Newsround – 16th to 22nd December 2023

Ending with the winter solstice, above average temperatures, and ‘Storm Pia’ packing a punch through its delivery of strong north-westerly gales, the week just gone turned out to be one of somewhat diminishing returns.

In fact, we were well down on wildfowl this week with just the first-winter drake Greater Scaup at Pitsford Res standing as the sole representative of the period.

In the Nene Valley, a Jack Snipe at Ditchford GP on 18th was the only wader of note.

Gulls continued to provide a staple source of interest with one of the two previous day’s first-winter Mediterranean Gulls again in the roost at Stanford Res on 16th, while an adult visited Daventry CP on 18th and 22nd.

Stanford’s roost also pulled in an adult Caspian Gull on 22nd and further adults were found at DIRFT 3 on 20th and at Rushton Recycling Centre – the site of the now defunct landfill – on 20th and 22nd. On the first of these two dates there was an apparent adult Caspian Gull x Herring Gull hybrid also present. Colloquially known in some quarters as ‘Cactus Gull’, aptly named by the derivation from cachinnans x argentatus, conclusively resolving the identification of such individuals can often present quite a thorny problem.

The week’s Yellow-legged Gull slot was filled by single adults in the roost at Stanford on 16th, at Pitsford on 16th-17th and at Daventry CP on 22nd, while a second-winter was at Wicksteed Park Lakes, Kettering on 16th, two first-winters visited Pitsford on 17th and two adults were found at DIRFT 3 on 20th.

After apparently flying off on 10th, the (or a) juvenile Great Northern Diver was back at Pitsford on 16th, where it remained until at least 21st. With year-round disturbance through various recreational activities south of the causeway having reached an all-time high in recent years, this bird must be a glutton for punishment …

On 22nd a Bittern was found at Fawsley Park Lakes, an unusual site for this species but consistent with the gradual increase in numbers recorded in the county of late. Five sites appeared to produce Cattle Egrets this week. Eight were reported by the River Nene from Nine Arches Bridge at Thrapston on 16th, when seven were also seen at Stanwick GP and two remained at Stanford on Avon. One extended its stay at Wicksteed Water Meadows throughout the period and one was seen in flight over the A45 near Wellingborough on 18th.

The period’s Marsh Harriers were restricted to singles at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows NR on 18th and Thrapston’s Titchmarsh LNR two days later, on 20th. Once again, a single Nene Valley drifter may well have accounted for both sightings. Also on the harrier front, the ringtail Hen Harrier, found last week north of Irthlingborough, appeared settled and was seen daily in the vicinity of Neville’s Lodge, Finedon, where a second bird was also seen on 16th.

The same site hosted up to three Short-eared Owls throughout and a male Merlin was also there on 20th, while further Merlins were seen at Ditchford on 18th and near Lamport Hall the following day.

A paucity of passerines this week saw Stonechats down to twos at Pitsford on 16th, Ditchford on 18th, near Lamport on 19th and at Summer Leys LNR all week, while one was present at Earls Barton GP on 22nd.

On 20th, two Crossbills were found at Lamport and up to twenty at Wakerley Great Wood on the same date maintained the species presence there into another week.