Newsround – 17th to 23rd August 2024

Within an overall westerly airstream, remnants of Hurricane Ernesto gave the wind some oomph mid-week, quickly followed by Storm Lilian, with its hefty blow and bluster at the end of the period. Such conditions may have raised hopes for the early appearance of a seabird in the county but, unfortunately, it was not to be. While a certain American wader lingered, the top slot for new arrivals this week was occupied by two of the rarer grebes.

And as for ducks … well, no change there. The female Ruddy Shelduck saw another week out at Stanford Res and Summer Leys LNR laid claim to the week’s Garganeys, producing three on 19th. At Pitsford Res, the number of Red-crested Pochards increased from one last week to four on 17th, dropping to two on 20th.

Historically, late August is a prime time for the appearance of Black-necked Grebes in the county and, right on cue, came two – a worn adult at Clifford Hill GP on 21st-22nd, quickly followed by a fresh juvenile at Stanford on 23rd. In a year with, unusually, no spring records, these were much appreciated by local birders.

The period’s prime waders were limited to four species. Single fly-over Whimbrels were clocked at both Daventry CP and Ditchford GP on 19th. Spending more of its time on the more easily visible eastern side of the dwindling flood pools at Lilbourne Meadows NR, last week’s Lesser Yellowlegs lingered until 20th, after which there were no further reports. Otherwise, it was left to Wood Sandpipers to fill the void, with singles at Summer Leys from 18th to 23rd, at Clifford Hill from 19th to 23rd and at Stanwick GP on 20th. Surprisingly scarcer than the latter, Greenshanks were limited to up to two at Summer Leys between 17th and 23rd and one at Ditchford on 20th.

Once again, Yellow-legged Gull was the only species of its kind to be found during the period. Up to five were present at Pitsford between 17th and 22nd, an adult visited Stanford Res on 19th, while a juvenile was found at Clifford Hill GP on 22nd.

Following last week’s sightings at Hollowell and Stanford, a single juvenile Black Tern appeared also at Clifford Hill on 22nd.

The period’s Ospreys were this time confined to Pitsford and Stanford, with daily sightings at the former peaking at three, north of the causeway, on 19th. Stanford produced singles on 17th and 19th and two on 20th. By contrast, seven localities delivered Marsh Harriers – all singles. These were at Harrington AF and Hollowell on 17th, Summer Leys on 17th, 22nd and 23rd, Pitsford and Thrapston on 20th and in the Brampton Valley on 23rd. A strikingly leucistic juvenile, one of two from a nest at RSPB Otmoor in Oxfordshire, and with an online travelogue to its name, turned up at Lilbourne Meadows on 18th. Since fledging, this individual has been seen near Coventry, Warwickshire and at Willow Tree Fen, midway between Bourne and Spalding in Lincolnshire.

Heading the cast of the scarcer passerines was a Willow Warbler showing characteristics of the northern race acredula, trapped and ringed at Stanford on 21st.  

Once again, Common Redstarts remained prominent with daily sightings of one or two birds across a collective nine localities, including Blueberry Farm, Brampton Valley, Ditchford, Foxholes Fisheries (Crick), Harrington, Honey Hill, Lamport, Lilbourne Meadows and Stanford, one being trapped and ringed at the latter site on 17th.

Five sites produced Whinchats with Brampton Valley again holding the week’s maximum of four on 19th. Ones and twos were also seen at Harrington, Hollowell, Pitsford and Stanford, with one trapped and ringed by the Stanford Ringing Group on 19th.

Still thin on the ground, though, single Northern Wheatears were seen at Harrington on 17th, 19th and 23rd and at Blueberry Farm on 19th.

Following the autumn’s first last week, two Tree Pipits were trapped and ringed at Stanford on 17th, two singles flew south-west over Brackley during the morning of the latter date and one was at Harrington AF on 19th.