Newsround 19th to 25th September 2026

A persistent westerly airstream throughout a predominantly warm, dry week raised hopes of an Americano in the wader camp – especially in the light of recent national arrivals. It was not to be, of course, but instead, something big (quite literally) came in and was quickly out again while local birders had their backs turned …

This was not the case, however, for last week’s eight Barnacle Geese which were still lingering at Clifford Hill GP on 25th. Back on the scene this week was the female Ruddy Shelduck, once again at Hollowell Res, on 21st, while a drake Red-crested Pochard was found at Pitsford on 24th.

And apparently destined to go nowhere any time soon were the two juvenile Black-tailed Godwits seeing another full week out at Daventry CP. Single birds elsewhere included one at Hollowell on 21st and at Boddington Res from 21st to 23rd.

Meanwhile, Daventry’s long-staying Turnstone was nowhere to be seen after 20th. Three Ruffs at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 25th was the period’s highest site total and singles were present at Summer Leys on 20th, at Pitsford from 20th to 25th and at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR from 21st to 25th. Greenshank numbers took a tumble with only singles at Pitsford from 19th until 25th and at Titchmarsh from 19th until 21st.

Caspian Gulls were found at four localities that included Pitsford, where there was a first-winter on 20th and 24th, Earls Barton GP, where an adult appeared on 21st, Naseby Res, where the usual German-ringed adult male was present on 23rd, and Stanford Res, where an adult turned up on 24th. As usual, Pitsford continued to deliver its weekly dose of Yellow-legged Gulls, with up to four there between 19th and 24th, while singles were at Thrapston on 19th and 23rd and at Clifford Hill GP on 25th.

The period’s only Bittern was seen at Ditchford GP on 24th and single Cattle Egrets were at Summer Leys on 20th and at Titchmarsh NR on 24th.

The weekly provision of raptors generated a surprisingly interesting turn-up for the books during the period. The juvenile Osprey at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) extended its stay by another week and single Marsh Harriers visited Summer Leys on 19th, Brampton Valley on 20th, Pitsford on 22nd and Earls Barton GP on 24th, while twos were at Titchmarsh NR on 22nd and Summer Leys the following day.

But it was on the 24th that the skies turned dark over Pitsford. Somehow, it appeared that between birders departing from, and arriving at, the supposedly well-watched bays north of the Causeway, a potential monster rare blatantly breezed in and, apparently unimpressed with the locality, departed after only a few minutes. The word ‘potential’ applies in this case as we don’t really know if the White-tailed Eagle that graced the site, and ruffled the feathers of a couple of gobsmacked fishermen, is a truly wild bird or one from the English reintroduction scheme. Either way, it must have been a sight to behold and by good fortune one of the fishermen managed to capture it on video, the footage subsequently appearing on Ken Reeves’ Facebook page suggesting it’s a subadult.

Single Short-eared Owls were reported from Borough Hill on 19th and again in the Brampton Valley on 20th-21st.

A Merlin was present at the latter site on 24th.

The Brampton Valley is also where we start the week’s summary of passerines, with a Common Redstart on 21st – one of only two reports this week, the other being a male and female trapped and ringed at Stanford on 24th.

Whinchat numbers were again low, with two at Borough Hill on 19th, two in the Brampton Valley on 20th, dwindling to one there on 21st and 24th and two at Harrington AF on 22nd. In stark contrast, numbers of Stonechats were up, being found near Arthingworth, in the Brampton Valley, and at Earls Barton, Hollowell, Pitsford, Summer Leys, Thrapston and Upton CP with the highest count of three to four at Pitsford on the last day of the week.

Northern Wheatears were also ebbing away, with just singles in the Brampton Valley between 21st and 25th and at Harrington on 22nd.