Month: December 2023

A mixed bag of largely mild weather this week ended with ferociously wet and windy conditions and, at long last, a small dollop of those long-awaited Waxwings.

But as ‘Storm Gerrit’ whirled out into the North Sea and with the curtain about to come down on 2023, it’s worth taking time to reflect on some of the birds that have shaped this action-packed year. A succession of top tier birds across the county kicked off with a lingering Yellow-browed Warbler at Earls Barton GP in January and a White Stork over Moulton during the same month. January also saw Ring-necked Ducks at Hollowell/Ravensthorpe and Thrapston followed by further appearances at Ringstead in March, Ditchford in April and again at Thrapston in October.

Summer Leys – 2023’s standout locality – produced a smart male Kentish Plover in April, the first for nearly thirty years and, for many, the icing on the spring cake which, during the same week, included a White Stork and two Common Cranes, followed by a Black-winged Stilt in May and a Purple Heron there in June. Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows topped that, though, with no less than a flock of four Black-winged Stilts in May – part of a notable spring influx into the UK. Also in May, the year’s only Temminck’s Stint appeared at DIRFT 3 – a site still producing birds as it undergoes further building development.

Summer saw Caspian Terns drop in frustratingly briefly at Hollowell and Summer Leys during July, the latter site, along with Stanwick, producing single Pectoral Sandpipers in September and one or two Glossy Ibises apiece in October-November.

So, rounding off the year in the last full week of 2023, there were still birds to be had, be they long stayers or new arrivals. Falling squarely into the former category, the Pink-footed Goose remained at Hollowell Res and the female Ruddy Shelduck was again in residence at its apparently favoured locality of Winwick Pools, on 29th.

Pitsford Res accounted for the best of the rest of the wildfowl with two Red-crested Pochards on 26th, along with the first-winter drake Greater Scaup still present there on the same date.

Leaping straight to Larids, this week’s Mediterranean Gulls were the sole preserve of Stanford Res, which appears to be enjoying a good run of them so far in the latter part of the year. Single first-winters were present in the roost on 24th, 27th and 29th while two first-winters were found there on 28th, one of which was also present during the daytime. The same roost also produced two adult Caspian Gulls on 27th and one the following evening. Elsewhere, Hollowell held two adult Caspians on 26th and an adult plus a first-winter on 29th, while single first-winters were at Ravensthorpe Res and Rushton Recycling Centre on the latter date.

Meanwhile, Pitsford’s Great Northern Diver saw another week out, mobile between the dam and the causeway.

Following suit, the Kettering Cattle Egret remained throughout at Wicksteed Water Meadows, as did the two in the vicinity of Stanford on Avon, while the Stanwick seven stood up to be counted on 28th.

Stanwick was also visited by a/the roaming Marsh Harrier on 24th and 29th, while one was clocked at Summer Leys on 26th and 28th. Keeping up appearances was the Neville’s Lodge ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier, reliably putting on a show just prior to dusk between 23rd and 26th and presumably accounting for the sighting of one at not too distant Stanwick on 24th. Another ‘ringtail’ was also seen in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on the same date.

Neville’s Lodge was also the venue for the continued late, late afternoon showings of Short-eared Owls. Four were seen there on 23rd and at least three were still present on 26th.

But if there was anything new to shout about, then the week belonged to Waxwings. After some brief and tantalising appearances in the run up to this last week, the time finally arrived for at least a couple to roll up and be nailed down. In this respect, two birds put Higham Ferrers firmly on the map after being discovered along a secluded rowan-lined walkway in a residential part of the town on Christmas Eve. From then on they remained faithful to the area, delighting a stream of admirers until the week’s end, although their appearances there became much more erratic with time. Interestingly, both birds were first-winters but, on 26th, an adult was photographed there and news also emerged that a single bird had been present during the preceding week.

But for those not wishing to venture as far afield as Higham, six were discovered in downtown Northampton on 26th with two still present early the following day. But, despite a ready supply of rowan berries, they did not stay … Step forward Brixworth, where another first-winter was discovered on 28th, remaining there the following day, although at times proving to be elusive.

Stonechats were more reliable, of course, with Borough Hill, Deene Lake, Earls Barton GP, Hollowell, Pitsford and Summer Leys all holding multiples, the maximum of which was six at Hollowell on 26th.

The week also saw the highest number of Crossbills so far this year when at least forty were seen at Wakerley Great Wood on 23rd, when several were also at nearby Westhay Wood and two were at Fineshade.

And, as we end the year, a big thankyou to everyone in the birding community for sharing information across multiple platforms on sightings in Northamptonshire, and to those who have contributed news and images directly to Northants Birds. Wishing you all the best for the New Year!

Continuing the mild weather theme, the week remained frost-free but rain was plentiful during the early part, creating temporary flooding of some river valley wetlands and raising water levels at local reservoirs. New birds arrived while some relatively longer stayers departed. And then there were those rather troublesome Waxwings …

Hollowell Reservoir’s Pink-footed Goose remained throughout the period, while ‘new’ Red-crested Pochards turned up at Pitsford Res, where a female was found on 11th, and at Clifford Hill GP, where a drake appeared on 15th. Pitsford also sported a first-winter drake Greater Scaup, north of the causeway, on 11th. The Ravensthorpe Res (ex-Pitsford) Common Scoter hung on there until 10th, after which there was no further sign of it.

The first of the winter, a rather showy and seductive drake Smew, initially found with a ‘redhead’ on 9th, enticed a steady stream of admirers into the causeway car park at Pitsford Res, where it was performing rather nicely on 11th.

With two at Pitsford on 11th and one at Hollowell on 15th, Jack Snipes stood to relieve an otherwise waderless week.

There were no unexpected gulls during the period, the best being a first-winter Mediterranean Gull in the roost at Stanford Res on 11th-12th, joined there by a second bird on 15th. The same site held single adult Caspian Gulls on 11th and 13th, while further adults were seen flying north at Pitsford on the former date and at both Hollowell and Ravensthorpe on 15th. Pitsford produced the week’s only Yellow-legged Gulls, which included two on 10th-11th and one on 12th.

Staying with Pitsford, the Great Northern Diver made it into this week, although on 10th it became highly mobile, taking to the air on at least two occasions after having been disturbed by extensive recreational activity in its favoured area. It was last seen flying high north late in the day and, alas, it has not been seen since.

Down in the Nene Valley, Stanwick continued to host a bevy of Cattle Egrets, peaking at seven on 15th, while the two that visited Stanford Res sporadically during the third week of November were located in a field at nearby Stanford on Avon on 9th, remaining in the vicinity all week. Meanwhile, the singleton found last week at Wicksteed Water Meadows, Kettering was still in residence at the end of the period.

Keeping up appearances, Marsh Harriers were seen at Summer Leys LNR on 10th and daily at Stanwick between 11th and 14th although, in all probability, all sightings seem likely to relate to the same Nene Valley wanderer. Rarer still, a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier was discovered quartering fields immediately north of Irthlingborough on 11th, being seen again in the same general area on 13th, 14th and 15th – a female Merlin also being present there on 13th.

And after a week of high expectations on the Waxwing front, three were chanced upon, way down south in the Cherwell Valley, at King’s Sutton, on 11th. However, only those fleet of foot managed to successfully connect with them as, an hour after their discovery, they flew off north – never to be seen again. A source of further frustration came in the form of six at Greens Norton the following day. Said to be highly mobile around the village, and reported again there briefly on 13th, they never played ball for those who systematically combed the village on both days. Will we ever get any that are nailed down? The wait goes on …

Lacking the above species’ legendary charisma, but nonetheless still full of appeal, Stonechats were present at Hollowell, King’s Sutton, Pitsford, Summer Leys, Upton CP and Wicksteed Water Meadows where there were no more than four at any location.

Crossbills maintained a presence at Wakerley Great Wood, where up to thirty-five were estimated to be on site on 10th-11th, while one flew west over Harrington AF on 14th.

In an about-turn in the weather this week, a series of low-pressure systems off the Atlantic brought a rise in temperatures, accompanied by overall wet and windy conditions, curtailing a fair proportion of birding activity. Despite this, new birds were still being pulled out of the bag, including a few surprises …

A decent flock of forty-six Barnacle Geese arrived at Stanford Res on 5th but their stay was a short one, having departed by the next day. British ferals or from lands further north, their origin is open to debate.

Conversely, Hollowell Reservoir’s Pink-footed Goose remained settled throughout the period, the mixed goose flock there also being joined by the female Ruddy Shelduck on 6th, after being seen on 4th at Winwick Pools and returning there by the week’s end.

Two drake Red-crested Pochards appeared at Daventry CP on 4th, two visited Stanford Res the following day and last week’s trio of two drakes and a female remained at Pitsford Res until at least 6th. Also at the latter site, the first-winter drake Greater Scaup resurfaced on 5th-6th, having not been reported there for a week.

Clearly seeking pastures new, last week’s Common Scoter moved on from Pitsford, reappearing on 5th at Ravensthorpe Res, where it remained on show off the dam until the end of the period.

On the Larid front, an unseasonal visitor – at least to the county – was a first-winter Little Gull that arrived late in the day on 8th at DIRFT 3, where it briefly circled the area before departing to the east. The same date also saw a first-winter Mediterranean Gull turn up in the roost at Stanford. The usual two adult Caspian Gulls remained at Hollowell Res all week, while single adults were found at Daventry on 4th and in the roost at Boddington Res on 8th. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was also in the Boddington roost on the same date, following an adult and a first-winter at Pitsford on 5th and an adult there on 7th.

Sticking with Pitsford, the juvenile Great Northern Diver extended its stay, again remaining faithful to the area between The Narrows and the dam, until at least 7th.

Similarly settled, or so it would appear, Stanwick GP’s six Cattle Egrets were still in place at the end of the week, while another spotted at Wicksteed Water Meadows on 5th was again seen there on 8th.

Single Marsh Harriers flew east over Wellingborough Embankment on 2nd and north-east over Stanwick on 4th – in all likelihood, both sightings referring to the same individual.

While scarcer passerines were understandably few and far between, a Firecrest was discovered within a mobile tit flock at Summer Leys LNR on 3rd. Aside from any potential breeders during the summer, this would appear to be the only record in the county this year.

Borough Hill, Earls Barton GP, Hollowell, Pitsford, Summer Leys and Upton CP were the only localities to produce Stonechats this week, the single site maximum being eight at Hollowell on 3rd.

And, as for Crossbills, the number of sites was down from three adjacent woodland last week to just the one, Fineshade Wood, which held a respectable minimum of twenty birds in the vicinity of the Wildlife Hide on 25th.

Last week’s temperature drop appropriately continued throughout as we moved into meteorological winter on the last day of the period. In what might traditionally be thought of as a quiet week, there was still plenty of interesting fare lingering and new birds were still out there to be found …

At Hollowell Res the Pink-footed Goose reappeared on 28th and was still present there on 1st, while a short-staying adult Bewick’s Swan at Summer Leys LNR, early in the morning of 27th, was only the second record for the county this year, following fifteen at the same site in early March. It did not stick around, though, neither did it turn up at Slimbridge by mid-week and its bill pattern was not recognised as that of any individual that regularly winters there.

After a week with no reports, three Red-crested Pochards, including two drakes, turned up at Stanford Res on 25th but did not stay. Three at Pitsford Res, on 1st, may well have been the same trio on the move.

Also at Pitsford, a first-winter drake Greater Scaup was found on 28th. In a far less advanced state of moult than last week’s bird at Billing GP, it was clearly new in, although it wasn’t seen subsequently. Another duck chalking up more than a week in residence at Pitsford was the ‘female-type’ Common Scoter, which was still present on 30th.

On the wader front, a Grey Plover flying east over Stanwick GP was the sole representative of the tribe this week.

Gull numbers were down and included an adult Caspian Gull reported at Pitsford Res on 26th and two adults at Hollowell on 28th and 1st. The same two localities again produced Yellow-legged Gulls, with Pitsford holding an adult and a first-winter on 26th and an adult on 28th, while Hollowell delivered two adults on 26th and 28th and a single adult on 1st.

Back at Pitsford, the juvenile Great Northern Diver remained faithful to the area between The Narrows and the dam until at least 30th.

In the Nene Valley, an interesting scenario played out at the end of the week when a single Glossy Ibis was watched in flight and, apparently, was then seen to land at Summer Leys on 1st. It promptly vanished. Given that the Stanwick duo are, based on comparative size difference and bill length, a male and female which are exhibiting a strong pair bond and they were still present both before and after the Summer Leys sighting, it more than suggests this is a different individual. The fact that the recent Ditchford GP bird was clearly a rogue wanderer between Summer Leys and Stanwick adds further weight to the argument for there now being three birds at large in the area.

Stanwick also continued to harbour up to six Cattle Egrets this week, one of which would appear to have roamed to adjacent Ditchford on 30th.

Single Marsh Harriers visited Stanwick on 26th and Summer Leys two days later, on 28th, while the weekly Merlin record appeared in the form of a flyover at Fineshade Wood on the latter date.

Fineshade also featured as the venue to host forty-seven Waxwings, close to its car park, on 26th – a flock which was reported by national bird news services on a ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ basis. The source of the report remains a mystery. Along exactly the same lines, at least five were said to have been seen in flight over Aynho on 29th. The wait for a tangible feeding flock, duly pinned down, goes on …

Seven localities produced Stonechats, with site maxima of four at Earls Barton GP on 25th and 28th, Stanwick on 28th and Upton CP on 30th.

Small numbers of Crossbills continued to be seen in the north-eastern part of the county, where two were at Fineshade Wood on 25th and 28th while, on the latter date, there were six at Westhay Wood and ten at Wakerley Great Wood.