Newsround 25th to 31st October 2025

Never mind the weather – its impact on the local birding scene this week was, in all respects, null and void, paling into insignificance after a surprise reappearance by last month’s long-awaited county first.

We are, of course, referring to the fine drake Lesser Scaup which resurfaced at, of all places, Ditchford GP, offering local birders a second bite of the cherry and giving what turned out to be a lengthy encore after its initial short showing at Stanford Res in late September.

Found on 27th, there can be little doubt that this and the Stanford bird are one and the same, given that this week saw only two others in the UK – one on the Outer Hebrides and the other in the Greater Manchester area. Now showing only remnants of eclipse plumage, it was still present at the week’s end, with a multitude of much-relieved locals luxuriating in it during its (so far uncapped) five-day stay.

All other wildfowl were, of course, left in the shade. The second appearance of the autumn for Pink-footed Goose took the form of six in flight over Hanging Houghton on 26th, while Whooper Swans continued to arrive, all be they short-stayers. The latter were represented by eight in flight over Pitsford, heading toward the reservoir on 25th, followed by six in Scaldwell Bay there on 26th, when five were also at Stanford and three at Clifford Hill GP.

After last being seen at Stanford on 7th September, the locally-roaming Ruddy Shelduck was reported again at Hollowell Res on 27th, while the two drake Red-crested Pochards continued their sojourn at Daventry CP throughout the period.

New in – and out – on the wader front was a Grey Plover, passing through Hollowell without stopping, on 31st.

And having chalked up a lengthy stay of four weeks on site, Hollowell also retained its juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper until 29th, after which it had seemingly departed. Other waders this week included a lingering Black-tailed Godwit at Daventry CP from 27th to 31st and two Jack Snipes at Clifford Hill on 26th, plus one at Summer Leys LNR on the same date, being seen there again on 30th.

Mediterranean Gull was back on this week’s larid menu with the arrival of a first-winter in the gull roost at Stanford on 28th with a repeat showing there the following evening. Also keeping up appearances were Caspian Gulls, the early part of the period seeing a run at Earls Barton GP’s Mary’s Lake, where there was an adult on 25th and two adults plus a second-winter the following day. Four other sites contributed to the week’s quota, with Ravensthorpe Res hosting a third-winter on 27th, Stanford’s roost holding an adult on 28th, while single first-winters visited Hollowell and Daventry on 29th and 30th, respectively.

With sightings from four localities, Yellow-legged Gulls were up on last week’s tally, the period’s birds including two at Pitsford – the county’s most reliable site for the species – on 25th, up to two adults at Mary’s Lake on 25th-26th, an adult in the roost at Stanford on 28th and 29th and one at Clifford Hill GP on the last of these two dates.

October is one of two prime autumn months for the appearance of disoriented Gannets in the county and this year’s 10th month duly obliged – albeit at the eleventh hour – when one was caught in flight moving east over Summer Leys, late in the morning of 31st. Following records in October last year and, prior to that, in October 2021, this would appear to be about the 45th for Northants.

Back to current day normality at Summer Leys, three Glossy Ibises were still present on 26th, dwindling to two by 28th and one from 29th.

A Bittern was also present there on 31st, one also being seen at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on the same date.

The on and off appearances of a Marsh Harrier also continued at Titchmarsh this week with sightings on 28th and 31st, while one was over Summer Leys again on 26th. Merlins, too, were clearly in evidence and included singles at Stanford on 25th, Gayton and Harrington AF on 26th and in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 28th and 31st.

Passerine numbers were down on last week’s and an unconfirmed report, lacking any detail, of a Yellow-browed Warbler emerged late on 31st of one at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings sometime on the same date is probably not the best to end the week on.

A Ring Ouzel at Harrington AF on 29th is about par for the course …

And the period’s Stonechats consisted of no more than six at any one site, that locality being Hollowell Res on 29th. Between two and four were seen in the Brampton Valley, at Earls Barton GP, Pitsford Res, Summer Leys and Titchmarsh as the week came to a close.

A late Northern Wheatear remained at Clifford Hill from 25th until the week’s end, an unfortunate foot injury perhaps accounting for its prolonged presence there.

Crossbills were few and far between and included two at Salcey Forest on 25th and four in flight over the urban setting of Allen Road, Northampton the following day.

Which just leaves Corn Bunting, the recent Brampton Valley bird remaining faithful to its chosen site between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton , being seen there daily from 28th until 31st.