July 2026 – Northants birds

Newsround 18th to 24th July 2026

Posted on July 26, 2026 by Mike Alibone

With migrants on the move, the penultimate week of July wasn’t too bad, as it happened. The prevailing wind from northerly quarters took the edge off the heat and, while parts of Wales declared official drought conditions, six counties in central and southern England moved a step closer, officially announcing ‘prolonged dry weather’, the Environment Agency’s drought status that sits between ‘normal’ and ‘drought’ conditions. Northamptonshire was one of these, this following Anglian Water’s hosepipe ban announced the week before. Funny, that, because if you take a look at Pitsford, the county’s largest reservoir, there are only narrow muddy margins running to about the extent expected for the time of year. Hopefully there will be waders aplenty in the weeks to come …

Seemingly settled and beginning its summer moult, the female Ruddy Shelduck remained all week at Stanford Res where, on the first day of the period, a female-type Ferruginous Duck was also present. Most certainly from nearby Shawell, just over the border in Leicestershire, where it was seen earlier in the month, this individual has been earmarked as of ‘unknown origin’ and forms part of a cluster of unseasonal summer sightings in this part of the Midlands over the past couple of years. In fact, all Ferruginous Duck records in neighbouring Warwickshire since 2021 have been relegated to Category E by the British Birds Rarities Committee.

No such derision of status applies to the drake and female Garganeys that were found at Summer Leys LNR on 20th. Still present at the week’s end, they are squeaky clean …

Once again, the period proved good for Black-necked Grebes, with last week’s adult remaining at Stanford until 18th and two (more?) adults appearing at Daventry CP on 21st after the last sighting of one there on 17th. Both were still present until 22nd, after which one stayed on until the week’s end. Meanwhile, the Nene Valley delivered two juveniles, with one at Clifford Hill GP on 21st being joined there by another on 24th.

Black-necked Grebe, Stanford Res, 18th July 2026 (Barry Silverman)

So, from Black-necked Grebes to Black-tailed Godwits, small numbers of which saw last week’s Titchmarsh NR individual remaining until 20th, single birds at Clifford Hill on 18th, Pitsford Res on 21st and Summer Leys on 24th and three at Daventry CP on 21st.

Black-tailed Godwits, Daventry CP, 21st July 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Black-tailed Godwit, Daventry CP, 21st July 2026 (Gary Pullan)

And, after being treated to an impressive spring passage of Wood Sandpipers, the first of the autumn dropped into Hollowell Res on 22nd, still to be found there at the week’s end, while another also appeared at Daventry on the last day of the period.

Wood Sandpiper, Hollowell Res, 22nd July 2026 (Jon Cook)

Wood Sandpiper, Daventry CP, 24th July 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Daventry also produced the week’s only Greenshank, on 22nd, the muddy margins there also giving rise to a juvenile Mediterranean Gull on 21st.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Daventry CP, 21st July 2026 (Gary Pullan)

The week’s Yellow-legged Gulls were to be found at four localities, with Pitsford holding up to three throughout, while singles were at Thrapston GP on 18th, 20th and 22nd, Clifford Hill on 20th and 22nd and Sywell CP on 24th.

Back at Daventry, a first-summer Arctic Tern dropped in, briefly, on 24th.

Just the one Bittern showed this week – where else but at Summer Leys.

Ospreys showed up at four localities and included twos at Pitsford on 18th and Cransley Res the following day, while Thrapston GP’s Elinor Trout Lake produced singles on 18th, 20th, 22nd and 24th. Single birds also visited Pitsford on 19th, 20th and 23rd and one was seen over Ravensthorpe Res on the latter date. The number of Marsh Harriers increased on the previous week’s with single birds at Summer Leys on 18th, in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke, Hanging Houghton and Blueberry Farm on 18th, 19th, 20th, 23rd and 24th, Pitsford on 19th and 21st and over Byfield on 23rd.

Borough Hill produced a one-day wonder in the shape of a Pied Flycatcher on 23rd which is, so far, the sole representative of its kind in the county this year.

And the run of Common Redstarts rumbled on, with the number of recorded localities matching last week’s eleven. These comprised two in the Brampton Valley, Blueberry Farm (Maidwell), Borough Hill, Clifford Hill, Harrington, Honey Hill, Lilbourne Meadows NR, Pitsford, Ravensthorpe and Walgrave, seven of these sites producing multiples.

Common Redstart, Brampton Valley, 22nd July 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

The autumn’s first Whinchats appeared this week when a juvenile was found at Harrington on 23rd, quickly followed by two in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton the next day.

Northern Wheatears maintained a low profile with just the one at Harrington on 23rd. More to come, no doubt …

Newsround 11th to 17th July 2026

Posted on July 18, 2026 by Mike Alibone

The seemingly relentless summer heat wavered somewhat this week as the winds turned north-easterly toward the end of the period and the arrival of a fresh quota of migrants, large and small, hinted at autumn …

Now on tour, last week’s female Ruddy Shelduck vacated Winwick Pools and it was the turn of Stanford Res to play host throughout the period.

Ruddy Shelduck, Stanford Res, 12th July 2026 (Barry Silverman)

And a moult migration stopover was made by two Common Scoters at Clifford Hill GP on 12th.

On dry land, things went all quiet on the Quail front, the male near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell heard only on day one, after which … silence.

New in this week were four Black-necked Grebes – three adults together at Daventry CP on 14th, remaining there until 16th, after which one stayed on until 17th. Meanwhile, another adult arrived at Stanford on 15th, where it was still present at the week’s end. These represent only the fifth and sixth records for the year, so far.

Black-necked Grebes, Daventry CP, 14th July 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Black-necked Grebe, Daventry CP, 14th July 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Black-necked Grebe, Stanford Res, 15th July 2026 (Chris Hubbard)

Four sites produced Black-tailed Godwits, commencing with a flock of thirteen adults, unlucky on the overgrown Scrape at Summer Leys LNR, early doors on 12th. These were followed by single birds at Clifford Hill on 13th, Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 16th-17th and Daventry CP on 17th.

Black-tailed Godwits, Summer Leys LNR, 12th July 2026 (Ricky Sinfield)

The only other wader deserving a mention was a Greenshank at a water-depleted Sywell CP on the last day of the period.

With regard to gulls, things perked up a bit this week with the arrival of the ‘autumn’s’ first Mediterranean Gulls, commencing with a second-summer at Daventry on 14th, quickly followed by a juvenile on 16th and an adult there the next day. A juvenile paid a brief visit to Summer Leys on 16th.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Daventry CP, 16th July 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Adult Mediterranean Gull, Daventry CP, 17th July 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Daventry also produced an adult (or fourth-summer) Caspian Gull on 14th, while an adult was present at Clifford Hill, two days later, on 16th. Pitsford Res held up to three Yellow-legged Gulls between 13th and 17th and, elsewhere, single birds were to be found at Thrapston on 13th and at Clifford Hill the following day.

A report of two adult Arctic Terns at Daventry CP on 15th was unseasonal, to say the least.

Potentially dicing with death, a Bittern was videoed walking along Hardwater Road near Summer Leys on 14th, while the week’s only Cattle Egret was found at Titchmarsh NR before moving to Thrapston GP’s Town Lake.

Ever popular with Ospreys, the latter site’s Elinor Trout Lake produced one on 11th and 17th, and further reports involved two flying north-east over Stanford on 12th, one at Pitsford on 16th and one over Islip the following day. Meanwhile, Marsh Harrier sightings were ticking over with single birds at Harrington AF on 13th, Pitsford on 15th and Summer Leys on 16th-17th.

Having gained considerable momentum over the week, the early autumn Common Redstart rush delivered birds to eleven localities: two in the Brampton Valley, Blueberry Farm (Maidwell), Clifford Hill, Cold Ashby, Gretton, Harrington, Honey Hill, Lilbourne Meadows NR, Old and Summer Leys. Five of these sites produced at least two birds.

Male Common Redstart, Lilbourne Meadows NR, 14th July 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Male Common Redstart, Honey Hill, 16th July 2026 (Jon Cook)

In much shorter supply, however, was Northern Wheatear with just the one at Harrington on 11th, while the first of the season’s Stonechats appeared in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, on 13th.

Newsround 4th to 10th July 2026

Posted on July 12, 2026July 12, 2026 by Mike Alibone

An Azores high pressure system ushered in a south-westerly airstream, sealing an extension to the ongoing heatwave and, for many attending Global Birdfair at the week’s end, making for a decidedly uncomfortable experience. Roasting aside, there were still birds to be found, with peak activity in the early mornings before temperatures climbed and many passerines sought cover …

A slightly better week for ducks saw the reappearance of an old faithful at Winwick Pools on 5th with the returning female Ruddy Shelduck back for her eleventh consecutive year. A contentious individual with opinions divided on whether it is of captive origin or whether it originates from the ever-growing feral European population, the majority of which moves north to The Netherlands to moult in early summer, with some overshooting to the UK. As a species its status has been under review by the British Ornithologists Union Records Committee since 2021 with a view to making a decision on whether it should be admitted to the British List under Category C5 (a vagrant naturalised species from outside Britain) in addition to its existing status in Categories B, D, and E. The wait for a decision goes on …

Female Ruddy Shelduck, Winwick Pools, 5th July 2026 (James Urwin)

There were no raised eyebrows or any such analysis required, of course, for Red-crested Pochard, five drakes of which were found at Ravensthorpe Res, also on 5th, when the long-staying drake was also present at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South).

Just the one Quail remained in the Brampton Valley – the daily male near Blueberry Farm still in song at the week’s end.

And waders were represented by a trickle of Black-tailed Godwits, with Pitsford Res producing one on 4th, four on 6th and seven on 9th, while one paid a visit to Clifford Hill GP on 8th, and a Greenshank was present at Stanwick GP on 4th.

The majority of the week’s quota of Yellow-legged Gulls were at Pitsford, where there was one on 5th, three on 7th and five on 8th, while one was found at Thrapston GP on 6th.

A Cattle Egret was an unusual site record for Stanford Res on 4th.

Cattle Egret, Stanford Res, 4th July 2026 (Chris Hubbard)

Pitsford played host to single Ospreys on 5th and 9th, while one flew over Hollowell village on the latter date. Other raptors included a lingering juvenile Marsh Harrier at Stanford on 9th-10th and another at Harrington AF on 10th.

Juvenile Marsh Harrier, Stanford Res, 9th July 2026 (Chris Hubbard)

And representing returning passerines, a run of Common Redstarts consisted of an adult male at Lilbourne Meadows NR between 7th and 9th, two juveniles at Clifford Hill GP also from 7th to 9th, three at Harrington on 9th with at least two still the following day and singles at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 9th.

Juvenile Common Redstart, Clifford Hill GP, 5th July 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

Juvenile Common Redstart, Clifford Hill GP, 6th July 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

Juvenile Common Redstart, Clifford Hill GP, 9th July 2026 (Tony Stanford)

Moving south, the first Northern Wheatear of the autumn – a juvenile – appeared at Clifford Hill on 5th and, up in the north-easterly reaches of the county, a Hawfinch was reported at Fermyn Woods CP on 8th and at least two Crossbills were at Wakerley Great Wood on 7th.

Newsround 27th June to 3rd July 2026

Posted on July 5, 2026 by Mike Alibone

In a cooler week with a predominantly westerly airstream the transition from June to July wasn’t half bad, delivering more than expected for the time of year. Still, we’re now into July and migration is on the up, previous years having produced some class birds before the month is out.

But it wasn’t – and probably never will be – the best week for ducks, the last day of the period seeing a female Red-crested Pochard associating with a ‘female-type’ Mallard x Red-crested Pochard hybrid at Ravensthorpe Res on 3rd. Oh dear …

And the impressive Quail year steams on, the Brampton Valley holding at least two singing males during the week, while others were also heard near Weston on 27th and at Stanwick GP on 1st.

Amongst other things, Clifford Hill GP produced the best waders of the week with four Black-tailed Godwits on 29th, followed by five there on 1st.

Black-tailed Godwits, Clifford Hill GP, 29th June 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

While the 29th and 3rd saw single Yellow-legged Gulls at Pitsford Res, Clifford Hill delivered a first for the year in the shape of two Little Terns, early in the morning on 27th. Sadly, the brief viewing window was limited to the finder and they moved on pretty sharpish …

Little Tern, Clifford Hill GP, 27th June 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

After flyovers at Thrapston GP/Titchmarsh NR on 4th and 30th May, a White Stork flying south-east between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton was the third for the year. The wait goes on for one on the ground.

The week’s only Bittern was at Summer Leys LNR on 3rd and further dispersal of juvenile Cattle Egrets gave rise to four at Ringstead GP on 28th, two there on 3rd and three at Stanwick on 2nd.

Single Ospreys flew east over Brixworth on 29th and over Thrapston on 1st.

A Golden Oriole heard at Bucknell Wood on 27th remained in the shadows, subsequent to a rumoured, unconfirmed presence at the site since mid-May.

Somewhat more tangible, though, was a juvenile Common Redstart – the first of the ‘autumn’ – at Clifford Hill on 29th, followed by another at Borough Hill on 3rd.