Warm and dry with variable light winds gave way to south-westerlies and rain at the very end of the period. A largely quiet week, it was marked only by the appearance of more southerly-heading passage waders.
Last week’s two Ruddy Shelducks at Pitsford Res had commenced body moult and the male, at least, had become flightless as a result. Clearly they will be there for the foreseeable future.
An early (or more likely mobile, summering) Wigeon was at Stanwick GP on 1st, along with last week’s female Garganey all week and the same site hosted up to eight Little Ringed Plovers while up to six, including young, were present at Summer Leys LNR. Black-tailed Godwits made their autumn debut this week with one at Pitsford Res, and seven dropping in briefly at Summer Leys, on 29th, followed by three at the latter site the following day and five at Stanwick GP on 1st. Those at Summer Leys were of the race islandica and it is more than likely the others were also Icelandic in origin. A maximum of seven Green Sandpipers was also recorded at Stanwick GP on three dates and one remained at Summer Leys from 28th to 30th, while both localities notched up a single Common Sandpiper. The number of Yellow-legged Gulls at Stanwick GP climbed to nine – up four onlast week’s total, a male Black Redstart was near Rocking ham Speedway (Corby) on 1st, the singing male Grasshopper Warbler remained at Fermyn Wood CP on 29th – the same site hosting two Crossbills on 3rd, while another Crossbill was at Denton Wood on 30th.
Northants birds 