Author: Mike Alibone

A wholly unanticipated early surge of spring migrants kept birders on their toes this week as a strong easterly airstream off the continent kicked in, producing a glut of birds more normally associated with April and May.

While there were no new summer visitors arriving during the period, there was still a decent sprinkling of scarcities and rarities to catch up with, starting with four White-fronted Geese which dropped into Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 4th. Not staying to see the day out, they had quickly moved on by the end of the afternoon. With fewer Whitefronts spending the winter in the UK these days, and 2023 constituting the first year in recent history without any in the county, it would appear this species is now on course to becoming a local rarity.

Still proving a popular draw, last week’s Garganey saw the week out at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR (IL&M) while, a short hop across the A6 at Stanwick GP, the drake Green-winged Teal made it into the week on 3rd but was nowhere to be seen subsequently.

Back at Ditchford proper, another New World duck was making headlines as the day unfolded on 5th. Almost considered run-of-the-mill these days, a female Ring-necked Duck was discovered on Higham Lake – the site’s ‘main lake’ of old until, back in 1985, the then new A45 dual carriageway ploughed through the middle of it. It was still present at the week’s end. This may well be the same individual which visited Stanwick on 17th-18th January and/or the same bird present at Titchmarsh LNR from 25th to 28th January. On the other hand, it could be a completely different bird. How long it’s been on Higham Lake is obviously unknown but, clearly, said lake is a body of water which deserves more attention.

And as if to labour the point, we’re not done with Higham Lake yet, as a first-winter drake Greater Scaup was found there at the same time as the above duck, also staying put until the end of the period. Meanwhile, further upriver at Earls Barton GP’s Grendon Lakes the other, longer-staying, first-winter Greater Scaup remained throughout the week.

At Clifford Hill GP, last week’s ‘redhead’ Smew also saw another week out.

The Nene Valley continued to turn up trumps when three Avocets dropped in at Summer Leys on 7th, although a short spell of unavoidable on-site maintenance led to their visit being curtailed and they headed off east within forty minutes of their arrival.

With the Avocets clearly the icing on the wader cake, a decent number of Black-tailed Godwits were also in the mix. This year’s first was found at Stanwick GP on 4th, quickly followed later in the day by another, different, bird across the road at IL&M. Numbers ramped up on 8th, when twelve were found on floodwater at Barnwell Lock near Oundle, five appeared at IL&M, two flew north over Daventry CP and singles were seen at Summer Leys and in flight at Titchmarsh LNR.

Three Ruffs also dropped into Summer Leys on 7th and the week’s only Jack Snipe was at Hollowell Res on 7th-8th. Not a bad haul for the first week of March …

And then came the Little Gulls. A local mini-influx of six birds across four locations was part of a wider inland movement that included a gathering of twenty-three at Netherfield Lagoons in Nottinghamshire – quite extraordinary for so early in the spring’s proceedings. Five of our six were found on 7th, when one arrived at Summer Leys, two spent a short spell at Stanwick and two were found at Pitsford Res. The following day, one spent the best part of three hours at Wicksteed Park Lakes, Kettering. All birds were adults.

March, traditionally, is when Mediterranean Gulls start to move and this week’s included single adults at Hollowell Res on 4th, Daventry CP on 7th and in the roost at Stanford Res on 7th-8th, while a first-winter visited Hollowell on 8th. Hollowell also continued to host its regular adult Caspian Gulls, with one there on 7th and two the following day. The week’s Yellow-legged Gulls consisted of an adult and a third-winter at Boddington Res on 7th and an adult at Pitsford on 8th.

Keeping a low profile so far this year, no Bitterns had been reported until this week, when one was seen in flight before dropping into reeds at Stanwick on 6th. The same cannot be said for Cattle Egrets, of course, and this week’s cohort included up to seven at Ditchford, various numbers of which were mobile between Wellingborough Embankment and Rushden Lakes, up to three were at Summer Leys on 2nd-3rd, three were reported from Brancey Bridge, Aldwincle on 4th and one remained at Stanford on Avon on 2nd.

Marsh Harrier reports came from Titchmarsh on 4th, Stanwick on 4th-5th and from Summer Leys on 8th, with all sightings likely attributable to the same roving, immature male.

Short-eared Owls were in short supply, the Blueberry four apparently having moved to nearby private land, with no public access, on 6th, while a female Merlin was seen over Ravensthorpe Res on 3rd.

Following lower numbers last week, Stonechats continued their early spring clear-out, the end of the period having seen only two at both Long Buckby and Hollowell on 4th with one remaining at the latter site on 7th. Rarer passerine fare was on offer, though, with the discovery, at Duston, of the year’s third Mealy Redpoll within a small flock of Lesser Redpolls, on 8th. Given the number of reports of this ‘species’ in the UK this winter, it’s surprising how few have been discovered locally.

Two Crossbills were found in a small wood, east of Creaton, also on 8th.

An interesting week, culminating in the first day of meteorological spring, rewrote the statistics in terms of both weather and birds. While it was confirmed that the eastern region of the UK, of which Northants is a part, ‘enjoyed’ the warmest and wettest February on record, a certain duck also swam into the record books as the earliest ever spring migrant of its kind.

And we’re off! Yes indeed, the summer visitor arrivals clock started ticking this week with the appearance of a smart drake Garganey at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR on 27th.

Although still present at the end of the period, it remained stubbornly elusive, on view for only short periods during the mornings of two of the four days it was present, leaving many would-be observers returning home empty-handed.

The above bird constitutes the earliest ever reported in the county, beating the previous earliest – a drake at Blatherwycke Lake on 8th March 2004 – by a fat ten days.

Other ducks were available, of course, and the reappearance of the drake Green-winged Teal at Stanwick GP on 29th and 1st was clearly not to be scoffed at. Where it had been lurking, unseen since 10th February, is anyone’s guess but, let’s face it, it’s had plenty of floodwater and resultant boggy meadows to lose itself on. Following suit, after three weeks’ absence, the first-winter drake Greater Scaup was back at Earls Barton GP’s Grendon Lakes on 28th-29th, with a few less brown feathers.

In a week of dapper ducks, then, the final slot was again filled by last week’s ‘redhead’ Smew, still present at Clifford Hill GP on 29th.

Jack Snipes continued to keep the scarce wader group afloat but numbers were low with two at Daventry CP on 26th and singles at Pitsford Res and Hollowell Res, on 26th and 27th, respectively.

Mediterranean Gulls were back in the frame this week when two adults drifted north over Kettering on 27th, the same date on which two adult Caspian Gulls were again at Hollowell Res and one was reported from Ditchford GP. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was again at Pitsford on 25th and 28th, while a first-winter visited Daventry CP on 26th.

Keeping up appearances, predominantly in the Nene Valley, Cattle Egrets continued to be seen at Ditchford until at least 27th, when six were present in one small area off Ditchford Lane, while the Summer Leys duo remained all week. The Stanford on Avon individual also saw another week out in the area between Stanford Hall and nearby Stanford Res.

The mid-Nene Valley roving male Marsh Harrier once again played hard to get, being seen at Summer Leys briefly on 29th.

For anyone intent on seeing Short-eared Owls, Blueberry Farm, Maidwell continued to produce the goods, hosting up to four, any number of which were seen daily between 27th and 1st while, nearby, one was seen at Cottesbrooke on 24th. At least one remained at Neville’s Lodge, Finedon on 25th.

A female Merlin was seen between Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell on 1st.

And we’re not quite done with Waxwings yet, so it seems, as five flew north-west over the old railway track at Stanford Res on 24th and one was reported from Brackmills CP, Northampton on 27th. This latter date also saw a return of last week’s Oundle nine – becoming ten – in the same area as before and again, nearby, the following day.

The period’s Stonechat quota saw reports from eleven localities – the same number as last week – but numbers were down to just one or two birds at nine of these, with maxima of five at Hollowell on 27th and four in the Brampton Valley on 25th.

Hints of spring faced challenging bouts of heavy rain over the week, the latter adding significantly to an already waterlogged landscape in many areas. And, as for the birds …

Stanford Reservoir’s Pink-footed Goose remained in the area until at least 21st, venturing briefly into Northants on 18th. Further down in the county, at Pitsford Res, a Whooper Swan was reported from Brixworth CP on 20th, while Clifford Hill GP delivered the week’s best duck, a ‘redhead’ Smew, from 21st to 23rd. Only the second one of this year so far, its behaviour and its favoured area of the pit were identical to the bird there during the first week of January, suggesting it may well be the same individual making a return visit.

This week’s scarce wader tally failed to progress beyond three Jack Snipes at Daventry CP on 19th and one at Hollowell Res on 23rd.

Gulls, too, were thin on the ground with a first-winter Caspian Gull at Ravensthorpe Res on 19th and two adult Caspians at nearby Hollowell on 23rd, while Pitsford unsurprisingly dished up an adult Yellow-legged Gull on 17th.

Cattle Egrets enjoyed some decent exposure across the county this week with birds present at five localities. Ditchford GP saw a peak of five on 20th with at least two still present on 23rd. At Summer Leys LNR, the two present daily since 13th February remained settled throughout the week, with a third bird reported there on 20th, while the Stanford Res/Stanford on Avon commuter was still present on 18th and further singles were at Kislingbury GP/Upton CP on 17th-18th and Stanwick GP on 20th.

A male Marsh Harrier scraped into the week’s proceedings, being seen at Summer Leys on 17th.

As with last week, Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and Neville’s Lodge, Finedon both shared Short-eared Owls with up to two at the first of these throughout the week and the same number at the latter site up to 18th. One was also trapped and ringed in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, on 18th – this site, alongside Blueberry Farm, continuing to hold a roving male Merlin.

The week’s passerine contingent was at a low ebb, the highlight being a group of nine Waxwings discovered flycatching from bushes alongside the A605 Oundle bypass on 18th. Now seemingly failing to generate the excitement they did at the turn of the year, this group appeared not to pull any punters.

So, that just leaves Stonechats, numbers of which picked up considerably this week with birds present at eleven localities. Most notable were approximately ten at Hinton AF on 18th, nine at Daventry CP on 22nd and eight at Hollowell Res on 23rd. Elsewhere, between one and four were present in the Brampton Valley, at Clifford Hill, Ditchford, Earls Barton GP, Stanford, Stortons GP, Summer Leys and Upton.

A somewhat subdued week saw continuing high water levels, although rainfall was significantly lower than that during the week prior. Unfortunately, there was little to shout about in terms of new arrivals and more than a feeling that we are, at present, just bumping along the bottom.  For avid birders in the field, trying to find new birds was, as they say, rather like pulling teeth but Sand Martin in Kent and Swallow in Dorset this week hint that things, in general, are on the move …

Locally, though, it was back to basics, kicking off with Stanford Reservoir’s Pink-footed Goose still present on the Northants side of the border on 10th. Two Bewick’s Swans were reported at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 15th but there was no sign of any there the following day. Last week’s drake Green-winged Teal at Stanwick GP scraped in to steal the crown in this week’s lineup on 10th but there was not even a sniff of it thereafter. A drake Red-crested Pochard found at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) on the same date was likely the bird present at nearby Billing GP’s Ecton Lake on 27th January.

This week’s waders were last week’s waders with a Ruff still at Stanwick on 10th and a Jack Snipe at Hollowell Res on the same date, plus at least four more of the latter still at Daventry CP between 12th and 15th.

Gulls were few and far between and included two second-winter Mediterranean Gulls – Stanford and Pitsford Res producing one apiece on 12th and 16th, respectively, while an adult Yellow-legged Gull was present at DIRFT 3 on 11th.

Cattle Egrets were a little more obliging this week, with one commuting between Stanford Res and nearby Stanford on Avon, on and off, throughout the week. One was also at Stanwick on 15th and two were mobile around Summer Leys LNR between 13th and 16th.

Summer Leys also produced an immature male Marsh Harrier on 10th and 12th, the same bird being present further up the valley at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on the last of these two dates. One, possibly the same individual, also visited Stanwick on 13th. It’s not so long ago that Marsh Harrier was a scarce passage migrant in the county and, in 1971, this species was Britain’s rarest breeding raptor with just one pair at Minsmere in Suffolk. Since then, after intense conservation efforts, one estimate puts the UK population at between 590 and 695 breeding pairs – undoubtedly the source of our recent wintering birds.

Short-eared Owls remained prominent in the news with Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and Neville’s Lodge, Finedon carving up this week’s quota between them, each locality producing up to four birds throughout the period.

Two Merlins comprised a male between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, in the Brampton Valley on 13th and a female/immature at Pitsford Res on 16th.

As far as this week’s Waxwings were concerned, a dozen or so were seen flying away from Dallington Cemetery (Duston, Northampton), just before dusk on 10th – and that was the first and last that was seen of them. Following the Duston Vanishers, Northamptonshire was left wanting, while, not a million miles away in suburban Milton Keynes, numbers went from strength to strength, with at least seventy-five on the eastern outskirts of the city near Kingston by the week’s end. Needless to say, the surrounding counties of Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire all enjoyed double-figure flocks.

The Brampton Valley, Daventry, Earls Barton, Hollowell, Stanwick and Summer Leys all held Stonechats this week, with the highest count of five at Hollowell on 10th, while Crossbills scraped in with single birds over Daventry on 14th and at East Carlton CP the following day.

In contrast to the previous week, this week endured considerable precipitation over an already waterlogged landscape, resulting in rapidly developing floodwater – particularly in the Nene Valley – by the week’s end. The early part of the week, however, saw the arrival of another North American duck …

Yes, looking beyond the Pink-footed Goose that was still at Stanford Res as the week came to a close, Northamptonshire’s sixteenth Green-winged Teal was found at Stanwick GP on 6th by veteran Stanwickeer, Steve Fisher, during an early morning sortie around the site.

Stanwick (and Steve) has a track record for producing this species which, since the first county record at nearby Ditchford GP in 1980, has previously occurred there in five different years. In fact, early spring during the three consecutive years, 2007-2009, produced one that was considered to be the same returning individual and was therefore classed as only one record. It’s been an eight-year wait since the last, which was at Daventry CP in  2016 (details here and here).

Green-winged Teal was dropped from the BBRC list of species requiring submission from 1991 and it was considered a sub-species of ‘Eurasian’ Teal until 2001, when the BOU awarded it full species status.

Aside from the above, both first-winter Greater Scaups remained in place at Hollowell Res and Grendon Lakes (Earls Barton GP) on 4th and 5th, respectively.

The week’s waders were limited to a Ruff at Stanwick on 7th and seven Jack Snipes at Daventry CP on 5th.

Gull numbers were down over the period with a Caspian Gull (unaged) reported from Summer Leys LNR on 3rd, three (an adult and two first-winters) at Daventry CP on 5th and just a first-winter at the latter site on 9th. Two Yellow-legged Gulls (unaged) were reported from Summer Leys on 3rd and a first-winter was at Daventry CP on 5th.

Cattle Egrets were seen on single dates only at Ditchford GP on 4th, Wicksteed Water Meadows NR on 7th and Summer Leys on 9th, nor were there any subsequent reports of a Glossy Ibis seen in flight at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR in the fading light of 3rd.

After one there last week, Stanford produced the period’s only Marsh Harrier when one flew east on 7th.

Short-eared Owls were again in evidence with one at Harrington AF on 4th, up to three at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell between 5th and 7th and, on the latter date, three at Neville’s Lodge, Finedon and one in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton.

In line with last week, Blueberry Farm delivered a Merlin – this time a female – on 7th and a female/immature was also seen at Harrington AF on 4th.

After 5th, it was all quiet on the Waxwing front, this being the last date on which the Corby seven were seen. Still, we can’t complain after their having enjoyed a good innings, being virtually nailed down at this site for more than five weeks.

Stonechats were again found at five localities, the highest single site count being six at Earls Barton GP on 4th, while Crossbills crept back into double figures with up to twelve being seen at the ever-reliable Fineshade Wood until at least 7th.

A largely dry week – both weatherwise and new birdwise – saw higher-than-average temperatures in the latter half but there was still plenty of entertainment out there to keep the birding pace going.

There were few new wildfowl during the period and the Pink-footed Goose that appeared at Stanford Res on 2nd appears likely to be the Hollowell Res bird out on a jolly. A drake Red-crested Pochard was found on Ecton Lake, at Billing GP, on 27th, while the female Ring-necked Duck remained at Titchmarsh LNR (Thrapston GP) until 28th but was not seen thereafter. Hollowell hung on to its first-winter drake Greater Scaup throughout, as did Grendon Lakes its rather more advanced individual.

With numbers up on last week, Jack Snipe was again the only standout wader. A maximum of twelve at Daventry CP on 29th was the highest count, followed by two at Hollowell between 28th and 2nd and one at Barnes Meadow LNR, Northampton on 29th.

The scarcer gulls were still out there to be had and these included single adult Caspian Gulls in the roost at Stanford on 29th and 31st, a first-winter at Daventry on 29th and an adult roosting at Summer Leys LNR on 30th. With a notable absence of the formerly regular adult from Pitsford Res of late, the only Yellow-legged Gulls this week were a first-winter at Daventry on 29th, an adult at Summer Leys on 30th and a third-winter in the roost at Stanford on 31st.

Nowadays less engaging and often prone to playing hide and seek, Pitsford’s Great Northern Diver was seen on 27th and 31st.

Cattle Egrets kept a surprisingly low profile and while one was seen at Stanford on 27th and 1st, it spent the intervening period in a nearby sheep field, over the border, in Leicestershire. One was also reported from Summer Leys on 29th.

Keeping up appearances, Marsh Harriers maintained their winter presence in the Nene Valley, where there were three independent sightings within the Earls Barton GP complex on 28th. One also provided observers at Stanford with a locally rare winter record when it flew east over the reservoir on the following day.

A ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier was clocked over Harrington AF during the last hour of daylight on 30th, while the gathering dusk on 28th-29th also saw the emergence of four Short-eared Owls at Neville’s Lodge, near Finedon. In a bid to rival the Finedon four, Blueberry Farm, Maidwell delivered its own twilight quartet on 1st.

Blueberry and the wider environs of the Brampton Valley also delivered a male Merlin on 29th-30th.

And so to Waxwings. Having increased to five birds in the latter part of last week, the Corby clan attracted a further new recruit on the first day of this one, only to move on up again to seven birds on 2nd. During this period, however, they became more mobile and unreliable, their appearances being more sporadic, with would-be observers going home empty-handed. That’s not to say they were the only ones available this week. A nice, Sunday afternoon find of twelve at Brackmills CP, Northampton proved to be a pull for those quick off the mark on 28th but their stay extended only until 09.15 the following morning, when they headed off south-west, toward Wootton. In addition to these, a lone bird was seen briefly in the vicinity of the entrance to the Hanson gravel processing plant at Earls Barton GP on 28th.

Stonechats were found at five localities – down from last week’s eleven – the highest count being a respectable seven at Hollowell on the last day of the week.

With numbers also down, Crossbills crept into the week’s line-up with at least one bird present at Longcroft Road, Corby on 1st and a rather meagre two at Fineshade Wood the following day.

Things got fresh at the weekend when Storm Isha battered the UK, followed quickly in its wake by Storm Jocelyn. While they appeared to have little or no influence on what turned up locally, two species found themselves jostlin’ for position as bird of the week.

To get to the first of these requires a quick wade through the wildfowl which, this week, were in relatively short supply. Hollowell Res’s Pink-footed Goose remained there until at least 22nd, while further north, up on the Leicestershire border, two Red-crested Pochards appeared at Stanford Res on the last day of the period. Closer to the county town, a drake Red-crested Pochard x Pochard hybrid provided a flicker of interest at Sywell CP on 21st.

Back at Hollowell, the first-winter drake Greater Scaup remained settled throughout the week, while Earls Barton GP’s more advanced first-winter was still present at Grendon Lakes on 24th.

The first contender for bird of the week, however, was found ducking an’ diving at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 25th. Step forward a/the female Ring-necked Duck. Not having been seen for a good seven days since disappearing from Stanwick, it was only a matter of time before it resurfaced somewhere nearby and Thrapston, having history, was the obvious choice. Of course, it may not have been the same bird …

Quality waders were all but missing, save for a Jack Snipe in the Brampton Valley, near Brixworth STW, on 20th and four of the same at Daventry CP on 22nd.

Homing in on some of the rarer gulls proved less of a challenge for those prepared to take a punt at a gull roost in the fading light of a winter’s afternoon. Stanford provided the lion’s share, with an adult Mediterranean Gull dropping in on 26th, adult and first-winter Caspian Gulls on 20th, a first-winter again on 22nd, a third-winter on 24th and an adult on 26th. A third-winter was also found at DIRFT 3 on 26th and the regularly visiting German-ringed (XLVH) adult was at its favoured site of Naseby Res on 21st. The only Yellow-legged Gull of the week was a second-winter at Billing GP on 24th.

Mobile south of the causeway, the juvenile Great Northern Diver chalked up another week at Pitsford Res.

Numbers of Cattle Egrets remained low and included two at Summer Leys LNR on 21st, two at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR on 26th and one roosting at Stanford on the same date.

Now only to be expected, Marsh Harrier sightings were restricted to the weekend, when a juvenile and a male were seen around Earls Barton/Summer Leys and one flew west at Chown’s Mill roundabout near Ditchford GP. A male Merlin was seen in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 20th.

Regimented and reliable, the four Corby Waxwings had clocked up a 26-day stay by the end of the week, being joined there by a fifth bird for the last three of these. Their presence there for knocking a month must surely put them into the record books for the longest-stayers, locally, and having chosen a locality offering perfect viewing conditions, along with easy ‘roll up and see’ parking, they continue to attract a steady stream of admirers. As contender number two for bird of the week – and not classed as a rarity – in terms of pulling-power, they win hands down. Two were also briefly reported in East Hunsbury, Northampton, on 26th.

Stonechats were found at eleven localities, the highest count being five at Earls Barton GP on 26th.

Finally, Fineshade – the week’s only site for Crossbills consistently produced single figures with a maximum of at least five on 20th.

With a continuing northerly airflow, sparse snow showers on 16th (but blink and you’d miss them) and local temperatures plummeting to -6°C overnight on 17th, it was a cold, cold week. So much so that many waterbodies became significantly icebound, leaving only small holes unfrozen, in most instances giving rise to large concentrations of wildfowl where they occurred.

And while the Hollowell Res Pink-footed Goose stayed put throughout the period, another was discovered at Blatherwycke Lake on 16th. Where Whooper Swans were concerned, last week’s run became this week’s trickle with an adult paying the briefest of visits to Ravensthorpe Res on 15th, followed by two flying south over the dam at Pitsford Res on 17th.

The regularly wintering female Ruddy Shelduck was still around, this week keeping company with Canada Geese at Hollowell on 17th-19th and the first Red-crested Pochard of the new year checked in at Earls Barton GP’s Grendon Lakes on 15th.

In terms of rarity value, Stanwick GP produced ‘bird of the week’ when a female Ring-necked Duck was found in an ice hole on the Main Lake there on 17th. Although there have been fewer than fifteen county records, a female is hardly a head-turner nowadays. Let’s face it, we’ve been spoiled rotten with them over the past couple of years, long-stayers and all that …  It remained until the following day but was not seen subsequently.

Spilling over from last week, the first-winter drake Greater Scaup remained at Ravensthorpe Res, yo-yoing back and forth between nearby Hollowell throughout the period. Another first-winter drake was found in an ice hole at Grendon Lakes on 18th.

After several days’ apparent absence, the ‘redhead’ Smew was back at Clifford Hill GP between 14th and 16th.

This week’s waders were last week’s waders and included two Ruffs still at Stanwick on 13th-14th, having dwindled to one by 17th. Jack Snipes were found at three localities – singles being at Lilbourne Meadows NR on 14th and at Hollowell on 15th and 17th, while at least seven remained at Daventry CP on the latter date.

And with things settling down to normal, gulls caused far less of a rumpus this week with the roost at Boddington Res holding an adult and a second-winter Mediterranean Gull on 13th and the roost at Stanford Res still proving attractive to a second-winter on 15th-17th. Boddington’s roost also produced a first-winter Caspian Gull on 13th, while the latter date saw an adult at Naseby Res and further adults were seen at Hollowell on 15th, Stanford on 18th-19th and at Clifford Hill on 19th. Pitsford produced the only Yellow-legged Gulls of the period with an adult there on 13th and three in the roost on 17th.

The juvenile Great Northern Diver maintained its presence at Pitsford throughout the period.

In comparison to recent weeks, Cattle Egrets kept a low profile – perhaps as a result of the freezing temperatures. One was seen at Stanwick on 14th and 17th and two were reported from adjacent Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR on 16th and 19th.

There was no let-up in Marsh Harrier sightings, though, with singles at Stanwick on 13th, Earls Barton GP’s Quarry Walk on 14th and at Summer Leys LNR on 17th, while a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier was seen two days running, on 14th and 15th, at Harrington AF.

Numbers of Short-eared Owls were down, however, with just two near Finedon on 13th and one near Whilton Locks the following day.

The week’s Merlins were limited to a female at Ditchford GP on 14th and a male near Brixworth STW in the Brampton Valley on 17th.

Local birders were, this week, provided with a choice of venue in terms of where to watch Waxwings. Instead of heading to Corby where, it must be said, the long-staying four proved ever-reliable throughout, Northampton provided a more south-central setting for one, then two, in the open front garden of a house in East Hunsbury. Following the appearance there of a first-winter female on 15th, it was subsequently joined by an adult male on 17th, both birds remaining to see the week out. Although they proved a popular pull, they were not always on view and extended waiting times were often the order of the day.

Elsewhere, three were in a private garden in Stanion on 14th and a first-winter female appeared in a Brixworth garden on the last day of the week.

The weekly Stonechat tally saw birds at nine localities, including Ditchford, Earls Barton, Hollowell, Oundle, Pitsford, Polebrook AF, Summer Leys, Sywell CP and Upton CP, with a maximum of at least six at Earls Barton on 13th.

Not unexpected with decent numbers nationally at present, a Mealy Redpoll was a one-day bird at Daventry CP on 15th, following a belated report of one photographed at Stortons GP on 11th. These are the first in the county since one at Wakerley Great Wood on 2nd April 2021. Speaking of which, the woods at Fineshade and Wakerley carved up the week’s Crossbills between them, with up to twelve logged at Fineshade/Westhay Wood and a maximum count of forty-one at Wakerley on 16th.

A calmer, drier and slightly brighter week, weatherwise, saw temperatures drop a little as a high pressure system took hold over north-east Europe and Russia, producing a cold, easterly airflow. While perhaps not directly responsible, along with it came a notable movement of Whooper Swans and a small increase in numbers of wildfowl at some locations. But the week belonged to a certain gull …

Possibly a new – or more likely the same – Pink-footed Goose was seen at Stanford Res on 6th-7th before relocating to nearby fields at Stanford on Avon on 8th and then returning to Hollowell Res on 10th.

However, Whooper Swans were the order of the week on the wildfowl front, although all those found did not remain longer than one day at their respective locations. The first to arrive were two adults at Clifford Hill GP on 6th, where the number had doubled to four by the end of the day. Three adults visited Stanford Res on 7th and two adults and a juvenile flew north over Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR the following day. Seven were on floodwater east of Oundle, briefly, before flying south-east on 9th and three flew south over Harrington AF on 12th.

The regular Ruddy Shelduck put in its first appearance of the year at Winwick Pools on 10th.

But hanging on from last week were the first-winter drake and female Greater Scaups at Clifford Hill on 6th-8th, the drake still present on 9th. Another first-winter drake was found at Ravensthorpe Res on the last day of the period.

Also remaining was the ‘redhead’ Smew at Clifford Hill from 6th to 7th, after which there were no further sightings. It is now generally believed that milder winters mean Smews are no longer heading out to the UK, at the far western limit of its winter range, as much as in previous years, with more spending the coldest months in the Baltics, Germany or southern Scandinavia and it seems highly likely that this attractive little sawbill will become even more scarce in the UK as time progresses. For further details see here.

Waders during the period were limited to a surprise visit by four Ruffs to Stanwick GP on 12th and a healthy total of at least eighteen Jack Snipes at Daventry CP on 8th with fifteen there on 12th. One was also seen at Willowbrook Industrial Estate, Corby on 7th.

Gulls came very much to the fore this week, with the spotlight firmly on the roost at Stanford Res, which held a second-winter Mediterranean Gull on 6th and 12th.

But it was in the approaching darkness of late afternoon on 11th that the arrival of an interesting-looking gull at Stanford caused a bit of a stir – a bird which was to spark much debate throughout the evening, with various laridophiles across three counties casting their votes into the identity hat. The bird’s identification would never have been established had it not been for the due diligence and unwavering resolve of the finder, Chris Hubbard, who was back on site at dawn the following morning. Having the good grace to stick around briefly after first light, the bird remained long enough to be videoed and have its identity firmly nailed as a second-winter Kumlien’s Gull, only the fourth record for Northamptonshire and the second for Stanford, following a third-winter there on 18th February 2020.

The two previous records were a second-winter at Sidegate Landfill on 13th January 2010 and an adult at Daventry CP on 24th March 2016. Alas, there are no longer any active landfill sites in the county, so the best chance of finding any of the scarce, ‘white-wingers’ from the high Arctic rests with visiting the Stanford gull roost or the flat expanse of mud and shallow pools at DIRFT 3, both of which are known to pull in gulls from Shawell Landfill, just over the border in neighbouring Leicestershire. With imminently approaching fronts from the north about to open the doors to Arctic air across the UK, we may yet see the arrival of more white-wingers as ‘winter proper’ gets underway.

Other gulls were, of course, available and Stanford’s roost also produced a third-winter Caspian Gull on 7th, while Hollowell continued to hold on to its regular adults, with two there on 8th and one on 10th. A single adult Yellow-legged Gull was found at Willowbrook Industrial Estate, Corby on 7th.

After an apparent ten-day absence, back on the menu this week was Great Northern Diver when one was found at Pitsford Res, late on 12th. Whether or not it’s the same bird having kept a low profile remains open to debate.

And then there were Cattle Egrets. Numbers at the currently surefire site of Stanwick rose to a respectable nine seen coming in to roost, late in the afternoon, on 6th. Three at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR the next day, followed by six at Stanwick on 8th and 12th suggests they are all part of the same group.

Marsh Harriers extended their stretch in the Nene Valley with singles – or perhaps just one wide-ranging individual – at Thrapston GP on 6th, Summer Leys LNR on 7th and at Stanwick on 12th.

Short-eared Owls, too, maintained their presence throughout the period at Neville’s Lodge, where up to four were seen on one date mid-week, while one also drifted high over Stanford Res, at dusk, on 12th.

The week’s Merlins were limited to singles at Stanwick and in the Brampton Valley – both on 9th.

Stanwick also produced the first Siberian Chiffchaff of the year, on 8th.

But after last week’s mini-surge, this week saw Waxwings on the wane, with only a brief visit by eight to an Oundle garden on 6th and the so-called ‘Fab (or famous) Four’ remaining reliable on the eastern outskirts of Corby throughout.

Six localities held Stonechats with a maximum of four at Earls Barton GP on 10th and the same number at Sywell CP on 12th, while Crossbills were ever-reliable at Wakerley Great Wood, where four were seen on 6th and at nearby Fineshade, where there were eight on 10th and twelve on 11th.  

In a week which saw the masses out and the New Year in, it was Waxwings all the way …

But as the exceptionally wet and windy weather continued, parts of Northamptonshire faced worryingly rising water levels, particularly in low lying areas of the Nene Valley, where flood warnings resulted in a number of homes being evacuated.

Great weather for ducks, though, and while not forgetting the continuing presence of the Pink-footed Goose at and around Hollowell Res, new wildfowl popped up in the shape of two Greater Scaups and a ‘redhead’ Smew at the flooded-out Nene Barrage at Clifford Hill GP on the last day of the week. One day prior to this, a ‘redhead’ Red-breasted Merganser was reported at Ditchford GP’s Rushden Lakes area but there was no further sign on the following day.

Stanford Res maintained its monopoly on roosting Mediterranean Gulls this week, with a first-winter on 30th, two first-winters on 2nd and a second-winter on 3rd. The same roost site also produced Caspian Gulls, including a first-winter on 30th and two adults on 2nd, while Hollowell held an adult and a first-winter on 1st and an adult on 3rd. Single adult Yellow-legged Gulls were at both Pitsford Res and Stanford on 2nd and at Hollowell on 3rd.

While there were unconfirmed reports of Pitsford’s Great Northern Diver still being present on 30th and 1st, it was a first-winter Shag which considerably raised the game there in the fading light of New Year’s Eve, before it was seen to depart shortly after being found. Following a juvenile present for one day at Stanford on 15th August, this is only the second record of a Shag in the county in 2023.

Cattle Egrets maintained their presence at the same three sites as in the preceding week, these including a peak count of at least five at Stanwick GP on 1st, two still at Stanford on Avon on the same date and one extending its stay at Wicksteed Water Meadows, Kettering to 30th. In addition, another was found at Summer Leys LNR on 31st, remaining there until 2nd.

Looking set to see the winter out locally, Marsh Harriers kept up appearances with two at Summer Leys on 30th, plus (or including) one at nearby Earls Barton GP’s New Workings on the same date. Singles were again at Summer Leys on 1st and at Stanwick on 4th. With no further sign of the one at Neville’s Lodge, another showing by the ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, on 31st, was the only one of the week.

There was an increase from one to three localities at which Short-eared Owls were seen this week. The standout site was, of course, Neville’s Lodge, where up to three were seen almost daily but Harrington AF got in on the action, producing two on 3rd and one on 4th-5th, while the Brampton Valley delivered one on 3rd.

In an attempt to make up for the missing Hen Harrier, Neville’s Lodge also produced a Merlin on 30th and further sightings came from Harrington AF on 1st Wicksteed Park Lake on 2nd and the Brampton Valley on 4th.

But, once again, the stars of the week were Waxwings, and those which exerted the biggest pull were in the north of the county, at Priors Hall Park on the eastern outskirts of Corby, from 1st to 5th. Dubbed the ‘Fab Four’ – an accolade derived from the combination of their offering super-close range viewing, along with their length of stay – their sheer reliability for simply being there for long periods of time enabled prolonged observation and superb photographic opportunities. Roll up and they were there for the taking …

Elsewhere, five were reportedly in the previous week’s suburban location, rich in rowans, at High Ferrers on the 30th, two visited a garden in Woodford Halse on 31st while, in Northampton on 2nd, three were mobile around the western extremity of Duston and one was a transient visitor to a front garden rowan in East Hunsbury.

This week’s Stonechats included twos at Wicksteed Water Meadows, Kettering on 30th, at Summer Leys and in the Brampton Valley on 31st and 4th, while Hollowell Res held up to four between 1st and 3rd and five were at Sywell CP on 1st.

Crossbills maintained a presence in the north-east of the county, where sixteen were at Fineshade Wood on 31st, while at nearby Wakerley Great Wood five were seen on 4th, this number rising to approximately twenty there the following day.