July 2024 – Northants birds

Newsround – 20th to 26th July 2024

Posted on July 27, 2024 by Mike Alibone

As July races by, more migrants are on the fly but it’s still early days and there’s much to play for …

Knocking around the reservoirs of Ravensthorpe and Stanford this week, the female Ruddy Shelduck was at the former site on 23rd-24th and the latter on 22nd and 26th, while the only other wildfowl were 3 Garganeys at Daventry CP on 20th, at least two remaining until 22nd.

Garganey, Daventry CP, 20th July 2024 (Gary Pullan)

Meanwhile, down in the Nene Valley, an ill-defined photo was the legacy left by what may have been a Red-necked Grebe at Summer Leys LNR on the morning 20th, although there were no reliable reports later in the day … or subsequently.

Sought-after waders were low in numbers and squeezing the cloth produced a mere trickle of Black-tailed Godwits, with one at Stanwick GP on 20th and two at Summer Leys on 23rd. A Wood Sandpiper was also reported from the latter site on 20th.

Post-breeding and non-breeding gull numbers have now begun to build and where better to look than DIRFT 3? If not to your taste then simply skip the next paragraph and related photos … The aforementioned site is in a state of constant flux and we’ve now seen the last nail go into the coffin as far as the formerly highly productive A5 pools are concerned. Bulldozed, flattened and now bone dry, it’s now a level playing field for loafing gulls, amid which, on 23rd, was an adult showing (controversial) mixed features of Caspian Gull and Yellow-legged Gull – see here for the ID discussion. A third-summer Caspian was present there on 26th.

Adult possible Caspian Gull x Yellow-legged Gull hybrid, DIRFT 3, 23rd July 2024 (Mike Alibone)

No such debate ensued over the identity of the ‘textbook’ Caspian that was found and photographed at Earls Barton GP on 24th. Handily wearing a yellow ring inscribed P:W37, it was traceable to its origins in Mietków Dolnośląskie, Poland, where it was ringed as a pullus on 31st May 2018 – and it has been visiting the UK annually ever since. The majority of sightings have come from the landfill at Shawell, Leicestershire but this bird was also seen in both Buckinghamshire and Somerset in 2019 and in Warwickshire in 2023.

Polish-ringed adult Caspian Gull, Earls Barton GP, 24th July 2024 (Leslie Fox)

Ringing data map for Polish-ringed adult Caspian Gull at Earls Barton GP, 24th July 2024

There were more Yellow-legged Gulls this week, with DIRFT 3 hosting the highest counts of eighteen on 26th and seven on 23rd. Elsewhere, singles were at Pitsford Res on 21st, Ravensthorpe Res and Stanwick GP on 24th and at Daventry CP and Thrapston GP on 25th.

Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Ravensthorpe Res, 24th July 2024 (Jim Urwin)

Perhaps overshadowed by gulls, a second-summer Arctic Tern paid a brief morning visit to Daventry CP on 25th.

A Bittern was an unusual visitor to Stanford Res on 26th and Cattle Egrets seen at Stanwick GP included three on 20th, two on 23rd and six on 26th.

On the raptor front, Ospreys featured daily with one at Hollowell Res on 20th, up to two at Ravensthorpe Res between 21st and 23rd, one at Stanford on 20th, 24th, 25th and 26th and one at Pitsford on 26th.

Male Osprey, Hollowell Res, 20th July 2024 (Jon Cook)

Marsh Harriers, too, featured singles at Barnwel on 20th, Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) and Stanford on 22nd and Stanwick on 24th.

And at the passerine end of the spectrum, Common Redstarts remained the dominant species, appearing at eight localities which included up to two at Blueberry Farm between 21st and 26th, two between Old and Pitsford Res on 23rd, up to two at Lilbourne Meadows NR between 23rd and 26th and singles at both Clifford Hill GP and Honey Hill on 21st and at Lamport, Harrington AF and in the Brampton Valley on 23rd.

Juvenile Common Redstart, Honey Hill, 21st July 2024 (Jon Cook)

Male Common Redstart, Lilbourne Meadows NR, 26th July 2024 (Mike Alibone)

Two more Whinchats appeared this week with singles at Hollowell Res between 20th and 26th and in the Brampton Valley between 21st and 23rd.

Male Whinchat, Hollowell Res, 20th July 2024 (Jon Cook)

And the first Crossbills for some time comprised two in flight over Blueberry Farm on 22nd.

Caspian Gull, yellow-legged gull, or hybrid?

Posted on July 27, 2024 by Mike Alibone

In the world of gulls, things aren’t always what they seem …

And so it was with the apparent ‘Caspian’ Gull at DIRFT 3 on 23rd July. This bird was part of a day-roosting flock of approximately 150 large gulls, which also included 7 Yellow-legged Gulls. Based on structure alone, this bird was within the Caspian camp but there were some anomalies when it came to plumage and, potentially, leg colour.

The upperparts and upper wings were darker than normal ‘western’ Caspian and as dark as nearby Yellow-legged Gulls, the legs dull/pale yellowish, flesh-coloured feet, it showed extensive black on the outer primaries while three inner primaries had been replaced with new ones which were still growing.

According to Malling Olsen & Larsson (Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America, 2004), these features seemed to fit reasonably well with Caspian Gulls from the eastern part of the species’ range. It did not go all the way to being a different race, not fitting barabensis in terms of the latter’s more compact structure, precise primary pattern and more intense yellow bare part colour.

After posting the images included here on the Western Palearctic Gulls Facebook page, out of 26 likes/comments, 4 were pro-Yellow-legged Gull and one pro-Caspian.

I also consulted Carl Baggott (Leicestershire Recorder and renowned gull expert). Here’s his take on it:

“Interesting looking beast. I can see where you are coming from, but it might be better to think of something closer to hand. Yellow-legged Gull is the most likely and I have seen some very Caspian Gull like birds in southern Europe. As you have gathered, the amount of black in the primaries is too extensive for a cachinnans, but it falls within the range of barabensis or michahellis. The leg colour is a bit insipid for a michahellis but within variation. The long legged small headed appearance can also be a result of the bird being a bit malnourished. Head moult can also alter a gull’s appearance. Can’t be certain but I would lean towards YLG. Another thing that seems to be an issue is Birdflu as some adult HGs now have black eyes and this might be affecting YLGs as well.”

However, given its Caspian-like features (parallel-sided bill, more gently curved distal part of upper mandible, consistently flattened head and long, sloping forehead, plus general jizz) I don’t think Caspian x Yellow-legged can be entirely ruled out, as hybrids have been recorded where the ranges of the two species overlap.

Carl kindly commented further:

“The hybrid idea may well be the answer.”

“ However, the long legs and flattish head do suggest Caspian Gull, but this isn’t always cast iron. There are a lot of YLGs in Eastern Europe and so hybrid Caspian x YLG should exist. I just can’t 100% rule out an odd ball YLG.”

Any further opinions welcomed …

Newsround – 13th to 19th July 2024

Posted on July 21, 2024 by Mike Alibone

Mid-July is not renowned for its delivery of the rare and the scarce – this is, after all, Northamptonshire … But as the weather warmed up so, to some extent, did the birds with the county’s two scarcest – though regular – migrant terns appearing on the same day.

Now looking like a fixed feature of forthcoming weekly Newsrounds, the female Ruddy Shelduck took a break from its favoured location of Winwick Pools to visit Stanford Res on 15th but it was back at Winwick three days later.

Female Ruddy Shelduck, Stanford Res, 15th July 2024 (Chris Hubbard)

The only other duck of note, though, was a female Common Scoter, which dropped into Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 16th.

This week’s passage of notable waders was again limited to the same three species as the week prior, with lower numbers of Black-tailed Godwits restricted to Stanwick GP, where there were eight on 16th and two on 17th. Stanwick also produced a Wood Sandpiper on 16th, while a single Greenshank remained at Lilbourne Meadows NR until at least 18th.

Pitsford Res held on to its regular adult Yellow-legged Gull all week, while 17th saw a Sandwich Tern pay the briefest of visits to Stanford and, following last week’s Clifford Hill duo, yet another Little Tern appeared fleetingly at Earls Barton GP’s Mary’s Lake on the same day. The largest of the two is only the fourth this year, while its diminutive cousin has six previous records in 2024 to date.

In the Nene Valley, the number of juvenile Cattle Egrets jumped from two to four at this year’s new breeding site on 13th.

Following a week with, surprisingly, no reports, Ospreys staged a bid for a comeback, with the reservoirs of Pitsford and Stanford producing the most sightings. Two were at the first of these localities on 14th, followed by singles there on 15th, 16th and 19th, while one visited the latter site on multiple occasions between 15th and 18th. Elsewhere, one was found at Ravensthorpe Res on 14th and one flew high east over Summer Leys LNR on 19th.

Osprey, Stanford Res, 17th July 2024 (Barry Silverman)

And on the passerine front, Common Redstarts continued to be seen in the usual hotspots for this species. Up to two were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell between 13th and 18th, a male remained at Woodford Halse NR, where it was seen on 14th-15th, Lilbourne Meadows held on to a male between 14th and 19th and single females were found at Stanford on 14th and at Ramsden Corner Plantation NR near Upper Stowe on 17th.

Whinchat, Pitsford Res, 15th July 2024 (David Arden)

The second Whinchat of the autumn put in an appearance at Pitsford Res on 15th.

Newsround – 6th to 12th July 2024

Posted on July 13, 2024 by Mike Alibone

A somewhat unsettled week, weatherwise, delivered a varied selection of migrants across the board, with passerines pushing to make a comeback.

Settled back in one of its favoured localities was the female Ruddy Shelduck, at Winwick Pools, on the last two days of the period.

Female Ruddy Shelduck, Winwick Pools, 11th July 2024 (James Urwin)

Once again, wader passage was dominated by Black-tailed Godwits which continued to drop in for short periods at a number of locations. Clifford Hill GP was the host to the most, producing nine on 6th, one on 9th and twenty-four on 12th, followed by Summer Leys LNR, which delivered ten on 6th and 7th, two on 9th and eight on 10. Smaller numbers included six flying east over Daventry CP on 10th, two at Stanwick GP on 6th and singles at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 8th, Stanford Res on 9th and Lilbourne Meadows NR on 12th.

Black-tailed Godwits, Summer Leys LNR, 6th July 2024 (Ricky Sinfield)

Black-tailed Godwit, Stanford Res, 9th July 2024 (Chris Hubbard)

Black-tailed Godwits, Summer Leys LNR, 9th July 2024 (Tony Stanford)

Black-tailed Godwits, Clifford Hill GP, 12th July 2024 (Tyler Atkinson)

Two sites yielded Wood Sandpipers – a short-stayer dropping in briefly at Summer Leys on 6th and another completing a one-day stay at Lilbourne Meadows on 9th.

Wood Sandpiper, Lilbourne Meadows NR, 9th July 2024 (Mike Alibone)

The latter site also produced the week’s only Greenshank, also on 9th.

Greenshank, Lilbourne Meadows NR, 9th July 2024 (Mike Alibone)

On the larid front, a lone adult Yellow-legged Gull was at Pitsford Res on 9th, following one, or the same, there last week, on 30th. But, continuing what appears to be turning into a good year for the species, two more Little Terns put in an appearance at Clifford Hill GP, also on 9th. There have been five previous records so far this year.

Cattle Egrets maintained a low profile with two, possibly three, birds – all juveniles – that included one at Stanwick on 8th and one at both Summer Leys and at nearby Earls Barton GP on 11th.

Passerines were well represented for early July. A Black Redstart was found at Harrington AF on 8th, followed by a second bird discovered there the next day. Surprisingly, these are the first for 2024 and this year is the first this century that we have had no spring records. Up to three Common Redstarts – all males – hung on from last week at Lilbourne Meadows until at least 11th, two were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 8th-9th, with one there on 12th and one was at Woodford Halse NR on 9th-10th.

Male Common Redstart, Lilbourne Meadows NR, 8th July 2024 (Jon Cook)

The first Whinchat of the autumn, a male, put in a brief appearance by the River Nene, close to Earls Barton GP on 10th.

Male Whinchat, Earls Barton GP, 10th July 2024 (Aamir Aziz Mughal)

Newsround – 29th June to 5th July 2024

Posted on July 6, 2024 by Mike Alibone

With a new week, a new month and a mounting backdrop of migrants, there can be little doubt that we are now in ‘ornithological autumn’ …

Just one bird keeping wildfowl afloat this week was the drake Common Scoter that dropped into Stanford Res on 3rd, no doubt a component of this species’ moult migration that takes place annually at this time of the year.

Drake Common Scoter, Stanford Res, 3rd July 2024 (Steve Nichols)

North of Walgrave at least one male Common Quail was still present, singing until at least 2nd.

But it’s now July and more waders are on the move. In terms of numbers, Black-tailed Godwits were, unsurprisingly, well in evidence with, chronologically, two at Ditchford GP on 29th, eight at Summer Leys LNR on 30th and two at Stanwick GP on the same date, two at Summer Leys on 2nd followed by one there on 5th, the latter date seeing six at Clifford Hill GP and one at Pitsford Res. Single Greenshanks visited Stanwick on 30th and Summer Leys on 5th.

Black-tailed Godwits, Clifford Hill GP, 5th July 2024 (Tyler Atkinson)

The week’s larids were represented by lone Yellow-legged Gulls at Pitsford on 30th and Stanwick on 4th.

And bird of the week? Well, that accolade fell firmly to the Spoonbill that paid a brief, early morning visit to Summer Leys on 4th. Following an unconfirmed report of one in flight over Wood Burcote on 17th April and another short-stayer at Clifford Hill GP four days later, this week’s is only the third to grace the county so far this year.

Juvenile Spoonbill, Summer Leys LNR, 4th July 2024 (Ricky Sinfield)

Bitterns were again at one site, while single Cattle Egrets were at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) on 29th and Summer Leys the following day, with four at Stanwick GP on 2nd.

The week’s fly-over Ospreys were widely spread across four localities in the county, namely Irthlingborough on 29th, Pitsford on 2nd, Stanford on 3rd and Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 4th.

And they’re back! We’re talking Common Redstarts. It was late April since we last saw one but this week Lilbourne Meadows NR dished up the first one of the autumn on 29th-30th and three males had accrued there by 4th.

Male Common Redstart, Lilbourne Meadows NR, 29th June 2024 (Jon Cook)

Male Common Redstart, Lilbourne Meadows NR, 4th July 2024 (Jon Cook)

The same date also delivered one apiece to Harrington AF and Pitsford, the latter site also producing a juvenile Stonechat, which was trapped and ringed there on 29th.