Rarity Round-up 5th to 11th August 2017

This week’s weather was largely a repetition of last week’s, with Atlantic lows sweeping across the country, although continual heavy rain accompanied more northerly winds on 8th-9th. No coincidence, then, that these two days produced some new and scarce arrivals, some of which lingered … while others didn’t.

Duck of the week was the female Common Scoter, which turned up at Daventry CP during the poor weather of 9th and was still present on 11th, while last week’s Great White Egret remained at Pitsford Res until at least 7th.

Female Common Scoter, Daventry CP, 9th August 2017 (Gary Pullan)

Just one Whimbrel was seen – at Stanwick GP on 9th – in contrast to last week’s double-figure flocks, while Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits continued to appear in reasonable numbers. On 5th there were three at Stanford Res and singles at Pitsford Res, Hollowell Res and Daventry CP, the following day there were five at Pitsford and one at Stanford, the 7th saw sixteen at Stanford and one at Daventry. Stanford also held four on 8th-9th and one thereafter on 10th-11th and one was at Stanwick GP on 9th.

Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits, Stanford Res, 7th August 2017 (Chris Hubbard)

The latter locality also produced an adult Knot, showing well on the Visitor Centre Pit from 8th to 11th, while another autumn Sanderling made landfall at Hollowell Res during the poor weather on 8th. The autumn’s second Wood Sandpiper was found at Stanford on 9th, remaining there until 11th.

Adult Knot, Stanwick GP, 9th August 2017 (Mike Alibone)

Three Arctic Terns flew east at Stanwick GP during the rain on 8th, as did an adult Little Gull and a first-summer Little Gull was discovered on the Visitor Centre Pit there later the same day. The only Mediterranean Gulls this week were single juveniles at Daventry CP on 8th and Boddington Res on 11th, while Daventry produced an adult and a

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Boddington Res, 11th August 2017 (Gary Pullan)

second-summer Caspian Gull on 5th and a juvenile two days later, on 7th. A third-summer Caspian Gull was also at Stanwick GP on 7th along with at least thirty Yellow-legged Gulls. Between one and four Yellow-legged Gulls were seen at each of Daventry CP, Boddington Res, Hollowell Res and Pitsford Res throughout the week.

Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Pitsford Res, 7th August 2017 (Alan Francis)

Juvenile Black Redstart, East Hunsbury, Northampton, 9th August 2017 (Paul Howes)

A juvenile Black Redstart was seen on houses and garage roofs in East Hunsbury (Northampton) on 9th but could not be relocated the following day while a male Common Redstart was discovered in hedgerow at Twywell Hills and Dales on 11th and a Northern Wheatear visited Pitsford Res on 7th.