Newsround – 29th July to 4th August 2023

Crossing the line into August brings ‘autumn proper’ just that little bit closer and, although the week just gone was arguably a little lacklustre, there is much to look forward to in terms of potential during the oncoming days. In fact, the second week of August has delivered some star waders locally during years gone by – all be they few and far between …

Mobile between Hollowell and Ravensthorpe Reservoirs, the female Ruddy Shelduck saw another week out and, if past performance is anything to go by, it looks like she’ll be in it for the long haul. Two drake Red-crested Pochards found at Pitsford Res on 29th also remained throughout the period.

Which takes us straight on to our ‘bird of the week’. Though not a patch on those from the last two weeks, an Avocet paid an early morning visit to Hollowell on 4th but moved on rather sharpish.

Other waders were in short supply, being made up of single Black-tailed Godwits at Stanford Res, Lilbourne Meadows NR and Summer Leys LNR – all on 3rd – the bird at the latter site still being present the following day. A Greenshank dropped into Summer Leys, briefly, on 30th.

The 2nd saw the first juvenile Mediterranean Gull of the autumn at Stanwick GP and, in keeping with its track record, this site also producing the week’s highest number of Yellow-legged Gulls, with three on 31st, four on 1st and seven on 4th. Single adult Yellow-legged Gulls were at Pitsford on 29th and 2nd.

Arguably a strong contender for ‘bird of the week’ was Sandwich Tern, four of which flew south-west over Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 3rd, while two Arctic Terns at Ravensthorpe on 29th was an interesting record, locally, for the time of year.

Routine raptors were the order of the week with Hollowell unsurprisingly producing the lion’s share of Ospreys. Three flew south-west over the site on 1st, a blue-ringed (‘T3’) 7-year-old adult male was present there on 29th and 3rd, followed by one on 4th, while one visited nearby Ravensthorpe on 30th. By comparison, this week’s Marsh Harrier appeared lonely – Stanford Res mustering just the one, on 4th.

Passerines saw Common Redstarts ramp up in numbers with eight localities holding birds. Blueberry Farm, Harrington AF, Honey Hill, Lilbourne Meadows, Pitsford, Stanford, Summer Leys and Woodford Halse all produced – mainly singles or duos – but a likely three were at Blueberry Farm on 3rd.

By contrast, however, Northern Wheatears have yet to get going, proving scarce with just singles at Harrington on 30th and in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 3rd. An interesting record emerged this week of successful breeding by Stonechats near Corby, where a pair raised at least one young.

More Whinchats were in evidence this week, with singles filtering through the county at Great Doddington on 30th-1st and Harrington on 31st, while two were found in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 3rd.