Month: October 2014

This week’s weather was again dominated by Atlantic low pressure systems – initially delivering a warm, southerly airstream with temperatures up to 20°C – before the winds turned strong north-westerly on 20th-21st as the tail-end of ex-Hurricane Gonzalo hit the UK, resulting in the strongest gales of the autumn so far. Surprisingly, there were fewer inland seabirds than were recorded during last week’s north-easterly blow and, not surprisingly, Northants received none.

Forget the usual escapes and ferals – a Pink-footed Goose at Stanford Res on 19th was surely ‘real’ while the two Ruddy Shelducks remained at Pitsford Res until at least 22nd, the same site hosting thirteen Pintails and the now regular flock of Red-crested Pochards, which reached a record twenty-seven on 22nd. Two drakes of the latter species were at Stanford Res on 18th – the same date a Garganey was found at Pitsford Res, while another ‘new’ Garganey was at Ravensthorpe Res two days later. The first Goosander of the winter, a drake, appeared at Daventry CP on 22nd.

It appears last week’s Gannet at Pitsford Res on 14th was not alone as belated news emerged of another flying over Rushden, late in the afternoon, on the same date. At least two Great White Egrets remained at Pitsford Res and one visited Summer Leys LNR briefly on 19th, while a Bittern was found at Ditchford GP on 18th and two were seen flying into the reedbed at Stanwick GP on 24th. Just one Black-necked Grebe remained on Thrapston GP’s Town Lake by 18th and Peregrines were at Stanford Res on 18th, Hollowell Res on 20th, Higham Ferrers on 21st and Lamport on 23rd.

The maximum number of Golden Plovers this week was two hundred and ninety-five at Daventry CP on 24th and, for the second week running, a Grey Plover was seen in the Nene Valley – this time at Clifford Hill GP on 18th. The only Dunlin this week was one at Pitsford Res on 22nd and this appears to be the last date on which the well-photographed, celebrity Grey Phalarope was reported there, becoming ludicrously approachable toward the end of its stay.

Three late Common Sandpipers were found: one at Stanford Res on 18th, one at Stanwick GP on 20th-21st and one at Pitsford Res on 22nd, while a single Green Sandpiper was found at Ditchford GP on 18th and other site maxima for this species included three at Pitsford Res on 22nd and five at Ravensthorpe Res on 20th. The latter site continued to host a Greenshank until at least 23rd and Common Snipe were reported from this locality as well as at Barnes Meadow, Brixworth STW, Ditchford GP and Pitsford Res, where there was a maximum of thirty-eight present on 22nd. A Jack Snipe was also found at Barnes Meadow on 19th.

Up to three adult Yellow-legged Gulls were at Pitsford Res during the period, with singles at Hollowell Res, Ravensthorpe Res and Stanwick GP, with the latter site hosting an apparent adult showing characteristics of the race atlantis, colloquially known as ‘Azorean Gull’, for little more than twenty minutes during the late afternoon of 20th. This is the second or third occurrence of this race in the county, following one – possibly two different individuals – at the same site on six dates during September/October 2013.

Blueberry Farm’s Short-eared Owl remained all week, showing frequently in the southernmost field of the complex, and another was at Harrington AF on 18th-19th. October is a strong passage month for Shorties so it’s too early to predict if it’s going to be a good winter for this species. Barely a week goes by these days without a report of a flyover Ring-necked Parakeet and this one is no exception with one flying over Weston Favell, Northampton on 19th, while it appears that the previous week’s Swallows were not the last after all as one was at Pitsford Res, also on 19th. Similarly, the Willow Warbler trapped and ringed at Stanford Res on 15th made it on to this week’s list, being retrapped there on 18th, along with an equally late Reed Warbler on site. A Ring Ouzel appeared at Harrington AF on 24th – now almost to be expected in late October at this site – and up to two Stonechats were present here and at Pitsford Res, Blueberry Farm and Ditchford GP with three still at Hollowell Res on 23rd. Single Northern Wheatears hung on at Pitsford Res, Harrington AF and in the Brampton Valley between 18th and

20th; surely they are the last ones this year … and a Water Pipit was back at this species’ traditional wintering site of Ditchford GP on 18th – or it may just have been a migrant. A handful of Bramblings were seen in the Brampton Valley and at Harrington AF between 20th and 24th, while Harrington hosted a latter-day local scarcity – a Corn Bunting – on the last of these two dates.

Atlantic low pressure systems shaped the weather for the week, a particularly deep low crossing the UK on 13th, bringing with it strong north-easterly winds and rain and displaced seabirds inland in several counties. Northamptonshire’s share was, as usual, meagre compared to neighbouring counties, nevertheless this was arguably the most exciting week of autumn so far.

Aside from the lingering escapes and ferals – specifically Cackling Goose still at Stanford Res on 11th, the two Barnacle Geese still at Hollowell Res all week and the female Wood Duck coming out of the woodwork (where else) on the River Nene in downtown Northampton on 14th, the number of wildfowl remained unremarkable. On 15th-17th the two Ruddy Shelducks were again at Pitsford Res, where sixteen Pintails were counted on 11th and 25 Red-crested Pochards were present the following day. The count for the last species also reached double figures at Stanford Res with ten (eight drakes) on 11th.

An immature Gannet at Pitsford Res on 14th was the chief prize delivered by the previous day’s low pressure system, although it remained on site for little more than one hour after its discovery.

The same locality collected yet another Great White Egret – a colour-ringed individual from France – bringing the total there to three from 11th to at least 15th, with singles still at Thrapston GP on 12th and Summer Leys LNR on 14th. Following the two Black-necked Grebes at Pitsford Res last week, two, perhaps the same, were discovered at Thrapston GP on 11th and remained all week.

An immature Merlin flew over Boddington Res on 16th, two Peregrines were at Rushden on 11th and 13th and singles were seen at Polebrook AF on 12th, over Northampton on 14th and at Hollowell Res on 17th.

Passage waders enjoyed a resurgence this week. Single Golden Plovers appeared at Stanford Res on 11th and Boddington Res on 14th with ten over Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 12th and 2 at Hollowell Res on 13th, although two hundred at Harrington AF on 11th are presumably set to winter in the area. A Grey Plover visited Thrapston GP on 14th and a Dunlin appeared at Summer Leys LNR on 12th and 13th, with two more visiting Hollowell Res on the second of these two dates. Hollowell also produced a Little Stint on 14th as well as the first of this week’s storm-driven Grey Phalaropes briefly on 13th, which was quickly followed by two more equally briefly at Pitsford Res the following day. One of these – or perhaps a different individual – was relocated at the southern end there on 15th. A dapper first-winter, it initially showed well and remained until the week’s end, becoming increasingly elusive during its stay.

Late Common Sandpipers visited Stanford Res on 11th and Boddington Res on 16th, with 2 there on 17th, while a single Green Sandpiper remained at Pitsford Res to 17th and four were at Ravensthorpe Res on the same date. Spotted Redshanks continue to remain scarce migrants in Northants and the one which visited Sywell CP for minutes on 14th didn’t do anything to reverse its current status while, on the following day, a Redshank and two Greenshanks visited Pitsford Res and another Greenshank was at Ravensthorpe Res from 15th until 17th.    A Woodcock – perhaps the first of the many continental migrants – was at Harrington AF on 15th and single Common Snipe were at Stanford Res on 11th and Boddington Res on 16th with twelve at the latter site on 17th.

Lone, straggler terns are often encountered inland in late autumn so a juvenile Arctic Tern at Thrapston GP on 12th was not unusual so neither was the juvenile Common Tern seen there over the following two days … More unusual – although not entirely unexpected – was one of the largest flocks of Kittiwakes in the county for many years, in the wet and windy conditions at Pitsford Res on the evening of 13th; another visited Summer Leys LNR during the afternoon on the same date. Thrapston GP produced a juvenile Little Gull, an adult Mediterranean Gull and a second-winter Caspian Gull the following day, at which time a first-winter Mediterranean Gull was at Pitsford Res. The usual single, lingering adult Yellow-legged Gulls remained at Pitsford Res, Hollowell Res and Ravensthorpe Res and one visited Boddington Res on 17th, although three adults were present at the first of these four sites on 14th.

Site-faithful Short-eared Owls returned to Blueberry Farm, Maidwell from 10th with two there on 12th and singles on 14th and 16th, the southernmost set-aside fields having consistently held varying numbers of this species in recent winters. For the second year running, an October Hoopoe was found in Northants, this time visiting a garden near Towcester Racecourse only briefly on 13th. While two Ring-necked Parakeets were seen flying over Eastfield, Northampton on 14th, late news emerged of a ‘colony’ consisting of three nest-holes in trees at a locality in south Northants. This species is still on the up in the UK but numbers recorded in the county remain low. Potentially the last Swallows, three at Pitsford Res on 15th, and the last House Martin, one at Polebrook AF on 12th, were recorded this week and a late Willow Warbler was trapped and ringed at Stanford Res on 15th. Among the many northern thrushes coming through during the week – five hundred Redwings being notable at Thrapston GP on 14th – a juvenile Ring Ouzel was found at Blueberry Farm on 12th and the first Fieldfares, approximately sixty, were seen nearby in the Brampton Valley the following day. The same area hosted four Stonechats throughout the week, while the same number was at Thrapston GP on 16th, up to six remained at Hollowell Res on 15th and two were still at Harrington AF on 12th.

Perhaps the year’s last Northern Wheatears visited Harrington AF on 11th and Pitsford Res on 15th-17th and up to two Rock Pipits were at Hollowell Res on 13th-14th, with singles at Thrapston GP on 14th and Pitsford Res on 14th-15th and again on 17th.

Finally, Bramblings moved in: two or three at Blueberry Farm on 11th, six at Thrapston GP on 14th and singles at Harrington AF and Hanging Houghton on 15th and 17th and at Castle Ashby Lakes and Pitsford Res on 16th. Winter is here … nearly.

A succession of Atlantic lows introduced intermittent periods of rain on predominantly south-westerly winds, which brought temperatures back in line with the average for the time of year.

A Cackling Goose – undoubtedly an escape – was found at Stanford Res on 5th and the two Barnacle Geese were still at Hollowell Res on 10th, while the number of Pintails at Pitsford Res had jumped to twelve by 5th. The same site continued to host a juvenile Garganey by the dam until at least 6th, while Ravensthorpe Res similarly held on to its long-staying juvenile until at least 7th.

Meanwhile, back at Pitsford, the lingering Red-crested Pochard flock had risen by three to sixteen on 5th and five drakes, plus a female hybrid, were at Stanford Res on the same date.

Great White Egrets came to the fore this week with the Summer Leys/Earls Barton GP individual remaining until at least 7th and new birds turning up at Pitsford Res on 5th, being joined there by another on 7th with both still present on 10th, while another was at Thrapston GP on 9th-10th. Two Black-necked Grebes appeared by the dam at Pitsford Res on 9th but appeared to be absent the next day.

A female or immature Merlin visited Daventry CP on 10th, probably the last of the summer Hobbies were two at Thrapston GP on 4th and at least one adult Peregrine remained at a locality in the Nene Valley on the same date, otherwise the week was notable for its lack of raptor reports.

Dwindling passage waders included four Ringed Plovers at Pitsford Res on 6th and a single Golden Plover at Stanford Res on 5th while numbers at Harrington AF built further with approximately eighty there on the same date. Two Ruff were still at Pitsford Res on 4th and single Common Sandpipers visited Stanford Res and Stanwick GP on 5th, while the same date produced single Green Sandpipers at Pitsford Res (and again on 10th) and Stanford Res, followed by one at Daventry CP on 8th and 10th and two at Ravensthorpe Res on 8th with four there on 10th. A handful of Common Snipe included up to three at Summer Leys LNR and two at Ravensthorpe Res and Pitsford Res mid-week.

Yellow-legged Gull numbers were again low with just single, lingering adults at Pitsford Res, Hollowell Res and Ravensthorpe Res on 5th and 8th plus an adult and a first-winter at Daventry CP on the last of those two dates.

Passerines were poorly represented this week, the best being a late Reed Warbler trapped and ringed at Stortons GP on 5th, single Stonechats at Pitsford Res, Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) and Harrington AF on 5th and at least four at Hollowell Res until 8th

and one at Clifford Hill GP on 10th, while a Northern Wheatear visited Pitsford Res on6th and up to four Rock Pipits were at Hollowell Res between 6th and 10th and another at Ravensthorpe Res on the latter date and a White Wagtail was at Hollowell Res on 10th.

The dry weather persisted throughout the two weeks of this period, although the winds  became predominantly westerly and light. Some long-staying ‘favourites’ remained, wader passage predictably dwindled and a couple of scarce migrants made all too brief appearances in suburban gardens.

A Pink-footed Goose arrived from the north at Ravensthorpe Res and promptly joined the Greylag flock there on 25th, while the two Ruddy Shelducks at Pitsford Res were still present on 20th, although they were not reported again until 2nd. On site there the lingering flock of Red-crested Pochards remained at thirteen throughout, the leucistic drake was again at Clifford Hill GP on 21st and the eclipse drake was still at Stanford Res on 20th with three Pintail there on the same date. Up to two more Pintail were at Pitsford Res between 29th and 2nd and up to three Garganeys were on view at Summer Leys LNR between 20th and 28th, while one remained at Ravensthorpe Res until 25th and another was at Pitsford Res on the same date.

A Bittern visited Summer Leys briefly before heading west on 21st and the same site hosted a Great White Egret the following day, remaining there until 30th. In the west of the county, Daventry CP’s Red-necked Grebe was last seen on 23rd.

‘Cream-crown’ Marsh Harriers visited Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 22nd and Harrington AF two days later and Ospreys visited Pitsford Res on 21st and Thrapston GP on 26th, while male Merlins appeared at Harrington AF on 20th and Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 25th. Up to two adult Peregrines remained at a locality in the Nene Valley throughout the period, the regular adult female was seen at Blueberry Farm and Harrington AF on four dates and singles visited Summer Leys on 22nd and Hollowell Res on 25th.

Two Little Ringed Plovers were still at Clifford Hill GP on 21st with single Ringed Plovers there on 23rd and 26th and further singles at Summer Leys on 23rd and Pitsford Res on 25th, while Golden Plovers were recorded at there, as well as Brampton Valley and Harrington AF, with a maximum of approximately fifty at the latter site on 22nd. The only Black-tailed Godwit this week was one at Clifford Hill GP on 23rd, where there were also two Ruff on 21st and 25th. Another Ruff visited Earls Barton GP on 20th and two were present at Pitsford Res from 27th to 30th and two Dunlin were at Clifford Hill GP on 21st and 26th. Just one Common Sandpiper – at Daventry CP on 23rd – preserved this species’ status as a weekly reportee in these summaries, while single Green Sandpipers were seen at Stanford Res on 20th and Hollowell Res on 25th and three were present at both Daventry CP on 23rd and Ravensthorpe Res on 24th-25th. Seven reports of Common Snipe included singles at Pitsford Res on 20th and 30th with three there on 25th, six at Moulton Quarry on 22nd with four there on 2nd, four at Summer Leys on 22nd and three at Ravensthorpe Res on 25th. Yellow-legged Gull numbers dwindled to just two at Hollowell Res on 24th and 30th and three at Pitsford Res on 25th with one there on 2nd but no counts were received from the established ‘stronghold’ at Stanwick GP, which had hosted ninety on 18th September.

A Ring-necked Parakeet flying over Riverside, Northampton on 27th was unremarkable but a Wryneck photographed in a Rushden garden on the same date was a bit more on the money, as was a probable Yellow-browed Warbler, glimpsed in a Great Billing garden on 23rd! Potentially the two best birds of the month, they were not seen again after their initial sightings. The first autumn Redwings, four, flew over Harrington AF on 28th and, after the huge run of Common Redstarts this autumn, only two were seen during the period: one between Pitsford Res and Walgrave on 21st and the other trapped and ringed at Stanford Res the following day. Similarly, Whinchat numbers began to tail off with one at Clifford Hill GP on 21st, at least four at Blueberry Farm until 23rd and singles at Thrapston GP on 23rd and at Hollowell Res on 27th and 30th but it’s proving to be a good autumn for Stonechats with records of singles at Pitsford Res and Clifford Hill GP, up to two at Blueberry Farm and up to four at Hollowell Res until 30th.

Northern Wheatears continued to remain scarce, however, with two still at Harrington AF to 23rd and one at Blueberry Farm the following day while two White Wagtails visited Hollowell Res on 24th and a Rock Pipit visited the scrape at Summer Leys LNR on 3rd before being flushed by a Sparrowhawk, never to return …