February 2026 – Northants birds

Newsround 21st to 27th February 2026

Posted on February 28, 2026 by Mike Alibone

The week was marked by higher-than-average temperatures, driven by a persistent south-westerly airstream and a building anticipation of the arrival of the first summer visitors – the latter bolstered by, among others, Sand Martins having already reached North Yorkshire before the week was out. But it was not to be. We have yet to beat the earliest local Sand Martin arrival, which was on 26th February, way back in 1990. Despite this, there was still much out there to feed the appetite for the scarce and rare, including the county’s first Red-necked Grebe for a good while …

Still ensconced in their favoured locations, this winter’s geese were not for turning – but for how much longer? Thrapston GP’s lone Pink-footed Goose was still keeping company, on and off, with the local Greylags until at least 23rd, while two flew over Lilbourne Meadows NR on 24th. Last week’s Tundra Bean Goose remained settled in the vicinity of Ringstead GP/Denford throughout the period, alongside the area’s similarly settled twenty-three White-fronted Geese, higher numbers of which were still to be found in the region of Stanford Res/Stanford on Avon, peaking there at thirty-three on the last day of the week. Elsewhere, Warmington Mill produced twenty-one on 22nd and Stanwick GP held up to seven until at least 26th.

The county’s two currently much admir’d diving ducks both saw the week out in their respective locations in the Nene Valley – the Ringstead Ring-necked Duck grabbing more attention as a result of a certain grebe nearby, while the fine drake Lesser Scaup continued to pull the punters as it lingered on the widest part of the river alongside Clifford Hill GP, providing easyviewin’ for all comers.

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Ringstead GP, 23rd February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 25th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Also notching up another seven days at the aforementioned site, the dapper drake Smew was a bonus for visitors from outside the county.

Horrible hybrids? Oh, go on then … A female presumed Pochard x Red-crested Pochard spent 21st-22nd at Kislingbury GP and must surely be the same distinctive individual as that seen at Stanford on 1st February.

Following six in the county last year, including one as late as 27th December, the first Common Crane of 2026 was picked up in flight as it moved high north over Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 23rd. The wait goes on for one on the ground …

And when was the last time all three scarce grebes were present in the county during the same week, if ever? So, perhaps this constitutes a record-breaker. We start with the arrival of a Red-necked Grebe at Ringstead on 22nd, serving to put the site on the map once again as it chose to show nicely there on Kinewell Lake throughout the period.

Red-necked Grebe, Ringstead GP, 23rd February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Red-necked Grebe, Ringstead GP, 25th February 2026 (Phil West)

The above is the first officially accepted record since 2017 and its recent local status contrasts markedly with the way things were a couple of decades ago. In fact, there was also a run of records in the late 1980s and early 1990s in which pairs summered and displayed breeding behaviour, although breeding never actually took place.

After last week’s Slavonian Grebe visiting Daventry CP on 19th, before moving on to Ravensthorpe Res the following day, it, or another, was found, or reappeared, at the latter locality on 26th but was not seen the following day. The 25th saw two Black-necked Grebes turn up at Daventry but, in common with the above bird, they had moved on by the next day.

Black-necked Grebes, Daventry CP, 25th February 2026 (Gary Pullan)

The week’s waders were limited to eleven Black-tailed Godwits flying west over Clifford Hill on 21st, followed by two at Summer Leys LNR the next day, while Hollowell Res produced four Jack Snipes on 23rd and one on 26th.

A single Mediterranean Gull at Stanford on Avon on 24th headed the cast of the period’s larids, while five sites held Caspian Gulls, representing a clear upturn on last week’s numbers. A remarkable four were found at Hollowell on 26th, after two were present there on 23rd, and lower numbers elsewhere comprised single birds at Cottingham on 21st, Daventry on 21st and 26th, Clifford Hill on 22nd and 25th and at Summer Leys from 23rd to 26th.

Adult Caspian Gull, Summer Leys LNR, 24th February 2026 (Alan Coles)

Yellow-legged Gulls were restricted to an adult on floodwater at Harringworth on 21st, two at Pitsford Res on 23rd and a first-winter at Daventry on 25th.

Remaining throughout the week, the Red-throated Diver showed increasingly itchy feet, yo-yoing back and forth between Ravensthorpe and Hollowell, last being seen at the latter site at the end of the week.

Red-throated Diver, Hollowell Res, 21st February 2026 (Jon Cook)

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 21st February 2026 (Jon Cook)

The long-staying Glossy Ibis remained at Summer Leys LNR throughout.

Surprisingly, for the winter season, two Bitterns seen during the period were only the second and third of the year – one being at Summer Leys on 22nd, the other on an inaccessible pool at Yardley Chase on 26th. And scraping into most weekly reports with much diminished numbers of late, a Cattle Egret remained in the vicinity of Ringstead’s Kinewell Lake between 21st and 24th.

Reports of raptors were, as usual, dominated by the presence of Marsh Harriers at Summer Leys, now widely acknowledged as a key location for the species. With sightings throughout the week, three different birds were seen together on the reserve, including the first-year male ‘J4’, now having been present in the county since the middle of December last year. Other locations producing single birds were Titchmarsh on 21st and 25th and Stanwick on 22nd, 24th and 25th.

Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 25th February 2026 (Alan Coles)

And, for the second week running, Hen Harrier featured, with ‘ringtails’ seen in flight near Holcot on 21st and at Harrington AF – not a million miles away – on 25th. A male Merlin was also at Harrington on the same date.

On the passerine front, Daventry’s Siberian Chiffchaff further extended its stay until the end of the week and a Firecrest was reported from Lilbourne Meadows on 24th.

Stonechats amassed a whopping total of eighteen in the wider reaches of the Brampton Valley on 25th, while up to two were noted at Desborough AF, Earls Barton GP, Hollowell, Pitsford, Thrapston, Stortons GP and Warmington as the week drew to a close.

Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 21st February 2026 (Leslie Fox)

And Crossbills continued to be seen across four different localities with Harlestone Firs producing a maximum of nine on 21st followed by two there on 25th, while up to seven were at Wakerley Great Wood on 23rd-24th and singles were at Pitsford on 21st and Scotland Wood, Kelmarsh on 23rd.

Newsround 14th to 20th February 2026

Posted on February 21, 2026 by Mike Alibone

Another late winter week saw cold, mostly overcast and foggy conditions with temperatures barely breaking 5°C, although the final day marked the beginning of something warmer to come. But the selection of birds on offer was not weather dependent and the surprise appearance of a certain duck at the week’s end went some considerable way toward breaking the ice …

The beginning of the week, however, was still owned largely by wintering geese. Following last week’s three at Stanford Res, a lone Pink-footed Goose was found with local Greylags alongside Thrapston GP at Islip Water Meadows on 15th, remaining there until 18th.

Pink-footed Goose, Islip Water Meadows, 15th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

And Tundra Bean Goose was again on the week’s menu when two distinctly separate birds were present in the northern reaches of the Nene Valley. Based on its unique pattern of white at the base of the bill, the first was the same individual which has been kicking around in the Thrapston GP area since early January, although remaining under the radar for a significant amount of time. Keeping company with twenty-three White-fronted Geese, it appeared at Ringstead GP on 14th before settling in fields at nearby Denford from 16th until the end of the period. The second bird paid the briefest of visits to Islip Water Meadows with Greylags on 16th and was not seen subsequently.

Tundra Bean Goose and White-fronted Geese, Denford, 16th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Tundra Bean Goose and White-fronted Geese, Denford, 18th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Tundra Bean Goose, Denford, 18th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

In addition to the aforementioned twenty-three, Stanford’s White-fronted Goose numbers remained high with at least forty mobile around fields between Stanford on Avon and the reservoir, on 15th. Lower numbers elsewhere included eight at Thrapston from 14th to 17th, visiting fields north of nearby Thorpe Waterville on 15th, and four at Stanwick GP between 15th and 18th.

Now seemingly settled on the Rosewater Fishing Lake at Ringstead, the drake Ring-necked Duck remained there from 14th until at least 18th and a Greater Scaup was reported on adjacent Kinewell Lake on 16th.

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Ringstead GP, 15th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

But the period’s highlight was found on the last day of the week, when a dapper drake Lesser Scaup broke water on the River Nene alongside Clifford Hill GP. Had it been Northamptonshire’s first – and maybe it is the same individual from last autumn – it would have drawn a sizeable crowd, given the easily accessible location and prime viewing conditions. As it was, a trickle observers dropped in to soak up the good views on offer.

Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Drake Lesser Scaup and Tufted Duck, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Dramatically overshadowed by the above – at least in terms of rarity – was the drake Smew which saw out another week at the same location.

And hybrids? The drake Pochard x Tufted Duck remains also at Clifford Hill, as does the presumed female Pochard x Tufted Duck at Daventry CP.

Moving swiftly on … and following a recent uptick in records in the UK, another new bird for the year this week was a Slavonian Grebe. First seen at Daventry on 19th, it moved to Ravensthorpe Res on 20th, where it was still present at close of play. Hard evidence in the form of a unique, small dark stripe on the left side of its head identifies it as the same bird at both locations.

Slavonian Grebe, Daventry CP, 19th February 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Slavonian Grebe, Ravensthorpe Res, 20th February 2026 (Jon Cook)

Slavonian Grebe, Ravensthorpe Res, 20th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Two Jack Snipes at Hollowell Res on 16th sums up the week’s scarcer waders.

The week’s gulls once again comprised two adult Mediterranean Gulls – one at Daventry on 16th and the other in the roost at Stanford three days later, on 19th, with two adult Caspian Gulls at Hollowell on the same dates.

Adult Mediterranean Gull, Daventry CP, 16th February 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Hollowell also played second locality fiddle to the Red-throated Diver, which upped sticks from Ravensthorpe on 16th but returned to the latter site on 19th, still being in residence there at the week’s end. It attracted far less attention than in the previous week, the novelty likely having worn off …

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 19th February 2026 (Jon Cook)

Also, considered part of the winter furniture, the Glossy Ibis remained at Summer Leys LNR throughout.

Once again, a Cattle Egret dropped into the flooded area at Wellingborough Embankment on 15th.

Also in the Nene Valley, Marsh Harriers continued their right to roam, Summer Leys producing sightings on 14th, 15th and 17th that included the first-year male ‘J4’. Elsewhere, singles were at both Ditchford GP and Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 14th. A ringtail Hen Harrier in the Brampton Valley/Blueberry Farm area on 17th was the third of the year so far, one having been seen there on 1st January, followed the next day by one near Laxton.

There was close to nothing new on the passerine front this week. Daventry’s Siberian Chiffchaff extended its stay until at least 19th, while a Firecrest was reported from Thrapston on 17th.

Stonechat numbers were down, with twos seen at Earls Barton GP on 14th and 17th, in the Brampton Valley on 15th, at Hollowell on 16th and at Stanwick on 18th.

Female Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 17th February 2026 (Leslie Fox)

Up to eight Crossbills were still present at Gamboro Plantation near Cottesbrooke throughout the week and singles were at Scotland Wood, Kelmarsh on 16th and 20th.

Two Corn Buntings reappeared briefly in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 16th.

Newsround 7th to 13th February 2026

Posted on February 14, 2026February 14, 2026 by Mike Alibone

Another significant wave of White-fronted Geese in-off the near continent was reflected in this week’s upturn in numbers and with them came more Tundra Beans. An early scattering of Common Scoters provided an interesting distraction but topping the bill by a country mile was a Red-throated Diver, which saw fit to linger at Ravensthorpe Res …

Following this winter’s earlier influx of White-fronted Geese, significant numbers again arrived in the UK at the end of the previous week and into the first day of the period. Seemingly associated with this was the appearance of three Pink-footed Geese at Stanford Res, on 7th-8th, along with four Tundra Bean Geese there on the same dates.

Pink-footed Goose, Stanford Res, 8th February 2026 (Chris Hubbard)

Tundra Bean Geese, Stanford Res, 8th February 2026 (Chris Hubbard)

Believed to be the same individual present in early January, another Tundra Bean Goose was also found adjacent to Thrapston GP at Islip Water Meadows, on 7th, in company with twenty-three White-fronted Geese. The 7th also saw a return to higher numbers of the latter at Stanford, with thirty-three there, rising to forty on 8th and forty-two the following day. Also on 8th, twenty-six were present at Warmington Mill and twenty-five dropped into Clifford Hill GP, albeit briefly, before heading off east. Seven were found at Cransley Res on 9th while, on 11th, six visited Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR, five were at Stanwick GP and two were mobile with Greylags between the reservoirs of Hollowell and Ravensthorpe. Numbers then increased to seven apiece at Stanwick and Titchmarsh the following day.

White-fronted Geese, Clifford Hill GP, 8th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

White-fronted Geese, Ravensthorpe Res, 11th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

The female Ruddy Shelduck was back in its favourite haunt in the vicinity of Winwick on 12th-13th.

Female Ruddy Shelduck, Winwick, 13th February 2026 (James Urwin)

Mobile about the northern part of the Nene Valley, the drake Ring-necked Duck was relocated at Ringstead GP on 7th before moving off west. It was then back on site at Titchmarsh on the last day of the period, prior to which it was last seen there on 20th January. A presumed drake Ring-necked Duck x Tufted Duck hybrid was again present at Ditchford GP on 12th after previously being reported there on 23rd January.

And while we’re on the subject, last week’s drake Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid was still at Clifford Hill on 8th and the presumed female Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid was also still showing at Daventry CP at the period’s end.

Eliciting more interest, though, was a mini-influx of Common Scoters on the last day of the week. Stanford held five, Clifford Hill and Thrapston three apiece and Hollowell produced two. All of these were drakes, which tend to winter further north than females and so are likely to be the first to return toward the end of winter/early spring. Curiously, apart from one in Oxfordshire two days prior, these represented the only sightings in the whole of the Midlands.

Drake Common Scoters, Clifford Hill GP, 13th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

Drake Common Scoters, Stanford Res, 13th February 2026 (Chris Hubbard)

Clifford Hill’s drake Smew saw another week out, while another paid a brief visit to Hollowell on 13th.

Drake Smew, Clifford Hill GP, 9th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

And, last seen on 18th January, Pitsford’s Black-necked Grebe was back again on 7th, remaining until at least 12th – although it’s not inconceivable that this week’s individual could be a different bird.

Also, back on the wader menu was Black-tailed Godwit with two briefly visiting Clifford Hill on 13th, while Hollowell gave rise to a decent count of five Jack Snipes on 11th, these being the only ones found during the period.

This is the first week of the year without Caspian Gulls, but more than making up for it was the presence of two fine adult Mediterranean Gulls – one at Ditchford on 8th and the other at Pitsford on 13th, the latter site also producing two Yellow-legged Gulls on 9th, 10th and 13th.

Found by our very own County Recorder in the failing light of a late winter’s afternoon, this week’s hallowed luminary emerged in the shape of a rather neat-looking Red-throated Diver, at Ravensthorpe Res on the 9th – a bird which, no longer the reasonably regular, though rare, visitor it once was, has become much sought after locally in recent years. The last one in the county spent barely five hours at Boddington Res on the last day of October 2024 and before that, well, you have to turn the clock back eighteen years to February 2008, when one saw out nearly two weeks at Pitsford Res. This week’s bird thus proved highly popular and, still present at the end of the period, has offered more than ample opportunity for those keen to connect with it.

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 9th February 2026 (Jon Cook)

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 10th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 10th February 2026 (Phil West)

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 10th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 11th February 2026 (Alan Coles)

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 12th February 2026 (Antony Taylor)

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 13th February 2026 (James Urwin)

Our one and only stalwart wintering Glossy Ibis saw another week out at Summer Leys …

And it’s been a fair while since a Marsh Harrier graced Stortons GP but that was put to rights on 7th, when one was watched flying south. In the wider reaches of the Nene Valley, where they are now seen regularly, an immature was present at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lake & Meadows NR on 8th, the same date upon which the first-year male ‘J4’ was again at Summer Leys, where it was still present, along with another immature, the following day. Further sightings came from Summer Leys on 10th and Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 12th.

First-year Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 9th February 2026 (Alan Coles)

First-year male Marsh Harrier ‘J4’, Summer Leys LNR, 9th February 2026 (Alan Coles)

The Daventry Siberian Chiffchaff was still present around the Grit Trap there on 12th-13th, while the more run of the mill passerines included Stonechats at Barnes Meadow NR, Brampton Valley, Clifford Hill, Earls Barton, Hollowell, Pitsford, Stanford and Thrapston, with maxima of four at Pitsford on 9th and 11th.

With the highest count of fifteen on 8th, Gamboro Plantation near Cottesbrooke continued to hold Crossbills, while two were at Wakerley Great Wood on 10th and one flew over Hollowell the following day.

Newsround 31st January to 6th February 2026

Posted on February 8, 2026February 9, 2026 by Mike Alibone

Largely flatlining, the week’s birding efforts across the county didn’t deliver anything much that had not already been seen and appreciated – or undervalued and ignored. But if hybrid ducks are your thing, simply read on …

This winter’s goose parade continued. Get them while you can as their absence next winter is likely on the cards. Duly outnumbered by the following species, Pink-footed Goose was again on the week’s agenda with the discovery of two at Lilbourne Meadows NR on 5th. But in keeping with the current trend, White-fronted Geese were still to be found in and around the county, although numbers were noticeably down on those of previous weeks. Stanford Res mustered a mere sixteen on 3rd, while ten were again at Warmington Mill on 31st and single-figure counts came from Stanwick GP, where up to four were still present all week and Hollowell, where the long-staying, lone adult was still present on 1st.

Lilbourne Meadows was next in line to stage the reappearance of the female Ruddy Shelduck on the last day of the period, having previously visited Hollowell between 6th and 12th January.

Likely eliciting more interest, though, was a series of hybrid ducks sent to please or tease, depending on your point of view.

To delve deeper into the detail of hybrid ducks, Reeber (2015) is probably the best source of reference.

Unquestionably pure, however, was the fine drake Smew which extended its stay at Clifford Hill GP by another full week.

The only reasonably scarce wader to be found during in the period was Jack Snipe, which was seen at four localities including Upton CP, where two were present on 31st and one on 1st, Pitsford Res, which produced one also on the above two dates, Hollowell, where there was one on 1st and in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton with one on 3rd-4th.

And Caspian Gulls enjoyed a good run throughout the week, Summer Leys LNR hanging on to its seemingly settled adult until at least 5th and being joined there by a second-winter plus two first-winters on 2nd. The latter date also saw a third-winter and a first-winter at Daventry CP and a third-winter at Stanford, while one was at Hollowell on 1st.

First-winter Caspian Gull, Summer Leys LNR, 2nd February 2026 (Julie Roe)

A first-winter Yellow-legged Gull at Daventry on 2nd was the sole representative of its kind.

Glossy Ibis? Yes – Wellingborough Embankment on 31st and 1st before moving to Summer Leys on 2nd and remaining there until the week’s end. The latter site also held a Cattle Egret on 1st-2nd.

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 5th February 2026 (Tony Stanford)

Playing tag, Marsh Harriers continued to roam the Nene Valley, Summer Leys unsurprisingly producing the lion’s share of the sightings, which included three first-years, including the wing-tagged male, ‘J4’ – all on 2nd. Otherwise, single birds were present there on 31st, 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th. Elsewhere, singles were present at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings, Ditchford GP and Stanwick GP – all on 31st, the Stanwick individual displaying an unread orange wing-tag.

Marsh Harrier, Ditchford GP, 31st January 2026 (James Underwood)

Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 2nd February 2026 (Leslie Fox)

On the passerine front, the Siberian Chiffchaff was still present at Daventry CP on 4th, when it was joined by a second bird, both being actively mobile and elusive.

Siberian Chiffchaff, Daventry CP, 4th February 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Siberian Chiffchaff, Daventry CP, 4th February 2026 (Gary Pullan). A second individual.

Once more set to tease – though likely long-forgotten – back in the frame on 3rd was the Black Redstart on farmland ‘with no public access’ between Lamport and Scaldwell, where it was initially found on New Year’s Day …

Rather more plentiful and accessible, Stonechats were to be found at nine sites, with maximum counts of four at both Ditchford GP and Upton CP on 31st. Other locations holding up to three were Aston le Walls, Barnes Meadow NR, Blatherwycke Lake, Brampton Valley, Earls Barton GP, Hollowell and Pitsford.

Male Stonechat, Ditchford GP, 31st January 2026 (James Underwood)

Gamboro Plantation near Cottesbrooke produced Crossbills almost daily, with the highest count of 22 there on 1st. Elsewhere, three and two were at Harlestone Heath and Wakerley Great Wood, respectively, on 31st.

Two Corn Buntings were still present in fields immediately west of Deanshanger on 2nd.