Month: August 2013

A strong easterly element to the wind direction in the early part of the week resulted in a busy time for local birders with 24th seeing a significant arrival of new birds.

The first Wigeon of the autumn arrived this week and double-figure counts came from several localities with the maximum being seventeen at Stanwick GP on 27th. Similarly, the autumn’s first Pintail appeared at Summer Leys LNR on 28th with six dropping in briefly to rest on ‘the slips’ there before continuing south and another remaining until 30th.

Eclipse drake Pintail, Summer Leys LNR, 28th August 2013 (Mike Alibone)

The same site produced a Garganey on 24th and further singles were found at Stanwick GP on 27th and at Pitsford Res the following day. More Red-crested Pochards arrived with four at Stanford Res on 24th, two at Summer Leys on the same date and two at Pitsford Res all week, while the long-staying eclipse drake remained at Stanwick GP throughout the period. A Goldeneye also remained at Pitsford Res all week and a Black-necked Grebe was found on the main lake at Stanwick GP on 27th before quickly moving on.

It’s proving to be a good autumn for Marsh Harriers with long-staying birds (or possibly the same individual) at Harrington AF until 25th and in the nearby Brampton Valley/Blueberry Farm area until 29th, along with singles at Stanwick GP on 24th and Summer Leys on 27th. An Osprey visited Pitsford Res regularly between 24th and 29th and a Peregrine was seen again at Stanwick GP on 25th.

Wader passage was brisk at the start of the week. The only Little Ringed Plover was one at Stanwick GP on 29th but more Ringed Plovers appeared with a juvenile at Summer Leys from 24th to 28th and six at Clifford Hill GP on 25th with three there the following day. Two Grey Plovers were on ‘the slips’ at Summer Leys fleetingly on 24th and four Dunlin were at Stanwick GP on the same date with two remaining on 25th and 26th, dwindling to just one on 27th. The same site produced good numbers of Ruff again on 24th, with a flock of twenty juveniles on the islands in the A45 Lay-by Pit, another by the visitor centre, and nine flying west while four were at Pitsford Res and one at Hollowell Res on the same date and three appeared at Summer Leys the following day with one remaining until 28th. Single Black-tailed Godwits were at Summer Leys from 24th to 26th and at Stanwick GP on 27th and 29th, while two were found south of the causeway at Pitsford Res on the latter date and five visited Summer Leys on 30th. Other large waders included two Whimbrels flying west at Stanwick GP on 25th and a Curlew on the ground at Clifford Hill GP the following day. Common Sandpipers were found in slightly higher numbers than last week at Pitsford Res, Naseby Res, Hollowell Res, Sulby Res and Stanwick GP with a maximum of five at Sulby Res on 30th. Four Green Sandpipers were at Summer Leys on 24th-25th with just one remaining the following day, two were at Slby Res on 30th and singles were at Stanwick GP on 24th and 29th while up to three Greenshanks were at Pitsford Res between 24th and 29th, two were at Sulby Res on 30th and singles visited Stanwick GP on 25th and 27th. The latter site hosted the week’s only Redshanks with just two there on 29th; this species is proving to be scarce this autumn. A Turnstone also visited Stanwick GP on 24th.

A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was in the gull roost off the yacht club at Pitsford Res on 24th, being joined by a second juvenile there the following evening and one was there again on 30th. Last week’s juvenile Caspian Gull was again at Stanwick GP on 24th and another was at Pitsford Res gull roost on 30th. The same two sites continued to produce Yellow-legged Gulls throughout the week with maxima of ten at Pitsford on 24th and approximately twenty-five at Stanwick on 29th. A juvenile Little Gull also visited the latter site very briefly on 24th and was joined equally briefly by two juvenile Arctic Terns there at the same time. The 24th also proved to be a great day for Black Terns with forty-five on Thrapston GP’s Town Lake providing a wonderful early evening spectacle. Six visited Summer Leys on the same date and four were there the following day along with two at Welford Res and one at Pitsford Res.

A Short-eared Owl was reported by the landowners at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 24th and another was found at Harrington AF on 30th when a juvenile Ring Ouzel was also found at the same site. Blueberry Farm hosted a Common Redstart on 29th while others appeared at Pitsford Res on 24th, Harrington AF and Spratton on 25th and a male was in Denton Wood

on 28th and 29th. Up to six Whinchats were at Blueberry Farm throughout the week and a Northern Wheatear was there on 29th with another at nearby Harrington AF on 28th. A Tree Pipit flew east over Stanford Res on 24th and another south over Brackley on 28th while flyover Crossbills consisted of five over Stanwick GP on 24th and two over Hanging Houghton on 27th.

A warm southerly airstream ensured continued warm weather throughout the week and may have contributed to the appearance of a species not seen in Northamptonshire for at least one hundred and thirty years …

Two Egyptian Geese were at Ditchford GP on 23rd, the escaped Ross’s Goose was again with Greylags at Stanwick GP on 17th and a Garganey appeared at Pitsford Res on 22nd. The long-staying eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard lingered at Stanwick GP all week with another briefly visiting Summer Leys LNR on 20th and two females at Pitsford Res on 23rd and a Goldeneye was again at Pitsford Res on 22nd-23rd. A Great White Egret was again at the latter locality on 17th.

One of last week’s Marsh Harriers remained at Harrington AF, being seen daily until 23rd while it, or another, visited nearby at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 18th and another flew west over Boddington Res on 21st and a juvenile was seen at Ditchford GP on 23rd. Single Ospreys were seen at Pitsford Res on 17th and 22nd, over Blueberry Farm on 18th, over Harrington AF on 20th and over both Hanging Houghton and Quinton the following day. A juvenile Peregrine was observed taking a Lapwing at Stanwick GP on 17th and another was at Twywell Hills and Dales on 23rd.

Two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers were at at Summer Leys until at least 17th, two were at Stanwick GP on 22nd-23rd and one at Earls Barton GP on 23rd. The only Ringed Plover this week was one at Pitsford Res on 17th, while Summer Leys produced a Dunlin on the same date and small numbers were at Stanwick GP all week, peaking at seven on 21st. The same site held a juvenile Ruff on 21st-23rd. Adult Black-tailed Godwits were still moving through, with two at Summer Leys on 19th, one there on 23rd and four over Daventry CP on 22nd, although Common Sandpipers were strangely scarce this week with just two at Pitsford Res on 17th and 22nd, with singles at Daventry CP and Stanwick GP on the latter date and one at Earls Barton GP on 23rd. Green Sandpipers were a little more numerous, however, with singles at Pitsford Res on 17th and 20th-22nd and at Summer Leys and Ditchford GP on 23rd, seven at Daventry CP on 19th with five there on 22nd and two at Stanwick GP on 20th with three there on 21st. Summer Leys continued to hold on to its Greenshanks with three still there on 17th, two on 19th and one on 23rd and further records of singles came from Stanwick GP on 20th, Pitsford Res on 21st, Ditchford GP on 23rd and Clifford Hill GP on 22nd, with three at the latter site on 23rd.

A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was found at Daventry CP on 21st and two juveniles visited the gull roost at Pitsford Res the following evening, while two Caspian Gulls – an adult and a juvenile were discovered with Yellow-legged Gulls at Stanwick GP on 21st.

Numbers of the latter continued to remain relatively high at this locality with a maximum of approximately thirty on 21st and, elsewhere, singles were at Pitsford Res on 20th-21st and Clifford Hill GP on 22nd with four at Pitsford Res on 22nd and seven at Clifford Hill GP on 23rd.

Few would dispute that the ‘Bird of the Century’ title should surely go to the juvenile Woodchat Shrike which was found at Harrington AF on 20th. Showing well to all comers during the afternoon, this was the first to be seen in Northants for at least 130 years but it did not linger, much to the disappointment of early morning birders the following day. One was also seen at Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire on 17th and it is tempting to speculate that this was the same bird moving south.

A Common Redstart was found near the river at Woodford Halse on 20th, two more were at Harrington AF on 23rd and one was at Ditchford GP on 23rd, while a Stonechat was in the Brampton Valley/Blueberry Farm, Maidwell area on 21st and up to four Whinchats were in the same area between 17th and 22nd, with two more at Ditchford GP on 23rd. Northern Wheatears were found in the Brampton Valley on 17th and 21st and one visited Clifford Hill GP on 18th, while Tree Pipits flew over Harrington AF and Hanging Houghton on 18th.  Migrant Crossbills continued to be seen, with two over Hanging Houghton on 18th and six over Harrington AF on 18th and 22nd.

Mixed weather conditions combined with a largely westerly airstream to produce little in the way of new birds this week.

A Ross’s Goose was discovered at Stanwick GP on 11th and was still present there on 13th. Although this species is one of the earliest geese to depart from its Arctic breeding grounds in autumn, an early to mid-August arrival in the UK is not likely so, undoubtedly of captive origin, it falls into the category of ‘scarce escape’ compared to the normal, run of the mill, fence-hopping wildfowl we are used to seeing locally.

A Garganey, the credentials of which were never in dispute, was also at Stanwick GP on 12th-13th as was last week’s eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard while a Goldeneye was found at Pitsford Res on the first of these two dates and remained until 15th.

An early autumn Bittern put in a brief appearance on the edge of the reeds on the scrape at Summer Leys LNR on 13th and was also seen there again on 16th.

Up to two Marsh Harriers frequented Harrington AF between 11th and 16th, while, on 15th, two were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and one flew west over Weedon on 16th. Single Ospreys were seen daily at Blueberry Farm between 10th and 13th and one was at Pitsford Res on 14th-15th and the only Peregrine of the week was a juvenile at Stanwick GP on 10th.

Two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers were at at Summer Leys until at least 11th with a juvenile Ringed Plover there on the same date and again on 16th. Two more Little Ringeds and a Dunlin were at Stanwick GP on 14th, another Dunlin visited Summer Leys on 16th and two juvenile Curlew Sandpipers were reported from Stanwick GP on 13th, where there was also a Ruff on the same, and the following, date with two at Daventry CP on 16th. Larger waders included eleven Black-tailed Godwits at Stanwick GP on 12th, a Whimbrel there on the following day and a Curlew in flight over Harrington AF on 16th. Common Sandpipers were recorded from Summer Leys, Bozeat GP, Ditchford GP, Earls Barton GP, Stanwick GP, Pitsford Res and Sywell CP with no more than two at any one location, while Green Sandpipers were found at Bozeat GP, Ditchford GP, Stanwick GP and Daventry CP with a maximum of five at the latter site on 16th. The only Greenshanks recorded this week were up to three at Summer Leys, two at adjacent Earls Barton GP on 11th and two at Stanwick GP on 14th.

Yellow-legged Gulls numbers remained high at Stanwick GP throughout the week with a maximum of forty-four – a new record high count for Northants – on 10th and one also visited Daventry CP on 16th, the same site also hosting a juvenile Mediterranean Gull on 13th.

Harrington Airfield produced single Common Redstarts on 11th, 12th, and 16th and another was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton on the latter date while two Whinchats were at the former locality on 11th and up to six remained at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell all week. The autumn’s first Northern Wheatears were found at Byfield on 14th and at Cransley Res two days later and a Tree Pipit – now a scarce migrant in Northants – flew over Harrington AF on 12th.  Migrant Crossbills continued to be seen, with two singles flying south-west over Harrington AF on 10th, three flying east over Stanwick GP on 13th and two again over Harrington AF on 15th.

After a prolonged period of summer heat, temperatures returned to near normal this week in an almost continuous south-westerly airstream, which also brought heavy rain on 5th. Autumn migration began to gather pace.

The eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard remained at Stanwick GP until at least 8th as did the Great White Egret at Clifford Hill GP, with another reported at Pitsford Res on 6th and 7th. A juvenile Marsh Harrier appeared in at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 5th and may well have been the same individual seen at Harrington AF on 8th and 9th but the only other raptor of note was an Osprey at Welford Res on 7th. 

Up to four Little Ringed Plovers remained at Summer Leys LNR until at least 7th, while four Dunlin – the only record this week – visited Clifford Hill GP on 3rd and a juvenile Ruff appeared at Summer Leys on 6th. The only Black-tailed Godwit this week was one at Stanwick GP on 8th, while Common Sandpipers were recorded from the latter locality, Summer Leys and Pitsford Res and single Green Sandpipers visited Pitsford Res and Summer Leys on 6th and two were at Daventry CP the following day. Up to five Greenshanks lingered at Summer Leys between 3rd and 7th, one was at Clifford Hill on 6th with seven there on 8th and three visited Stanwick GP on the same date, while the first Turnstone of the autumn was mobile around the yacht club at Pitsford Res on 9th.

Good numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls remained at Stanwick GP throughout the week with maxima of thirty plus on 5th and seventeen there on 8th; elsewhere single adults

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, Stanwick GP, 4th August 2013 (Mike Alibone). A typical individual with a ghosted Mediterranean Gull-like eye-mask and a clean white belly. 

Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Stanwick GP, 4th August 2013 (Mike Alibone) 

were at Pitsford Res on 3rd, 4th, 8th and 9th with six there in the gull roost on 7th and two at Clifford Hill GP on the same date. An adult Mediterranean Gull was also at Stanwick GP on 5th and a second-summer visited Daventry CP on 7th. Single Common Redstarts were found at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 3rd and at Harrington AF on 8th and also Whinchats visited both these localities with, at the former locality, four on 7th and 3 on 9th and two at the latter on 8th when two were also found in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.  Two Crossbills were near the entrance to Harlestone Heath on 6th and two flew north-west over Harrington AF the following day.

Temperatures remained relatively high and heavy showers hit the County on 27th and 29th, causing water levels to rise slightly at local bodies of water. With migration now well under way, a number of interesting visitors were discovered as the week progressed.

Last week’s eclipse drake Mandarin Duck was still at Ravensthorpe Res on 29th and single summering drake Wigeon remained at nearby Hollowell Res and at Clifford Hill GP on the same date with four at Summer Leys LNR on 28th.  The eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard remained at Stanwick GP also until 29th and a Goldeneye was found at Pitsford Res the following day.

In what has turned out to be a very poor summer for Quail one – the second only this year – was singing near Ashton Wold on 27th. By contrast, however, in a good year for Great White Egrets, one was found at Clifford Hill GP on 27th and remained there all week, frequenting the grassy peninsular at the western end of the main barrage lake.

Another ‘Black Kite’ was reported, this time drifting over the A14 near Cranford St John on 28th and the only other notable raptors were an Osprey in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton on 29th and a Peregrine at Summer Leys on 28th.

Little Ringed Plovers were recorded at Summer Leys, where up to four remained all week, while four Dunlin were also at Summer Leys on 27th with singles there on 30th and 2nd, one was at Pitsford Res on 28th and six at Clifford Hill GP on 31st. Summer Leys produced the only Black-tailed Godwits of the week with nine on 27th-28th and five on 2nd, a Whimbrel went through at Stanwick GP on 30th, while Common Sandpipers were recorded from Clifford Hill GP, Stanwick GP, Summer Leys, Hollowell Res and Pitsford Res, with a maximum of three or four at the latter site on 30th and four at Summer Leys the following day. In contrast to last week, only two Green Sandpipers were found, with singles at Summer Leys and Stanwick GP on 31st and one again at Summer Leys on 2nd and a single Greenshank remained at Summer Leys from 30th until the week’s end, the same locality producing the autumn’s first Wood Sandpipers with up to two there intermittently between 29th and 2nd.

The late summer build-up of Yellow-legged Gulls continued with daily records from Stanwick GP, where there was a maximum of thirty-five on 30th, one was at Clifford Hill GP and four or five were at Pitsford Res on the same date with one there the following day. An adult Caspian Gull also visited Stanwick GP on 30th and the same site hosted an adult and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull on 29th, the juvenile remaining until 1st.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Stanwick GP, 1st August 2013 (Mike Alibone). Click on the cogwheel and select 720p to view in HD.

Passerine migrants were in short supply this week with just a Common Redstart along the old railway line at Summer Leys on 31st, a Whinchat at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 2nd and two small parties of Crossbills totalling at least nine individuals flying south-west over Pitsford Res on 27th with four more over Bucknell Wood on 1st.