Month: September 2016

Under the influence of a south to south-westerly airstream for the majority of the week, the county enjoyed largely dry weather with occasional heavy showers and temperatures in the low twenties on a couple of occasions. With the shorter day lengths and the nights rapidly drawing in, the amount of daylight time for birding is quickly being eroded – but the waiting game was over, at least for some, on 28th.

Still in the vicinity of the dam and sailing club, the Ruddy Shelduck remained at Pitsford Res as Pintail numbers there increased to fifteen by 29th, along with one at Daventry CP on the same date. The only Red-crested Pochards were also at Pitsford Res, where there were up to three all week and at Stanford Res, where two were present on 30th.

Stanford Res also added itself to the list of localities producing Great White Egrets this week with a fly-over moving south-west on 26th. Elsewhere it was business as usual with singles appearing settled at Hollowell Res and Deene Lake as well as two still at Pitsford Res all week, although the Summer Leys individual was nowhere to be seen during the period.

The dearth of rarities was finally broken – somewhat spectacularly – this week with the appearance of Northamptonshire’s fourth-ever Glossy Ibis at Daventry CP on the morning of 28th. A seriously glossy adult, true to form it did a bunk shortly after its discovery, allowing only a handful of quick off the mark locals to catch up with it before its hasty departure to the south.

A Black-necked Grebe found at the same locality at the same time (and still present the following day) provided little in the way of a consolation prize for those who missed it.

On the raptor front notables this week included a Marsh Harrier at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell 25th, an Osprey lingering at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows on 29th, which was possibly the same individual seen leaving Clifford Hill GP and flying over Far Cotton, Northampton on 30th and the autumn’s first Merlin at Harrington AF on 25th. Hobbies were still very much in evidence with two regularly at Summer Leys LNR between 24th and 27th and singles at Stanwick GP on 24th and over Higham Ferrers on 27th and a Peregrine visited Summer Leys on 30th.

Wader numbers continued to dwindle. The long-staying juvenile Grey Plover at Boddington Res had departed on 24th, while the only Ringed Plovers were up to six at Pitsford Res between 25th and 28th.

Eight Curlews flew east at Stanford Res on 24th, around twenty Black-tailed Godwits were flushed by a female Sparrowhawk at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows and flew off west on 25th and six dropped in at Summer Leys just before dusk on 27th.

The week’s only Ruff was an apparently injured bird at Daventry CP on 28th-29th, while Common Sandpipers were reduced to singles at Stanford Res on 24th, Naseby Res on 26th and Pitsford Res on 26th-27th with two at Boddington Res on 27th.

A Green Sandpiper was at Pitsford Res on 25th, two were at Naseby Res the following day and up to three were at both Deene Lake until 27th and Daventry CP on 28th-29th. Eight Common Snipe at Deene Lake between 25th and 27th and three at Summer Leys on the latter date were the only ones reported this week.

Scarce gulls were in short supply, with a first-winter Caspian Gull at Boddington Res on 24th and a second calendar year individual at Pitsford Res the following day, while small numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls included two near Thenford and two at Boddington Res on 24th, one at Pitsford Res on 25th and six again at Boddington Res on 27th. Single juvenile Common Terns remained at Ditchford GP until 24th and at Hollowell Res until 28th.

Scarce migrant passerines were also difficult to find this week, with the only Whinchats being one at Hollowell Res on 24th and two at Blueberry Farm the following day, while the three Stonechats were still at the latter locality on the same date and a single Northern Wheatear remained at Summer Leys until 27th.

The week kicked off with a drop in temperature, winds from the northern quarter, overcast skies and heavy drizzle – perfect skua weather but the reality of standing exposed on Pitsford causeway (no sitting in cars, remember) waiting, waiting, waiting, quickly lost its appeal for some of us at least. Aside from similar conditions on day 3, the week turned out mainly fine with the eastern side of the UK benefiting bird-wise from an easterly airstream, although there was no change in land-locked Northants – still waiting, waiting, waiting …

The Ruddy Shelduck remained, as expected, at Pitsford Res, and more Pintails arrived this week – not in any large numbers but up to two at each of Daventry CP, Hollowell Res, Pitsford Res, Stanford Res and Stanwick GP, while the only Garganey were two at Hollowell Res on 20th. A female Red-crested Pochard x Mallard hybrid was found at nearby Ravensthorpe Res on the same date. Up to three ‘thoroughbred’ Red-crested Pochards remained at Pitsford Res on 17th-18th and a drake Common Scoter visited Hollowell Res on 19th.

A Bittern was a surprise discovery on the ‘new diggings’ at Earls Barton GP on the WeBS count on 17th, nowadays much more difficult to see in the County than Great White Egret, more of which piled in this week.

 

Last week’s individual at Pitsford Res remained until at least 18th, when it was joined by a second bird, one remained all week at Summer Leys LNR, another was found at Deene Lake on 18th and, on the same date, another was discovered at Ravensthorpe Res and commuted between there and nearby Hollowell Res until at least 22nd. The partial summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebe remained for two more days off the feeding station at Summer Leys but had departed after the weekend.

In a week notable for its absence of raptor reports Hobbies were still being seen – in most instances moving south – at Pitsford Res and Thrapston GP on 17th, Daventry CP and Stanford Res on 20th, Preston Deanery on 21st and Daventry CP again on 23rd.

As the end of September approaches, wader numbers begin to dwindle. The long-staying juvenile Grey Plover at Boddington Res remained all week, while Ringed Plovers included one at Stanwick GP on 17th, two at Hollowell Res on 18th increasing to five there on 22nd and, on 19th, twos at Pitsford Res and Daventry CP and four at Clifford Hill GP. A juvenile Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit visited Summer Leys on 18th – the same day that a juvenile Knot chose the unlikely location of the car park at Ravensthorpe Res to spend the day, albeit intermittently.

The only Ruff were singles at Ditchford GP on 18th, Daventry CP on 19th-23rd and Naseby Res on 20th and the only Dunlin was one at Hollowell Res on 18th-19th, while Common Sandpipers were reduced to two at Boddington Res and one at Daventry CP on 17th and 23rd and singles at Naseby Res on 18th-20th, Hollowell Res on 19th, at Stanford Res the following day, with one again at Boddington Res on 23rd. Up to two Green Sandpipers were at Daventry CP between 17th and 20th and three on 23rd, one was at Pitsford Res on 17th, two were found at Deene Lake on 18th and one visited Naseby Res on 20th.  Common Snipe were recorded at seven localities with maxima of seven at Ditchford GP on 18th and at Hollowell Res on 20th.

Few scarce gulls were in evidence this week with the rarest of the few all being seen on 17th – these comprising a first-winter Mediterranean Gull at Boddington Res, a first-winter Caspian Gull at Daventry CP and an adult Caspian Gull at Pitsford Res. Small numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls were found at Boddington Res, Pitsford Res, Hollowell Res, Daventry CP and in the Brampton Valley with the first named of these site holding the maximum of five on 17th. Getting late now, single Common Terns visited Ditchford GP on 18th and Hollowell Res on 20th.

Most of our Common Redstarts have now moved through, reflected this week by just one, at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 17th. Similarly, the only Whinchats were two at the latter locality on the same date and one at Bozenham Mill on 23rd. There were also three Stonechats at Blueberry Farm, followed by further singles at Summer Leys on 19th and Sywell CP the next day.

Northern Wheatears also appeared in slightly smaller number with singles again at Blueberry Farm on 17th, at Summer Leys and Preston Deanery on 21st and 23rd followed by three between Quinton and Preston Deanery on 22nd.

Much commoner in autumn than we probably believe, a White Wagtail was identified at Pitsford Res on 17th and, on the same date, a Tree Pipit was working its way across fields near the Grand Union Canal, north of Daventry and east of Welton.

The warmest September day since 1911 saw temperatures rise to 34.4ºC on 13th, backed by a south to south-easterly airstream. Otherwise, largely dry weather prevailed locally until the week’s end, the wind having changed to west or south-westerly. The flow of migrants continued although, once again, the period produced little to write home about.

The Ruddy Shelduck remained throughout at Pitsford Res, principally by the dam, while single Pintails were at the same site on 14th and at Stanwick GP from 12th to 14th. Also remaining were the juvenile female Garganey at Daventry CP until 14th and the juvenile male at Summer Leys LNR until 16th, plus the eclipse drake Goldeneye at Stanford Res on 11th.

This week’s Red-crested Pochards included one at Hollowell Res on 14th and up to six at Pitsford Res, where the female Red-crested Pochard x Ferruginous Duck hybrid was also seen again on 14th.

A Great White Egret was found at Pitsford Res on 14th, remaining at the week’s end and a partial summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebe took up residence off the feeding station at Summer Leys from 15th. In contrast to last week, just one Marsh Harrier was seen on 11th and 13th, quartering fields in the Brampton Valley, below Hanging Houghton while, nearby, an adult Osprey visited Pitsford Res on 12th, another adult was seen flying south over Daventry on the same date and one flew south over Elton the following day.

A Peregrine was at Rushden on 10th and a juvenile showed well at Summer Leys on 13th, while lingering Hobbies were still at six localities during the week.

In terms of numbers there was a notable shortage of waders but variety was up this week, kicking off with single juvenile Grey Plovers – long-staying at Boddington Res from 11th and briefly at Summer Leys on 14th.

Single Ringed Plovers visited Ditchford GP on 12th and Naseby Res on 14th, while Hollowell Res produced six on 16th and Pitsford Res held two on 14th with eight more flying south there on the same date.

Twenty-four Bar-tailed Godwits flying north-west over Boddington Res on the evening of 10th was a very unusual autumn record – this species is far more often seen in spring – and the second Turnstone to visit Stanwick GP this autumn appeared there on 14th, while a flock of seven flew west, just north of Daventry CP on 12th. Two Ruff were at Pitsford Res between 10th and 14th and a juvenile male visited Hollowell Res before moving to nearby Naseby Res on the latter date. This species has been much scarcer than usual in the county this autumn. Even more scarce, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was a one-day visitor to Daventry CP on 10th; despite record numbers on the east coast (and inland) earlier in the autumn we have not fared at all well for this species locally. Hollowell Res produced the week’s only Dunlins with up to three there during the period, while Common Sandpipers were again recorded from ten sites, with no more than two at any one locality. Six sites produced Green Sandpipers with a maximum of four Daventry CP on 13th and the same number at Naseby Res on 16th but Greenshank numbers remained low with just a 25-minute stopover being made by three at Summer Leys on the morning of 16th. A relatively late Wood Sandpiper flew south, calling, over Boddington Res on 13th, the same site holding the week’s only Redshank the following day, while small numbers of Common Snipe were recorded at this site as well as at Ditchford GP, Pitsford Res, Stanwick GP and Summer Leys with a maximum of eleven at the latter site on 16th.

After good numbers in spring, Black Tern is another species which has been scarce this autumn and six at Boddington Res on 12th did not linger. There was also a Sandwich Tern at Stanwick GP on 14th, which was part of a national inland movement and a juvenile Little Gull appeared at the Pitsford Res gull roost on the same date. Three first-winter Mediterranean Gulls comprised singles at Naseby Res on 12th, Daventry CP on 14th and Boddington Res on 16th, while three localities produced small numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls with Boddington Res holding two on 12th, four on 15th and one on 16th, Ditchford GP hosting three on 12th and Pitsford Res producing one on 12th, six on 14th and three on 16th. This week’s Caspian Gulls were limited to just three records of a juvenile and second-winter at Boddington Res on 12th plus a first-winter there on 15th and a fourth-winter at Naseby Res on 16th.

A Turtle Dove – probably the last to be seen this year – was at Harrington AF on 10th, and the same site continued to produce Common Redstarts with two there from 10th to 13th, while the 11th saw singles near Walgrave and at Twywell Hills & Dales and four were together at Fawsley Park on the same date; one or two were also present at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 13th. Whinchats continued to trickle through with singles at Pitsford Res on 10th and 13th, Clifford Hill GP on 11th and Hollowell Res on 14th, while twos were at both Blueberry Farm and Harrington AF on 13th and reports of Northern Wheatears were restricted to singles at both Walgrave and Warmington on 11th, Pitsford Res on 12th-13th and at both Blueberry Farm and Harrington AF also on 13th.

Conditions remained warm and dry as a westerly airstream gave way to winds from the south from mid-week, bolstered by a high pressure system over eastern Europe. There was no shortage of migrants across the board but the week again passed with no sign of the long overdue ‘big one.’

Predictably, the Ruddy Shelduck remained at Pitsford Res and the juvenile male Garganey at Summer Leys LNR throughout, while the juvenile female was still present at Daventry CP until at least 7th and another visited Hollowell Res on 4th. Of potential interest to some was the rediscovery of the female Red-crested Pochard x Ferruginous Duck hybrid at Pitsford Res on 5th.

Remaining slippery and elusive, the juvenile Shag continued its exclusively early morning/late evening appearances at at Stanwick GP until at least 4th and the Great White Egret from 1st reappeared at Summer Leys/Earls Barton GP on 4th-5th.

Continuing their autumn run, Marsh Harriers were seen in the Brampton Valley on 5th and 7th, at Harrington AF and Summer Leys on 6th and at Pitsford Res on 9th.

In contrast to last week, four passage Ospreys comprised singles at Pitsford Res on 3rd, over Fotheringhay on 6th, flying east along the Nene valley between Wollaston and Irchester on 8th and south-west over the M1 near Flore on the same date. Peregrines, too, were up, with singles at Clifford Hill GP on 3rd, Daventry CP on 6th, at Elton and in the Brampton Valley on 7th, at Harrington AF on 7th-8th and at Bozenham Mill on 8th, while lingering Hobbies were still at seven localities during the week.

Waders continued to be reported from a variety of localities and, in a week with no Little Ringed Plovers, Ringed Plover numbers were on the up with two at Summer Leys on 4th-5th, five at Hollowell Res on 4th increasing to six on 6th and then ten from 7th to 9th and one at Pitsford Res on 6th-7th.

A Black-tailed Godwit visited Daventry CP on 4th and, again, there was only one record of Ruff – five at Hollowell Res on 9th. Apart from one at Boddington Res between 3rd and 6th, Hollowell produced the week’s only Dunlins with up to four there throughout the period. The most widespread and commonly occurring wader of the autumn, Common Sandpiper, continued to be seen in good numbers throughout the period, being recorded from ten localities with a maximum of four at Hollowell Res on 5th, while Green Sandpipers were down on last week with one at Naseby Res on 4th and up to two at Daventry CP between 4th and 7th and the same number at Summer Leys between 5th and 9th. A Spotted Redshank was found at Naseby Res on 9th, this species having become a regular – though very scarce – passage migrant in the county over the last ten to fifteen years. It’s not proving to be a good autumn for Greenshanks and numbers continued at a very low ebb with just one at Summer Leys from 4th to 7th.

This week’s gulls threw up a couple of first-winter Mediterranean Gulls – Pitsford Res on 3rd, Boddington Res on 4th and two more at Daventry CP on 7th while, again, the adult gull showing characteristics of Azorean Yellow-legged Gull briefly visited Stanwick GP on 9th, the same individual having also visited Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire (less than 20 km distant) on 5th. Small numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls formed the basis of records from Draughton, Pitsford Res, Hollowell Res and Daventry CP with no more than five or six at any one location, while this week’s Caspian Gulls comprised a juvenile at Daventry CP and a third-winter at Boddington Res – both on 6th.  What was potentially the year’s last Common Swift was seen over Raunds on 3rd and, hot on the heels of last week’s Pied Flycatcher at Denton Wood, three more appeared – all in suburban Northampton – with two at Harlestone Road Allotments and one at Bradlaugh Fields, all three of which were found on the evening of 7th.

Common Redstart numbers dwindled somewhat to one at Clifford Hill GP on 3rd, a male at Pitsford Res on 5th, single juveniles trapped and ringed at Stanford Res on 6th and 8th, twos at each of Blueberry Farm, Walgrave and Harrington AF on 7th and one at the latter locality the following day. Whinchats were found again at six localities, with up to three at both Clifford Hill GP and Sywell CP, singles at Creaton, Lilbourne and Walgrave but the maximum was six at Blueberry Farm on 5th, when there were also up to three Stonechats there.

Fewer Northern Wheatears were in evidence this week with singles near Finedon on 3rd and Clifford Hill GP the following day, rising to two there on 6th and one was at Harrington AF on 8th. Still in short supply, a Tree Pipit flew over Blueberry Farm on 5th, while a juvenile Crossbill visited a lone pine tree in a Wellingborough garden briefly on 6th.

Conditions remained largely dry again with, in the main, a south-westerly airstream. Water levels at local reservoirs and lakes remained surprisingly high so limiting wader action to only a very few localities.

The Ruddy Shelduck remained at Pitsford Res and the Garganey at Daventry CP until 2nd and another frequented the scrape at Summer Leys LNR from 31st until 2nd, while the only other duck of note was a female Red-crested Pochard at Pitsford Res on 29th.

The juvenile Shag also remained at Stanwick GP until at least 30th, vacating its island roost on the A45 Lay-by Pit during the day for fishing areas unknown and a Great White Egret appeared at Summer Leys on 1st.

Marsh Harriers continued to be reported with one flying north-west at Hellidon on 28th, another at Harrington AF on 29th and 30th and a third at Stanwick GP on the last of these dates. Just one Osprey was seen – at Hollowell Res on 29th and the only Peregrines were up to two at Hellidon on 28th and 30th, while soon to be departing Hobbies were still at five localities during the week.

Numbers of Little Ringed Plovers were down on last week with two at Clifford Hill GP on 27th and one at Daventry CP from 27th to 29th and Ringed Plovers mustered up to four at Clifford Hill GP between 27th and 29th and one at Stanwick GP on 28th. A Black-tailed Godwit visited Hollowell Res on 29th and nine dropped in briefly at Summer Leys on 31st, while the juvenile Turnstone at Stanwick GP, from 17th, finally departed at some time on 29th, having completed a record thirteen-day stay.

Stanwick also hosted the week’s only Ruff – a juvenile on 28th-29th. More unusual for August was a juvenile Sanderling at Clifford Hill GP on 29th, the latter locality

additionally producing three Dunlins on the same date, three were also at Hollowell Res from 31st to 2nd and one at Stanwick GP on 28th-29th.

Hollowell also delivered the autumn’s second Little Stint, a juvenile, on 1st. Common Sandpipers continued to be seen in good numbers throughout the period, being recorded from eight localities with no more than four at any one locality, while Green Sandpipers were recorded at four with a maximum of seven at Daventry CP on 27th.

Greenshank numbers remained low with singles at both Thrapston GP and Stanwick GP on 29th, followed by one at Summer Leys on 31st, while single Redshanks appeared at Pitsford Res on 27th and Clifford Hill GP on 29th. Just four Common Snipe were at Summer Leys on 28th, one at Hollowell Res on 31st and three at Earls Barton GP on 2nd.

A juvenile Little Gull visited Summer Leys on 31st and first-winter Mediterranean Gulls this week included singles at Pitsford Res on 27th and Stanwick GP on 29th, while two visited Summer Leys on 30th. Again, the adult gull showing characteristics of Azorean Yellow-legged Gull briefly visited Stanwick GP – this time early in the

afternoon – on 2nd, while Yellow-legged Gulls included single adults at Pitsford Res on 27th-29th and Stanwick GP on 28th, a first-winter at Daventry CP on 29th, four at Summer Leys the following day and one at Hollowell Res on 2nd.

All of this week’s Caspian Gulls were restricted to Stanwick GP, where there was a second-summer on 27th, an adult and a first-summer on 30th, two adults and two second-summers on 1st and a first-summer on 2nd.

Again, Turtle Doves were found only at Harrington AF, where there were two on 29th, a Pied Flycatcher turned up in a garden at Denton Wood on 31st and Common Redstarts were still very much in evidence with records from Blueberry Farm, Brampton Valley, Clifford Hill GP, Daventry CP, Eydon, Fawsley Park, Harrington AF, Hellidon and Walgrave, with a maximum of at least four at the latter site on 29th. Whinchats were more widespread than in the previous review period, with records from Blueberry Farm. Brampton Valley, Finedon, Harrington AF, Hollowell Res, Sywell CP and Walgrave

and there were still three Stonechats lingering at Blueberry Farm. More Northern Wheatears appeared this week with singles at Denton Wood and in the Brampton Valley on 29th, two at Hellidon on 30th and singles at Summer Leys and near Finedon on 1st. A Tree Pipit flew over Harrington AF on 28th.