Back in May 2011, I’d been running the Northamptonshire Bird News webpage for almost ten years and the time had come for a change. The news page, while being purely functional, was rather limited in content and restricted in terms of what it delivered. So a new, blog-based site was launched in May 2011, setting out to provide more detail behind the occurrences of birds locally, while at the same time providing the opportunity for discussion of the wider issues of status, conservation, identification and other related topics. Within this context I have also indulged my passion for birding optics, offering comment on some of the product I regularly review in detail for Birdwatch magazine.
Nine years on, in April 2020, this site was given a facelift, retaining the same content while, at the same time, replacing the somewhat antiquated format and functionality which had gone before. It is expected to evolve and develop further over the course of time.
As always, anyone is welcome to contribute news, records and items for discussion as well as photographs if, and when, these may be relevant.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to the many contributors who have kindly shared news and records of birds seen locally over the past nineteen years. Without your input the site would have no doubt faded into obsolescence before ever evolving into this new, upgraded format.
So, welcome to the new look Northants Birds … and watch this space!
Mike Alibone April 2020
Northants birds 
Like the new website, Mike. It looks really good. The heritage centre project I’m involved with has a website too: http://www.northamptonshireheritagecentre.org. The centre will be built next to the river a little downstream from Billing Mill. We’re planning to make part of the site into a conservation area, if we EVER get the funding!
Mandy
Mandy, Thanks for your kind comments. Good luck with the project. I would be interested to hear about the conservation area when it’s up and running. All the best, Mike.
Congratulations on the smart new design Mike and thanks for all your hard work over the last ten years. Good luck for the next ten.
Neil.
Neil, Many thanks for the thumbs up!
Well done Mike.
Is there a mechanism for sending photos of Northants Birds?
Bob
Bob, No method of directly uploading at present. All photos can be sent by email to me at northantsbirds@ntlworld.com
Hi Mike, many many congratulations on your new site!
A terrific resource for all the lucky birders in Northants…such a shame I’m not with you now. Best wishes as always, Richard.
Thanks, Richard. We all miss your banter and exceptional photographic talent!
superb new site mike ! look forward to sharing sightings with you ! 🙂
Thanks for the positive comment, Thomas!
Well done Mike. Love the new look and hope to be feeding you raries in the near future. Regards, Geof
Thanks for the kind comment, Geoff. Please feel free to go out and find as many ‘raries’ as possible!!
Mike
I still like to keep in touch even though I left the County over 40 years ago and think the new site is great. Still birding in Co. Donegal though.
Chris, great to hear from you. Didn’t realise you’d crossed the Irish Sea! Let me know next time you’re back in the County – I’d like to catchup.
Hello Chris – I hope you don’t mind me asking but are you the Chris Ingram who worked with Trevor Parrish at Anglian Windows? I’m his daughter, Rachel.
Great new site Mike, well done. I saw the superb Slavonian Grebe at 6.15 on sunday evening in brilliant sunshine at about 15 metres – well done Robin and Wendy a fantastic find.
Thanks, Alan. Glad you saw it. Maybe it’ll still be there on Wednesday when I get back.
Only just visited since you changed the site Mike – looks very good! Although no longer a county resident, I am still around a few days a month for work. Gutted I missed the Black Stork – I was in Scotland.
Thanks, Mark. Good to hear from you. Understand you live in Norfolk now? I was gutted about the Black Stork for a different reason, i.e. people caught up with it 🙂
Yes MIke, we moved over in the new year. Not had much time to make the most of the birding yet but plenty of time. We live in Swanton Novers (near the raptor watchpoint), although still not got Honey Buzzard on the new garden list 😉
Hope to see you around in Northants or give me a shout if you head over this way.
Cheers, Mark.
Will do.
Mike
Marvellous site. I was able to locate the Cattle Egret near Summer Leys thanks to the tip off on your site. Although I saw many when I lived in Southern Africa it was lovely to see one here in England. I shall be following Northants Birds avidly!
Peter
Thanks, Peter. Glad you found it useful!
waxwings in Corby northants
Hi Debbie, Thanks. Where? How many? When? Thanks!
Hi Mike – here’s a little Northampton bird-related true story for Christmas:
http://jeffollerton.wordpress.com/2013/12/19/a-christmas-vignette/
Have a great holiday and prosperous New Year!
All the best,
Jeff
I obtain really agitated with so several junk food article filling up the search
engine result – thanks for writing for your readers instead of search engines
I also saw possible Common Crane high over Towcester in the morning of the 9th April. Possible further siting at lower level in the afternoon.
Thanks for reporting, Peter
Hi Mike, just wanted to say great job with the northantsbirds website: lively and diverse content, well presented and accessible, really informative.
Hi Jon, Thanks very much for your kind comments. I only wish I had more time to devote to it to improve it further!
Little Egret 23 birds at Towcester A43 by Dissused railway line between A5 and McDonald’s roundabout. Also 2 more birds at water run off pool beside A43, between Wittlebury turn and Silverstone village at 1330 hrs 4/4/18.
Thanks, Ian. Just shows how much they have increased locally over the years!
Hi there Mike, visiting my folks in Barnwell today and a quick walk out of the village produced a northern Wheatear and two Yellow Wagtails, including one blue-headed. Two new ticks for the local patch. Thought I’d share.
All the best, David
Thanks, David. Where exactly were these, please? Mike
Hi Mike
The Wheatear was around a disused bit of farming equipment 52.4396076,-0.4581233
Yellow wagtail 52.4370458,-0.4553227 sitting on wires and flying between fields.
Also had mandarin duck yesterday on River Nene near Oundle 52.4675733,-0.4502302
Hope this helps. Can send over some pics too.
David
Hi David,
That’s great, thanks. Any pics you have – especially of the Blue-headed Wagtail – would be welcomed. Please send direct to alibone.mike@gmail.com Many thanks. Mike
I’ll send some over. Actually need a second opinion on the blue headed looking at photos. I’ll send them over shortly. All the best, David
Great to see this site! I’m a long-time admirer of Northamptonshire birds!
I’m an amateur bird watcher and enjoy combining seeing unusual birds with an afternoon out.
Thanks to your site I ‘ ticked ‘ my first UK Glossy Ibis in the horse field off the A605 !
Keep up the good work !
Great stuff, Nick! Many thanks for your comments.
Good morning Mike. What a great website. Being keen bird watchers, my wife and I were delighted to discover your site thanks to the Oundle Advertiser (I think!!). Time to put the new camera to work in the county. Best regards Clayton & Zoe.
Thanks for your kind comments, Clayton!