September 2026 – Northants birds

Newsround 12th to 18th September 2026

Posted on September 20, 2026 by Mike Alibone

As we moved into mid-September, a somewhat tepid week ensued with much of the previous week’s fare lingering, albeit in smaller numbers.

Love ‘em or loathe ‘em, feral ‘C-list’ Barnacle Geese have a habit of turning up in the Nene Valley, particularly at Clifford Hill GP, where eight were present on 17th-18th. However, untainted and having travelled from much further afield, were this autumn’s first Pink-footed Geese, with a wee skein of seven flying south-east near Byfield on 16th.

At Stanford Res, the female Ferruginous Duck of uncertain origin was again present on 12th and 13th, while the following day saw three Common Scoters at Pitsford Res.

With nothing to see between wildfowl and waders, four Curlews flying west over Summer Leys LNR on 15th represented an interesting – and welcome – addition to the week’s list. In line with a rapid and severe decline across the UK, losing nearly half (around 48% to 49%) of its breeding population since the mid-1990s, they’ve become rather scarce locally and, apparently, they no longer breed in Northamptonshire.

Black-tailed Godwits were seen daily during the week, though only in small numbers. Two remained at Daventry CP throughout, while single birds were present at Pitsford from 12th until 15th and at Boddington Res on 17th. Aside from one at Pitsford on the opening day of the period, the previous week’s Turnstone at Daventry became an unusually long-stayer, still to be found there at the week’s end.

Juvenile Turnstone, Daventry CP, 17th September 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Present at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 16th, just the one Ruff represented a further drop in numbers, while this year’s fine autumn for Spotted Redshanks continued, with one in flight over Summer Leys on 15th.

Spotted Redshank, Summer Leys LNR, 15th September 2026 (Alan Coles)

Greenshanks were present at four localities, Pitsford holding the lion’s share of four on 14th-15th, falling to two on 16th and dropping further to just the one on 17th. Elsewhere, Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR produced one from 12th until at least 14th, one was at Earls Barton GP on 15th and one was present at Stanford on 16th.

Greenshank, Earls Barton GP, 15th September 2026 (Leslie Fox)

Greenshank, Stanford Res, 16th September 2026 (Chris Hubbard)

With regard to the number of species, there was no change on the gull front this week with the regular adult Caspian Gull still to be seen at Naseby Res on 12th and 18th, while single juveniles were present at Daventry on 12th and at Pitsford on 13th, 16th and 17th.

German-ringed adult male Caspian Gull, Naseby Res, 18th September 2026 (Mike Alibone)

And Yellow-legged Gulls were the sole preserve of Pitsford, where varying numbers were seen daily, maxing out at seven on 14th.

Belated news emerged of a Manx Shearwater found in a garden in Crick and taken into care at Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital, Kibworth Beauchamp, on 11th September. The team there spent four days tube-feeding it and ensuring it was in top condition before being taken to the Welsh coast, where it was successfully released on 16th. This wrecked individual comes hot on the heels of two found in similar circumstances in September 2025 and is approximately the 36th record for Northants. Almost 75% of records have occurred in the month of September.

Manx Shearwater, Kibworth Beauchamp, 12th September 2026 (Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital)

The 13th saw two Bitterns at Stanford Res, while singles were seen at Summer Leys on 13th and 18th and at Titchmarsh on 14th, while the week’s only Cattle Egret was one in flight, west, over Stanford on 15th.

Aside from one at Titchmarsh on 12th, the juvenile Osprey at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) continued to prove popular, putting on a grand show daily as it extended its stay there until the end of the period.

Juvenile Osprey, Earls Barton GP, 13th September 2026 (Alan Coles)

Marsh Harriers were less obliging, with two at Summer Leys on 13th, one at Blueberry Fram, Maidwell on the same date and one at Harrington AF on 15th.

And autumn saw its first Short-eared Owls this week when single birds were found in the Brampton Valley/Blueberry Farm area on 13th-14th and at Wicksteed Park, Kettering on 18th.

On the passerine front, there was a considerable decrease in numbers of Common Redstarts in comparison to last week. Singles were present at Harrington AF on 12th and 15th, between Old and Walgrave on 12th, Blueberry Farm from 13th to 16th and at Lamport Hall on the latter date. Whinchats were also down, with one at Wicksteed Park on 12th, two in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 15th-16th and one at Clifford Hill GP on 17th-18th. And as Whinchats ebbed away, Stonechats moved in. A male was found on farmland west of Yardley Hastings on 15th, one was at Upton CP on the same date, two were at Pitsford on 17th and one at Sywell CP on 18th. This week’s Northern Wheatears, all singles, were at Harrington on 12th, Blueberry Farm on 13th, in the Brampton Valley on 15th and at Pitsford Res on 17th.

And with one at Harrington on 12th, it appears we’ve not yet seen the last of this year’s Tree Pipits.

Four Crossbills were at what has recently become a favourite site for them, Gamboro Plantation in the Brampton Valley, on 16th.

Newsround 5th to 11th September 2026

Posted on September 12, 2026 by Mike Alibone

The week’s westerly airstream appeared to have little impact on what turned up in the county during the period or, for that matter, what left the county at the end of the week prior. With reference to the latter, there was a notable clear-out of scarcer waders and numbers of those deemed more common also fell appreciably …

For one day only, the peripatetic female Ruddy Shelduck made an appearance at Ravensthorpe Res on 7th after last being seen at nearby Hollowell Res on 31st. Other one-day-only ducks this week were single Garganeys, both seen on 5th, at Pitsford Res and at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR.

In keeping with this autumn’s glut of Black-necked Grebes, another was found on Earls Barton GP’s Mary’s Lake on 10th but was not seen subsequently.

As already stated, wader numbers were down on last week and Black-tailed Godwits were a prime example, with just two at Pitsford on 5th and one there from 7th until 9th. Three were also at Daventry CP on 10th-11th.

Adult Black-tailed Godwit, Daventry CP, 10th September 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Juvenile Black-tailed Godwits, Daventry CP, 10th September 2026 (Gary Pullan)

After a dearth of spring records this year, Turnstones have more than made up for their poor showing, with another being added to a now respectable autumn tally on 11th, when a juvenile was found at Daventry.

Juvenile Turnstone, Daventry CP, 11th September 2026 (Gary Pullan)

And, strange as it may seem, what appears to be the first Knot of the year made a brief touchdown at Hollowell on the evening of 8th, before quickly heading off west.

Juvenile Knot, Hollowell Res, 8th September 2026 (Jon Cook)

Ruffs were still to be found, albeit in lower numbers, with four sites producing birds. Three were at Pitsford on 5th, followed by one there on 8th, one was at Summer Leys LNR on 5th and again on 8th-9th and twos were present at Naseby Res and Ravensthorpe on 7th.

Juvenile Ruff, Summer Leys LNR, 8th September 2026 (Leslie Fox)

The previous week’s Little Stint at Clifford Hill stretched its stay by one more day, on 5th, while two early Jack Snipes – the first of the autumn/winter period – were found at Hollowell on 10th. They are not the earliest ever, however, that accolade falls again to Hollowell on 3rd September 1995.

Last week’s Wood Sandpiper at Ravensthorpe just managed to make it into this week, still being present there on 5th, as did Pitsford’s Spotted Redshank, also gone after 5th, while numbers of Greenshanks took a tumble. Pitsford produced two on 5th, one on 7th-8th, followed by three on 9th. One lingered at Titchmarsh from 7th until 10th and singles were found at Hollowell on 8th and Ditchford GP on 11th.

Greenshank, Pitsford Res, 7th September 2026 (Alan Coles)

Gulls on display during the period were limited to the usual weekly fare, namely Caspian and Yellow-legged. Adult Caspian Gulls consisted of two at Naseby on 7th and singles at Hollowell on 9th and 10th and Earls Barton GP’s Mary’s Lake and New Workings (South) on the latter date. The number of Yellow-legged Gulls hit double-figures at the county’s most reliable site, Pitsford, where ten amassed on 8th, while singles were at Titchmarsh on 5th and 10th and at both Ditchford and Wicksteed Park Lake on 11th.

The week’s only Black Tern – a juvenile – was present at Thrapston GP’s Elinor Trout Lake on 10th.

Summer Leys and Titchmarsh carved up the period’s Bitterns between them, providing fleeting views at the former on 5th, 9th and 11th and at the latter on 5th and 8th, while Cattle Egrets maintained a low profile, with one flying west over Stanford Res on 9th and another at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North and South) the next day.

Cattle Egret, Earls Barton GP, 10th September 2026 (Leslie Fox)

On the raptor front, Ospreys were to be found at four locations, with the usually favoured reservoir sites taking a back seat this week. Pitsford and Stanford saw one apiece on 8th, while one flew south between Borough Hill and Daventry on 9th. But it was Earls Barton’s New Workings (North and South) that turned out to be the hot spot, with one seen there last week clearly having put its stamp on it this week, remaining reliable in the area throughout the period.

Juvenile Osprey, Earls Barton GP, 11th September 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Though in short supply, Marsh Harriers were widely spread, this week’s birds comprising singles between Old and Walgrave and at Stanford on 6th and at both Hollowell and Blatherwycke Lake on 10th.

Marsh Harrier, Hollowell Res, 10th September 2026 (Jon Cook)

And as autumn unfolds it’s proving to be a rather productive one for yielding Pied Flycatchers. Following one reported at Irchester CP on 5th, two more were found on 9th – one at Denton Wood and the other at Lamport Hall, the latter considered to be a different bird to the previous two recently present there.

Up on last week’s figures, seven sites produced Common Redstarts with no more than two at any one of Blueberry Farm (Maidwell), Brampton Valley, Harrington AF, Hinton AF, Lamport, Naseby and between Old and Walgrave.

The Brampton Valley emerged as delivering the highest site total of Whinchats with four there on 11th, the latter date seeing two at Wicksteed Park, Kettering and one at Clifford Hill GP. Elsewhere, singles were at Summer Leys on 8th-9th, Harrington on 9th and Hollowell on 10th.

Whinchat, Hollowell Res, 10th September 2026 (Jon Cook)

Hollowell also produced a Stonechat on 7th, while single Northern Wheatears were found at Harrington on 6th, Clifford Hill on 6th, 7th and 9th and Middleton Cheney on 9th, and two were at Hinton AF on 11th and one was present in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on the latter date.

The 10th saw single White Wagtails at both Hollowell Res and Summer Leys.

A Tree Pipit was trapped and ringed at Brixworth STW on 6th – the same date that one flew over Harrington.

Harrington produced more flyovers in the shape of two Crossbills on 6th, ahead of a decent sized flock of at least thirty at Wakerley Great Wood on 10th.

Newsround 29th August to 4th September 2026

Posted on September 5, 2026 by Mike Alibone

Hefty showers, lower temperatures and a noticeable drop in daylight hours characterised the week in which we crossed the line into meteorological autumn. While one new wader for the year made it on to the tab, expectations of something exceptional continued to build …

Although the female Ruddy Shelduck popped up again this week at Hollowell Res on 31st, being subsequently reported briefly at Daventry CP the following day, there was an appreciable drop in the numbers of Garganey to be found in comparison to the week before. Just one remained at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 31st, followed by another at Ravensthorpe Res on 4th. And after a long spell at Stanford Res, the female Ferruginous Duck was nowhere to be seen after 30th.

Waders continued to come through thick and fast, though, with day one seeing a Whimbrel southbound over Pitsford Res. Two Bar-tailed Godwits were reported from Daventry on 31st, this site also holding a growing number of Black-tailed Godwits, with one from 29th to 2nd, two on 1st and four on 3rd and 4th. Elsewhere, numbers coming in from Pitsford were up and down throughout the period, peaking at seven there on 31st, while Earls Barton GP saw singles on 29th and 4th, both Summer Leys LNR and Titchmarsh produced two on 31st and singles were at Clifford Hill GP and Stanwick GP on 2nd.

Black-tailed Godwits, Daventry CP, 3rd September 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Pitsford delivered more Turnstones this week, with one on 29th and 30th and at least two heard there on 4th.

Turnstone, Pitsford Res, 29th August 2026 (Jon Cook)

Found at six localities, Ruffs continued to feature prominently with, once again, Pitsford producing double figures after eight on 29th, maxing out at eleven on 30th-31st, and six on 3rd. No more than one was seen at each of Clifford Hill, Daventry, Ravensthorpe, Stanwick and Summer Leys. Most, if not all, were juveniles.

Ruff, Ravensthorpe Res, 3rd September 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Ruff, Summer Leys LNR, 4th September 2026 (Alan Coles)

As we moved into the new week, there was no further sign of the previous week’s Pectoral Sandpiper, though proving no less of a popular pull, Daventry held on to its three juvenile Curlew Sandpipers until 3rd, after which only two remained on 4th.

Curlew Sandpipers, Daventry CP, 2nd September 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Curlew Sandpipers, Daventry CP, 3rd September 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Further signs of autumn proper materialised in the shape of the year’s first Little Stint, a juvenile, found at Clifford Hill on 29th. It was quickly followed by another at Boddington Res, briefly, on 31st and, unless the original remained under the radar, another was present at Clifford Hill on 3rd-4th.

Little Stint, Clifford Hill GP, 29th August 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

Having been treated to an over-generous dollop of Wood Sandpipers during the spring, it might have been surmised that any found this autumn would receive less attention than is usual but this was not to be the case, with one found at Ravensthorpe on the first day of the period. Not quite a crowd-puller but popular nevertheless, it remained on show throughout the week. Another made a brief, one-day stay at Naseby Res on 30th.

Wood Sandpiper, Ravensthorpe Res, 3rd September 2026 (Mike Alibone)

And it’s beginning to look like a better than average autumn for Spotted Redshanks, with last week’s juvenile seeing another seven days out at Daventry and further singles appearing at Naseby and Titchmarsh on 31st and at Pitsford on 4th.

Spotted Redshank, Daventry CP, 29th August 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Greenshanks were present at six localities throughout the period, including Daventry, Earls Barton, Hollowell, Naseby, Pitsford and Summer Leys, with the highest count of nine or ten at Pitsford on 31st and each of the other sites producing ones and twos.

Greenshank, Earls Barton GP, 3rd September 2026 (Leslie Fox)

This week’s gulls were limited to the German-ringed adult male Caspian Gull seeing another week out at Naseby and another visiting Hollowell on 31st, while Yellow-legged Gulls maxed out at four around Pitsford on 30th, two were at Sywell CP on 4th and single birds were present at Earls Barton GP on 29th, Naseby on 31st and 4th and at Thrapston on 1st-2nd.

Much scarcer in autumn than in spring, an adult Arctic Tern visited Daventry on the last day of the period, while juvenile Black Terns consisted of one at Summer Leys on 29th, increasing to two there the following day. Two were also present at Clifford Hill between 31st and 4th.

Black Tern, Clifford Hill GP, 4th September 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

Glossy Ibis? Yep – all week again at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North), visiting nearby Summer Leys on 31st.

Three Bitterns were seen during the week – one on 29th at Summer Leys, currently the most popular site for catching up with the species, one at Stanford Res, straying into Northants from its most favoured position in the Leicestershire reedbed on 30th and one at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows NR on 2nd.

Unruffled by the lack of camouflage, the week’s only Cattle Egret was to be found at Daventry on 3rd.

Cattle Egret, Daventry CP, 3rd September 2026 (Gary Pullan)

And with little change on the raptor front, two Ospreys visited Pitsford on 29th, followed by one there on 30th-31st, while further singles appeared at Earls Barton on 30th and 2nd, Thrapston on 30th and 4th, Ravensthorpe on 31st and at both Hollowell and Sywell on 4th. Comparatively low in numbers this week were Marsh Harriers, with just single birds at Summer Leys on 31st and at both Hellidon and Titchmarsh on 1st.

Putting in time at Lamport Hall was a must for anyone wishing to catch up with the Pied Flycatcher present at the site from last week. Frequently elusive, it remained there until 1st. However, the penultimate day of the period gave rise to another, showing well at Wicksteed Park, Kettering for a limited amount of time.

Pied Flycatcher, Wicksteed Park, Kettering, 3rd September 2026 (Julie Roe)

Pied Flycatcher, Wicksteed Park, Kettering, 3rd September 2026 (Nick Parker)

And, as we moved into September, Common Redstart numbers took a tumble. They were present at only five sites comprising Blueberry Farm (Maidwell), Borough Hill, Harrington AF, Lamport and Old/Walgrave, none of which produced more than two birds.

Whinchats were also notably down when compared with last week. The highest site total was four at Borough Hill on 30th-31st, followed by two in the Brampton Valley on 1st and singles at Harrington and Heathencote on 30th and below Hanging Houghton on 31st.

Whinchat, Borough Hill, 30th August 2026 (Mike Alibone)

However, Northern Wheatears maintained their level of presence, again being found at seven localities comprising Borough Hill, Brampton Valley, Clifford Hill, Harrington AF, Harrington village, Heathencote and Hollowell Res. All produced single birds apart from twos at Clifford Hill on 29th and Harrington village on 31st.