In stark contrast to last week, a run of low pressure systems to the north of the UK drew westerly winds in off the Atlantic, laden with rain and introducing below average temperatures. While the birding scene quietened down considerably, there was a welcome return – albeit fleetingly – of a once common species that has not been seen in the county for three years.
We’re talking, of course, about Turtle Dove – a long-lost, breeding summer visitor, the UK population of which has declined by 98% since 1994. This dramatic drop is the largest UK decline of any of the 119 species tracked by the RSPB Breeding Birds Survey over the period of monitoring. In line with this, the number of localities where Turtle Doves were recorded in Northamptonshire during the first quarter of this century has fallen drastically from 36 in 2001 to zero in 2024-25.
Evidence suggests one reason for the overall decline is a shortened breeding period, which has reduced the number of nesting attempts, thought to be driven by reduced food availability as a result of increased herbicide use. Mortality both on the wintering grounds from habitat deterioration and on migration through hunting, are also potential drivers (BTO). A moratorium on hunting along the ‘Western European Flyway’ (France, Portugal, Spain) came into force in 2021 and has had a positive effect with the number of breeding pairs of Turtle Dove subsequently increasing along it by an estimated 40.5%. However, abundance along the Central European Flyway, where no restrictions are in place, continues to decline and the moratorium on the western flyway was lifted in 2025, although a limited quota is now in force (Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 2025). What impact this will have on our own Turtle Dove population remains to be seen.
In other news, two Avocets were at Summer Leys LNR on 31st, two flew east at Clifford Hill GP on 3rd and a Whimbrel also visited the latter site on 2nd.
Following one over Thrapston GP on 4th May, another – or the same – White Stork flew high over the A605 there on 30th and was identified as one from the Knepp reintroduction project, some of which are satellite-tagged.
Back at Clifford Hill, a Cattle Egret was present on 1st-2nd.
Northants birds 