Northants birds

Newsround 28th February to 6th March 2026

Posted on March 8, 2026 by Mike Alibone

We crossed the line into meteorological spring this week and to mark it came the first summer visitors of the year, aided and abetted by the continuing southerly airstream. Two additional firsts for the year also made their way to the county and with winter now firmly in recession, it’s time to reflect on some quality birds while at same time looking forward to what’s on the immediate horizon.

Yes, the summer visitor clock has again started ticking, spring is beginning to unfold …and not a moment too soon.

First up, predictably, was Sand Martin, with the initial arrival of three at Thrapston GP on 1st, quickly followed by one at Priors Hall, Corby on 3rd, two at Pitsford Res on 5th and, on 6th, three near Oundle and sixteen at Thrapston. But no sooner had this initial rush began than we saw a record-breaker in the shape of two Little Ringed Plovers at Clifford Hill GP on 4th, beating the county’s previous earliest, on 7th March in 2021, by a clear three days.

However, we’re not done with winter just yet – and what a winter it’s been. Class wildfowl continue to dominate with the Tundra Bean Goose seeing out another week in company with twenty-three White-fronted Geese in the Denford/Ringstead area.

Tundra Bean Goose, Denford, 28th February 2026 (James Underwood)

Tundra Bean Goose, Denford, 28th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

Other White-fronted Geese also remained settled in certain favoured localities, the largest concentration being up to thirty-eight at Stanford on Avon throughout the period. Eighteen lingered by the River Nene at Warmington Mill until at least 1st and seven extended their stay by another week at Stanwick GP.

White-fronted Geese, Stanford on Avon, 2nd March 2026 (Mike Alibone)

White-fronted Geese, Stanford on Avon, 4th March 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Appearing on and off across a range of sites in northwestern Northants, the annually wintering female Ruddy Shelduck dropped into Lilbourne Meadows NR on 4th, remaining there until the end of the week.

The drake Ring-necked Duck continued to attract interest at Ringstead GP, where it was showing until at least 5th.

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Ringstead GP, 28th February 2026 (James Underwood)

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Ringstead GP, 28th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

Likewise, the drake Lesser Scaup held out on the River Nene at Clifford Hill GP until the same date, while the long-staying drake Smew also enjoyed another week on the lakes there.

Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 3rd March 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Having spent a full seven days at Ringstead, last week’s Red-necked Grebe was nowhere to be seen after the 28th until, that is, it resurfaced on 4th a mere 8 km up the river valley at Ditchford GP, where it was still present at the week’s end.

Red-necked Grebe, Ringstead GP, 28th February 2026 (James Underwood)

Red-necked Grebe, Ringstead GP, 28th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

And the previous week’s Slavonian Grebe was still present at Ravensthorpe Res on the first day of the period, remaining there throughout the week. Despite appearing to have gone missing for the five days, 21st-25th February, it has proven itself a skulker, hiding in overhanging vegetation, where it can easily be overlooked.

Slavonian Grebe, Ravensthorpe Res, 2nd March 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Although not a summer visitor, further representing waders as another first for the year were two Avocets at Earls Barton GP on 3rd, alongside other inland sightings in the UK during the week.

Avocets, Earls Barton GP, 3rd March 2026 (Leslie Fox)

Other waders were on offer, even if thin on the ground, including a Black-tailed Godwit at Summer Leys LNR on 2nd, the same date also producing three Jack Snipes at Daventry CP and two at Hollowell. Classed as a summer visitor, although odd birds appear locally in winter, a Common Sandpiper at Pitsford on 5th was no doubt the wintering individual seen sporadically there during past weeks.

And another new bird for the year this week was an adult Kittiwake which spent a short period of time at Summer Leys on 28th. More to come, no doubt.

Adult Kittiwake, Summer Leys LNR, 28th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

Sticking with larids, March begins to see spring movements of Mediterranean Gulls taking place, the 4th giving rise to two adults in the roost at Stanford Res and two – also adults – at Summer Leys. One of the latter two carried a metal ring on its right leg and was back on site, alone, on 6th.

Adult Mediterranean Gull, Summer Leys LNR, 6th March 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Caspian Gulls were present at Earls Barton GP, where there was a first-winter on 28th, down the road at Summer Leys, where the settled adult remained between 28th and 5th, and at Hollowell, where there was an adult on 2nd and two adults on 5th. A single adult Yellow-legged Gull was still to be found at Pitsford on 2nd.

The Red-throated Diver, now in its fourth week, remained throughout the period, being seen at both Hollowell and Ravensthorpe, although apparently having now developed a preference for the first of these two sites.

Back in the Nene Valley, Summer Leys continued to retain its showy Glossy Ibis, while a Bittern was caught on a trail camera at Ditchford GP’s Rushden Lakes and four Cattle Egrets visited Thrapston/Titchmarsh NR on 4th.

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 28th February 2026 (James Underwood)

The recent flurry of Marsh Harriers calmed somewhat with singles at Summer Leys on 28th, 1st, 3rd and 6th and one at Stanwick on the last of these dates.

And propped up by the Daventry Siberian Chiffchaff on 2nd and 5th, the week’s passerines were at a low ebb with just four Stonechats at Ringstead GP on 1st and singles at Lilbourne Meadows on 1st and at Hollowell on 5th. Compared to recent weeks, the number of Crossbills dwindled to singles over Ravensthorpe Res on 3rd and at Scotland Wood, Kelmarsh on 5th.

Newsround 21st to 27th February 2026

Posted on February 28, 2026 by Mike Alibone

The week was marked by higher-than-average temperatures, driven by a persistent south-westerly airstream and a building anticipation of the arrival of the first summer visitors – the latter bolstered by, among others, Sand Martins having already reached North Yorkshire before the week was out. But it was not to be. We have yet to beat the earliest local Sand Martin arrival, which was on 26th February, way back in 1990. Despite this, there was still much out there to feed the appetite for the scarce and rare, including the county’s first Red-necked Grebe for a good while …

Still ensconced in their favoured locations, this winter’s geese were not for turning – but for how much longer? Thrapston GP’s lone Pink-footed Goose was still keeping company, on and off, with the local Greylags until at least 23rd, while two flew over Lilbourne Meadows NR on 24th. Last week’s Tundra Bean Goose remained settled in the vicinity of Ringstead GP/Denford throughout the period, alongside the area’s similarly settled twenty-three White-fronted Geese, higher numbers of which were still to be found in the region of Stanford Res/Stanford on Avon, peaking there at thirty-three on the last day of the week. Elsewhere, Warmington Mill produced twenty-one on 22nd and Stanwick GP held up to seven until at least 26th.

The county’s two currently much admir’d diving ducks both saw the week out in their respective locations in the Nene Valley – the Ringstead Ring-necked Duck grabbing more attention as a result of a certain grebe nearby, while the fine drake Lesser Scaup continued to pull the punters as it lingered on the widest part of the river alongside Clifford Hill GP, providing easyviewin’ for all comers.

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Ringstead GP, 23rd February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 25th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Also notching up another seven days at the aforementioned site, the dapper drake Smew was a bonus for visitors from outside the county.

Horrible hybrids? Oh, go on then … A female presumed Pochard x Red-crested Pochard spent 21st-22nd at Kislingbury GP and must surely be the same distinctive individual as that seen at Stanford on 1st February.

Following six in the county last year, including one as late as 27th December, the first Common Crane of 2026 was picked up in flight as it moved high north over Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 23rd. The wait goes on for one on the ground …

And when was the last time all three scarce grebes were present in the county during the same week, if ever? So, perhaps this constitutes a record-breaker. We start with the arrival of a Red-necked Grebe at Ringstead on 22nd, serving to put the site on the map once again as it chose to show nicely there on Kinewell Lake throughout the period.

Red-necked Grebe, Ringstead GP, 23rd February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Red-necked Grebe, Ringstead GP, 25th February 2026 (Phil West)

The above is the first officially accepted record since 2017 and its recent local status contrasts markedly with the way things were a couple of decades ago. In fact, there was also a run of records in the late 1980s and early 1990s in which pairs summered and displayed breeding behaviour, although breeding never actually took place.

After last week’s Slavonian Grebe visiting Daventry CP on 19th, before moving on to Ravensthorpe Res the following day, it, or another, was found, or reappeared, at the latter locality on 26th but was not seen the following day. The 25th saw two Black-necked Grebes turn up at Daventry but, in common with the above bird, they had moved on by the next day.

Black-necked Grebes, Daventry CP, 25th February 2026 (Gary Pullan)

The week’s waders were limited to eleven Black-tailed Godwits flying west over Clifford Hill on 21st, followed by two at Summer Leys LNR the next day, while Hollowell Res produced four Jack Snipes on 23rd and one on 26th.

A single Mediterranean Gull at Stanford on Avon on 24th headed the cast of the period’s larids, while five sites held Caspian Gulls, representing a clear upturn on last week’s numbers. A remarkable four were found at Hollowell on 26th, after two were present there on 23rd, and lower numbers elsewhere comprised single birds at Cottingham on 21st, Daventry on 21st and 26th, Clifford Hill on 22nd and 25th and at Summer Leys from 23rd to 26th.

Adult Caspian Gull, Summer Leys LNR, 24th February 2026 (Alan Coles)

Yellow-legged Gulls were restricted to an adult on floodwater at Harringworth on 21st, two at Pitsford Res on 23rd and a first-winter at Daventry on 25th.

Remaining throughout the week, the Red-throated Diver showed increasingly itchy feet, yo-yoing back and forth between Ravensthorpe and Hollowell, last being seen at the latter site at the end of the week.

Red-throated Diver, Hollowell Res, 21st February 2026 (Jon Cook)

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 21st February 2026 (Jon Cook)

The long-staying Glossy Ibis remained at Summer Leys LNR throughout.

Surprisingly, for the winter season, two Bitterns seen during the period were only the second and third of the year – one being at Summer Leys on 22nd, the other on an inaccessible pool at Yardley Chase on 26th. And scraping into most weekly reports with much diminished numbers of late, a Cattle Egret remained in the vicinity of Ringstead’s Kinewell Lake between 21st and 24th.

Reports of raptors were, as usual, dominated by the presence of Marsh Harriers at Summer Leys, now widely acknowledged as a key location for the species. With sightings throughout the week, three different birds were seen together on the reserve, including the first-year male ‘J4’, now having been present in the county since the middle of December last year. Other locations producing single birds were Titchmarsh on 21st and 25th and Stanwick on 22nd, 24th and 25th.

Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 25th February 2026 (Alan Coles)

And, for the second week running, Hen Harrier featured, with ‘ringtails’ seen in flight near Holcot on 21st and at Harrington AF – not a million miles away – on 25th. A male Merlin was also at Harrington on the same date.

On the passerine front, Daventry’s Siberian Chiffchaff further extended its stay until the end of the week and a Firecrest was reported from Lilbourne Meadows on 24th.

Stonechats amassed a whopping total of eighteen in the wider reaches of the Brampton Valley on 25th, while up to two were noted at Desborough AF, Earls Barton GP, Hollowell, Pitsford, Thrapston, Stortons GP and Warmington as the week drew to a close.

Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 21st February 2026 (Leslie Fox)

And Crossbills continued to be seen across four different localities with Harlestone Firs producing a maximum of nine on 21st followed by two there on 25th, while up to seven were at Wakerley Great Wood on 23rd-24th and singles were at Pitsford on 21st and Scotland Wood, Kelmarsh on 23rd.

Newsround 14th to 20th February 2026

Posted on February 21, 2026 by Mike Alibone

Another late winter week saw cold, mostly overcast and foggy conditions with temperatures barely breaking 5°C, although the final day marked the beginning of something warmer to come. But the selection of birds on offer was not weather dependent and the surprise appearance of a certain duck at the week’s end went some considerable way toward breaking the ice …

The beginning of the week, however, was still owned largely by wintering geese. Following last week’s three at Stanford Res, a lone Pink-footed Goose was found with local Greylags alongside Thrapston GP at Islip Water Meadows on 15th, remaining there until 18th.

Pink-footed Goose, Islip Water Meadows, 15th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

And Tundra Bean Goose was again on the week’s menu when two distinctly separate birds were present in the northern reaches of the Nene Valley. Based on its unique pattern of white at the base of the bill, the first was the same individual which has been kicking around in the Thrapston GP area since early January, although remaining under the radar for a significant amount of time. Keeping company with twenty-three White-fronted Geese, it appeared at Ringstead GP on 14th before settling in fields at nearby Denford from 16th until the end of the period. The second bird paid the briefest of visits to Islip Water Meadows with Greylags on 16th and was not seen subsequently.

Tundra Bean Goose and White-fronted Geese, Denford, 16th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Tundra Bean Goose and White-fronted Geese, Denford, 18th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Tundra Bean Goose, Denford, 18th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

In addition to the aforementioned twenty-three, Stanford’s White-fronted Goose numbers remained high with at least forty mobile around fields between Stanford on Avon and the reservoir, on 15th. Lower numbers elsewhere included eight at Thrapston from 14th to 17th, visiting fields north of nearby Thorpe Waterville on 15th, and four at Stanwick GP between 15th and 18th.

Now seemingly settled on the Rosewater Fishing Lake at Ringstead, the drake Ring-necked Duck remained there from 14th until at least 18th and a Greater Scaup was reported on adjacent Kinewell Lake on 16th.

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Ringstead GP, 15th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

But the period’s highlight was found on the last day of the week, when a dapper drake Lesser Scaup broke water on the River Nene alongside Clifford Hill GP. Had it been Northamptonshire’s first – and maybe it is the same individual from last autumn – it would have drawn a sizeable crowd, given the easily accessible location and prime viewing conditions. As it was, a trickle observers dropped in to soak up the good views on offer.

Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Drake Lesser Scaup and Tufted Duck, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Dramatically overshadowed by the above – at least in terms of rarity – was the drake Smew which saw out another week at the same location.

And hybrids? The drake Pochard x Tufted Duck remains also at Clifford Hill, as does the presumed female Pochard x Tufted Duck at Daventry CP.

Moving swiftly on … and following a recent uptick in records in the UK, another new bird for the year this week was a Slavonian Grebe. First seen at Daventry on 19th, it moved to Ravensthorpe Res on 20th, where it was still present at close of play. Hard evidence in the form of a unique, small dark stripe on the left side of its head identifies it as the same bird at both locations.

Slavonian Grebe, Daventry CP, 19th February 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Slavonian Grebe, Ravensthorpe Res, 20th February 2026 (Jon Cook)

Slavonian Grebe, Ravensthorpe Res, 20th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Two Jack Snipes at Hollowell Res on 16th sums up the week’s scarcer waders.

The week’s gulls once again comprised two adult Mediterranean Gulls – one at Daventry on 16th and the other in the roost at Stanford three days later, on 19th, with two adult Caspian Gulls at Hollowell on the same dates.

Adult Mediterranean Gull, Daventry CP, 16th February 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Hollowell also played second locality fiddle to the Red-throated Diver, which upped sticks from Ravensthorpe on 16th but returned to the latter site on 19th, still being in residence there at the week’s end. It attracted far less attention than in the previous week, the novelty likely having worn off …

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 19th February 2026 (Jon Cook)

Also, considered part of the winter furniture, the Glossy Ibis remained at Summer Leys LNR throughout.

Once again, a Cattle Egret dropped into the flooded area at Wellingborough Embankment on 15th.

Also in the Nene Valley, Marsh Harriers continued their right to roam, Summer Leys producing sightings on 14th, 15th and 17th that included the first-year male ‘J4’. Elsewhere, singles were at both Ditchford GP and Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 14th. A ringtail Hen Harrier in the Brampton Valley/Blueberry Farm area on 17th was the third of the year so far, one having been seen there on 1st January, followed the next day by one near Laxton.

There was close to nothing new on the passerine front this week. Daventry’s Siberian Chiffchaff extended its stay until at least 19th, while a Firecrest was reported from Thrapston on 17th.

Stonechat numbers were down, with twos seen at Earls Barton GP on 14th and 17th, in the Brampton Valley on 15th, at Hollowell on 16th and at Stanwick on 18th.

Female Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 17th February 2026 (Leslie Fox)

Up to eight Crossbills were still present at Gamboro Plantation near Cottesbrooke throughout the week and singles were at Scotland Wood, Kelmarsh on 16th and 20th.

Two Corn Buntings reappeared briefly in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 16th.

Newsround 7th to 13th February 2026

Posted on February 14, 2026February 14, 2026 by Mike Alibone

Another significant wave of White-fronted Geese in-off the near continent was reflected in this week’s upturn in numbers and with them came more Tundra Beans. An early scattering of Common Scoters provided an interesting distraction but topping the bill by a country mile was a Red-throated Diver, which saw fit to linger at Ravensthorpe Res …

Following this winter’s earlier influx of White-fronted Geese, significant numbers again arrived in the UK at the end of the previous week and into the first day of the period. Seemingly associated with this was the appearance of three Pink-footed Geese at Stanford Res, on 7th-8th, along with four Tundra Bean Geese there on the same dates.

Pink-footed Goose, Stanford Res, 8th February 2026 (Chris Hubbard)

Tundra Bean Geese, Stanford Res, 8th February 2026 (Chris Hubbard)

Believed to be the same individual present in early January, another Tundra Bean Goose was also found adjacent to Thrapston GP at Islip Water Meadows, on 7th, in company with twenty-three White-fronted Geese. The 7th also saw a return to higher numbers of the latter at Stanford, with thirty-three there, rising to forty on 8th and forty-two the following day. Also on 8th, twenty-six were present at Warmington Mill and twenty-five dropped into Clifford Hill GP, albeit briefly, before heading off east. Seven were found at Cransley Res on 9th while, on 11th, six visited Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR, five were at Stanwick GP and two were mobile with Greylags between the reservoirs of Hollowell and Ravensthorpe. Numbers then increased to seven apiece at Stanwick and Titchmarsh the following day.

White-fronted Geese, Clifford Hill GP, 8th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

White-fronted Geese, Ravensthorpe Res, 11th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

The female Ruddy Shelduck was back in its favourite haunt in the vicinity of Winwick on 12th-13th.

Female Ruddy Shelduck, Winwick, 13th February 2026 (James Urwin)

Mobile about the northern part of the Nene Valley, the drake Ring-necked Duck was relocated at Ringstead GP on 7th before moving off west. It was then back on site at Titchmarsh on the last day of the period, prior to which it was last seen there on 20th January. A presumed drake Ring-necked Duck x Tufted Duck hybrid was again present at Ditchford GP on 12th after previously being reported there on 23rd January.

And while we’re on the subject, last week’s drake Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid was still at Clifford Hill on 8th and the presumed female Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid was also still showing at Daventry CP at the period’s end.

Eliciting more interest, though, was a mini-influx of Common Scoters on the last day of the week. Stanford held five, Clifford Hill and Thrapston three apiece and Hollowell produced two. All of these were drakes, which tend to winter further north than females and so are likely to be the first to return toward the end of winter/early spring. Curiously, apart from one in Oxfordshire two days prior, these represented the only sightings in the whole of the Midlands.

Drake Common Scoters, Clifford Hill GP, 13th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

Drake Common Scoters, Stanford Res, 13th February 2026 (Chris Hubbard)

Clifford Hill’s drake Smew saw another week out, while another paid a brief visit to Hollowell on 13th.

Drake Smew, Clifford Hill GP, 9th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

And, last seen on 18th January, Pitsford’s Black-necked Grebe was back again on 7th, remaining until at least 12th – although it’s not inconceivable that this week’s individual could be a different bird.

Also, back on the wader menu was Black-tailed Godwit with two briefly visiting Clifford Hill on 13th, while Hollowell gave rise to a decent count of five Jack Snipes on 11th, these being the only ones found during the period.

This is the first week of the year without Caspian Gulls, but more than making up for it was the presence of two fine adult Mediterranean Gulls – one at Ditchford on 8th and the other at Pitsford on 13th, the latter site also producing two Yellow-legged Gulls on 9th, 10th and 13th.

Found by our very own County Recorder in the failing light of a late winter’s afternoon, this week’s hallowed luminary emerged in the shape of a rather neat-looking Red-throated Diver, at Ravensthorpe Res on the 9th – a bird which, no longer the reasonably regular, though rare, visitor it once was, has become much sought after locally in recent years. The last one in the county spent barely five hours at Boddington Res on the last day of October 2024 and before that, well, you have to turn the clock back eighteen years to February 2008, when one saw out nearly two weeks at Pitsford Res. This week’s bird thus proved highly popular and, still present at the end of the period, has offered more than ample opportunity for those keen to connect with it.

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 9th February 2026 (Jon Cook)

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 10th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 10th February 2026 (Phil West)

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 10th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 11th February 2026 (Alan Coles)

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 12th February 2026 (Antony Taylor)

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 13th February 2026 (James Urwin)

Our one and only stalwart wintering Glossy Ibis saw another week out at Summer Leys …

And it’s been a fair while since a Marsh Harrier graced Stortons GP but that was put to rights on 7th, when one was watched flying south. In the wider reaches of the Nene Valley, where they are now seen regularly, an immature was present at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lake & Meadows NR on 8th, the same date upon which the first-year male ‘J4’ was again at Summer Leys, where it was still present, along with another immature, the following day. Further sightings came from Summer Leys on 10th and Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 12th.

First-year Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 9th February 2026 (Alan Coles)

First-year male Marsh Harrier ‘J4’, Summer Leys LNR, 9th February 2026 (Alan Coles)

The Daventry Siberian Chiffchaff was still present around the Grit Trap there on 12th-13th, while the more run of the mill passerines included Stonechats at Barnes Meadow NR, Brampton Valley, Clifford Hill, Earls Barton, Hollowell, Pitsford, Stanford and Thrapston, with maxima of four at Pitsford on 9th and 11th.

With the highest count of fifteen on 8th, Gamboro Plantation near Cottesbrooke continued to hold Crossbills, while two were at Wakerley Great Wood on 10th and one flew over Hollowell the following day.

Newsround 31st January to 6th February 2026

Posted on February 8, 2026February 9, 2026 by Mike Alibone

Largely flatlining, the week’s birding efforts across the county didn’t deliver anything much that had not already been seen and appreciated – or undervalued and ignored. But if hybrid ducks are your thing, simply read on …

This winter’s goose parade continued. Get them while you can as their absence next winter is likely on the cards. Duly outnumbered by the following species, Pink-footed Goose was again on the week’s agenda with the discovery of two at Lilbourne Meadows NR on 5th. But in keeping with the current trend, White-fronted Geese were still to be found in and around the county, although numbers were noticeably down on those of previous weeks. Stanford Res mustered a mere sixteen on 3rd, while ten were again at Warmington Mill on 31st and single-figure counts came from Stanwick GP, where up to four were still present all week and Hollowell, where the long-staying, lone adult was still present on 1st.

Lilbourne Meadows was next in line to stage the reappearance of the female Ruddy Shelduck on the last day of the period, having previously visited Hollowell between 6th and 12th January.

Likely eliciting more interest, though, was a series of hybrid ducks sent to please or tease, depending on your point of view.

To delve deeper into the detail of hybrid ducks, Reeber (2015) is probably the best source of reference.

Unquestionably pure, however, was the fine drake Smew which extended its stay at Clifford Hill GP by another full week.

The only reasonably scarce wader to be found during in the period was Jack Snipe, which was seen at four localities including Upton CP, where two were present on 31st and one on 1st, Pitsford Res, which produced one also on the above two dates, Hollowell, where there was one on 1st and in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton with one on 3rd-4th.

And Caspian Gulls enjoyed a good run throughout the week, Summer Leys LNR hanging on to its seemingly settled adult until at least 5th and being joined there by a second-winter plus two first-winters on 2nd. The latter date also saw a third-winter and a first-winter at Daventry CP and a third-winter at Stanford, while one was at Hollowell on 1st.

First-winter Caspian Gull, Summer Leys LNR, 2nd February 2026 (Julie Roe)

A first-winter Yellow-legged Gull at Daventry on 2nd was the sole representative of its kind.

Glossy Ibis? Yes – Wellingborough Embankment on 31st and 1st before moving to Summer Leys on 2nd and remaining there until the week’s end. The latter site also held a Cattle Egret on 1st-2nd.

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 5th February 2026 (Tony Stanford)

Playing tag, Marsh Harriers continued to roam the Nene Valley, Summer Leys unsurprisingly producing the lion’s share of the sightings, which included three first-years, including the wing-tagged male, ‘J4’ – all on 2nd. Otherwise, single birds were present there on 31st, 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th. Elsewhere, singles were present at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings, Ditchford GP and Stanwick GP – all on 31st, the Stanwick individual displaying an unread orange wing-tag.

Marsh Harrier, Ditchford GP, 31st January 2026 (James Underwood)

Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 2nd February 2026 (Leslie Fox)

On the passerine front, the Siberian Chiffchaff was still present at Daventry CP on 4th, when it was joined by a second bird, both being actively mobile and elusive.

Siberian Chiffchaff, Daventry CP, 4th February 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Siberian Chiffchaff, Daventry CP, 4th February 2026 (Gary Pullan). A second individual.

Once more set to tease – though likely long-forgotten – back in the frame on 3rd was the Black Redstart on farmland ‘with no public access’ between Lamport and Scaldwell, where it was initially found on New Year’s Day …

Rather more plentiful and accessible, Stonechats were to be found at nine sites, with maximum counts of four at both Ditchford GP and Upton CP on 31st. Other locations holding up to three were Aston le Walls, Barnes Meadow NR, Blatherwycke Lake, Brampton Valley, Earls Barton GP, Hollowell and Pitsford.

Male Stonechat, Ditchford GP, 31st January 2026 (James Underwood)

Gamboro Plantation near Cottesbrooke produced Crossbills almost daily, with the highest count of 22 there on 1st. Elsewhere, three and two were at Harlestone Heath and Wakerley Great Wood, respectively, on 31st.

Two Corn Buntings were still present in fields immediately west of Deanshanger on 2nd.

Newsround 24th to 30th January 2026

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Mike Alibone

Sandwiched between low pressure systems driven in off the Atlantic by the jet stream and an area of high pressure stationed over Scandinavia, the UK was, by and large, under the influence of a south-easterly airstream that delivered a mixed bag of predominantly wet weather throughout the week. What effect this may have had on local birds has yet to be seen, although this last full week of January was largely quiet in terms of new arrivals.

Geese still featured prominently, though, kicking off with two Pink-footed Geese at Stanford Res on 26th-27th, followed the next day by a noteworthy skein of fifty-four flying north-east over Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR.

Pink-footed Geese, Stanford Res, 27th January 2026 (Chris Hubbard)

White-fronted Geese continued to feature reasonably strongly, with Stanford continuing to lead the way in terms of numbers. Fifty-eight were still there as the week opened and at least fifty remained on 28th. The latter date saw a respectable forty flying north-east over Stanwick GP, followed by four on the ground there on 30th, while nine were again present in fields at Warmington Mill on 24th, when last week’s seven were still to be seen at Summer Leys LNR.

Ducks of note were limited to three species. Five Red-crested Pochards on 26th comprised a drake and a female at Billing GP and two drakes and a female at Deene Lake, while a drake and female Greater Scaup were found on separate lakes at Stanwick on 28th. We can’t rule out the possibility that the latter are the displaced duo from Thrapston, the same site having been previously vacated by the drake American Wigeon, which subsequently relocated downriver to Peterborough’s Ferry Meadows CP, where it was showing down to a ridiculously close 20 metres during its stay there between 24th and 27th.

Very much a shining light in the dreary winter gloom, as well as being an easy ‘drive-up-and-see’, a drake Smew found at Ravensthorpe Res on 25th subsequently proved a popular pull throughout the following day but it was nowhere to be seen thereafter. This was not the case with the drake at Clifford Hill GP which, last seen on 5th Jan, was back there again and on view daily from 24th throughout the period.

Drake Smew, Ravensthorpe Res, 26th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Drake Smew, Ravensthorpe Res, 26th January 2026 (Bob Bullock)

A dearth of waders saw just a Jack Snipe in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 28th, the same day producing a wintering Common Sandpiper again at Pitsford Res.

There was a slight improvement on the gull front, however, with single adult Mediterranean Gulls in the reservoir roosts of Pitsford on 26th and Stanford on 28th and 30th. Summer Leys’ adult Caspian Gull remained into this week, being seen intermittently between 25th and 30th, while another adult visited the roost at Stanford on 26th and a first-winter was found at Stanwick on 28th.

Adult Caspian Gull, Summer Leys LNR, 25th January 2026 (Clive Bowley)

Yellow-legged Gulls were again at a low ebb and a single adult at Pitsford on 26th and 28th was all the week could muster.

Just the one Glossy Ibis remained prominent at its preferred site of Wellingborough Embankment this week, being seen there on 24th and on 26th-29th, having visited Summer Leys on 25th.

Glossy Ibis, Wellingborough Embankment, 28th January 2026 (Bob Bullock)

The latter locality was again prime for Marsh Harriers, the 24th seeing the immature male ‘J4’ on site there ahead of single birds on 25th, 28th and 29th. In the wider complex of Earls Barton GP singles were seen in the New Workings area on 24th and 30th, while Stanwick also produced one on 24th. Just how many are kicking around in the Nene Valley is difficult to assess.

Marsh Harrier, Earls Barton GP, 24th January 2026 (Leslie Fox)

Headlining the cast of the week’s passerines was a Siberian Chiffchaff at Daventry CP on 30th and likely to be the same one as previously seen there on 21st November and 22nd December last year.

And continuing as an integral part of the weekly billing so far this year, a Firecrest was on site at Ravensthorpe on 26th.

Meanwhile, Stonechats were to be found at six localities, four at Pitsford on 28th being the highest single site total, while two were present in the Brampton Valley between 25th and 28th, two were at Barnes Meadow NR on 24th and 30th and singles were to be found at Earls Barton GP on 24th and 30th, Clifford Hill on 28th and Thrapston on 29th.

Female Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 28th January 2026 (Leslie Fox)

Which just leaves Crossbills, which have maintained quite a high profile over the past ten months. This week saw a minimum of twenty at Wakerley Great Wood, between twelve and sixteen at Gamboro Plantation near Cottesbrooke and at least seven at Harlestone Heath. Breeding must surely be on the cards this year …

Male Crossbill, Wakerley Great Wood, 28th January 2026 (James Underwood)

Male Crossbill, Wakerley Great Wood, 28th January 2026 (Paul Young)

Newsround 17th to 23rd January 2026

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Mike Alibone

Unsettled weather and continuing wet conditions were the hallmarks of a week which saw few surprises and an apparent thinning out in numbers of winter geese.

As in previous weeks, Pink-footed Goose made it into the period when a group flew over Desborough, calling, prior to first light on 19th, while a putative Tundra Bean Goose was retrospectively identified from photographs taken at Summer Leys LNR on 20th.

Compared to the previous week, fewer sites held White-fronted Geese, with the highest count coming again from Stanford Res, where fifty-seven were present on 20th. Elsewhere, nine were at Blatherwycke Lake on 17th, seven were at Summer Leys on 23rd following six there on 20th and four on 19th and 22nd. Pitsford Res held just two on 19th, while the lone adult with the local geese at Hollowell Res was still present there on 17th.

Adult White-fronted Geese, Summer Leys LNR, 23rd January 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Adult and first-winter White-fronted Geese, Summer Leys LNR, 23rd January 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Thrapston’s Town Lake continued to hold two Red-crested Pochards and two Greater Scaups until at least 22nd and the frequently evasive drake Ring-necked Duck also resurfaced there on 20th, having last been seen on 11th. Further west along the valley, a bird believed to be a drake hybrid Ring-necked Duck x Tufted Duck was found at Ditchford GP’s Wilson’s Pits on the last day of the period.

Pitsford’s primary offering remained the Black-necked Grebe, still to be found in the general area of Pintail Bay and The Narrows on 18th.

On the wader front, Black-tailed Godwits continued to feature as an unusual local winter visitor, with one continuing its occupation of Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR until at least 19th, while one was seen again at Summer Leys on 22nd. A single Jack Snipe was also present at the latter site on 23rd.

And there was little on offer in the shape of gulls this week, an adult Caspian Gull being seen at Summer Leys on 19th, 20th and 22nd, while the roost at Stanford held an adult and a first-winter on 20th and a first-winter again on 23rd. Even thinner on the ground were Yellow-legged Gulls, with just a single adult at Pitsford on 22nd.

Last week’s end of period deluge likely accounted for the subsequent disappearance of the one remaining Glossy Ibis after its favoured area around Wellingborough Embankment became highly waterlogged. However, with water levels quickly subsiding, it was back there again, albeit intermittently, from 18th until the week’s end. Appearances of one at Summer Leys daily from 20th leads to the assumption that they are one and the same, as the two sites are little more than 3 km apart and they were not seen simultaneously. Some may beg to differ but until proven one way or the other, the jury’s still out …

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 21st January 2026 (Tony Stanford)

Glossy Ibis, Wellingborough Embankment, 21st January 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Following the one-day bird in the previous week, the favoured marshy field at Wellingborough embankment was paid another visit by a Cattle Egret on 20th, although it wasn’t seen thereafter.

And more Marsh Harrier magic was always on the cards this week with five Nene Valley locations in the frame for supplying one or two throughout the period. One was at Titchmarsh on 19th and 20th, roosting there on the latter date while, on the same dates, Stanwick produced an immature male and a wing-tagged individual, respectively. Summer Leys came up trumps with three, including the wing-tagged ‘J4’ immature male on 20th, one on 21st and two (one tagged) on 22nd, while nearby Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) saw one flying west on 22nd and one or two were seen at Ditchford GP on 23rd.

Marsh Harrier, Earls Barton GP, 22nd January 2026 (Leslie Fox)

Heading up this week’s passerines was last week’s Firecrest at Thrapston GP, remaining faithful to the same area of scrub, on 17th-18th.

Firecrest, Thrapston GP, 17th January 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Eight Stonechats at Ditchford GP’s Townholme Meadows on 22nd is the highest single site total so far this year, with twos only in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 17th and 21st, at Deene Lake on 17th and at both Ditchford and Pitsford on 18th.

And aside from one in flight over Wellingborough Lock on 18th and six at Yardley Chase on 20th, the much-favoured areas of Wakerley Great Wood and the Brampton Valley’s Gamboro Plantation continued to produce Crossbills – the first of these locations holding up to fifteen between 17th and 20th, while the latter held up to ten between 17th and 21st.

And with Corn Buntings now hardwired into the area between Deanshanger and Wicken, a massive count of thirty-one there on 18th became the highest onsite total to date, single-figure tallies being made on 17th, 19th and 20th.

Corn Bunting, Deanshanger, 20th January 2026 (Alan Coles)

Newsround 10th to 16th January 2026

Posted on January 18, 2026 by Mike Alibone

A change in the weather and the best part of a month’s rainfall in one day saw us aquaplaning our way out of a week in which we’ve once again been spoiled rotten with wild geese. That’s not to say there was nothing else on offer – quite the contrary, in fact, with the previous week’s delectable ducks and an obliging Ibis still to be had, as well as some choice passerines, one of which, clearly, was not …

We start, as has recently become customary, with Tundra Bean Goose – this week seen at three localities. Previous speculation that last week’s birds at Stanwick GP and Thrapston GP/Islip Water Meadows were likely one and the same was quickly kicked into touch with the emergence of images showing two distinctly different individuals and flagged up as such by the photographers of the Islip Water Meadows bird, below. The latter shows distinct white feathering at the base of the bill, this feature being absent on the bird at Stanwick.

Tundra Bean Goose and White-fronted Geese, Islip Water Meadows, 10th January 2026 (Phil West)

Tundra Bean Goose, Islip Water Meadows, 10th January 2026 (Dave James)

Tundra Bean Goose, Stanwick GP, 6th January 2026 (Bob Bullock)

While the Stanwick bird remained until 13th, the Thrapston/Islip individual promptly vacated the area and was nowhere to be seen after 11th. Once again, however, one was found at Blatherwycke Lake among an eight hundred-strong gaggle of Greylags on 14th and was subsequently averred on 16th. A new bird? Or the same one from late December, keeping a low profile for the last couple of weeks?

The 16th also saw a Pink-footed Goose reported at Summer Leys LNR. But the week belonged to White-fronted Geese, numbers of which remained solid throughout the period. Top of the locality leaderboard was, once again, Stanford Res, where a slight increase took the total to an impressive seventy-five on 15th. Maximum counts at nine other sites consisted of fourteen at Islip on 10th-11th, up to ten at Pitsford Res between 13th and 16th, ten at Stanwick during the same period, ten at Warmington Mill on 10th, eight at Blatherwycke on 16th, four at Clifford Hill GP on 10th-11th, two at Thrapston on 16th and singles at Aynho on 10th and at Hollowell Res on 11th-12th.

White-fronted Goose, Stanwick GP, 14th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)

After reappearing at Hollowell last week, the county’s long-serving female Ruddy Shelduck was still present there on 9th.

And anyone out for a duck need look no further than Thrapston, where having almost been relegated to part of the furniture, the drake American Wigeon extended its stay at Titchmarsh NR until at least 13th.

Drake American Wigeon, Titchmarsh NR, 12th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Thrapston’s Town Lake also held on to two Red-crested Pochards – seen daily from 11th – the same date on which the itinerant drake Ring-necked Duck was last reported there during the period. Remaining far easier to catch up with, though, were the two long-staying Greater Scaups, Town Lake now enjoying countywide exclusivity following the departure of the Stanford birds last week.

With Smew in mind, the same could be said about Pitsford, where a ‘redhead’ popped up again on 14th and a drake was also back on show on the last day of the week.

And staying with Pitsford, last week’s Black-necked Grebe remained there until at least 14th.

Seeing a slight increase, wader numbers were up on those from the previous week – particularly Black-tailed Godwits, of which there were multiples at two localities. Titchmarsh produced one on 10th, two on 12th and one again on 15th-16th. Just shy of hitting double figures, though, nine were present at Stanwick on 14th.

Black-tailed Godwit, Titchmarsh NR, 12th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Pitsford’s winter visiting Common Sandpiper made it into the week, still to be seen on 10th, and two Jack Snipes were also present there on 14th, following one at Hollowell again on 12th.

Pitsford was also the prime producer of the period’s scarcer gulls, with an adult Caspian Gull present on 10th, two Yellow-legged Gulls on 10th and 14th and one on 11th – the latter date also seeing an adult Caspian in the gull roost at Stanford.

And after two flying over Summer Leys on 4th being the only record in the previous week, there was a welcome return of a Glossy Ibis to Wellingborough Embankment on 10th, where it remained settled until 14th, after which the area unsurprisingly suffered a significant rise in water level.

Glossy Ibis Wellingborough Embankment, 14th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Cattle Egrets looked like they were on the up but only in terms of the number of localities visited. Singles flew low east over Duston and north-east over Stanwick on 11th while, on the ground, one spent the best part of the day at Wellingborough Embankment on 13th.

Cattle Egret, Wellingborough Embankment, 13th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)

The week’s raptors were dominated by Marsh Harriers, although with their tendency to wander, it’s difficult to determine just how many birds were involved. On a day-by-day basis, the 10th saw twos at both Summer Leys and Titchmarsh – one of which at the latter locality was the Nene Valley rover, ‘J4’, the young male which has now been present in the county for the best part of a month. One was at Summer Leys on 11th while, on 12th, singles were at Ditchford GP and Stanwick and two were again at Titchmarsh. The 13th saw one again at Ditchford and two were at Stanwick on 15th. The period ended with singles at Blatherwycke and Stanwick and two at Summer Leys on 16th.

By contrast, just the one Merlin this week was the wintering bird still in residence in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, on 11th and 13th.

With increasing frequency – and headlining the period’s passerines – Yellow-browed Warblers are being found locally during winter and this one is no exception. A Raunds garden was the seasonal setting for the latest one to appear, on 15th, although its exact whereabouts remains undisclosed …

Hot on the heels of the New Year’s Day Duston Firecrest came another at Thrapston, first seen on 12th and still present in the same location on 16th, the latter date also giving rise to one mobile bird reported in Wakerley Great Wood.

With no more than three at any one site, the week’s Stonechats were seen in the Brampton Valley and at Clifford Hill GP, Hollowell, Pitsford and Summer Leys.

Crossbills were to be reliably found in double figures at Wakerley Great Wood, with a maximum of at least twenty-five on 16th, at Gamboro Plantation east of Cottesbrooke, where up to fifteen were present between 10th and 14th and at Harlestone Firs, where an unspecified number of mobile birds were present on the latter date.

And the area of dilapidated crop fields between Deanshanger and Wicken continued to be a popular pull for local birders looking to connect with Corn Buntings. Seen daily, numbers there peaked at twenty-two on 14th – a welcome resurgence in the county … but for how long?

Newsround 3rd to 9th January 2026

Posted on January 11, 2026January 11, 2026 by Mike Alibone

Seeing out the first full week of January was a host of last year’s leftovers, still on tap for those keen to kick off the New Year with a splash of quality. Perhaps unsurprisingly, wildfowl continued to top the bill, despite temperatures continuing to fall and many local bodies of water becoming ice-bound as a consequence. Being made of sterner stuff, they were clearly not for turning …

Tundra Bean Geese – or more likely one mobile bird – again proved a popular pull following the initial disappearance of the individual that briefly visited Ringstead GP, last week, on 2nd. Within spitting distance, just up the valley, it was Stanwick GP’s turn to deliver the goods on 6th, when one was found in company with ten White-fronted Geese. It remained there, between the northern end of the complex and the southern end of Ringstead over the next three days, the last of which also saw one, or it, during the afternoon at Islip Water Meadows, adjacent to Thrapston GP.

Tundra Bean Goose, Stanwick GP, 6th January 2026 (Steve Fisher)

Tundra Bean Goose, Stanwick GP, 9th January 2026 (Leslie Fox)

With eight briefly visiting Clifford Hill GP on 3rd and one at Pitsford Res on 5th, Pink-footed Geese were again overshadowed and outnumbered, thus proving hard to catch up with. Based on their current status, this scenario will no doubt change in due course. The same cannot be said for White-fronted Geese, which seem set to see the winter out at a number of localities. Once again, Stanford Res offered up the greatest number with a sizeable flock present there throughout the period, peaking at a maximum of sixty-four on 4th. Elsewhere, fifteen were found at Pitsford on 5th, subsequent counts dropping to eleven on 6th and nine on 7th-8th. Islip Water Meadows also produced fifteen on 9th, Stanwick ten on 3rd, 6th, 7th and 8th, Ringstead nine on 3rd (believed to have originated from Stanwick), Blatherwycke Lake six on 4th, Warmington Lock four on 3rd, Clifford Hill four between 3rd and 5th and Hollowell Res one on 4th.

White-fronted Geese, Stanford Res, 4th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)

White-fronted Geese, Stanwick GP, 6th January 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Keeping up appearances, a Whooper Swan paid a brief visit to Clifford Hill on 3rd.

Adult Whooper Swan, Clifford Hill GP, 3rd January 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

And last seen on 13th November at Stanford, the now ageing female Ruddy Shelduck popped up again at Hollowell, where it was seen on 6th and 9th.

After its initial appearance at Titchmarsh NR last week, the drake American Wigeon was clearly in no hurry to move on, still to be found there at close of play on 9th, the hubbub surrounding it having died down.

Also in the wider reaches of Thrapston GP, the drake Ring-necked Duck remained settled on Town Lake until at least 8th.

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Thrapston GP, 6th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)

The four Greater Scaups at Stanford also stayed until 4th, after which a single female remained on 5th, while Thrapston’s first-winter drake and female saw another week out on Town Lake.

First-winter drake Greater Scaup, Thrapston GP, 6th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)

And believed to be last week’s individual from Clifford Hill, a drake Smew was found at Pitsford on 3rd after its apparent absence from the aforementioned location on the same date. Further sightings came again from Clifford Hill on 5th and again from Pitsford on 8th. Additionally, a ‘redhead’ Smew gave some birders the runaround at Pitsford between 5th and 7th.

Smew, Pitsford Res, 5th January 2026 (Richard How)

Pitsford was also the site chosen by the first visiting Black-necked Grebe of the year, a species which has produced a noteworthy run of records of late. Found and photographed on 6th, it was still present there at the week’s end.

Black-necked Grebe, Pitsford Res, 8th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Few waders are normally up for grabs at this early stage in the new year, so a Black-tailed Godwit at Summer Leys LNR briefly on 6th was unusual, as was an apparent wintering Common Sandpiper found at Pitsford on the same date, the latter still being present at the week’s end. More in keeping with the time of year, however, were single Jack Snipes at Thrapston on 5th and at both Hollowell and in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 9th.

And the gull roost at Stanford continued to bear fruit, dishing up two adult Caspian Gulls on 4th and 6th, one of which was the old favourite, German-ringed male ‘XLVH’, more often than not to be found loafing along the muddy shoreline of Naseby Res over the past few autumns. An adult also flew over Hollowell on 9th.

German-ringed adult male Caspian Gull, Stanford Res, 4th January 2026 (Chris Hubbard)

The above roost also produced an adult Yellow-legged Gull on 5th, while further sightings were confined to Pitsford, where one was seen on 5th-7th and 9th.

The week’s cold snap seems likely to have had an adverse effect on Glossy Ibis, numbers of which were down to two seen in flight over Summer Leys on 4th – Stanford’s puddle by the Settling Pond there having frozen solid, rendering it unattractive to the hitherto reliable one or two that have visited the site almost daily in recent weeks.

On the 8th, a Bittern was seen in flight at Ravensthorpe Res – not for the first time but previous sightings there have been few and far between.

Back in the Nene Valley and Summer Leys bagged a Cattle Egret on 5th, a bird whose numbers appear to have dropped considerably over the past year.

And carving up the week’s Marsh Harriers between them, Summer Leys/Earls Barton GP and Titchmarsh produced single birds on 3rd, 4th, 5th and 9th – one at the former locality was the wandering young male, wing-tagged ‘J4’.

In the nether reaches of Finedon, Neville’s Lodge had the honour of producing the first Short-eared Owl of the year, on 3rd.

In a wider context than normal, Merlins were to be found this week in the Brampton Valley on 4th and 8th, at Summer Leys on 5th and at Stanwick on 7th.

And the week’s top passerines kicked off with a Siberian Chiffchaff at Duston’s New Sandy Lane Attenuation Pond on 7th-8th, following what was presumably the same bird being present there in December last year.

Siberian Chiffchaff, Duston, 26th December 2025 (Nigel Muddiman)

Wintering Stonechats were present at Pitsford, where there was a maximum of six on 5th, followed by two on 8th, two were in the Brampton Valley on 4th and singles were present at Clifford Hill on 3rd, at both Earls Barton GP and Upton CP on 6th and at Hollowell on 9th.

Male Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 6th January 2026 (Leslie Fox)

And while 2025 proved to be a good year for Crossbills, the new year looks set to continue in the same vein, with at least ten at Fineshade Wood on 6th and 8th, up to eight at Gamboro Plantation east of Cottesbrooke between 3rd and 8th, six at Salcey Forest and four at Wakerley Great Wood on 4th and one at Harlestone Firs on 5th.

Meanwhile, the fields along the footpath between Deanshanger and Wicken continued as the only site in the county currently to deliver Corn Buntings, nine being present there on 6th.

Newsround 27th December 2025 to 2nd January 2026

Posted on January 4, 2026 by Mike Alibone

Along with a prolonged Arctic airstream delivering non-stop northerlies, low temperatures and the first settling snow of the winter, 2025 certainly didn’t run out of steam when it came to quality birds – one of which was the first of its kind in the county for more than twenty years. And, as we stepped into the new year, there was plenty to keep the birding fire burning …

Once again, wildfowl were the main attraction – even more so than last week, with the arrival of more geese as well as a certain delectable duck. Once again, top of the tribe as far as geese are concerned was Tundra Bean Goose, with the one discovered at Blatherwycke Lake on the final day of the previous week remaining there until 29th. This was quickly followed by another – or most likely the same individual – being found at Ringstead GP’s Kinewell Lake on 2nd, although it moved on swiftly after its discovery. Blatherwycke to Ringstead is a mere 21 km as the goose flies …

Tundra Bean Goose, Ringstead GP, 2nd January 2026 (Nick Parker)

While we’re used to seeing Pink-footed Geese annually in small numbers, a skein of forty-seven heading north over Desborough on the first day of the new year was quite exceptional although unsurprisingly, given current circumstances, they were outnumbered by this week’s White-fronted Geese. Recorded daily throughout the period, nine localities held varying numbers with, once again, Stanford Res producing the highest count of seventy on 1st. Maximum site numbers elsewhere included twenty at Stanwick GP on 28th, sixteen at Blatherwycke on 28th, eleven at Clifford Hill GP on 27th-28th, ten at Pitsford Res between 30th and 1st, ten at Ringstead on 1st-2nd, six in the Cherwell Valley near Aynho on 27th, at least four at Summer Leys LNR on 29th and four in the Nene Valley near Woodford on 31st.

White-fronted Geese, Blatherwycke Lake, 27th December 2025 (Bob Bullock)

White-fronted Geese, Clifford Hill GP, 28th December 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

White-fronted Geese, Ringstead GP, 2nd January 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Still a local winter scarcity, two Whooper Swans flew south-east over the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 31st and one visited Hollowell Res on 2nd.

Discovered at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 27th and leaving all of the aforementioned in the shade, however, was Northamptonshire’s first American Wigeon for twenty-one years. Long overdue, it’s only the eighth county record and, remaining settled throughout the week, it duly attracted a steady stream of admirers, both local and from further afield.

Drake American Wigeon, Titchmarsh NR, 27th December 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Following its apparent eleven-day absence and further escalating the attraction of Thrapston was the reappearance there of the dapper drake Ring-necked Duck on 28th. Rather more mobile than the American Wigeon, it divided its time between Town Lake, North Lake and Aldwincle Lake, being seen at the latter on 1st in close proximity to its fellow compatriot. Should we now be referring to Titchmarsh as ‘Little America’ and, if so, what else can we look forward to seeing there before the winter is out?

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Thrapston GP, 1st January 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Other ducks deluxe consisted of the long-staying female and first-winter drake Greater Scaups at Thrapston/Titchmarsh throughout the week and a drake joined the previous week’s three females at Stanford from 27th until the week’s end.

Female Greater Scaup, Stanford Res, 27th December 2025 (Chris Hubbard)

Drake Greater Scaup, Stanford Res, 28th December 2025 (Chris Hubbard)

Female Greater Scaups, Stanford Res, 2nd January 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Drake Greater Scaup, Stanford Res, 2nd January 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Becoming easier to see as time went by and looking as crisp as winter snow, last week’s drake Smew remained at Clifford Hill throughout the period.

Drake Smew, Clifford Hill GP, 30th December 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Drake Smew, Clifford Hill GP, 1st January 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Only the sixth found in the county this year, and a surprise for one observer at Blatherwycke Lake on 27th, was a fly-over Common Crane – a likely wanderer from the small wintering population in nearby Cambridgeshire. The five previous records in 2025 have all been in spring.

Last week’s Black-necked Grebe was also present at Blatherwycke on the same date but went unreported thereafter.

And while we’re used to seeing small numbers of Sanderlings passing through the county in spring, they are rare inland at this time of the year so, bucking the trend, one was found at Titchmarsh on 27th, remaining there until at least 30th. A Jack Snipe at Hollowell Res on 1st-2nd was the only one reported during the period.

The larid landscape was largely the same as last week, with Stanford’s gull roost holding a first-winter Mediterranean Gull on 28th, 30th, 31st and 2nd and an adult was in the roost at Pitsford on the first of these dates. Summer Leys produced single Caspian Gulls on 27th and 1st, plus two there on 30th, while single adults visited Hollowell and Stanford on 29th and 1st, respectively. Yellow-legged Gull sightings were restricted to an adult at Stanford on 29th and one at Summer Leys the following day.

The week would not be complete without the continued presence of Glossy Ibises, of course, although the Nene Valley duo became more fidgety as the cold weather set in, being seen in the wider reaches of Earls Barton GP, briefly, on 27th, at Wellingborough Embankment – equally briefly on 28th and at Summer Leys the following day. Two continued to visit the Settling Pond area at Stanford from 27th until at least 1st.

Glossy Ibises, Stanford Res, 27th December 2025 (Barry Silverman)

Marsh Harriers extended their occupation of the Nene Valley, with certain individuals’ movements being handily tracked through wing-tag identification. Falling into the latter category was the first-year male, ‘J4’, which flew over Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows NR on 1st, appearing less than an hour later at Summer Leys, where it was also seen the following day, along with an untagged bird. Untagged individuals were also present at Summer Leys on 28th and 30th while an unidentified tagged bird flew over Ringstead GP on 2nd. Sightings also came from Ditchford on 27th and Titchmarsh on 27th-28th.

First-year male Marsh Harrier ‘J4’, Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows NR, 1st January 2026 (Tony Vials)

And while the Brampton Valley ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier was still present there on 1st, another ‘ringtail’ was found between Wakerley Great Wood and the nearby A43 on 27th, with undoubtedly the same bird at Laxton Park Farm, 1 km to the south, on 2nd.

Missing from last week’s summary, but back this week, was the Brampton Valley Merlin, seen again between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 2nd.

Kicking off the new year on the passerine front was a Firecrest at New Sandy Lane Attenuation Pond, Duston on the morning of the 1st and, going back to black in more ways than one, a Black Redstart was found on ‘private farmland’ between Lamport and Scaldwell on the same day. Looks like the yearlisters will have to wait … Stonechats were again at a low ebb, with twos at Clifford Hill and Titchmarsh on 28th, one at Hollowell on 29th, two at Lilbourne Meadows NR on 30th, one at Achurch on 31st, and two in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 2nd.

Continuing with Crossbills, at least ten were at Wakerley Great Wood on 27th, eight were found at Salcey Forest on 29th, six at Harlestone Firs on 31st and ten opened the new year, first-footing at Fineshade Wood on 2nd.

Male Crossbill, Salcey Forest, 29th December 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

And following the recent run of Corn Buntings at the newly discovered site between Deanshanger and Wicken, a substantial total of twenty-two was an eye-watering count there on 27th, dropping to eight the following day.