Cool northerlies and arctic air were the order of the week as we approach the end of April, during which time it was revealed that England has experienced its wettest eighteen months since records began in 1836.
However, this did not put the dampeners on migration and the opening weekend saw the first widespread arrival of Common Swifts of the spring, particularly on Sunday, 21st, with birds arriving en masse across southern England. This was reflected in our own arrivals with reports from four localities across the county.
While the swift movement was underway, there were two ducks seemingly intent on going nowhere. Both long-stayers, the drake Red-crested Pochard at Earls Barton GP’s new workings area and the female Ring-necked Duck at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR saw another week out in the Nene Valley.
The same could not be said, though, for two different drake Common Scoters, a first-summer and an adult, both of which paid fleeting visits to Stanford Res on 21st and 24th, respectively.
But it was back to the Nene Valley in which, unsurprisingly, the majority of the week’s waders were to be found. Following last week’s two, more Whimbrels passed through the county, with singles at Summer Leys LNR on 21st, 23rd and 26th and at Clifford Hill GP on 25th – none of which stayed for any appreciable length of time. The opposite applied to last week’s Bar-tailed Godwit found on the established seasonal floodwater at Lower Barnwell Lock, Oundle on the last day of the preceding week, remaining in situ until 23rd. It’s been the only one to date this year and we’re now entering the peak time for this species, so more should surely be on the cards.
Otherwise it was down to Black-tailed Godwits to keep up the momentum. Taking the lion’s share, Clifford Hill produced five on 21st and three on 23rd while, on the latter date, three visited Stanwick GP and two were found on pools in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth. Summer Leys also supplied two on 24th-25th.
Arguably though, it was Stanwick which produced ‘wader of the week’, that slot being filled by the year’s first Turnstone, which saw a full day out on 23rd.
But now from wader of the week to wader flock of the week and, although not scare or rare as such, Redshank numbers swelled overnight to put on an impressive show at Clifford Hill GP on 22nd, when a record-breaking seventy-one were gathered together on the northern shoreline of the Main Barrage Lake. Unremarkable at a coastal location, perhaps, but in Northamptonshire this is something truly special! Tagging along with them was a solitary Greenshank, while further individuals of the latter were also seen at Summer Leys between 21st and 23rd and at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR on the latter date.
A late Jack Snipe was found at Hollowell Res this week, also on 23rd.
And so we turn to terns. While numbers of the ‘Common’ variety built steadily as more continued to arrive, it was Arctic Terns that stimulated a little more interest. Against the background of a sizeable movement across the UK, we might consider ourselves short-changed given the pitifully small numbers dealt out to Northants. These can be duly summed up as three at Summer Leys on 22nd, followed by five there the next day, three at Clifford Hill on 23rd and one at Stanford on 26th.
Following an unconfirmed report of one in flight over Wood Burcote last week, a ‘subadult’ – probably third calendar year – Spoonbill materialised at Clifford Hill on 21st. Alas, its stay was short and it was up and away less than an hour after its discovery. Given the increase in numbers in the UK in recent years, the hope of more during this spring and beyond is well justified and there is every chance this will be fulfilled …
For now, though, bread-and-butter Cattle Egrets continue to occupy the (formerly) rare heron slot and this week’s consisted of three in flight over Summer Leys on 23rd, when two were also at adjacent Hardwater Lake, one flying west over Earls Barton GP on 24th and two in flight over Thrapston GP’s Town Lake on 25th.
Raptor sightings were again unsurprisingly dominated by, but not limited to, Ospreys. All were seen in flight and included singles near Harrington on 20th, near Welford and over Weston Mill (Northampton) on 21st and at Pitsford on 24th, while two separate males visited Hollowell on 26th.
This last day of the week also saw a Marsh Harrier over Stanford and a smart male Hen Harrier over Bucknell Wood. Adult males of the latter are rarely encountered in Northants.
And the county continued to hold on to its ‘wintering’ Short-eared Owls. Two were still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell, remaining there until at least 23rd, Harrington hung on to one throughout the period and one remained in the Brampton Valley on 25th-26th. A favourable change in the weather may yet hasten their departure.
But once again, the passerine spotlight was firmly on Ring Ouzels which, in common with the last species, appear to be determined to extend their stay in the county. Under the circumstances, it’s no surprise that the easily accessible Weston Mill bird again proved to be the most popular pull for local birders. Initially found last week on 18th, it remained settled in Miller’s Meadow, showing well to all comers throughout the period. Others were available, of course, with at least one – possibly two – at Harrington all week and two at Honey Hill between 20th and 22nd.
There were fewer Common Redstarts, however, comprising singles in the Brampton Valley and at Weston Mill on 20th and at Harrington on 20th, 22nd and 26th. A solitary, first-summer male Whinchat – the spring’s third – was discovered on Borough Hill on the last day of the week.
Meanwhile, Northern Wheatear numbers held steady. Harrington, where birds were seen almost daily, produced at least four on 22nd, three on 20th and two on 24th and 26th. Similarly, Clifford Hill held up to four between 22nd and 25th, four were between Harringworth and Laxton on 20th, three were at Blueberry Farm on 23rd, two were at Hartwell from 20th to 23rd and one was found on Borough Hill on 20th.
Now, that just leaves wagtails. Four sites held White Wagtails and, of these, Lower Barnwell Lock produced the highest total of four on 20th followed by one there on 23rd. Elsewhere, three were at Summer Leys on 22nd with two there on 23rd and singles on 21st and 25th, while further singles were present at Clifford Hill on 20th and on floodwater at Aynho on 23rd and 25th.
This last site also produced a male ‘Channel’ Wagtail from 23rd until the week’s end.
Northants birds 