Author: Mike Alibone

A mixed bag of largely mild weather this week ended with ferociously wet and windy conditions and, at long last, a small dollop of those long-awaited Waxwings.

But as ‘Storm Gerrit’ whirled out into the North Sea and with the curtain about to come down on 2023, it’s worth taking time to reflect on some of the birds that have shaped this action-packed year. A succession of top tier birds across the county kicked off with a lingering Yellow-browed Warbler at Earls Barton GP in January and a White Stork over Moulton during the same month. January also saw Ring-necked Ducks at Hollowell/Ravensthorpe and Thrapston followed by further appearances at Ringstead in March, Ditchford in April and again at Thrapston in October.

Summer Leys – 2023’s standout locality – produced a smart male Kentish Plover in April, the first for nearly thirty years and, for many, the icing on the spring cake which, during the same week, included a White Stork and two Common Cranes, followed by a Black-winged Stilt in May and a Purple Heron there in June. Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows topped that, though, with no less than a flock of four Black-winged Stilts in May – part of a notable spring influx into the UK. Also in May, the year’s only Temminck’s Stint appeared at DIRFT 3 – a site still producing birds as it undergoes further building development.

Summer saw Caspian Terns drop in frustratingly briefly at Hollowell and Summer Leys during July, the latter site, along with Stanwick, producing single Pectoral Sandpipers in September and one or two Glossy Ibises apiece in October-November.

So, rounding off the year in the last full week of 2023, there were still birds to be had, be they long stayers or new arrivals. Falling squarely into the former category, the Pink-footed Goose remained at Hollowell Res and the female Ruddy Shelduck was again in residence at its apparently favoured locality of Winwick Pools, on 29th.

Pitsford Res accounted for the best of the rest of the wildfowl with two Red-crested Pochards on 26th, along with the first-winter drake Greater Scaup still present there on the same date.

Leaping straight to Larids, this week’s Mediterranean Gulls were the sole preserve of Stanford Res, which appears to be enjoying a good run of them so far in the latter part of the year. Single first-winters were present in the roost on 24th, 27th and 29th while two first-winters were found there on 28th, one of which was also present during the daytime. The same roost also produced two adult Caspian Gulls on 27th and one the following evening. Elsewhere, Hollowell held two adult Caspians on 26th and an adult plus a first-winter on 29th, while single first-winters were at Ravensthorpe Res and Rushton Recycling Centre on the latter date.

Meanwhile, Pitsford’s Great Northern Diver saw another week out, mobile between the dam and the causeway.

Following suit, the Kettering Cattle Egret remained throughout at Wicksteed Water Meadows, as did the two in the vicinity of Stanford on Avon, while the Stanwick seven stood up to be counted on 28th.

Stanwick was also visited by a/the roaming Marsh Harrier on 24th and 29th, while one was clocked at Summer Leys on 26th and 28th. Keeping up appearances was the Neville’s Lodge ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier, reliably putting on a show just prior to dusk between 23rd and 26th and presumably accounting for the sighting of one at not too distant Stanwick on 24th. Another ‘ringtail’ was also seen in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on the same date.

Neville’s Lodge was also the venue for the continued late, late afternoon showings of Short-eared Owls. Four were seen there on 23rd and at least three were still present on 26th.

But if there was anything new to shout about, then the week belonged to Waxwings. After some brief and tantalising appearances in the run up to this last week, the time finally arrived for at least a couple to roll up and be nailed down. In this respect, two birds put Higham Ferrers firmly on the map after being discovered along a secluded rowan-lined walkway in a residential part of the town on Christmas Eve. From then on they remained faithful to the area, delighting a stream of admirers until the week’s end, although their appearances there became much more erratic with time. Interestingly, both birds were first-winters but, on 26th, an adult was photographed there and news also emerged that a single bird had been present during the preceding week.

But for those not wishing to venture as far afield as Higham, six were discovered in downtown Northampton on 26th with two still present early the following day. But, despite a ready supply of rowan berries, they did not stay … Step forward Brixworth, where another first-winter was discovered on 28th, remaining there the following day, although at times proving to be elusive.

Stonechats were more reliable, of course, with Borough Hill, Deene Lake, Earls Barton GP, Hollowell, Pitsford and Summer Leys all holding multiples, the maximum of which was six at Hollowell on 26th.

The week also saw the highest number of Crossbills so far this year when at least forty were seen at Wakerley Great Wood on 23rd, when several were also at nearby Westhay Wood and two were at Fineshade.

And, as we end the year, a big thankyou to everyone in the birding community for sharing information across multiple platforms on sightings in Northamptonshire, and to those who have contributed news and images directly to Northants Birds. Wishing you all the best for the New Year!

Continuing the mild weather theme, the week remained frost-free but rain was plentiful during the early part, creating temporary flooding of some river valley wetlands and raising water levels at local reservoirs. New birds arrived while some relatively longer stayers departed. And then there were those rather troublesome Waxwings …

Hollowell Reservoir’s Pink-footed Goose remained throughout the period, while ‘new’ Red-crested Pochards turned up at Pitsford Res, where a female was found on 11th, and at Clifford Hill GP, where a drake appeared on 15th. Pitsford also sported a first-winter drake Greater Scaup, north of the causeway, on 11th. The Ravensthorpe Res (ex-Pitsford) Common Scoter hung on there until 10th, after which there was no further sign of it.

The first of the winter, a rather showy and seductive drake Smew, initially found with a ‘redhead’ on 9th, enticed a steady stream of admirers into the causeway car park at Pitsford Res, where it was performing rather nicely on 11th.

With two at Pitsford on 11th and one at Hollowell on 15th, Jack Snipes stood to relieve an otherwise waderless week.

There were no unexpected gulls during the period, the best being a first-winter Mediterranean Gull in the roost at Stanford Res on 11th-12th, joined there by a second bird on 15th. The same site held single adult Caspian Gulls on 11th and 13th, while further adults were seen flying north at Pitsford on the former date and at both Hollowell and Ravensthorpe on 15th. Pitsford produced the week’s only Yellow-legged Gulls, which included two on 10th-11th and one on 12th.

Staying with Pitsford, the Great Northern Diver made it into this week, although on 10th it became highly mobile, taking to the air on at least two occasions after having been disturbed by extensive recreational activity in its favoured area. It was last seen flying high north late in the day and, alas, it has not been seen since.

Down in the Nene Valley, Stanwick continued to host a bevy of Cattle Egrets, peaking at seven on 15th, while the two that visited Stanford Res sporadically during the third week of November were located in a field at nearby Stanford on Avon on 9th, remaining in the vicinity all week. Meanwhile, the singleton found last week at Wicksteed Water Meadows, Kettering was still in residence at the end of the period.

Keeping up appearances, Marsh Harriers were seen at Summer Leys LNR on 10th and daily at Stanwick between 11th and 14th although, in all probability, all sightings seem likely to relate to the same Nene Valley wanderer. Rarer still, a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier was discovered quartering fields immediately north of Irthlingborough on 11th, being seen again in the same general area on 13th, 14th and 15th – a female Merlin also being present there on 13th.

And after a week of high expectations on the Waxwing front, three were chanced upon, way down south in the Cherwell Valley, at King’s Sutton, on 11th. However, only those fleet of foot managed to successfully connect with them as, an hour after their discovery, they flew off north – never to be seen again. A source of further frustration came in the form of six at Greens Norton the following day. Said to be highly mobile around the village, and reported again there briefly on 13th, they never played ball for those who systematically combed the village on both days. Will we ever get any that are nailed down? The wait goes on …

Lacking the above species’ legendary charisma, but nonetheless still full of appeal, Stonechats were present at Hollowell, King’s Sutton, Pitsford, Summer Leys, Upton CP and Wicksteed Water Meadows where there were no more than four at any location.

Crossbills maintained a presence at Wakerley Great Wood, where up to thirty-five were estimated to be on site on 10th-11th, while one flew west over Harrington AF on 14th.

In an about-turn in the weather this week, a series of low-pressure systems off the Atlantic brought a rise in temperatures, accompanied by overall wet and windy conditions, curtailing a fair proportion of birding activity. Despite this, new birds were still being pulled out of the bag, including a few surprises …

A decent flock of forty-six Barnacle Geese arrived at Stanford Res on 5th but their stay was a short one, having departed by the next day. British ferals or from lands further north, their origin is open to debate.

Conversely, Hollowell Reservoir’s Pink-footed Goose remained settled throughout the period, the mixed goose flock there also being joined by the female Ruddy Shelduck on 6th, after being seen on 4th at Winwick Pools and returning there by the week’s end.

Two drake Red-crested Pochards appeared at Daventry CP on 4th, two visited Stanford Res the following day and last week’s trio of two drakes and a female remained at Pitsford Res until at least 6th. Also at the latter site, the first-winter drake Greater Scaup resurfaced on 5th-6th, having not been reported there for a week.

Clearly seeking pastures new, last week’s Common Scoter moved on from Pitsford, reappearing on 5th at Ravensthorpe Res, where it remained on show off the dam until the end of the period.

On the Larid front, an unseasonal visitor – at least to the county – was a first-winter Little Gull that arrived late in the day on 8th at DIRFT 3, where it briefly circled the area before departing to the east. The same date also saw a first-winter Mediterranean Gull turn up in the roost at Stanford. The usual two adult Caspian Gulls remained at Hollowell Res all week, while single adults were found at Daventry on 4th and in the roost at Boddington Res on 8th. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was also in the Boddington roost on the same date, following an adult and a first-winter at Pitsford on 5th and an adult there on 7th.

Sticking with Pitsford, the juvenile Great Northern Diver extended its stay, again remaining faithful to the area between The Narrows and the dam, until at least 7th.

Similarly settled, or so it would appear, Stanwick GP’s six Cattle Egrets were still in place at the end of the week, while another spotted at Wicksteed Water Meadows on 5th was again seen there on 8th.

Single Marsh Harriers flew east over Wellingborough Embankment on 2nd and north-east over Stanwick on 4th – in all likelihood, both sightings referring to the same individual.

While scarcer passerines were understandably few and far between, a Firecrest was discovered within a mobile tit flock at Summer Leys LNR on 3rd. Aside from any potential breeders during the summer, this would appear to be the only record in the county this year.

Borough Hill, Earls Barton GP, Hollowell, Pitsford, Summer Leys and Upton CP were the only localities to produce Stonechats this week, the single site maximum being eight at Hollowell on 3rd.

And, as for Crossbills, the number of sites was down from three adjacent woodland last week to just the one, Fineshade Wood, which held a respectable minimum of twenty birds in the vicinity of the Wildlife Hide on 25th.

Last week’s temperature drop appropriately continued throughout as we moved into meteorological winter on the last day of the period. In what might traditionally be thought of as a quiet week, there was still plenty of interesting fare lingering and new birds were still out there to be found …

At Hollowell Res the Pink-footed Goose reappeared on 28th and was still present there on 1st, while a short-staying adult Bewick’s Swan at Summer Leys LNR, early in the morning of 27th, was only the second record for the county this year, following fifteen at the same site in early March. It did not stick around, though, neither did it turn up at Slimbridge by mid-week and its bill pattern was not recognised as that of any individual that regularly winters there.

After a week with no reports, three Red-crested Pochards, including two drakes, turned up at Stanford Res on 25th but did not stay. Three at Pitsford Res, on 1st, may well have been the same trio on the move.

Also at Pitsford, a first-winter drake Greater Scaup was found on 28th. In a far less advanced state of moult than last week’s bird at Billing GP, it was clearly new in, although it wasn’t seen subsequently. Another duck chalking up more than a week in residence at Pitsford was the ‘female-type’ Common Scoter, which was still present on 30th.

On the wader front, a Grey Plover flying east over Stanwick GP was the sole representative of the tribe this week.

Gull numbers were down and included an adult Caspian Gull reported at Pitsford Res on 26th and two adults at Hollowell on 28th and 1st. The same two localities again produced Yellow-legged Gulls, with Pitsford holding an adult and a first-winter on 26th and an adult on 28th, while Hollowell delivered two adults on 26th and 28th and a single adult on 1st.

Back at Pitsford, the juvenile Great Northern Diver remained faithful to the area between The Narrows and the dam until at least 30th.

In the Nene Valley, an interesting scenario played out at the end of the week when a single Glossy Ibis was watched in flight and, apparently, was then seen to land at Summer Leys on 1st. It promptly vanished. Given that the Stanwick duo are, based on comparative size difference and bill length, a male and female which are exhibiting a strong pair bond and they were still present both before and after the Summer Leys sighting, it more than suggests this is a different individual. The fact that the recent Ditchford GP bird was clearly a rogue wanderer between Summer Leys and Stanwick adds further weight to the argument for there now being three birds at large in the area.

Stanwick also continued to harbour up to six Cattle Egrets this week, one of which would appear to have roamed to adjacent Ditchford on 30th.

Single Marsh Harriers visited Stanwick on 26th and Summer Leys two days later, on 28th, while the weekly Merlin record appeared in the form of a flyover at Fineshade Wood on the latter date.

Fineshade also featured as the venue to host forty-seven Waxwings, close to its car park, on 26th – a flock which was reported by national bird news services on a ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ basis. The source of the report remains a mystery. Along exactly the same lines, at least five were said to have been seen in flight over Aynho on 29th. The wait for a tangible feeding flock, duly pinned down, goes on …

Seven localities produced Stonechats, with site maxima of four at Earls Barton GP on 25th and 28th, Stanwick on 28th and Upton CP on 30th.

Small numbers of Crossbills continued to be seen in the north-eastern part of the county, where two were at Fineshade Wood on 25th and 28th while, on the latter date, there were six at Westhay Wood and ten at Wakerley Great Wood.

The last full week of autumn closed with a distinct chill in the air as the winds turned northerly and temperatures dropped appreciably. However, the seasonal candle continued to burn and new birds were still forthcoming – the week delivering yet another diver along with, surprisingly, a second Glossy Ibis.

And on the wildfowl front there were some refreshing changes. A Pink-footed Goose joined the local Greylags at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 18th – well away from Hollowell and Ravensthorpe Reservoirs and so likely to be a new arrival. Also in the Nene Valley, eight Whooper Swans flew east over Summer Leys LNR on 21st.

After an absence of reports for the best part of two months, the female Ruddy Shelduck resurfaced at Winwick Pools on 24th.

A first-winter drake Greater Scaup found at Billing GP on 22nd was the first of this year’s autumn/winter period following some long-staying singles at Billing GP/Clifford Hill GP, Blatherwycke Lake, Hollowell/Ravensthorpe Res and Pitsford Res last winter.

After a one-day bird at Daventry CP in the previous week, single female-type Common Scoters were new in at Ringstead GP from 20th to 23rd and at Pitsford from 22nd until the end of the week.

The near absence of waders is one of the downsides of the far back end of any year locally, so just two Jack Snipes – one at Ditchford GP on 20th and the other on a pool near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell, on 22nd – offered the only to be expected slim pickings of the period.

On the other hand, though, there are still gulls out there to be had when roosts and feeding flocks come under scrutiny. The roost at Stanford Res produced two Mediterranean Gulls – an adult on 19th and 20th and a first-winter on 22nd, while an adult joined a small flock of Black-headed Gulls at Ringstead GP on the latter date.

Two sizes up, single adult Caspian Gulls were at Pitsford on 18th, in the roost at Stanford on 18th-19th and at Hollowell on 21st, followed by three adults at the latter site on 24th. In marginally shorter supply were Yellow-legged Gulls, with the regular Pitsford adult present until at least 21st and a first-winter there on 22nd, followed by one at Hollowell on 24th.

Like buses, Great Northern Divers turn up in threes – or so it seems recently, and, following last week’s and the week’s before, number three took no time at all to arrive, being found at Pitsford on 19th. Unlike the previous two, however, it appeared to settle in nicely and was still present as the period came to a close on 24th.

Undoubtedly birds of the week, two Glossy Ibises found on the last day set a new standard for the county. Initially seen flying south-west from Stanwick GP’s Main Lake, early in the morning, the dynamic duo was relocated on nearby Roadside Lake several hours later and quickly shot to fame as being the first ‘multiple’ of this iconic species to have occurred in Northamptonshire. Was one of these the Ditchford bird, which appeared to have vanished after 21st? Interestingly, numbers topped double figures last year in Cambridgeshire, when they bred there for the first time in the UK.

A few years back, it was almost inconceivable that the above species, along with Cattle Egrets would have occurred together at the same locality in Britain, let alone in Northants but this is now how changes in distribution of birds from warmer climes are panning out. Stanwick’s six remained in the vicinity all week and two flew south-west over Stanford on 18th and again on 22nd, reappearing by the settling pond there on 23rd. One was also seen in flight there on the following day.

A notable drop in Marsh Harrier numbers saw just the one at Summer Leys LNR on 19th while, like last week, a Short-eared Owl was seen in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 18th. Continuing the singles theme, just one Merlin was seen, at Stanford on 20th.

Eight localities produced Stonechats, with site maxima of four at Hollowell on 21st and 24th and at Stanwick on 23rd.

Wakerley Great Wood continued to produce Crossbills, with at least five on 18th, while nearby Fineshade Wood held at least six on 19th and one on 22nd.

If it’s said a week is a long time in politics, then two weeks may be looked upon as an absolute age in birding, especially if it’s in spring or autumn. The summary of the fourteen days just gone chronicles the occurrence of the best birds of the period and echoes the previous week in terms of the discovery of a Great Northern Diver and, once again, the reappearance of that hitherto elusive Glossy Ibis.

Low down on this week’s agenda, though, was the Pink-footed Goose still at Ravensthorpe Res throughout but two other sites dished up some classier fare in the shape of six adult Whooper Swans – two at Stanwick GP on 7th and four at Stanford Res on 12th. Unfortunately, neither site held on to them for more than 15 minutes.

Red-crested Pochards consisted of three at Pitsford Res on 5th and two at Clifford Hill GP on the same date, while 7th saw three at Stanford, falling to two between 8th and 10th. The period’s ducks deluxe were limited to Thrapston GP’s female or first-winter Ring-necked Duck remaining there until Bonfire night, after which it was nowhere to be seen. New in and up for the count, however, was a female or first-winter Common Scoter at Daventry CP on 16th.

Pitsford’s two Red-breasted Mergansers continued to be mobile around the southern end of the reservoir until at least 11th, while Stanwick GP produced its own duo on 8th and one from 9th until 11th. All were females/first-winters, or ‘redheads’ as they colloquially known.

Perhaps eliciting a modicum of interest for some, a female Golden Pheasant was found at Harrington AF on 13th. Gone are the days when this species maintained its own small, localised population at Glapthorn Cow Pasture, where it was last seen in 1994. A study published in July 2023 concluded there are only 37–40 ‘wild’ Golden Pheasants remaining in the UK, within two regions. Both populations are dependent on human management via supplementary releases, food provision, or predator control and therefore, as of this year, can no longer be considered to be truly naturalised. This represents a significant decline from a 1993 UK population of 1000–2000.

Following that cusp of dusk discovery of the Red-necked Grebe at Pitsford on 3rd, there were unconfirmed reports of it there again on 6th and 7th. More obliging, however, was a Slavonian Grebe found at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 5th, remaining there until 7th.

Waders were in short supply during the period with just the Summer Leys LNR Ruff still in place on 5th and a late Grey Plover in flight over Stanford on 17th.

Gulls proved more productive, though, with an adult Little Gull kicking off the period at the unusual location of DIRFT 3 on 4th. Not a million miles away to the north-east, Stanford’s gull roost held two different Mediterranean Gulls – an adult on 8th and a first-winter on 9th and 10th – as well as single adult Caspian Gulls on 6th, 7th and 13th. Two adult Caspians were at Hollowell Res on 6th, followed by one adult there on 11th, 14th, 15th and 17th. Elsewhere, a first-winter visited Daventry CP on 14th and two were reported from Boddington Res the following day. Falling behind in the numbers stakes were Yellow-legged Gulls, with single adults at Pitsford on 4th, Stanford on 6th, Earls Barton GP on 7th and Hollowell on 15th.

Hot on the heels of the Pitsford bird on 2nd, another Great Northern Diver offered a second bite of the yearlisting cherry when it dropped into Daventry on 15th, before making an early morning departure to the west the following day.

And regarding the next bird, the two questions raised in the last Newsround were duly answered this week when the previously highly mobile Glossy Ibis, after dropping into Ditchford GP for one day only, on 6th, decided to give itself up and return there, remaining on-site from 12th to 17th.

A Bittern put on a flying display over the Scrape at Summer Leys on 11th.

Stanwick hung on to its Cattle Egrets – up to six remaining on-site throughout the period, while one was watched flying west at Ditchford GP on 11th.

Marsh Harrier numbers rallied somewhat during the period, the 10th producing singles at Ditchford, Stortons GP and Summer Leys, with the latter site holding a green wing-tagged juvenile on 12th and single males on 14th and 17th.

Just one Short-eared Owl made it onto the books, being seen in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton on 8th.

Over the period, Merlin sightings came from Harrington AF on 5th and 14th, Desborough AF and Stanford on 6th and again at the latter site on 11th. Not to be left out, of course, Blueberry Farm produced a male on 10th, also visiting adjacent Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 12th and 15th.

Given the impressively high numbers of Waxwings in the country, including a flock of an estimated one thousand at one Scottish location, it may not be so surprising that a flock of between thirty and forty was reported flying west over Earls Barton on 15th. We await a nailed-down flock sometime soon. The berries are out there for the taking …

Ten localities produced Stonechats with site maxima of five at Sywell CP on 8th and Hollowell Res on 11th.

Remember, too, Crossbills are out there and Wakerley Great Wood is the favoured locality, producing three on 6th and at least ten on 11th.

Another week, another storm. This one, ‘Storm Ciarán’, swept across the country and out into the North Sea, bringing gale-force winds, heavy rain and disruption to many parts of southern Britain. Here, in Northants, we were lucky to avoid the mayhem but once again, though expectations were high and the English Channel was awash with Leach’s Petrels, there were no wrecked seabirds.   

There were, however, some rather smart new kids on the block this week. Firstly, though, dispensing with dodgy geese – the mentioning of which is little short of mandatory – a Barnacle Goose accompanied Canadas at Upton CP on 2nd and the Pink-footed Goose was still at Ravensthorpe Res on 28th.

The female or first-winter Ring-necked Duck remained at Thrapston GP, being seen at Titchmash LNR on 28th before temporarily disappearing and then resurfacing on Town Lake on 3rd. Pitsford Res this week was clearly making a bid to restore its former glory, producing two ‘redhead’ Red-breasted Mergansers on 3rd – just one of three top-notch birds to turn up there at the week’s end. Found in the morning, these two sufficed to offer a third bite of the cherry for local yearlisters, after two fleeting spring drake duos earlier in the year, at Daventry CP on 29th March and Pitsford on 10th April.

Also on 3rd, before the day was out, just prior to dusk Pitsford again came up trumps with the discovery of a Red-necked Grebe between Pintail Bay and The Pines. With a chequered history of appearances, Red-necked Grebe is a rare commodity these days. There was a run of records, annually, between 2014 and 2017, prior to which there was one in 2008. There has been none since.

Waders this week were, unsurprisingly, poorly represented. Aside from a late Common Sandpiper on Pitsford’s dam, on 3rd, last week’s Ruff remained at Summer Leys LNR until at least 30th.

Also keeping up appearances were Mediterranean Gulls. Last week’s adult was again in the roost at Stanford Res on 28th, while another adult was found in Boddington’s roost on 3rd. The same two roosts also produced Caspian Gulls – a first-winter in the one at Stanford on 1st and two adults at Boddington on 3rd. Elsewhere, a first-winter was in fields west of Chacombe on 28th and the regular adult remained at Hollowell Res throughout the period. Hollowell also held an adult Yellow-legged Gull on 28th, two adults visited Wicksteed Park Lake, Kettering on 1st and Pitsford – ever reliable for this species – provided sightings of an adult on 2nd and two adults and a first-winter on 3rd.

Pitsford’s run of goodies continued with another dusk discovery of a Great Northern Diver on 2nd. Alas, it was nowhere to be seen the following morning, almost mirroring the behaviour of last year’s pre-dusk drop-in on 11th November – the latter bird quickly vacating the site early the following morning.

And for the third time, our weekly one-day wonder, in the shape of the Nene Valley’s obviously highly mobile Glossy Ibis, decided on performing a tantalising flypast at Stanwick as the period drew to a close on 3rd. Where will it appear next and will it ever settle?

It also seems to be the case that Stanwick has stolen the Summer Leys crown, at least as far as Bitterns are concerned. After one was seen daily from 29th to 31st, the number rose to two there on 2nd and 3rd. The same site also held four Cattle Egrets on 28th, rising to six from 29th to 3rd. Elsewhere, one was reported at Summer Leys on 28th and another was found just west of Chacombe on the same date.

After a report of one at Summer Leys on 28th, a Marsh Harrier flew south over Titchmarsh LNR on 31st – a poor showing by recent standards.

But after none last week, Short-eared Owls were very much in the spotlight during the period. On 29th, two were at Harrington AF, one was near Blueberry Farm and one was reported near Helmdon. Following these, singles were seen near Welford and again at Harrington on 30th, at Upton CP on 2nd, and south of Naseby the next day.

Over the period, Merlin sightings came again from the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 1st and Hinton AF on 3rd.

Eleven localities produced Stonechats – up three on last week. These included Blueberry Farm, Brampton Valley, Clifford Hill GP, Earls Barton GP, Harrington, Hollowell, Lilbourne Meadows NR, Pitsford, Summer Leys, Sywell CP and Upton.

Last, but not least, a lone Crossbill was in Christie’s Copse at Pitsford Res on 2nd.

The week started full of eastern promise but as time unfolded and the two top birds evaded the masses, it ended up being a bit of a damp squib.

As far as wildfowl were concerned, the period played out along very much the same lines as it did last week, with the Ravensthorpe/Hollowell-hugging Pink-footed Goose still present at the former site on 21st. Wild pinkfeet again showed up in or, more correctly, over the Brampton Valley area with a collective eighteen moving east over Blueberry Farm on 23rd.

Red-crested Pochards were present at two localities – the Pitsford drake from last week still being there on 27th, while two drakes appeared at Summer Leys LNR and what was presumably the same duo, along with a female, being located near Wollaston Lock on 26th before moving the short distance across to Mary’s Lake at Earls Barton GP later the same day.

Meanwhile, further down the Nene Valley, the female or first-winter Ring-necked Duck extended its stay by another seven days, again drawing little attention.

October 21st was this week’s wader day … and the place? Where else but Summer Leys, of course, the site again producing a Ruff, while three Jack Snipes on the Scrape there were new in.

Great expectations for at least one decent seabird in the aftermath of Storm Babet remained disappointingly unfulfilled, the persistent easterlies off the North Sea associated with it and the heavy weather in general simply failed to deliver. The best out of the bag were more Little Gulls, following those that appeared on the final day of the preceding week. All sightings came on 21st, when four were at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows NR (ILAM) and singles visited Stanwick (two different birds), Summer Leys and the now well-flooded Islip Water Meadows.

An adult Mediterranean Gull in the roost at Stanford Res on 26th-27th was the only one this week. Caspian Gulls continued to feature at sites across the county, Hollowell producing an adult on 21st and 23rd-24th, as did Stanford on 23rd, while single first-winters were found at Pitsford on 21st, Stanwick on 23rd and Boddington Res on 26th-27th with an adult also at the latter site on 27th. Boddington also delivered a hefty nine Yellow-legged Gulls on the same date, following one there on 26th. Elsewhere, singles were at Hollowell on 21st and Wicksteed Park Lake, Kettering on 25th and two remained part of the Pitsford furniture, being seen on 21st and 24th.

A juvenile/first-winter Arctic Tern spent 23rd-24th at Hollowell, not a particularly unusual time for this species to appear as there have been a reasonable number of late autumn occurrences over the years.

One bird that undoubtedly sneaked into the county under the radar this week was the Black-throated Diver which had spent 20th and 21st at Eyebrook Res, Leicestershire. At about 13.00 on the latter date, it was watched taking off and leaving high to the south-east on a trajectory that would have taken it over the nearby Welland Valley and beyond … Making barely more than an overnight stop, the last one to be seen in Northants was at Pitsford on 6th-7th May 2017, which was only the twentieth county record. Another, more settled bird, would be widely appreciated.

Which brings us neatly on to another one that got away. Following last week’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys, and its rapid departure to the east, well, it appears it resurfaced on 21st at ILAM, where it was present close to Greenway for at least an hour. Where had it been during the intervening period and, more importantly, where is it now? There’s a very good chance it’s still somewhere in the Nene Valley.

Staying with said valley, both Summer Leys and Stanwick GP again shared this week’s Cattle Egrets, the first of the aforementioned sites hanging on to one between 21st and 23rd, while numbers at the second had increased from two to four by the end of the period.

Marsh Harriers maintained their presence in the county with Stanford’s almost resident ‘ZC’ wing-tagged female still there on 22nd and probably 23rd. Elsewhere, one flew south near Aynho on 21st, singles were seen in flight at Stanwick on 21st and 22nd and at Summer Leys on the same dates.

Picking up from where we left off last week, the Harlestone Hoopoe led birders a merry dance throughout the first four days of the period. Between 21st and 23rd it remained as mobile and elusive as it possibly could, showing on and off only to a very fortunate few. Clearly demonstrating great taste in its chosen feeding areas, on 23rd it moved from the large, mature gardens of stylish residences and paddocks along Lower Harlestone’s ‘private’ Glebe Lane, 3km north-east to an area of extensive, manicured lawns and secluded gardens in the salubrious setting of Cedar Hythe in Chapel Brampton. There it remained until the following day, after which it wasn’t seen again.

This week’s Merlin sightings were restricted to Harrington AF on 22nd and in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 24th.

Stanwick’s male Bearded Tit remained faithful to the small pool by the main car park until at least 22nd.

Two Ring Ouzels were reported in flight over Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 23rd and one at Harrington the following day. Eight localities produced Stonechats, including Boddington Res, Deenethorpe, Deenethorpe AF, Gretton, Harrington, Hollowell, Pitsford and Summer Leys and a Rock Pipit was found at Hollowell on 23rd.

Few and far between so far this autumn, a Crossbill flew over Burn Coppice, near Deenethorpe, on 27th.

As it turned out, a somewhat rumbustious week saw the arrival of some quality birds from the get-go. The run of unseasonally warm weather quickly gave way to overnight frosts, mid-week, before storm force winds and gales kicked in, courtesy of the widely publicised ‘Storm Babet’. In part, this was instrumental in giving rise to a sustained easterly airstream across the North Sea, the first results of which became evident at the eleventh hour on the last day of the period.

While our local Pink-footed Goose was back and forth between Ravensthorpe and Hollowell Reservoirs again this week, some unquestionably wild birds arrived in the form of a flock of ten seen heading west over the Brampton Valley on 20th. Whooper Swans, too, were again passing through – three flying over the causeway at Pitsford Res on 15th and singles making short stopovers at Stanford Res on 14th and at both Ravensthorpe and Earls Barton GP on 16th.

Stanford hung on to its four drakes and a female Red-crested Pochard for the first day of the week, all of which apparently left the site thereafter, while a drake turned up at Pitsford on 19th. That just leaves us with the female or first-winter Ring-necked Duck at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR to occupy the ‘wildfowl of the week’ slot and, although it won no prizes for glamour, it remained there on show until at least 19th. With birds present there in 2019, 2021-2022 and early in the year in 2023, Thrapston is beginning to earn itself a reputation for turning up this species.

And now for something completely different … A Nightjar – only the second of the year – was picked up in poor health at RS Components on Weldon Industrial Estate, Corby on 18th. It was taken by the finder to a vet’s in Kibworth in Leicestershire but news of its fate has yet to emerge.

Back to the birder’s staple habitat, wetlands, where, along with rising water levels, time is fast running out for passage waders – so much so that this week’s only bird of note was a Greenshank at Stanwick GP on 19th.

While Storm Babet may have delivered a deluge of water, on the back of it came seven Little Gulls, late in the day on 20th. Four of these were together at Stanwick GP, one was found on the Main Lake at Summer Leys LNR and two appeared in the gull roost at Stanford. Other gulls were available, of course, and topping the bill of those which also ran was a first-winter Mediterranean Gull, which appeared in the Stanford roost on 19th-20th. On the next level, Caspian Gulls were reasonably well represented this week, with 15th producing two adults off the dam at Pitsford, followed the next day by a third-winter at Hollowell and an adult there on 18th, when a first-winter was also found in the roost at Boddington Res. On 19th, DIRFT 3 held an adult and a third-winter and an adult also appeared at Stanwick.

In an unusual about-turn, Yellow-legged Gulls were in the minority this week. Two adults were at Pitsford and an adult appeared at Ditchford GP on 15th, an adult was at Sywell CP on 18th and eight were counted at Stanwick the following day.

Bird of the week, however, was, indisputably, the Glossy Ibis discovered on Summer Leys Scrape during the first hour of daylight on day one. Alas, it did not stay put, heading off north-east after a tussle with a Great Egret, shortly after being found. A local ‘mega’, this is only the ninth record for the county, following hot on the heels of the long-staying bird in the Nene Valley during the first half of 2022.

Staying with Summer Leys Scrape, by contrast, showing no signs of going anywhere soon, the now seemingly settled Bittern showed exceptionally well, on and off, throughout the period.

More mobile around the same locality was the Cattle Egret, having now notched up two weeks on site. Two also visited Stanwick on 14th-15th.

And following last week’s minimal showing, this week saw a remarkable about-turn for Marsh Harriers, which were seen at six localities, opening and closing with Stanford’s almost resident ‘ZC’ wing-tagged female. This individual has been present since the early part of September (see here for more details).

Vying with Stanford for sightings was Summer Leys, where two different birds were seen, on and off, throughout the week. Elsewhere, singles were seen at Ditchford GP, Harrington AF and Pitsford – all on 15th and at Titchmarsh LNR on 20th. Once a local scarcity, appearances of Marsh Harriers have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years. Reduced to just one breeding pair in 1971, it’s believed there are now some six hundred breeding pairs in the UK (National Trust, 2023).

Following a handful of reports of Short-eared Owls last week, there were just two during the period, both on 14th, when twos were seen at Borough Hill and Harrington AF.

Often elusive but equally often more obliging, Hoopoes have, so far this year, remained in the former camp. Following one in Oundle briefly, on 22nd September, another was photographed on a country road near Everdon on 16th and another – or more likely the same – appeared in Lower Harlestone, 12km to the north-east, on 19th-20th and was again photographed by a local resident.

Merlins were pleasingly up in numbers this week with a hanger-on from last week remaining in the Brampton Valley until at least 18th and possibly the same bird visiting Harrington AF on 17th. Others were also seen at Hinton AF on 15th, Stanford Res on 17th and DIRFT 3 on 19th.

Scarce migrant passerines continued to arrive and filter through, including a male Bearded Tit at Stanwick on 19th-20th and single Ring Ouzels at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 15th and Harrington on 17th. Seven localities produced Stonechats, including Brampton Valley, Borough Hill, Harrington, Hollowell, Pitsford, Stanford and Summer Leys, with the highest count of eight coming from Borough Hill on 14th.

A late showing of two Northern Wheatears comprised single birds at Orlingbury on 14th and Stanford on 16th and, hot on the heels of the firsts for the year last week, a Rock Pipit was found at Stanwick on 20th.