Month: March 2016

The period kicked off with chilly north-easterlies but became milder after the first three days as warmer weather systems pushed in from the Atlantic. More summer visitors appeared as migration visibly ramped up over the seven days.

A Pink-footed Goose visited Summer Leys LNR briefly early on 25th, the Clifford Hill GP Barnacle Goose remained on station all week, as did Pitsford Reservoir’s Ruddy Shelduck, while the female Pintail was still at Stanwick GP on 21st. The year’s first Garganey arrived fleetingly in the form of a dapper drake at Summer Leys LNR on 20th,

quickly followed by three more (two of which were also drakes) at adjacent Earls Barton GP on 24th, at least one of which remained until the following day. Sywell CP produced a drake Red-crested Pochard on 20th, which was joined by a female there on 24th and another drake on 25th, while the Summer Leys Scaup was also still in residence on the main lake there on 24th.

A flock of eleven Common Scoters dropped into Pitsford Res early in the afternoon on 19th, remaining there into the early evening but they were nowhere to be seen the following morning. A drake Common Scoter found at Daventry CP during the morning of 23rd was seen to depart high to the north-west in the early evening.

Two out of last week’s three Nene valley Bitterns remained this week, with one at Summer Leys on 21st-22nd, while the Stanwick individual was seen to come into roost in the reedbed there just before dusk on 24th. Not to be outdone, Great White Egrets were still in evidence with the Thrapston GP bird making a reappearance on 20th and two returning to Summer Leys on 24th.

This week’s raptors included a male Marsh Harrier – the first since the almost wintering bird at Summer Leys – at Stanwick GP on 23rd with the latter site also producing a male Merlin on 20th. Other than that, the usual Peregrines were at large at Blueberry Farm (Maidwell), Earls Barton GP/Summer Leys, Harrington AF, near Holcot, Northampton, Stanwick GP and Thrapston GP.

Continuing last week’s build-up, wader numbers again rose. Golden Plovers were logged at five sites with a maximum of between two hundred and fifty and three hundred between Scaldwell and Brixworth on 24th – the same date that the first Little Ringed Plovers appeared at Stanwick GP and at another breeding site in central Northants. Stanwick GP also produced a Curlew on 21st, four more on 23rd and a Black-tailed Godwit on 22nd with two there the following day. Ten Black-tailed Godwits spent the day at Summer Leys on 20th with one remaining there until 22nd and another was present on 25th.

Although both Pitsford Res and Stanwick produced five Dunlins on 19th, and the same number was reported from Ditchford GP the following day, it was Stanwick which delivered the highest count of fifteen on 20th, with one remaining until 24th. The only Green Sandpipers this week were singles at Pitsford Res on 19th and by the River Nene at Upton Way (Northampton) on 25th, while eight Redshanks were at Stanwick GP from 19th to 22nd and six were counted at Summer Leys on 20th. This week’s Jack Snipe included four at Boddington Res on 22nd and two at Hollowell Res the following day, while Common Snipe were reported from Brixworth, Hollowell Res, Stanford Res, Stanwick GP Summer Leys but the maximum count consisted of approximately forty at Boddington Res on 22nd.

Scarce gulls were clearly on the menu this week with a first-winter Mediterranean Gull at Stanwick on 19th and an adult at Pitsford the same day, a second-summer at Summer Leys on 20th-21st and single first-winters at Boddington on 22nd and Daventry CP on 24th. The only Yellow-legged Gull reported this week was a first-winter at Daventry CP on 23rd-24th. On 21st an adult Caspian Gull visited Stanwick GP, which also played host again to the visiting adult Iceland Gull which flew east over the A45 Lay-by Pit there the same day. Arguably for some, though, bird of the week was an adult Kumlien’s Gull which spent twenty minutes bathing at Daventry CP during the early afternoon of 24th before flying off south. This would be only the second county record of this highly variable race of Iceland Gull and, despite searching for the remainder of the day, it was not relocated.

On 19th a ‘new’ Short-eared Owl was discovered at Harrington AF and the two from last week remained at Blueberry Farm until 20th. Anyone who though last week’s Woodford Starling murmuration was spectacular might be interested to know that another – estimated to number one hundred thousand birds – has built this week near Ford at Daventry. Does anyone have any images? After the first on 13th March, more Sand Martins arrived this week with one at Stanwick and two at Pitsford on 22nd and fourteen at Daventry CP and twenty-one at Pitsford on 24th. Swallows, too, made an appearance with one at Clifford Hill GP on 22nd preceding an arrival on 24th of singles at Daventry CP, Ditchford GP and Stanwick GP with two at Pitsford on the same date. And the first Northern Wheatear – a male – arrived at Clifford Hill GP on 25th. The only Stonechats appearing to remain this week were two at Sywell CP on 22nd but the at times very confiding Pitsford Res Rock Pipit, first discovered on the dam on 18th, took centre-stage, sparking a mini-twitch of local admirers on 19th-20th before last being seen on 23rd.

Another was also at Hollowell Res on the latter date and the first spring White Wagtail was located – again at Pitsford – on 19th. Wintering Bramblings continued their presence in gardens in Thornby until 21st, Hanging Houghton, where there were four on 21st-22nd and at Warmington, where up to seven remained all week.  The East Hunsbury (Northampton) Mealy Redpoll continued to visit garden feeders there until at least 24th and, additionally, one was at Stanford Res on 19th and three at Yelvertoft on 20th, while four Crossbills were seen at Kelmarsh on 22nd.

Lingering foggy beginnings to the first two days of the period and cool east to north-east winds were not enough to deter the first real summer visitors of the year, with Osprey and Sand Martin logged heading north along with a supporting cast of ‘new in’ singing Chiffchaffs. Passerine migration was also clearly underway, being most evident in the form of substantial flocks of northbound winter thrushes and a scattering of migrant waders at local wetland hotspots.

The lone Barnacle Goose was still at Clifford Hill GP this week and, on 18th, ten Dark-bellied Brent Geese were found north of the causeway at Pitsford Res before they relocated to an area off the dam later in the day.

Also in the vicinity the Ruddy Shelduck remained all week and two drake Smews were in Moulton Grange Bay there on 13th. At Summer Leys LNR the drake Chiloe Wigeon x Eurasian Wigeon hybrid reappeared on 14th before promptly disappearing again, while a female Pintail was at Stanwick GP on 14th-16th and the female Scaup remained throughout at Summer Leys.

Three localities produced Bitterns this week, which included the rarely encountered individuals at Summer Leys on 13th and Stanwick on 18th plus a new bird at Stortons GP on 16th. The first of these two sites was the only one to produce Great White Egrets with two there on 12th-13th – both flying over nearby Little Irchester on the first of these two dates – and one on 14th-15th.

The first summer visitor appeared in the shape of an Osprey, which was seen flying toward Hollowell Res on 12th, while Peregrines were at Blueberry Farm (Maidwell), Daventry CP, Higham Ferrers, Northampton, Stortons GP and Summer Leys. No other raptors were reported during the period.

Wader numbers ramped up this week. Sixteen Golden Plovers were near Scaldwell on 12th, three hundred and fifty were at Bozenham Mill on 15th, six flew over Blueberry Farm the following day and twenty were at Pineham Industrial Estate (Northampton) on 18th, the same day that two Ringed Plovers visited Clifford Hill GP. Four Curlews included singles at Pitsford Res on 12th, Thrapston GP on 13th, Bozenham Mill on 15th and over the A5 near DIRFT on 17th, while a Ruff was found on floodwater near Braunston on 17th and four more visited Stanwick the following day. But it was Dunlin which made an impact this week with Summer Leys producing one on 14th followed by three on 16th-17th, singles at Stanwick on 14th, 15th and 18th with four there on 16th, four over Boddington Res on 15th and four more through there on 18th, one at Daventry CP on 16th and eleven at Clifford Hill GP on 18th. A Green Sandpiper was discovered on a newly excavated pool at Haselbech on 12th, while the pool below the dam at Pitsford hosted another on 18th, two Redshanks were at Earls Barton GP on 13th with three at Summer Leys the following day, Stanwick GP held up to nine between 14th and 18th and one visited Daventry CP on 16th. At Stanford Res a Jack Snipe was found on 12th and another was discovered at Boddington Res on 15th, while Common Snipe numbered seven at Stanford Res and five at Blueberry Farm on 12th, fifteen were at Pineham and fifty-five at Boddington Res on 15th and eighteen at Pitsford Res on 16th.

Another Kittiwake arrived this week – an adult spent the early part of the afternoon of 12th on the main lake at Summer Leys before flying off west, while an adult

Mediterranean Gull was found at Fawsley Park on 12th, before relocating to a field at nearby Preston Capes later in the day; staying in the west of the county, a first-winter visited Daventry CP on 16th. A first-winter Caspian Gull visited Stanford Res on 12th while, back at Stanwick, a third-winter on 15th was joined by a second-winter the next day when an adult Iceland Gull also dropped in to roost there on 16th.

After a winter with below average records, two Short-eared Owls were found at Blueberry Farm on 16th, remaining until 18th, while the first spring Sand Martin appeared at Earls Barton GP on 13th and Chiffchaffs – several of them in song – were at six localities during the period. Two Central European Blackcaps continued to visit a garden in Barton Seagrave and one was in a Duston (Northampton) garden throughout the

week but it was from the back gardens of the village of Woodford that observers were able to witness a spectacular Starling murmuration said to number ‘thousands’ of birds, with the ‘cloud’ reported to be visible from a distance of 2 miles.

A Stonechat was at Bozenham Mill on 14th, twos were in Brampton Valley and Sywell CP the following day and up to four were still at Blueberry Farm on 16th-17th.  Further evidence that spring migration was under way came in the form of three Rock Pipits, which included singles at Pitsford Res on 16th and 18th and one at Hollowell Res on the

second of these two dates. Wintering Bramblings hung on, though, with singles in gardens at Thornby on 12th and 17th, Scaldwell and Pitsford Res on 12th, up to two in

Hanging Houghton between 14th and 18th and six in Warmington all week, while the East Hunsbury (Northampton) Mealy Redpoll continued to visit garden feeders there until at least 17th.

The early part of the week saw a northerly airstream, which depressed temperatures somewhat, resulting in overnight frosts for the first two days. This subsequently gave way to a rain-laden Atlantic low moving east across the country on 9th, delivering persistent heavy rain throughout the day, which ultimately resulted in significant flooding along the entire River Nene Valley. Despite parts of it resembling scenes from the Ouse Washes, the birds were unfortunately not there to match. Clifford Hill Gravel Pits lived up to its more recent moniker of Northampton Washlands, with the main barrage lake there disappearing entirely under water, while Hardwater Crossing along the access road to Summer Leys main car park was closed on 11th.

Showing no signs of returning to wherever it originated, the Ruddy Shelduck remained at Pitsford Res until at least 8th, as did the two Smew at Stanwick GP, while the female Scaup at Summer Leys LNR stuck it out for the duration.

At Stanwick the Bittern was seen only in flight again on 5th and 7th, while the Summer Leys individual – after posing nicely for photographers last week – put in a single brief appearance again on 6th. Two Great White Egrets were at the latter locality on 5th with just one remaining on 6th and 11th and one was still at Thrapston GP until 6th – the low number of records indicating that our small, local wintering population is now on the move.

There no raptors of note other than Peregrines, singles of which were at Northampton on 5th, 7th and 8th, Broughton on 6th and Summer Leys on 11th but the appearance of some ‘new’ waders provided further evidence of spring migration. Up to five Golden Plovers were at Harrington AF on 5th and 9th with fifty counted there on 10th, while four Ringed Plovers flew north over Stanwick GP on 9th. Two Curlews flew south over Walgrave on 10th, two were on floodwater in the River Tove Valley near Grafton Regis the following day and two Dunlin visited the flooded Clifford Hill GP also on 10th.

Pitsford’s Green Sandpiper, on the pool below the dam, remained until at least 8th and, on 5th, five Redshanks were at Stanwick GP and two at Summer Leys, eight were at Stanwick again on 11th, with four Common Snipe at Upton on 9th representing the sole record of this species during the period.

Right on cue more Kittiwakes arrived in what is indisputably the peak month for this species locally. Five – all adults – included singles at Stanwick GP on 6th and in the gull roost at Pitsford Res on 8th followed by three again at the latter site the following evening. The same gull roost contained a first-winter Mediterranean Gull on 8th and a near-adult Caspian Gull was there again on 5th, the same date a first-winter visited Stanwick GP, followed by two third-winters on 7th-8th. Another Mediterranean Gull – an adult – was in the Boddington Res gull roost on 11th.

On 5th, a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull was at Pitsford Res and a second-winter visited Stanwick GP, while some interesting news relating to the red-ringed (G1NT) adult Glaucous Gull which had been visiting Stanwick until 2nd was received this week: it was seen at Sandbach Flashes in Cheshire on 8th and 10th, clearly on its way back up north.

And staying with Stanwick … the Firecrest was still in the willow scrub by the A45 Lay-by Pit hide on 8th, up to three Central European Blackcaps were visiting a garden in Barton Seagrave until 6th, a female was still in a Duston (Northampton) garden all week and a Siberian Chiffchaff was found by the River Nene at Earls Barton GP on 5th, although it appeared to have moved on by the next day.

Single Stonechats were at Summer Leys between 5th and 7th and at Fawsley Park on 6th, while two were at Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) and four near Grendon on 7th.

Brambling numbers included just one in a Hanging Houghton garden on 5th, eight still in Warmington and one or two in gardens in Oundle throughout the week while, after an apparent ten-day absence, the East Hunsbury (Northampton) Mealy Redpoll reappeared on garden feeders on 5th and again on 11th.

The week in which meteorological spring fell commenced with cold easterlies but remained largely dry and partly sunny, with light snow showers on the final day. While no true summer visitors have yet arrived, a number of species have returned to breeding territories in some parts of the county.

Four Bewick’s Swans flew north over Pitsford Res on 4th and a Pink-footed Goose at Clifford Hill GP on 3rd may have been a new bird but was more likely to have been the same individual from late January, which also visited Summer Leys on 14th February. The Ruddy Shelduck remained at Pitsford Res all week, as did the female Scaup at Summer Leys LNR, while a drake Smew was still at Ravensthorpe Res on 28th and up to three remained at Stanwick GP throughout the period.

A Bittern was found at Summer Leys on 28th, remaining until at least 3rd and occasionally showing well from Pioneer Hide. Another was seen in flight over the reedbed at Stanwick GP on 1st.

The two Great White Egrets continued to be reported at Thrapston GP until 27th, two were still at Ditchford GP on 28th and, after three weeks’ absence from Ravensthorpe Res, one was back again on 1st-3rd, while the long-staying Summer Leys individual remained there throughout. New for the week – and seemingly a one-day wonder – was a Black-necked Grebe on the main barrage lake at Clifford Hill GP on 28th.

A Merlin was at Pineham, Northampton on 2nd-3rd but the only other raptors of note were Peregrines at Higham Ferrers on 27th-28th and 2nd-3rd, Grafton Regis and Boddington Res on 29th, Stanwick GP on 2nd, Stortons GP and Daventry CP on 3rd and Summer Leys and Hollowell Res on 4th, while two adults at Boddington Res on 3rd were seen at nearby Woodford Halse, where they were joined by an immature on the same date.

The only Golden Plovers reported this week were fifty between Scaldwell and Brixworth on 4th, the same date on which a pair of Ringed Plovers returned to the only site where breeding was proven last year. Two Redshanks continued to be reported at Summer Leys until 27th while the only Green Sandpiper was the one on the pool below the dam at Pitsford Res, which remained until at least 2nd, and the only Common Snipe were just one at Harrington AF on 2nd and seven at Hollowell Res on 4th.

An adult Kittiwake arrived in the Boddington Res gull roost late in the afternoon of 2nd but was quickly harassed by Common Gulls, resulting in its apparent departure to the north at dusk. The same gull roost produced a run of Mediterranean Gulls with an adult and a first-winter there on 29th, a different adult and a first-winter on 1st, two first-winters on 2nd and one first-winter on 3rd-4th. In fact, it wasn’t a bad week for gulls at all with the Pitsford Res roost producing a near-adult Caspian Gull on 27th and a second-winter there the following evening, while an adult and a first-winter were at Stanwick GP on 28th and 3rd, an adult there on 29th and a first-winter on 4th.

The latter site also delivered a juvenile Iceland Gull on 3rd and the adult Glaucous Gull again on 2nd, while a juvenile Glaucous was discovered in the roost at Pitsford on 27th. Two Yellow-legged Gulls – an adult and a first-winter – were at Hollowell Res on 4th.

After a notable absence the Stanwick GP Firecrest was again in the willow scrub by the A45 Lay-by Pit hide on 2nd, a male Central European Blackcap visited a garden in East Hunsbury (Northampton) on 27th and a female was in a Duston garden throughout, and the Summer Leys Stonechat remained there all week, three were at Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) on 28th and two at Hollowell Res on 4th. Two Bramblings were in a Hanging Houghton garden on 27th with one there on 2nd and 4th, one was in a Scaldwell garden on 29th, one at Sywell CP on 4th and up to six continued to visit feeders in Warmington all week.