June 2016 – Northants birds

On Tour: a Godwit with ‘Previous’

Posted on June 27, 2016May 10, 2020 by Mike Alibone

Barely is spring over and autumn wader passage has begun. June usually sees the first Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits moving south through the county and the group of three found by Kim Taylor at Summer Leys on Friday included one particularly interesting individual, images here by Adrian Borley.

Female and two male Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits, Summer Leys LNR, 24th June 2016 (Adrian Borley)

Interesting because it was colour-ringed and the combination of colours, along with the position of the rings, enabled some of this bird’s history to be traced and its movements to be revealed. It was, as they say in some quarters, a godwit with ‘previous.’

Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits, Summer Leys LNR, 24th June 2016 (Adrian Borley)

While I’m not a big fan of gaudy ‘bling’ (it looks so unnatural!), I have to acknowledge its use as a tool in providing valuable information which furthers our knowledge of a species and which can be particularly useful in, among other things, future conservation initiatives through the identification of key wintering and breeding areas.

This godwit, a male, was ringed in Hampshire on 5th September 2010. It has been well-travelled during the subsequent six years as the table below – kindly provided by the ringer, Pete Potts – clearly illustrates. Black-tailed Godwit, Summer Leys LNR, 24th June History Anyone lucky enough to find a colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit can check the colour combination against a detailed key to race, origin and ringing group which can be downloaded from here and observers are encouraged to contact the ringer with details of their observations.

Female Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit, Summer Leys LNR, 24th June 2016 (Adrian Borley)

Male Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit, Summer Leys LNR, 24th June 2016 (Adrian Borley)

Found in the morning and still present late afternoon, the godwit trio had departed by the next day. Had this male not been ringed it would have slipped by anonymously, giving no clue as to its age, travel history or possible destination.

Two Weeks in Focus, 11th to 24th June 2016

Posted on June 26, 2016 by Mike Alibone

The past two weeks have been influenced by weather systems from the Atlantic, with predominantly overcast conditions, heavy showers and thunderstorms accompanying hot air from Europe at the end of the period. Southbound waders at several localities were clear indications that ‘ornithological autumn’ was well underway.

Usually in the vicinity of the sailing club grounds, the injured Ruddy Shelduck was reported from Pitsford Res all week and a female Garganey was seen at Stanwick GP on 13th.

Ruddy Shelduck, Pitsford Res, 22nd June 2016 (John Nicholls)

As wildfowl numbers began to build at some of the larger bodies of water, ducks on the move included a drake Red-crested Pochard at Thrapston GP from 16th to 19th, one at Pitsford Res on 17th and two there on 21st, while a drake Goldeneye at Stanford Res earlier in the month was likely to have been the same individual present at Pitsford Res from 18th.

Red-crested Pochards, Pitsford Res 21st June 2016 (Jacob Spinks). The extensive and sharply defined white under tail coverts along with the pale occipital border of the female suggests hybridisation, as does the lack of any pink in the bill, although the latter may be a sign of immaturity. — Red-crested Pochards, Pitsford Res 21st June 2016 (Jacob Spinks). The extensive and sharply defined white under tail coverts and white throat along with the pale occipital border of the female suggests hybridisation, as does the lack of any pink in the bill, although the latter may be a sign of immaturity.

Red-crested Pochards, Pitsford Res 21st June 2016 (Jacob Spinks)

Just one Quail was reported during the period – a male singing in set-aside west of Everdon on the evenings of 21st and 22nd. Ospreys continued to be seen, with one over Borough Hill and two at Welford Res on 11th and singles at Hollowell Res on 19th, Pitsford Res on 22nd and over Welford on 23rd, while single Peregrines visited Clifford Hill GP on 11th, Summer Leys LNR on 20th and Thrapston GP the next day.

Already autumn has begun. Waders were noted moving south and, aside from two young Little Ringed Plovers at Summer Leys, a fully-fledged juvenile appeared at Stanwick GP on 13th and seven new arrivals were counted there on 24th. Stanwick also produced two Ringed Plovers on 13th when two – perhaps the same – also visited Summer Leys. Curlews made news this week. Aside from wandering individuals at Clifford Hill GP on 11th, Lilbourne on 14th and Stanford Res on 21st, a pair with three young was discovered at a new breeding site, which is good news for a species over which national concern has been highlighted this year. A Black-tailed Godwit paid a brief visit to Summer Leys on 13th and three more – one of them colour-ringed – were there on 24th. The colour-ringed individual was ringed at Farlington Marshes, Hampshire on 5th September 2010.

Common Sandpipers returned right on cue with one at Pitsford Res on 22nd, followed by two there the next day, a Green Sandpiper was at Stanwick GP on 21st and Greenshanks were earlier than normal with singles at Stanwick on 11th and Pitsford on 17th. Just one Redshank was seen at Stanwick on 24th.

For the gullers, the expected annual build up in numbers of Yellow-legged Gull got underway at Stanwick GP with an adult there on 13th, followed by a second-summer on 20th and six were present by 24th.

Yellow-legged Gull, Stanwick GP, 24th June 2016 (Steve Fisher)

Black Terns paid a surprise visit to Earls Barton GP on 11th when three were found on Mary’s Lake, while the dearth of Turtle Doves continues with up to two at Harrington sporadically between throughout the period and singles at Grafton Park Wood on 17th and Twywell Hills & Dales on 21st. A juvenile Siskin on a garden feeder at Orlingbury on 14th was unusual and is suggestive of a local origin.

The Week in Focus 4th to 10th June 2016

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Mike Alibone

A pretty mixed bag of weather conditions saw temperatures reaching the high twenties under a continental influence at the start of the week, sparking thunderstorms and heavy showers in some areas. Atlantic weather systems ensured a return to average temperatures by the week’s end as the winds took on a more westerly direction prior to the onset of more unsettled conditions.

The injured Ruddy Shelduck continued to be reported from Pitsford Res until 8th and another drake Garganey was discovered – this time on the scrape at Summer Leys LNR on 4th.

Drake Garganey, Summer Leys LNR, 4th June 2016 (Mike Alibone)

The same also date produced a Great White Egret in flight over Northampton, while a White Stork was watched circling above Old Corby village on 6th before heading off high north-west. The only raptors reported this week were three Ospreys – one west over Pitsford Res on 5th, another over Brampton Lane, Northampton the next day and one drifting over Guilsborough on 8th.

An ephemeral flame from the dying embers of spring – and the undoubted highlight of the week – was the rather smart female Red-necked Phalarope which was discovered at Stanwick GP on the evening of 4th, when it was present around the islands in the A45 Lay-by Pit. Sadly, it had departed by the next morning.

Female Red-necked Phalarope, Stanwick GP, 4th June 2016 (Bob Bullock)

Perhaps confusingly, however, we were dealt a taste of autumn when a Green Sandpiper appeared at Stanwick GP on 7th. This species normally returns toward the end of the month so the early appearance of this individual suggests a failed breeder.

Stumping up the cash part 2: the AW angle

Posted on June 9, 2016 by Mike Alibone

Stump2 I had a very interesting and enlightening meeting with Anglian Water at lunchtime today, part of the purpose of which was to discover the rationale behind their recent closure of the parking pull-ins on Pitsford causeway. The other part was to explore ways in which the decision might be reversed. Don’t hold your breath. It isn’t going to happen any time soon.

So let’s look at some facts. Pitsford causeway is part-owned by the local council and part-owned by AW. The council owns, maintains and is generally responsible for the road itself. AW owns, maintains and is generally responsible for the two pull-ins, the grass verges and of course, being part of the reservoir, the concrete slab structure over which the road runs.

AW told me there were two reasons for the closure. First and foremost, with the increased use of the pull-ins, AW had recently chalked up a number of ‘near misses’ relating to potential road collisions involving both pedestrians and cars pulling out. Secondly, the pull-ins have fallen into a poor state of repair, their surfaces having become uneven and pot-holed. AW obtained quotations to resurface the pull-ins and the cost was deemed prohibitive at approximately £20,000. So, if any incident takes place on AW’s property they are potentially liable.

OK, so it’s principally a safety issue and I get that. However, it’s like squeezing a bag of sealed air, the suppression of one risk gives rise to a new one popping up elsewhere to replace it. Now that both sides of the causeway are fully stumped off, there is nowhere for the police speed camera van to park up, so with its future absence, coupled with increased visibility for motorists (remember, no parked cars from behind which anyone can run out), it seems inevitable that motorists will ramp up the speed. This, I pointed out, is an added new danger for pedestrians crossing the causeway – even more so for those who have taken to parking their cars on the verge, just beyond where the stumps finish.

And therein lies another story. The causeway road is a clearway and it’s technically illegal to park on the verge, I’m informed by AW. They also told me the Brixworth police were already on to it and will place warning notices on windscreens of offenders, duly noting registration numbers so that repeat offenders will ultimately be issued with parking fines. So, if you don’t want to be nobbled by the local rozzers, don’t park on the verge.

I then floated the idea of AW approaching the council with a request that they install traffic-calming measures (road humps to you and me) on the causeway and, if this was implemented and a mystery donor came up with £20k, would they consider reopening the pull-ins? “Maybe,” was the reply but the chances of these two things happening are nigh on negligible – unless, of course, one of us wins the lottery or a kindly benefactor steps forward with the requisite amount of cash.

The idea of allowing 15 minutes free parking on the causeway, after which people paid using the P&D machine in the car park along with another P&D machine at the fishing lodge end of the causeway, ultimately using the extra revenue generated to fund resurfacing the pull-ins, didn’t fly either. This, of course, was again down to cost. There would be the cost of regular patrolling, each machine costs approximately £5000 and the machines are vulnerable to theft and damage. In fact, the one in the car park at the Brixworth end of the causeway was stolen just recently and AW are waiting for a new one. I’m just waiting for someone to pin it on me as a result of my previous post on this subject!

I also asked the question: “Would AW be prepared to allow members of the Wildlife Trust free use of the existing P&D car park on the causeway?” The answer went along the lines of “No, it gets too busy [with people who buy tickets taking the spaces] and the car park at the fishing lodge is already free to park in for day permit holders and Wildlife Trust members.” The words in square-brackets were not actually spoken but it was immediately apparent (to me) as implied.

So there you have it. I’ve tried and frankly I’m stumped. No more parking on the causeway. Period. I was open-minded to begin with but, let’s face it, it is all about money – cost-saving or revenue-generating, or both. Good old unyielding, uncompromising AW. I salute you!

The Stanwick Red-necked Phalarope

Posted on June 5, 2016May 10, 2020 by Mike Alibone

A first for Stanwick

Northamptonshire’s 20th Red-necked Phalarope chose Stanwick GP as a stopover on its way north yesterday. Found by Steve Fisher on the A45 Lay-by Pit early in the evening, this first for Stanwick gave ample opportunity for local birders to catch up with a species which has been difficult to come by in the county in recent years.

Female Red-necked Phalarope, Stanwick GP, 4th June 2016 (Bob Bullock)

The last was in 2010 and the one prior to that was in 2002. The majority of the previous records have been of autumn juveniles – only six adults have appeared in spring with 50% of these in June.

Red-necked Phalaropes, Northamptonshire, all records. Background image, female Red-necked Phalarope, Norway, June 2015 (Mike Alibone)

Spring birds are normally one-day wonders while those in autumn usually stay a day or two. Eight of the previous 19 have been at Pitsford Reservoir.

The Week in Focus 28th May to 3rd June 2016

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Mike Alibone

Cool, unseasonal weather continued throughout a week which was dominated by often strong north-easterlies, depressing temperatures, birds and birders alike. With migration all but dried up there were slim pickings – assuming anyone was out looking, of course. In this respect, on the occasions I visited Summer Leys it was devoid of weekend birders. With hides creaking and shutters banging in the wind, the only things missing were the tumbleweeds. While the end of May can deliver exceptional rarities, this year there was none – the hallowed 29th (Sooty Tern 1980, Bridled Tern 1993) passing without incident.

The injured Ruddy Shelduck had little choice but to remain at Pitsford Res, where it was present in the vicinity of the sailing club. One of the two which probably originated from the feral population on continent and overshot the established Dutch summer moulting grounds, it is unlikely ever to make it back. Aside from this, Stanwick’s drake Garganey, still present on the A45 Lay-by Pit on 29th, was the sole representative of scarce wildfowl during the period.

Two Ospreys were seen on 2nd – one flying over Pitsford dam toward Holcot, the other over Earls Barton GP toward Great Doddington. This week’s Peregrines were one at Earls Barton GP on 29th, two there on 2nd and one over Broadholme STW at Ditchford GP on 31st while, sadly, last week’s escaped male Barbary Falcon x Gyrfalcon hybrid was found dead at Felmersham in Bedfordshire.

Osprey and Peregrine, Earls Barton GP, 2nd June 2016 (Alan Coles)

Numbers of passage waders were understandably low with, aside from local breeders, just one Dunlin at Summer Leys on 29th, four Redshanks flying east over Stanford Res on 2nd and a Common Sandpiper at Ditchford GP on 29th-30th.

On the passerine front, the exciting discovery of three singing male Firecrests was made at an undisclosed locality on 28th and the singing male Common Redstart remained in Badby Wood on the same date.