Newsround – 25th to 31st January 2025

Well, that’s January done and dusted and, with the birds it produced, as well as the hangers-on, it can be argued that it wasn’t a bad start to the year. The concluding week, while not explosively exciting, did deliver some class birds … in black and white.

There was little change when it came to the week’s geese, all of which appear to be steadfastly tucked in for the winter. At Clifford Hill GP, the Pink-footed Goose extended its stay until at least 29th, as did the two White-fronted Geese at Ravensthorpe Res and the lone adult at Cogenhoe Mill/Earls Barton GP.

And let’s not forget the now vintage female Ruddy Shelduck, still at Winwick Pools this week. It has evoked much discussion regarding its origin since its pattern of disappearing in spring and returning in autumn has become established over the last five years or so. While some thoughts on the status of Ruddy Shelduck in Northants and the UK in general are given here, we await the final conclusion from what seems to have become a rather long-winded, ongoing national review, after which birds from the large feral population in central Europe could become acceptable as vagrants from an external established population and added to Category C. We’ll see …

Not batting any eyelids anytime soon, the female Red-crested Pochard remained at Daventry CP until at least 29th. Also making it into the week once again was the first-winter female Greater Scaup, still present at Blatherwycke Lake on 26th, while an adult drake put in a brief appearance at Pitsford Res on 30th but was no longer on offer to those who looked the following day.

Indisputably topping the charts this week, though, were the two drake Smews found at Ravensthorpe on 29th. After one there on 12th, which had gone in a flash, found in the morning, this dynamic duo saw the day out, providing more than ample views and the opportunity for those with time on their hands to catch up with them. Alas, they had departed by the following day. Back in the day – and we’re talking ‘70s and 80’s – Ravensthorpe was the place for Smew, uncannily always turning up on the north-west side of the causeway in the same manner as this week’s birds.

A single Jack Snipe in the same place at Stanford Res on 28th and 31st served to keep this week’s waders afloat.

And the same can be said with regard to gulls – a single adult Yellow-legged Gull at Clifford Hill GP on 25th was the sole representative of their type during the period.

Once again, Pitsford retained its long-staying Great Northern Diver throughout.

The Summer Leys Glossy Ibis, too, remained in place, frequently commuting between the reserve and nearby fields close to the River Nene.

Cattle Egrets continued to be seen, this week branching out to Blatherwycke Lake, where one – likely to be a site first – was present on 26th. Two remained faithful to the sheep field and surrounding area close to Stanwick GP’s North Lake until at least 29th and one flew west over the A45 toward this area on the latter date.

The mid-Nene Marsh Harrier was again seen over Summer Leys on 27th.

So far this winter, Short-eared Owls have not been as easy to connect with as they have been in the past. A combination of some observers keeping shtum and others playing the ‘private land’ card continues to contribute to this, understandably so in the light of increasing disturbance to this hugely popular species by those keen to get up close and personal. So, like last week and the week before, they were again to be found in the Maidwell locale with two to the west, on private land near Blueberry Farm on 29th-31st, and one to the east, at Harrington AF on 25th-28th. One flew over the A45 Wilby roundabout on 26th and three were also at an undisclosed locality in the north of the county, apparently having been regularly present in recent weeks.

The period’s only Merlin was a female in flight over Milton Malsor on 31st.

And Stonechats were seemingly reduced to singles at Clifford Hill on 25th, Ditchford GP on 26th and Hollowell Res on 30th, while two were still at Earls Barton GP on the first of these dates.

After a lull in records, Hawfinches were back on this week, with one at Holy Trinity Churchyard, Blatherwycke on 25th and two at Cottesbrooke on 29th and 31st.