Newsround 25th to 31st July 2026

Another dry week, weatherwise, but not so in terms of the local birding scene, which saw a number of new arrivals, the best of which vanished within minutes of being found …

The same cannot be said with regard to ducks, however, with the ageing female Ruddy Shelduck seeing out another week at Stanford Res and sharing the water with the female Ferruginous Duck of unknown origin, which appeared there once more on 27th. A repeat performance from the first week in July saw a female Red-crested Pochard again at Ravensthorpe Res on 27th and 28th in company with the female Red-crested Pochard x Mallard hybrid on the first of these two dates. The latter is best swept under the carpet. We’ll say no more …

As well as the two Garganeys extending their stay by another week at Summer Leys LNR, two more were present at Daventry CP on 30th.

And we were reminded of the good year for Quail this week when another singing male was heard, this time near Mawsley, on 26th.

Black-necked Grebes were again very much in the spotlight during the period, with an adult from last week remaining at Daventry until 29th, a juvenile appearing at Ravensthorpe on 26th, followed by two juveniles at Stanford on 27th and one there on 31st.

There was no change in the week’s offering of waders, with the 27th seeing two Black-tailed Godwits at Earls Barton GP and singles at Boddington Res and Sulby Res, followed by another at Daventry on 31st.

Last week’s Wood Sandpiper at Daventry was also reportedly present there on the first day of this week, while a Greenshank appeared at Pitsford Res on 28th.

And it was the turn of Stanford to dish up the period’s only Mediterranean Gull with a juvenile present on the dam there on 27th.

Back this week for its sixth year, the German-ringed ‘XLVH’ adult male Caspian Gull returned to Naseby Res where it was to be found on 27th and 31st. This individual is now at least ten years old.

Single Yellow-legged Gulls were at Daventry on 26th, Pitsford on 27th, 29th and 30th and at Thrapston GP on the latter date.

Echoing last week, a first-summer Arctic Tern was again present at Daventry on 30th.

A Cattle Egret was an unusual visitor for Hollowell Res on 30th.

The period experienced a paucity in Osprey sightings with just single birds at Hollowell on 27th and at Pitsford the following day. The same cannot be said for Marsh Harriers, though, with one in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 25th, 28th, 30th and 31st, with likely the same individual at nearby Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 29th. Singles were also seen at Harrington AF on 28th and at Stanford on 31st.

Had it stuck around, bird of the week, by a long chalk, would have been the Red-backed Shrike found in the Brampton Valley on 25th. Said to have been a juvenile, it was discovered appropriately on the so-called ‘shrike hedge’ between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton before being flushed by one of the above Marsh Harriers, after which it was not relocated, despite searches conducted by multiple observers. Now, had it been akin to a certain shrike currently residing on the Gloucestershire/Oxfordshire border, pandemonium would have no doubt broken out …

Thirteen localities produced Common Redstarts this week, including Barton Seagrave, Blueberry Farm (Maidwell), Brampton Valley (between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton), Clifford Hill GP, Daventry CP, Harrington AF, Honey Hill, Lilbourne Meadows NR, Long Buckby, Old, Pitsford Res, Stanford Res and Upper Heyford.

Following the autumn’s first last week, the period’s Whinchats comprised one at Honey Hill on 26th and two in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton.