Author: Mike Alibone

The week just gone took on a distinctly autumnal feel, while summer attempted a final fling in the latter half. Passerine migration became more evident as numbers on the move clearly ramped up, as did gulls, but, in the chronic absence of mud at the vast majority of wetland locations, there was a noticeably sad lack of waders.

Following in the footsteps of the returning Ruddy Shelduck – of which there were no reports this week – similarly mobile between Ravensthorpe and Hollowell Reservoirs was a or, if you like, the Pink-footed Goose, which was found at the former site on 5th, before moving to the latter from 8th to 10th. And as for feral Barnacle Geese, well, we’re not even going to go there …

The only wader of note during the period was Black-tailed Godwit, with an adult at Summer Leys LNR from 5th to 11th, joined there on the latter date by a juvenile, while another flew over Hollowell on 9th.

But anything lacking on the wader front was squarely made up for by gulls, with Stanwick GP and Kettering’s Wicksteed Park Lake vying for top producer of the week in this respect. First up was a smart juvenile Mediterranean Gull at Wicksteed on 6th, followed by two adults at Stanwick on 8th.

Back at Wicksteed, on 6th, two Caspian Gulls – a fourth-year and a juvenile – were also present, while Stanwick delivered two adults, one on 8th and a different bird (showing some possible hybrid characteristics) the following day. Ravensthorpe also got in on the action with a juvenile off the dam there on the last day of the week.

Yellow-legged Gulls were rather more widespread, with Stanwick taking the lion’s share of at least ten on 8th and half that number there the following day. Elsewhere, single adults visited Thrapston GP on 6th and 9th, Ravensthorpe on 6th and 11th,  Earls Barton GP on 7th and Pitsford Res on 8th. Two juveniles were at Wicksteed Park on 6th, followed by an adult on 8th, while the last day of the week saw two adults at Harrington AF, three adults and a juvenile at Pitsford and a juvenile at Clifford Hill GP.

For the second week running, Sandwich Terns were once more in the mix when two paid a brief, early morning visit to Hollowell on 10th.

Now, with the local Cattle Egret pendulum having swung back last winter to pre-2018 occurrence levels, this species was once again on the menu this week after being plunged back into its former rarity status. One on the scrape at Summer Leys on 11th is the only one on the ground out of a meagre four records so far this year, the other three represented by fly-overs at the same location on 15th and 21st January and one over Ditchford GP on 9th April. How long this bird will stay is anybody’s guess.

A slight increase in the number of raptors was evident this week, although sightings of Ospreys were predictable with Hollowell producing one on 6th-7th and two on 10th, while singles visited Ravensthorpe on 8th and Thrapston on 9th. Marsh Harriers were up on last week, with singles at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 7th, Pitsford Res on 10th and Summer Leys on 10th-11th, while a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier was seen over Harrington AF on 7th.

But if we’re looking at smaller fare, namely migrant passerines, Common Redstarts again topped the bill for numbers, being found at twelve localities during the period – that’s 50% up on last week’s total. While Blueberry Farm consistently produced the highest count of three, ones and twos were also found in the Brampton Valley and at Geddington, Great Doddington, Harrington AF, Honey Hill, Lamport, Pitsford, Stanford Res (where two were trapped and ringed), Summer Leys, Teeton and Woodford Halse.

Considerably overshadowed by the above species, Whinchats were limited to two between Lamport and Scaldwell on 5th and 8th and singles in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 8th and at Blueberry Farm on 8th-9th. However, Northern Wheatear numbers were up on last week’s, comprising singles at Harrington AF on 7th, in the Brampton Valley on 7th-8th and at Blueberry Farm, Orlingbury and Stanford Res on 9th, while two were found at Clifford Hill GP on 10th.

But it was north Northamptonshire that produced this week’s scarcest passerine – namely the first Tree Pipit of the autumn, at Wakerley Great Wood, on 9th.

Crossing the line into August brings ‘autumn proper’ just that little bit closer and, although the week just gone was arguably a little lacklustre, there is much to look forward to in terms of potential during the oncoming days. In fact, the second week of August has delivered some star waders locally during years gone by – all be they few and far between …

Mobile between Hollowell and Ravensthorpe Reservoirs, the female Ruddy Shelduck saw another week out and, if past performance is anything to go by, it looks like she’ll be in it for the long haul. Two drake Red-crested Pochards found at Pitsford Res on 29th also remained throughout the period.

Which takes us straight on to our ‘bird of the week’. Though not a patch on those from the last two weeks, an Avocet paid an early morning visit to Hollowell on 4th but moved on rather sharpish.

Other waders were in short supply, being made up of single Black-tailed Godwits at Stanford Res, Lilbourne Meadows NR and Summer Leys LNR – all on 3rd – the bird at the latter site still being present the following day. A Greenshank dropped into Summer Leys, briefly, on 30th.

The 2nd saw the first juvenile Mediterranean Gull of the autumn at Stanwick GP and, in keeping with its track record, this site also producing the week’s highest number of Yellow-legged Gulls, with three on 31st, four on 1st and seven on 4th. Single adult Yellow-legged Gulls were at Pitsford on 29th and 2nd.

Arguably a strong contender for ‘bird of the week’ was Sandwich Tern, four of which flew south-west over Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 3rd, while two Arctic Terns at Ravensthorpe on 29th was an interesting record, locally, for the time of year.

Routine raptors were the order of the week with Hollowell unsurprisingly producing the lion’s share of Ospreys. Three flew south-west over the site on 1st, a blue-ringed (‘T3’) 7-year-old adult male was present there on 29th and 3rd, followed by one on 4th, while one visited nearby Ravensthorpe on 30th. By comparison, this week’s Marsh Harrier appeared lonely – Stanford Res mustering just the one, on 4th.

Passerines saw Common Redstarts ramp up in numbers with eight localities holding birds. Blueberry Farm, Harrington AF, Honey Hill, Lilbourne Meadows, Pitsford, Stanford, Summer Leys and Woodford Halse all produced – mainly singles or duos – but a likely three were at Blueberry Farm on 3rd.

By contrast, however, Northern Wheatears have yet to get going, proving scarce with just singles at Harrington on 30th and in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 3rd. An interesting record emerged this week of successful breeding by Stonechats near Corby, where a pair raised at least one young.

More Whinchats were in evidence this week, with singles filtering through the county at Great Doddington on 30th-1st and Harrington on 31st, while two were found in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 3rd.

Initially an undeniable washout, the latter part of the week saw a subtropical, south-westerly airstream hit the UK but there was nothing ‘subtropical’ about the birds seen locally. There was, however, another tantalising tern – again momentarily – this time in the Nene Valley.    

In the absence of any other qualifying waterfowl, the Hollowell Ruddy Shelduck stood up to be counted, remaining on site throughout the period. With the national status review of this species ongoing, multiples have been seen on the east coast, as well as inland, including a flock of five in Norfolk within the last ten days.

For the second week running, a Common Quail was heard in the county – this particular individual turning out to be a real fly-by-night, calling as it moved over Kettering during the last hour of darkness on 27th and clearly choosing to follow in the nocturnal wing flaps of the bird recorded over Higham Ferrers on 10th June.

Continuing its summer sojourn, last week’s adult Black-necked Grebe remained in the vicinity of Maytrees Hide at Pitsford Res until at least 25th, when it became noticeably more mobile. It was not reported subsequently.

This week’s waders were limited to a single Whimbrel flying south-west over Stanwick GP on 22nd, followed by a run of Black-tailed Godwits, which included six at Summer Leys LNR on 23rd, two there the next day and, on 25th, singles at both Stanford Res and Stanwick GP.

An adult Caspian Gull at the latter locality on 22nd was the first of the autumn, backed by a supporting cast of eleven Yellow-legged Gulls there on the same date. Further down the Nene Valley, Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR produced more Yellow-legged Gulls with an adult on 22nd, two adults on 24th and several on 28th, while two adults were at Pitsford on 24th.

But, once again, the bird of the week slot was firmly occupied by another fly-by-night of a different sort – the probable Caspian Tern, which quickly departed to the east from Summer Leys within one minute of its discovery, early in the afternoon of 23rd, leaving its observer somewhat bemused. After recovering from the initial shock, the ‘probable’ was upgraded to a ‘certain’ and the rest, as they say, is history. With the UK experiencing a relative glut of this species in 2023, whether this bird was the wanderer that visited Hollowell last week, or if it was a different individual, it is impossible to say.

Summer Leys also produced a Bittern, which was only seen twice in flight on the same date as the above tern.

Making a return this week, Ospreys were clocked at Earls Barton GP’s western extremity on 22nd and 27th, Thrapston GP on 24th and 25th and at Hollowell on 27th and 28th. A further movement of Marsh Harriers was also evident, with single juveniles at Summer Leys on 23rd and 26th, Titchmarsh LNR on 25th and over Byfield on 26th.

Now firmly in the throes of autumn passage, Common Redstarts were, once again, well represented by twos at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 23rd-24th and 28th and at Harrington AF on the latter date, while singles were at Woodford Halse on 24th and 27th. New birds were found at Hollowell, Pitsford and Summer Leys on 24th, the bird at the last locality, a fresh juvenile, remaining until 27th.

A further sign of autumn, if ever it were needed, was the arrival of up to three Whinchats at Stanford Res on 23rd, remaining until at least 26th.

While the unseasonal, topsy-turvy weather conditions persisted throughout the week, many eyes became focussed on a certain east coast Giga-rarity but Northants produced its own Mega in the shape of a fine adult Caspian Tern.

This week’s ducks deluxe, however, included the female Ruddy Shelduck remaining at Hollowell Res throughout and a Garganey at Daventry CP on 20th-21st, while last week’s female Red-crested Pochard stayed at Stanford Res until 17th. Another Red-crested Pochard – this time a drake – visited Pitsford Res on 20th.

The fourth Common Quail of the year was a male heard singing at Stanford early in the morning of 20th. Audible from the dam car park, it was still present later in the evening and, unlike the previous three, offering a sound opportunity for those who wanted to catch up with it. It was not heard the following day.

From pristine spring adults to tanned summer juveniles, this year has been pleasingly awash with Black-necked Grebes and, out of last week’s four at Thrapston GP, an adult and a juvenile stayed on until at least 17th. Another juvenile also appeared at Stanford on 15th, while an adult turned up at Pitsford for the last two days of the week.

In contrast to last week, wader numbers were slightly down, and included just a single Black-tailed Godwit at Summer Leys on 16th-17th. Remarkably, feathers from both a juvenile and an adult Black-tailed Godwit were identified as remnants of a Peregrine’s prey at a site in north Northamptonshire during the week, as were tail feathers from a Bar-tailed Godwit.

In at the eleventh hour, a Ruff was found at Summer Leys on the evening of 21st, a Greenshank visited Hollowell Res on 20th-21st and two Sanderlings were reported from Clifford Hill GP on 19th.

Larids this week were restricted to Yellow-legged Gulls with one at Ditchford GP on 15th and two visiting Stanwick on 18th. On past form, numbers appear likely to build at the latter site as we move further into the autumn.

But never mind gulls as bird of the week, by a country mile, was the county’s seventh-ever Caspian Tern – a well-earned discovery by the County Recorder at Hollowell Res on the evening of 18th. Unfortunately for everyone else, the bird took to the air within a minute of its discovery and headed off high north. Alas, it did not return. Despite a wide gap in occurrence dates for the last one, in 2020, it was considered to be the same individual wide-ranging across the UK. The current year has proven to be a good one as far as this species occurring in the UK is concerned.

On the raptor front, Marsh Harriers came squarely to the fore with singles at Clifford Hill GP on 19th, Summer Leys on 19th-20th and at Harrington AF on 21st.

Propping up the passerines this week was Common Redstart, a series of sightings comprising singles at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 15th, Woodford Halse NR on 17th and at both Harrington AF and Stanford Res the following day – the latter trapped and ringed. Multiples included three at the traditional site around the Percy Pilcher Monument at Stanford on Avon on 20th, three at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 21st and two at Harrington AF on the same date.

While the Jetstream remained well to the south of the UK, ushering in a series of low pressure systems with attendant unsettled weather, there was clear evidence that autumn passage was now well underway on all fronts.

Against a background of slowly building numbers of wildfowl, two Barnacle Geese constituted a barrel-scrapingly desperate find at Clifford Hill GP on 12th – a frustratingly feral ‘C-list’ bird, on the cusp of not even being mentioned … While not in quite the same category but receiving ever-enduring short shrift from the masses, the Hollowell Ruddy Shelduck remained throughout the period.

Meanwhile, Garganey numbers were up on last week, with two new birds appearing – one at Daventry CP and the other at Thrapston GP – both on 10th. New in at Stanford Res was a female Red-crested Pochard on 11th, also seeing out the period there.

Easily upstaging all of those above, though, was a flock of four Black-necked Grebes discovered at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 12th. The flock comprised one adult and three recently fledged juveniles in various stages of moult, with only the juveniles remaining there the following day. Four is not unprecedented but the July date is early – this species normally making its first autumn appearance during the latter part of August.

With wader passage already well underway, the first Whimbrel of the autumn was picked up flying west over Stanford on 11th, while the movement of Black-tailed Godwits continued unabated with singles at Hollowell on 8th, Stanford on 9th and Summer Leys LNR on 10th. The latter date also saw three more at Stanford and two at Stanwick GP, where three were also present the following day. An adult male Ruff, briefly at Summer Leys on 9th, was also the first of the autumn while, hot on its heels there the following day, a Wood Sandpiper dropped in for good measure.

Summer Leys also produced a Greenshank on 10th but this species was not exclusively the preserve of the Leys – Hollowell also hung on to last week’s bird, which remained on 8th-9th, while it, or another, was there on 12th-14th.

The first Mediterranean Gull of the autumn was, unusually, an adult present briefly at Stanwick GP on 10th. The first juvenile is no doubt on the cards for the near future.

This week’s raptor slot was again occupied exclusively by Ospreys, which were seen at four localities, namely Hollowell, where two were present on 8th, Thrapston, where singles were fishing on 10th and 12th, while both Pitsford Res and Summer Leys produced birds on 12th.

One bird which, in recent years, has rocketed to red status as a result of the conservation initiatives stemming from its drastic UK decline, is Turtle Dove. Although there have been a handful of local records this year, their presence has been kept under wraps because of disturbance at possible breeding localities. One paid a flying visit to Earls Barton GP/Summer Leys on 8th but, unfortunately, it did not linger.

Making the briefest of comebacks following its wane in popularity, the male Bearded Tit resurfaced in the reedbed below the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford on 10th.

Another autumn ‘first’ was a Common Redstart at the favoured site of the hedgerow behind the Percy Pilcher monument, at Stanford on Avon, on 9th. This one was quickly followed by further singles at Harrington AF on 12th and Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 12th-14th. And, to round off, Common Crossbills still seem to be coming, with at least six at Fermyn Woods CP on 10th.

Although the first week of July pretty much delivered déjà vu as far as the week’s birding was concerned, the arrival of a couple of wader species indicated it was game on for autumn passage …

Last week’s Garganey, found at Summer Leys LNR on 27th, remained faithful to the Scrape there throughout the period, while Hollowell Res also hung on to its ageing female Ruddy Shelduck, now in its fourth year of returning to the site after arriving as a first-summer there in May 2019.

July, however, got off to a good start with Black-tailed Godwits found at four sites, kicking off with one at Earls Barton GP’s Hardwater Lake on 2nd and it, or another, there on 5th. Three visited Pitsford Res on 4th, while numbers grew throughout the day at Summer Leys on 7th, culminating in a total of seven present. The latter date also saw five on the dam at Stanford Res.

The end of the week also saw the arrival of a Greenshank at Hollowell Res.

A Yellow-legged Gull was off the dam at Pitsford on 4th.

Single Ospreys visited Hollowell on 1st and Ravensthorpe Res on 3rd and, as per last week, there wasn’t a sniff of any other scarce raptors.

And Pitsford’s fine male Bearded Tit made it well into the week just gone … but was nowhere to be seen after 5th.

A largely dry week in terms of both weather and birds as the summer slowdown finally kicked in.

That’s not to say there was nothing to look at or no new birds as, falling squarely into the latter category, a Garganey was discovered at Summer Leys LNR on 27th and remained on site until at least 30th. And, for Ruddy Shelduck fans, the regular female present at Winwick Pools on 26th had moved to its former favoured haunt of Hollowell Res by the week’s end.

Although southbound wader passage was clearly underway, there was nothing to shout about this week, while an adult Yellow-legged Gull at Ravensthorpe Res on 25th served to prop up the local larids.

Aside from single Ospreys dropping into the regular hotspot of Hollowell on 26th and 30th, one flew north-east along the Nene Valley at Summer Leys early in the morning of 24th and, continuing in the same direction, was logged passing over Stanwick GP some 15 minutes later. Elsewhere, two well-grown nestlings – male and female – were ringed by the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation at a nest in the county on 26th.

Pitsford’s showy male Bearded Tit continued to perform throughout the week and is by no means the first site record, which is confirmed as being back in 1965 and found by a certain Robert Bullock …

Meanwhile, Crossbills continued to filter through and these included singles flying south-west over both Harry’s Park Wood and Stanford Res on 25th, a female at Hollowell Res on 26th, two flying over Earls Barton and six at Pitsford Res on 27th and two south over Harrington AF on 29th.

A week in which the heat built … and the birds did not disappoint.

It would just be kinda nice to leave out wildfowl – just for once. After all, it is mid-June and what’s out there currently is, well, not exactly the real McCoy, as it were. We could simply gloss over June 19th, however, it would probably be rude not mention the Barnacle Goose at Upton CP and the Ruddy Shelduck at Winwick Pools, both of which were present on that date.

And rightly so, as taking centre stage this week was another glitzy grebe – this time of the Slavonian persuasion, for once in splendid summer plumage. After the report of a quickly vanishing bird at Pitsford Res in February, the Slavonian Grebe at Thrapston GP’s Town Lake on the first day of the period provided more than ample reward for the fleet-footed – those who were able to make it to the site after the news broke, late in the afternoon, on 17th. Keeping its distance, it remained into the evening but was not seen thereafter. According to some accounts, it had been present the previous day.

June waders are normally at a premium but this week Stanwick GP dished up a Wood Sandpiper on 17th, Hollowell Res a Greenshank on 19th and Pitsford two Black-tailed Godwits on 21st. Not a bad haul, collectively.

From there on, the focus was clearly on the latter site, where a surprising total of five Yellow-legged Gulls was reported on 17th, ahead of two seemingly unseasonal Sandwich Terns, which lingered long enough for those so inclined to catch up with them during the morning of 21st. Late to the party and hot on the heels of this year’s only ones to date – those two short-stayers at Thrapston GP only eight days previously – they represent one of the very few June records this century.

The week’s Ospreys were limited to one over Thrapston GP’s Elinor Trout Lake on 18th, one at the favoured fishing site of Hollowell on 19th, followed by two there the next day and one flying south over Mears Ashby on 23rd.

Found on 18th, in the reeds below the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford, a showy male Bearded Tit pulled many a punter throughout the week. This represents another interesting summer occurrence in the wake of one or two at Summer Leys last week and may even be the first record for the site.

After last week’s, Pitsford also produced a Crossbill on 18th and two more were found at Wakerley Great Wood on 21st. More to come, no doubt.

Hitting mid-June saw birds which push the boundaries and break the rules come to the fore this week, a period that also gave rise to the rediscovery of what had initially been believed to be only a flyover Purple Heron … all of which placed the focus squarely on Summer Leys.

There was also an element of déjà vu as far as wildfowl were concerned, namely in the shape of the female Ruddy Shelduck still present at Winwick Pools on 12th and the drake Red-crested Pochard seeing another week out at Pitsford Res.

June is renowned as the month for Quail and, following this year’s first at Blueberry Farm on 2nd, two more were heard this week. The first was during the twenty-fourth hour of 10th, picked up in flight over Higham Ferrers, while the other was near Cottesbrooke, in an area with no public access, on 16th. Seeing one, of course, is a different matter entirely and presents a challenge which is rarely successfully accomplished.

Mid-June is also the time when wader numbers bottom out and, to prove the point, a Black-tailed Godwit appeared as a one-day bird at Stanwick GP on 11th, while an Avocet was reported on the dam at Pitsford, briefly, on 16th.

Pitsford also produced an adult Yellow-legged Gull on 11th but it was Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR that delivered the year’s only Sandwich Terns so far, bizarrely late, on 13th. There have been far fewer than is typical inland across the UK this spring.

Once again, though, it was good ol’ Summer Leys which delivered the period’s best birds. With the previous week’s flyover Purple Heron, two days before the weekend, on 8th, there it was again on 10th – this time on terra firma, considerately choosing the Scrape as its favoured feeding area. It went on to spend the next four days there – more in than out of the reeds – but with patience, or just plain good luck and timing, local, and some not so local, birders connected and went away happy.  

At the same locality and somewhat overshadowed by the above, was a Bittern that appeared briefly on the Scrape on 10th and again on 12th, before flying off west. This is a species which, over the past few years, has pushed the boundaries by being seen with increasing frequency during spring and summer, i.e. outside of its established autumn/winter occurrence pattern. It has yet to become a proven breeder in the county, but with plenty of suitable habitat locally and a UK population which is clearly on the up, the day surely can’t be that far away.  

The week’s raptors were kept afloat by single Ospreys at Hollowell Res and Titchmarsh LNR – both on 15th and, back at Summer Leys, a Marsh Harrier on 10th.  

Which brings us neatly to the other rule-breaker of the week: Bearded Tit, a female of which was seen at Summer Leys on 10th, with a possible second bird present, too. As another bird with an autumn/winter occurrence pattern, tentatively, this may be the first June record for the county. This species breeds in Bedfordshire, at Marston Vale, a mere 25 km SSE of Summer Leys, as the Beardie flies. How long before they breed in Northants …

A Common Redstart on the northern outskirts of Kettering on 14th seems likely to be an early southbound migrant, while two Crossbills flying over Fineshade Wood on 10th, two west over Wellingborough on 12th and two or three at Hanging Houghton on 14th also suggest an ‘autumn’ movement is also in the early stages for this species, too.

There has been no let up in the relentless, brisk, north-easterly airstream this week and, as we moved firmly into June, migration quickly began to tail off. The week still had much to offer, though, and the cup was far from running dry. Meanwhile, a certain north Northants town became involved in a bit of a hoo-ha …

The female Ruddy Shelduck returned to Winwick on 5th, after last being seen there on 20th March – an early return to moult, perhaps – while the lingering drake Red-crested Pochard remained north of the causeway at Pitsford Res until the week’s end. Once again, it had the sporadically appearing female Ferruginous Duck x Red-crested Pochard hybrid in tow.

With the county having already done reasonably well for Black-necked Grebes so far this year, another putting in a one-day appearance at Summer Leys on 8th was essentially the first in the Nene Valley – Pitsford and Daventry CP having shared the previous five records.

Also in the Nene Valley, residual waders included another unseasonal Golden Plover – this time at Thrapston GP, on 4th, and last week’s Grey Plover chalking up a five-day stay at Clifford Hill GP until 5th. The latter site also harboured all of the week’s Sanderlings, comprising one on 3rd and three or four on 5th, which concludes a remarkable run of records for this energetic little wader in the county this year.

But let’s not forget that rather modest area of floodwater which forms the focal point of Lilbourne Meadows NR, tucked away in that small spike of Northamptonshire on the Leicestershire/Warwickshire border. This small, unassuming wetland continued its fine run of waders this week with another Wood Sandpiper on 3rd, a Greenshank from 3rd to 5th and a Black-tailed Godwit on 8th.

Three Little Terns at Pitsford on the evening of 9th both eclipsed, and ended, the ‘run’ of the year’s two individuals that visited Clifford Hill GP in May, on 3rd and 31st.

But a major contributor to a week of surprises was a Purple Heron, photographed flying east over the scrape at Summer Leys, in the early afternoon of 8th. This constitutes only the twenty-first record for the county, following the last one, in 2021, which was also present at Summer Leys and the wider environs of Earls Barton GP, during late May and early June of that year.

This week’s raptors were few and far between. An Osprey again visited Biggin Lake, Oundle on 9th while, not too far down the road, two Marsh Harriers were present briefly at Titchmarsh LNR on 4th and one flew west over Summer Leys on 8th.

Which leaves what may potentially be bird of the year … or not. On the evening of 6th June, the Facebook Group Spring Watch, Autumn Watch and Winter Watch fans World-Wide carried an image within a post which asked the question: “This picture was taken in Corby Northamptonshire in a friends garden, can anybody identify what bird it is please?” As the news reached a wider audience, late on 7th, pulses raced and eyebrows were raised as the image appeared to depict a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak on a wooden post.   

A subsequent follow-up, on 8th, confirmed the bird had not been present since the initial sighting, which was in the Stanion Lane area on 6th. Wild bird, escape, potential hybrid cagebird – we’ll never know if it was ‘the real thing’ in all respects, and there has been much scepticism, debate and head-scratching … There have been thirty-three UK records to date, almost half of which have been in the Isles of Scilly, with the remainder in other coastal counties and only two of these have been in spring.