Bittern put in an appearance at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 14th while, on the same date, seven Cattle Egrets were in a cow field near Hothorpe  Hall, south of Sibbertoft and three flew west over Summer Leys. Otherwise is was down to the regular singleton at the latter site to see the week out in the Nene Valley.

And so to the larger raptors, sightings of which were dominated by Ospreys. Taking it day by day, single birds were seen on 14th when a female was at Hollowell Res and one was over Oundle Golf Club Fishing Lake while, on 15th, a blue-ringed ‘3AY’, 5-year-old male ranging wide from Rutland visited Hollowell and two were at Ravensthorpe, remaining there until the following day. Also on 16th one flew north near Corby Golf Course and singles visited Stanford and Hollowell on 17th and 18th, respectively.

The week’s only Marsh Harrier dropped in at Stanwick on 15th.

It’s unusual for Short-eared Owls to remain into the latter half of April but that’s precisely what we’re seeing this year with two still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 17th and one lingering at Harrington AF until the week’s end.

A Merlin was seen between Clipston and Sibbertoft on 6th.

And it seems we’re not done with Waxwings yet, as four of last week’s Warth Park six remained at Raunds on 13th.

But the species attracting the most attention this week was Ring Ouzel. Following last week’s four, seven were up for grabs during the period. New in were singles between Cottesbrooke and Naseby on 14th and in the Brampton Valley on 18th, while three were found at Honey Hill on the latter date. And while last week’s long-staying female at Harrington proved a popular pull throughout this week, it was rightly trounced by a more easily accessible and showy bird on the edge of suburbia, in the newly-mown Miller’s Meadow at Weston Mill, Northampton, on 18th-19th.

Common Redstarts also upped their game with singles at Blueberry Farm, Broughton Pocket Park, Harrington AF, Honey Hill, Pitsford, Stanwick and Stoke Albany on 14th, at Harrington on 17th-19th and at Borough Hill on 19th.

Numbers of Northern Wheatears, too, were on the up with 14th seeing singles at Borough Hill and Stanford Res and two at Harrington AF. One was at Summer Leys on 16th, two were at Blueberry Farm on 17th and up to two in the Brampton Valley on 17th-18th, while four were at Harrington on 18th and singles dropped into Clifford Hill GP and Hartwell on 19th.

The new week opened up with Storm Kathleen which, although not designated high impact, shot strong south to south-westerly winds across our bows over the first two days. Immediately in its wake came Storm Pierrick, which was harsher than predicted, ushering in widespread heavy showers and a crop of new birds.

In fact, eight new summer visitors clocked in this week, of which the Lesser Whitethroat set a new record for the earliest arrival date in the county, the previous earliest having been on 10th April 2020.

At the same time, winter wildfowl numbers continued to diminish, although the first Garganeys since the Ditchford bird in February showed up, with a drake at Titchmarsh LNR on 7th, quickly followed by two at Stanwick GP the next day. Meanwhile, the female Ring-necked Duck chalked up another week on Ditchford’s Cotton Reel Lake and the drake Red-crested Pochard was still present at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) at the week’s end.

While it was arguably slim pickings for waders this week, an Avocet remained throughout the day at Stanwick on 12th, offering a second bite of the cherry for those who missed out on the three short-stayers at Summer Leys last month.

Otherwise, it was left to single Black-tailed Godwits at Titchmarsh on 7th and 10th and at Clifford Hill GP and Summer Leys on 8th to keep spring wader passage afloat. Single Jack Snipes remained at Hollowell Res on 8th and in the Brampton Valley below Lamport on 8th and 10th.

Gulls, unsurprisingly, were at a low ebb. Single adult Yellow-legged Gulls were at Pitsford on 7th and 9th and an adult plus a first-summer were there on 10th. A Little Gull dropped into Summer Leys late in the day on 9th – probably a fallout from Storm Pierrick, as was the year’s first Arctic Tern at Clifford Hill GP on the same date. Keeping company with two Common Terns, it departed mid-afternoon and it seems logical to assume that these were the same three birds found further down the Nene Valley, at Thrapston GP, later in the day.

Only the second this year, a Sandwich Tern flew east, non-stop, over Stanford Res on 6th.

Cattle Egrets continued to be seen but only in ones and twos. One flew north-east over Stanwick on 6th and one was seen intermittently at Summer Leys between 7th and 11th, being joined by a second bird on the latter date. Two were found on Sladebrook Flood Works at Wicksteed Park, Kettering on 7th, while singles were seen flying west at Clifford Hill GP and – likely the same bird later – at Upton CP on 8th and one was at the Alpaca farm off Ditchford Lane on 12th.

However, nothing else this week measured up to the rarity that was the adult Purple Heron found at Stanford Res on the afternoon of 9th. Although initially unsettled, it spent a good deal of time out in the open the following day, providing decent views for anyone keen to catch up with it. Special dispensation was kindly granted to non-permit holders by Severn Trent Water Authority to access the reservoir grounds on the day it was found. This bird represents the 22nd Northamptonshire record, hot on the heels of the popular first-summer present at Summer Leys in June last year.

On the raptor front, Ospreys continued to loom large – at least for those in the right place at the right time. Singles were seen at Summer Leys on 6th, Hollowell on 6th and 11th, Loddington on 7th and Pitsford on 7th, 10th and 12th. And for the second week running, two species of harrier were logged, with a Marsh Harrier visiting Titchmarsh on 6th and a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier flying east past the dam at Boddington Res on 8th.

Short-eared Owls remained at three locations in one small region of north-central Northants. Harrington AF held on to one between 6th and 11th, up to two remained at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell during the same period while, in the Brampton Valley, one was between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 12th and last week’s four at l‘endroit inaccessible below Lamport had reduced to two by the week’s end.

And, just when we’d relaxed, left winter behind and taken our eyes off many a depleted berry tree, there they were again. Waxwings. It all happened on 8th when, early in the morning, nine were found on the western periphery of Clifford Hill GP. They did not stay for any appreciable length of time. Six were then located on the Warth Park Industrial Estate the same morning, remaining there well into early evening.

The second Ring Ouzel of the year checked into the now well-established stop-off location for the species, Newnham Hill, on 6th, remaining late into the afternoon for those quick off the mark. A far less obliging bird put in the briefest of appearances in the Brampton Valley on the same date and another – or the same – was present there on 12th. All sightings related to males.

One was also seen fleetingly at Honey Hill on 8th but a far more accommodating female remained on show, hugging the bunkers at Harrington AF, between 9th and 12th.

Harrington was also the venue for two male Common Redstarts, one appearing there on 6th, the other on 10th-11th, while a female was found on the summit of Newnham Hill on 8th. Northern Wheatears, however, turned up in higher numbers than last week. Top to bottom, fields between Old and Walgrave held four on 8th, three appeared at Harrington on the same date with two there on 9th and one on 10th, two were at Lilbourne Meadows NR on 7th, at Blueberry Farm on 7th and 11th, plus two at Clifford Hill on 10th-11th, while singles were present in the Brampton Valley and at Borough Hill on 7th and at Willowbrook Industrial Estate, Corby on 12th.

The period’s White Wagtails, however, were again in short supply with three at Clifford Hill GP on 9th and one there on 10th.

Finches feature fleetingly in spring but a Hawfinch flying north-west over Cottesbrook on 6th and the ongoing presence of several Mealy Redpolls on the eastern periphery of Wicksteed Park kept the boat afloat, so to speak.

Finches aside, there’s a shedload of possibilities to look forward to as spring further unfolds over the coming weeks.

The overall south to south-westerly airflow was maintained throughout the week as a series of low pressure systems swept in off the Atlantic, hastening the arrival of more summer visitors.

Indeed, the first day saw three out of the period’s seven new arrivals that made it onto the clock this week, one of which was a record-breaker.

The male Common Redstart found at Clifford Hill GP on 30th pipped the previous earliest records, on 31st March in 1990, 2009 and 2021, by one day.

The arrival dates for the other six species, though, were largely unremarkable and a steady trickle ensued with the next Sedge Warbler at Earls Barton GP on 1st, further Yellow Wagtails at both Earls Barton and Harrington AF – also on 1st – while the next Common Tern checked in at Summer Leys on 4th.

With wildfowl on the wane, Hollowell Res hung on to its Pink-footed Goose – found there last week – until 1st, while at least two White-fronted Geese were still present at Wadenhoe Meadows until 30th. Back on the block this week was the female Ruddy Shelduck – this time dropping into Foxholes Fisheries, Crick on 1st. She was last seen previously at Hollowell Res on 19th January. Down in the Nene Valley, the mobile drake Red-crested Pochard again visited Earls Barton GPs New Workings (North) on 4th, while the female Ring-necked Duck saw another week out at Ditchford GP.

Making it into the new week was the Grey Plover at Summer Leys LNR but it was nowhere to be seen after 30th while, joining the Summer Leys wader club for one day only, on 3rd, was the year’s first Greenshank. Following last week’s run at the same locality, one Black-tailed Godwit remained on 30th, Stanwick GP produced one on 30th and two on 31st and, on 1st, one dropped into Ditchford GP and two visited Clifford Hill GP. Elsewhere, remnants of the wintering Jack Snipe population included one at Hollowell on 30th and two in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 4th.

Maintaining this year’s earlier than usual passage, more Little Gulls came through, starting with one at Thrapston on 31st, followed by one at Stanwick and three at Pitsford on 1st and two at the latter site the next day. All were adults. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was also mobile around said reservoir throughout the week. The prospect of running into any scarce larid is now fast slipping away.

Not so with Cattle Egrets, though. Aside from one paying almost daily visits to Summer Leys, seven congregated on Big Lake at Ditchford on 31st while, just west of there, five were among Alpacas at Ditchford Lane on 2nd. Two also visited Stanwick on 3rd. It seems unlikely there are more than eight birds in total.

Further east along the Nene, a White Stork was seen flying low over the A605, north-east of Oundle, on 31st. The origin our storks is unknown. Factor in that twenty-six chicks fledged from eleven nests across the Knepp Estate in West Sussex last year as part of the ongoing UK reintroduction scheme and it’s odds on that, these days, they are not truly wild birds.

Two of the week’s raptors were unsurprising. Single Ospreys were seen over Summer Leys on 31st, Deene Lake on 2nd and the Brampton Valley, Pitsford and Stanford Res on 5th and, in line with recent weeks, single Marsh Harriers were logged at Stanwick on 30th and Summer Leys on 5th. The third – a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier flying east over suburban Stortons GP on 2nd – was unexpected. It’s only the second of the year, following one at Harrington AF on three dates between 14th and 30th January.

And, talking of Harrington, the site featured well in the news for viewable Short-eared Owls this week with up to two seen daily while, conversely, four apparently remained in the Brampton Valley below Lamport at a site said to be inaccessible to the hoi polloi. Nearby, three were still around Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 1st, with two there on 4th. Seemingly having tailed off in popularity in recent weeks, Neville’s Lodge, Finedon still held on to at least one bird on 1st.

Following the early bird at Clifford Hill on 30th, more Common Redstarts found their way to the county this week. One was reported as heard only at Stanford on 1st and single males appeared at Honey Hill and Pitsford on 4th and 5th, respectively.

Northern Wheatears also continued to trickle through in the form of single birds at Harrington on 30th, 1st and 5th, Clifford Hill on 31st and Borough Hill on 5th.

The period’s White Wagtails, however, were limited to singles at Summer Leys on 1st and Pitsford on 2nd.

And then there were Mealy Redpolls. Summer Leys Feeding Station attracted a female on 1st while, on the same date, at least three were with Lesser Repolls on the Barton Seagrave periphery of Wicksteed Park.

Given the capricious taxonomic history of this species, it’s being widely touted that Mealy Redpoll will be re-lumped with Lesser Redpoll – and possibly Arctic Redpoll – in the not-too-distant future. A disappointing prospect …

Another week in which the action ramped up, the second half of which was dominated by hefty showers and a strong southerly airflow off the near continent. Unsurprisingly, these migrationally-conducive conditions delivered more summer visitors … and a very Good Friday.

‘More’ in this case means, in terms of numbers, less than last week, with just the two making it onto the calendar. Of these, the star bird was the Good Friday Sandwich Tern which, during the afternoon of last day of the period, cruised straight through Summer Leys LNR pretty much without stopping – much to the chagrin of those who were quick off the blocks in their attempts to see it. March records are not without precedent but this week’s bird is a week long of beating the earliest, which appeared at Thrapston GP on 23rd March 1996.

Completing the week’s new summer arrivals, rather more standard fare turned up in the shape of a White Wagtail at Earls Barton GP on 25th-26th, quickly followed by another at Pitsford Res on 27th.

Far less likely to pique the majority interest, though, were two Barnacle Geese found at Pitsford on 28th, subsequently seen flying west over nearby Hanging Houghton early the following morning. Though overwhelmingly likely to be feral, unlike the birds themselves, the status of this species in the county is anything but back and white. A solitary Pink-footed Goose found at Hollowell Res on 27th is also not beyond the feral but birds turning up locally are usually given the benefit of the doubt and this one may well be the individual which has been doing time at Stanford Res, mainly on the Leicestershire side of the border. Unsullied and beyond question on origin is the party of four White-fronted Geese that have yo-yoed back and forth between Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR and nearby Wadenhoe Meadows since their discovery at the former site on 4th March. They were still present on 24th.

Ducks, too, featured prominently this week. A drake Red-crested Pochard was again at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) on 25th and the female Ring-necked Duck at Ditchford GP was relocated on Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows’ Cotton Reel Lake on 27th-29th after last being seen at nearby Higham Lake on 15th March. Taking its place there, a drake Common Scoter appeared on 25th-26th before itself relocating to IL&M’s Dragonfly Lake on 27th.

Further up the Nene Valley, the long-staying ‘redhead’ Smew remained at Clifford Hill GP until at least 28th.

On the wader front, things were beginning to bubble at Summer Leys, where between one and three Black-tailed Godwits were seen daily from 26th and at least seven were present on 29th. Three were also at Stanwick GP on 28th-29th.                   

These were upstaged somewhat by the appearance of a Grey Plover on the Main Lake at Summer Leys on 28th, where it remained mobile on 29th. Although annual, the number of Grey Plovers visiting the county in recent years appears to have dropped significantly.

Summer Leys was also the venue for a drop-in, first-winter Little Gull, present only briefly, late in the day on 28th. Larger scarce gulls were on the wane, though, with just a single first-winter Caspian Gull at Hollowell on 25th, a second-winter Yellow-legged Gull at Summer Leys on 23rd and an adult Yellow-legged at Pitsford on 28th.

Compared with last week, Cattle Egrets were thin on the ground with just single birds at Summer Leys on 26th and 28th and at Ditchford GP 26th and 29th.

The period also saw more Ospreys moving through. A pair returned to an established breeding location on 25th and one was seen near Braybrooke on the same date. One also flew over Hollowell Res on 26th and one was seen south of Hollowell village, flying toward Ravensthorpe Res on 28th. The only other raptor reported was a Marsh Harrier at Summer Leys on 23rd.

Four Short-eared Owls further extended their stay in the Brampton Valley, below Lamport, until at least 25th and a Merlin went through Summer Leys on 26th.

Following last week’s showy Waxwings in Northampton it was unsurprisingly quiet, with just one seen briefly and photographed in Brackley on the last day of the period. The last of the season, perhaps? We’ll see …

And there was more to come in the way of Northern Wheatears which, this week, featured at four localities. Four were found on and around Borough Hill on 23rd, two were at Willowbrook Industrial Estate, Corby on 24th and single birds were found at Hinton AF on 24th and in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 25th. There’ll be more to come but will we ever again witness the massive spring fall of 2006, when an eye-watering forty-one were present at Clifford Hill GP on 21st April?

At Duston’s New Sandy Lane attenuation pond, at least one Mealy Redpoll remained with its attendant Lesser Redpolls until at least 27th, while Bucknell Wood produced a Crossbill on 26th and three were seen at Scotland Wood, Kelmarsh on 29th.

And as the first day of the new week unfolds, while writing, Common Redstart, Sedge Warbler and Yellow Wagtail have all made it to the county. What will the new week bring … ?

Spring continued to unfold nicely. Considering it was only the third week in March it was delightfully eventful, keeping birders on their toes and producing something for everyone, as well as delivering five firsts for the year – not all of which were summer visitors.

Those that were, however, did not smash any early arrival records. First up were two Northern Wheatears on agricultural land between Clipston and Great Oxendon on 18th followed, later in the day, by an Osprey moving north over Bozenham Mill. Two days on and the first Swallows were logged at Pitsford Res and Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR while, on the last day of the week, Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR supplied our first Willow Warbler.

After last being seen at Titchmarsh on 11th, the White-fronted Goose quartet was rediscovered on nearby Wadenhoe Meadows on 22nd, suggesting these birds are in no hurry to depart any time soon. Other wildfowl included single drake Red-crested Pochards at Pitsford on 21st and at Clifford Hill GP the following day, the first of these two localities producing a new ‘redhead’ Smew on 18th, with the latter site hanging on to its own long-stayer throughout the period.

Following last week’s audible-only ‘noc mig’ fly-over, from a purely visual perspective another first for the year appeared at Boddington Res in the shape of a drake Common Scoter, present there on the last day of the period.

And after being somewhat spoiled for waders last week, we were back down to Jack Snipe as the sole representative in the uncommon category. Twos were at Pitsford between 18th and 21st, at Hollowell Res between 19th and 21st and at Ditchford on 22nd, while Daventry CP mustered one on 20th.

Gulls, however, were still on the radar, the best of which was a first-summer Mediterranean Gull at Boddington on 16th, followed by an adult at Daventry on 21st. Upsizing, single first-winter Caspian Gulls were reported from Summer Leys LNR on 16th and Daventry on 21st, while Yellow-legged Gulls were found at Pitsford, where up to two adults were seen between 17th and 20th and a first-winter and third-winter were present there on 18th. A first-winter Yellow-legged also visited Daventry on 21st.

Bigger and better still, and at a higher level, a little in-flight entertainment materialised in the form of two fly-over White Storks moving north over Cosgrove, seemingly along the Tove Valley, on 18th. They were not picked up again but, on 21st, another was videoed as it flew north-west over Ellands Farm, Hemington,  a trajectory which set it on course for its arrival at Rutland Water, a mere 26 km distant, before the day was out.

Topping the storks the following day, however, a Glossy Ibis flew north-west over Ravensthorpe Res, on its way to who knows where. The above two species are now pretty much annual and it seems likely there’ll be more to come …

Cattle Egrets continued to maintain a presence and this week’s birds were scattered over four localities, albeit in small numbers. Ditchford reached a high of four on 22nd, when two were also at Summer Leys/Earls Barton GP after just the one being noted at both sites earlier in the week. One visited Clifford Hill on 18th and Daventry CP was honoured by the presence of its very first on 21st.

Hot on the heels of the aforementioned first Osprey of the year, two more were clocked flying high north, on 22nd – one over Braunston and the other moving over Hollowell. Meanwhile, the roving young male Marsh Harrier continued to be seen in the Nene Valley at Earls Barton GP’s Quarry Walk on 16th and at both Summer Leys and Stanwick GP the following day.

Up to four Short-eared Owls extended their stay in the Brampton Valley, below Lamport, until the end of the week.

Merlins, too, remained available for those putting the time in – one at Harrington AF on 16th and another visiting Summer Leys the following day.

And then there were Waxwings … Last week’s Far Cotton, Northampton birds resurfaced on 16th, when the number swelled to sixteen. At least fourteen remained on 17th, when they exercised their magnetic magic, pulling local birders into their chosen urban riverside location, during which time due appreciation ran neck and neck with close examination, the latter revealing a few interesting facts about some of their movements.

Two birds – an adult and first-winter – carried a series of blue, white and metal rings and these were identified as having been ringed in Newton, Central Wales earlier this winter.

Another adult with, on its right leg, metal over red, left leg white over red over yellow is a returning bird from winter 2022-23. This bird was first ringed as a first-winter female on 20th November 2022 at Kincorth, Aberdeen. It subsequently made an early return to the continent, appearing in Denmark in late January 2023, before being resighted this winter back in the UK in North Wales on 1st January, subsequently being found a month later in Birmingham. The Far Cotton birds were still present early on 18th, before again moving on.

And as some birds depart, others arrive. On the tail of the first Northern Wheatear came two more – one at Stanford Res on 21st, followed by one at Clifford Hill on 22nd.

And, once again, two Mealy Redpolls stuck it out all week in Duston, at the New Sandy Lane attenuation pond.

The previous week’s easterly airstream continued into the early part of the week just gone before more sustained south to south-westerlies set in to shape the weather for the greater part of the period. With these conditions clearly conducive to migration, more birds found their way onto the Northamptonshire yearlist including, as expected, a small flush of summer visitors.

Kicking off then with an early Whimbrel, heard calling well after dark above the Brampton Valley on 11th, this bird narrowly missed out on equalling the earliest spring record ever – that accolade falling to one over Ravensthorpe Res on 10th March 2012.

Then came Sand Martins. The first one was clocked at Summer Leys LNR on 12th, followed by runners-up of one at Thrapston GP and five at Hollowell Res – both on 15th. Also arriving this week was the first Little Ringed Plover, found on floodwater at Braunston on 14th with, hot on its heels, another photographed at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) the following day.

Summer visitors aside, wildfowl remained prominent during the period and with the reappearance of last week’s four White-fronted Geese at Thrapston’s Titchmarsh LNR on 11th, followed the next day by a flock of sixteen Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Clifford Hill GP, we were almost on the verge of a veritable Goosefest. Not to be sniffed at, and after a blank year in 2023, sixteen is a sizeable flock for Northants, where we are normally treated to occasional drop-ins of only ones and twos. In fact, this week’s flock is the second largest this century, following approximately twenty in flight over Earls Barton on 31st October 2003.

Having notched up at least sixteen days on site, the now long-staying drake Garganey remained occasionally on show at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR (IL&M) until at least 13th. Two locations produced Red-crested Pochards – a drake was at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) on 13th and two visited Daventry CP the following day, while the Ditchford first-winter drake Greater Scaup stayed until at least 9th, the other first-winter at Grendon Lakes was also still present on 11th.

Meanwhile, back at Ditchford, the female Ring-necked Duck saw another week out on Higham Lake and, further up the Nene Valley, the ‘redhead’ Smew remained at Clifford Hill until at least 13th. Another first for the year, invisible in the nighttime sky above the Brampton Valley, was at least one Common Scoter heard on nocturnal migration on 11th.

Topping this week’s wader bill was another first for the year in the shape of a Knot, which dropped in at Clifford Hill on 13th. It was not present the following day. This is a species which, in terms of annual appearances in the county, has been on the wane in recent years.

A Ruff at Titchmarsh LNR on the last day of the period was outnumbered by Black-tailed Godwits, which included three at IL&M on 9th-10th, up to three at Summer Leys throughout the week and one at Clifford Hill on 10th.

On the back of the recent easterlies, Little Gulls continued to trickle through, with singles at Summer Leys on 10th and Clifford Hill on 13th, followed by two at Thrapston on 15th. In line with last week, all birds were again adults. Mediterranean Gulls were again on the move, all of which appeared on 14th, when single adults visited Daventry CP and Stanwick GP and a first-winter was in the roost at Boddington Res. Two Caspian Gulls included a third-winter at Stanford Res on 13th and a first-winter at Daventry the following day, when two Yellow-legged Gulls – a first-winter and second-winter – were also present at the latter site.

Other than their numbers being somewhat down, there was little change in the distribution of this week’s Cattle Egrets. Up to two were at Ditchford on 11th-12th, two were again at Summer Leys between 12th and 15th, one was at Wicksteed Park Lakes on 13th and two were found at Titchmarsh LNR on 15th.

At least one roving Marsh Harrier was again in the Nene Valley, visiting Summer Leys on 9th and 12th, Stanwick on 9th, 11th, 12th and 15th and IL&M on 11th.

With just two Short-eared Owls remaining in the Brampton Valley below Lamport on 13th, this scarce, iconic winter visitor to the county seems to be fast melting away …

As for Merlins, Harrington AF had the monopoly, producing a female on 9th and an immature male on 15th.

And it seems we’re not quite done with Waxwings just yet as, on 15th, a wholly unconfirmed report of nine came from Priors Hall Park, where up to seven had drawn the crowds in January and early February while, on the same date, nine were also found at Far Cotton in Northampton. Although briefly caught on camera, these latter birds appeared not to stick around, being disturbed by a motorcycle passing in close proximity, too close for comfort.

A Firecrest – another first for the year – was found at Stanford Res on 9th. Initially on the Leicestershire side of the border, it finally made it into the county at the eleventh hour, albeit briefly.

And finally … at least one Mealy Redpoll hung on at Duston, at the New Sandy Lane attenuation pond, on 13th.

A wholly unanticipated early surge of spring migrants kept birders on their toes this week as a strong easterly airstream off the continent kicked in, producing a glut of birds more normally associated with April and May.

While there were no new summer visitors arriving during the period, there was still a decent sprinkling of scarcities and rarities to catch up with, starting with four White-fronted Geese which dropped into Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 4th. Not staying to see the day out, they had quickly moved on by the end of the afternoon. With fewer Whitefronts spending the winter in the UK these days, and 2023 constituting the first year in recent history without any in the county, it would appear this species is now on course to becoming a local rarity.

Still proving a popular draw, last week’s Garganey saw the week out at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR (IL&M) while, a short hop across the A6 at Stanwick GP, the drake Green-winged Teal made it into the week on 3rd but was nowhere to be seen subsequently.

Back at Ditchford proper, another New World duck was making headlines as the day unfolded on 5th. Almost considered run-of-the-mill these days, a female Ring-necked Duck was discovered on Higham Lake – the site’s ‘main lake’ of old until, back in 1985, the then new A45 dual carriageway ploughed through the middle of it. It was still present at the week’s end. This may well be the same individual which visited Stanwick on 17th-18th January and/or the same bird present at Titchmarsh LNR from 25th to 28th January. On the other hand, it could be a completely different bird. How long it’s been on Higham Lake is obviously unknown but, clearly, said lake is a body of water which deserves more attention.

And as if to labour the point, we’re not done with Higham Lake yet, as a first-winter drake Greater Scaup was found there at the same time as the above duck, also staying put until the end of the period. Meanwhile, further upriver at Earls Barton GP’s Grendon Lakes the other, longer-staying, first-winter Greater Scaup remained throughout the week.

At Clifford Hill GP, last week’s ‘redhead’ Smew also saw another week out.

The Nene Valley continued to turn up trumps when three Avocets dropped in at Summer Leys on 7th, although a short spell of unavoidable on-site maintenance led to their visit being curtailed and they headed off east within forty minutes of their arrival.

With the Avocets clearly the icing on the wader cake, a decent number of Black-tailed Godwits were also in the mix. This year’s first was found at Stanwick GP on 4th, quickly followed later in the day by another, different, bird across the road at IL&M. Numbers ramped up on 8th, when twelve were found on floodwater at Barnwell Lock near Oundle, five appeared at IL&M, two flew north over Daventry CP and singles were seen at Summer Leys and in flight at Titchmarsh LNR.

Three Ruffs also dropped into Summer Leys on 7th and the week’s only Jack Snipe was at Hollowell Res on 7th-8th. Not a bad haul for the first week of March …

And then came the Little Gulls. A local mini-influx of six birds across four locations was part of a wider inland movement that included a gathering of twenty-three at Netherfield Lagoons in Nottinghamshire – quite extraordinary for so early in the spring’s proceedings. Five of our six were found on 7th, when one arrived at Summer Leys, two spent a short spell at Stanwick and two were found at Pitsford Res. The following day, one spent the best part of three hours at Wicksteed Park Lakes, Kettering. All birds were adults.

March, traditionally, is when Mediterranean Gulls start to move and this week’s included single adults at Hollowell Res on 4th, Daventry CP on 7th and in the roost at Stanford Res on 7th-8th, while a first-winter visited Hollowell on 8th. Hollowell also continued to host its regular adult Caspian Gulls, with one there on 7th and two the following day. The week’s Yellow-legged Gulls consisted of an adult and a third-winter at Boddington Res on 7th and an adult at Pitsford on 8th.

Keeping a low profile so far this year, no Bitterns had been reported until this week, when one was seen in flight before dropping into reeds at Stanwick on 6th. The same cannot be said for Cattle Egrets, of course, and this week’s cohort included up to seven at Ditchford, various numbers of which were mobile between Wellingborough Embankment and Rushden Lakes, up to three were at Summer Leys on 2nd-3rd, three were reported from Brancey Bridge, Aldwincle on 4th and one remained at Stanford on Avon on 2nd.

Marsh Harrier reports came from Titchmarsh on 4th, Stanwick on 4th-5th and from Summer Leys on 8th, with all sightings likely attributable to the same roving, immature male.

Short-eared Owls were in short supply, the Blueberry four apparently having moved to nearby private land, with no public access, on 6th, while a female Merlin was seen over Ravensthorpe Res on 3rd.

Following lower numbers last week, Stonechats continued their early spring clear-out, the end of the period having seen only two at both Long Buckby and Hollowell on 4th with one remaining at the latter site on 7th. Rarer passerine fare was on offer, though, with the discovery, at Duston, of the year’s third Mealy Redpoll within a small flock of Lesser Redpolls, on 8th. Given the number of reports of this ‘species’ in the UK this winter, it’s surprising how few have been discovered locally.

Two Crossbills were found in a small wood, east of Creaton, also on 8th.

An interesting week, culminating in the first day of meteorological spring, rewrote the statistics in terms of both weather and birds. While it was confirmed that the eastern region of the UK, of which Northants is a part, ‘enjoyed’ the warmest and wettest February on record, a certain duck also swam into the record books as the earliest ever spring migrant of its kind.

And we’re off! Yes indeed, the summer visitor arrivals clock started ticking this week with the appearance of a smart drake Garganey at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR on 27th.

Although still present at the end of the period, it remained stubbornly elusive, on view for only short periods during the mornings of two of the four days it was present, leaving many would-be observers returning home empty-handed.

The above bird constitutes the earliest ever reported in the county, beating the previous earliest – a drake at Blatherwycke Lake on 8th March 2004 – by a fat ten days.

Other ducks were available, of course, and the reappearance of the drake Green-winged Teal at Stanwick GP on 29th and 1st was clearly not to be scoffed at. Where it had been lurking, unseen since 10th February, is anyone’s guess but, let’s face it, it’s had plenty of floodwater and resultant boggy meadows to lose itself on. Following suit, after three weeks’ absence, the first-winter drake Greater Scaup was back at Earls Barton GP’s Grendon Lakes on 28th-29th, with a few less brown feathers.

In a week of dapper ducks, then, the final slot was again filled by last week’s ‘redhead’ Smew, still present at Clifford Hill GP on 29th.

Jack Snipes continued to keep the scarce wader group afloat but numbers were low with two at Daventry CP on 26th and singles at Pitsford Res and Hollowell Res, on 26th and 27th, respectively.

Mediterranean Gulls were back in the frame this week when two adults drifted north over Kettering on 27th, the same date on which two adult Caspian Gulls were again at Hollowell Res and one was reported from Ditchford GP. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was again at Pitsford on 25th and 28th, while a first-winter visited Daventry CP on 26th.

Keeping up appearances, predominantly in the Nene Valley, Cattle Egrets continued to be seen at Ditchford until at least 27th, when six were present in one small area off Ditchford Lane, while the Summer Leys duo remained all week. The Stanford on Avon individual also saw another week out in the area between Stanford Hall and nearby Stanford Res.

The mid-Nene Valley roving male Marsh Harrier once again played hard to get, being seen at Summer Leys briefly on 29th.

For anyone intent on seeing Short-eared Owls, Blueberry Farm, Maidwell continued to produce the goods, hosting up to four, any number of which were seen daily between 27th and 1st while, nearby, one was seen at Cottesbrooke on 24th. At least one remained at Neville’s Lodge, Finedon on 25th.

A female Merlin was seen between Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell on 1st.

And we’re not quite done with Waxwings yet, so it seems, as five flew north-west over the old railway track at Stanford Res on 24th and one was reported from Brackmills CP, Northampton on 27th. This latter date also saw a return of last week’s Oundle nine – becoming ten – in the same area as before and again, nearby, the following day.

The period’s Stonechat quota saw reports from eleven localities – the same number as last week – but numbers were down to just one or two birds at nine of these, with maxima of five at Hollowell on 27th and four in the Brampton Valley on 25th.

Hints of spring faced challenging bouts of heavy rain over the week, the latter adding significantly to an already waterlogged landscape in many areas. And, as for the birds …

Stanford Reservoir’s Pink-footed Goose remained in the area until at least 21st, venturing briefly into Northants on 18th. Further down in the county, at Pitsford Res, a Whooper Swan was reported from Brixworth CP on 20th, while Clifford Hill GP delivered the week’s best duck, a ‘redhead’ Smew, from 21st to 23rd. Only the second one of this year so far, its behaviour and its favoured area of the pit were identical to the bird there during the first week of January, suggesting it may well be the same individual making a return visit.

This week’s scarce wader tally failed to progress beyond three Jack Snipes at Daventry CP on 19th and one at Hollowell Res on 23rd.

Gulls, too, were thin on the ground with a first-winter Caspian Gull at Ravensthorpe Res on 19th and two adult Caspians at nearby Hollowell on 23rd, while Pitsford unsurprisingly dished up an adult Yellow-legged Gull on 17th.

Cattle Egrets enjoyed some decent exposure across the county this week with birds present at five localities. Ditchford GP saw a peak of five on 20th with at least two still present on 23rd. At Summer Leys LNR, the two present daily since 13th February remained settled throughout the week, with a third bird reported there on 20th, while the Stanford Res/Stanford on Avon commuter was still present on 18th and further singles were at Kislingbury GP/Upton CP on 17th-18th and Stanwick GP on 20th.

A male Marsh Harrier scraped into the week’s proceedings, being seen at Summer Leys on 17th.

As with last week, Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and Neville’s Lodge, Finedon both shared Short-eared Owls with up to two at the first of these throughout the week and the same number at the latter site up to 18th. One was also trapped and ringed in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, on 18th – this site, alongside Blueberry Farm, continuing to hold a roving male Merlin.

The week’s passerine contingent was at a low ebb, the highlight being a group of nine Waxwings discovered flycatching from bushes alongside the A605 Oundle bypass on 18th. Now seemingly failing to generate the excitement they did at the turn of the year, this group appeared not to pull any punters.

So, that just leaves Stonechats, numbers of which picked up considerably this week with birds present at eleven localities. Most notable were approximately ten at Hinton AF on 18th, nine at Daventry CP on 22nd and eight at Hollowell Res on 23rd. Elsewhere, between one and four were present in the Brampton Valley, at Clifford Hill, Ditchford, Earls Barton GP, Stanford, Stortons GP, Summer Leys and Upton.