Newsround 3rd to 9th October 2026

The first signs of our getting ever closer to winter kicked in this week, primarily reflected in the arrival of seasonal fare but also in the weather becoming somewhat cooler, less settled and more in line with autumn proper. In addition to this, the skies over some eastern parts of the county were set to deliver the week’s best birds …

Kicking off with winter birds, these materialised in the shape of Whooper Swans, three of which flew into Stanford Res on 8th, however their brevity of stay resulted in only initial flight views before they quickly moved on.

But two localities in east Northants produced an aerial spectacle for two lucky, right place, right time, birders as they were alerted by bugling calls to a sizeable flock of Common Cranes passing overhead on the 5th. First picked up to the north-east of Wicksteed Park by Julie Roe at 10.10, twelve then came into view within two minutes, heading due south. One minute later, as they crossed the A14, two more joined them from the east before all fourteen were lost to view over Symmetry Park Industrial Estate, on a flight path toward Isham.

At 10.25 the flock was picked up over Burton Latimer by Kevin Daniels as it continued its southern trajectory.

And after that? The flock left Northamptonshire skies without further detection but it was subsequently seen at two sites in Buckinghamshire – over Emberton at 11.05 and over Slapton at 12.05, although the flock size had reduced to twelve by this time. Clearly on a mission to cross the English Channel, it was again picked up heading south over Amberley Wild Brooks NR, next to the River Arun, between the rolling hills of West Sussex’s South Downs, at 15.00. Next stop: France. Confirmation that these were the same twelve birds comes by way of one individual having a visible gap in the flight feathers of its right wing. This appears to be the largest flock to have occurred in Northamptonshire to date …

A little more down to earth, the week’s waders continued to dwindle in numbers and the best to be seen was the autumn’s second Grey Plover, in flight over Stanford Res on 6th. A Curlew put in a brief appearance at Lilbourne Meadows NR on 5th, while last week’s juvenile Black-tailed Godwit at Daventry CP remained until the end of the period. Two Ruffs were still to be found around Earls Barton GP’s New Workings until at least 4th, one was at Lilbourne Meadows from 4th until 6th and another appeared at Stanford on the latter date.

Stanford also produced an adult Mediterranean Gull along with an adult Caspian Gull on 8th, while a second-winter Caspian was found at Daventry the following day.

Two Yellow-legged Gulls remained at Pitsford Res and an adult was again present at Thrapston GP on 9th.

Getting late, now, a juvenile Black Tern paid a brief visit to Daventry on 7th.

Bitterns were still to be found at Summer Leys, where two were present on 4th and one being seen on 6th, while the week’s only Cattle Egret was mobile between Islip Water Meadows and adjacent Thrapston GP on the last day of the period.

On the raptor front, the Earls Barton juvenile Osprey remained until 4th before apparently moving on, the latter date also producing one over Cransley Res. And almost a permanent fixture these days – although numbers tend to swell during migration periods – Marsh Harriers continued their presence throughout the week with up to two at Summer Leys LNR from start to finish, two at Stanwick GP on 3rd and singles at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 4th and Stanford on 9th.

Passerines were in short supply but another reminder of impending winter became manifest on the 8th when the first Redwings were incoming over Corby, Stanford and Stanwick – the latter location seeing in excess of thirty passing over.

Stonechats were found at seven sites which included Deenethorpe AF, Earls Barton, Hinton AF, Lilbourne Meadows, Stanwick, Summer Leys and Titchmarsh, with a maximum of five at Hinton on 4th.

Clearly not done with them yet, a Northern Wheatear flew south-east over Greens Norton on 4th. Following last week’s, another two Rock Pipits dropped in briefly at Daventry on 7th.

And as a final symbolic reminder that winter is just around the corner was the first Bramblings of the back end of the year, two of which were found at Hinton AF on 4th.