Author: Mike Alibone

Despite the week’s weather being influenced by a largely westerly airstream, resulting in a mild first half of the period, the winds turned northerly for a short spell during the second half, bringing low temperatures and snow, which was heaviest in northern parts of the county. The festive period slipped by quietly with no new birds being discovered.

Still in situ, Ravensthorpe Reservoir’s juvenile Whooper Swan was still on view to those walking off the Christmas excess on Boxing Day and the long-staying female Scaup was still present at Sywell CP on the same date.  The drake Smew, discovered at Ditchford GP’s Higham Lake on 18th, remained until 23rd before hopping across the A6 to Stanwick GP, where it was refound on the A45 Lay-by Pit (North) on 28th.

Hollowell’s juvenile Great Northern Diver remained throughout but Great White Egrets were reported from only three localities, with Pitsford Res, Ravensthorpe Res and Thrapston GP holding two a piece.

No unusual waders this week and winter gulls included two Yellow-legged Gulls at Stanford Res roost on 23rd, an adult at Hollowell Res on 24th and a first-winter at Pitsford Res on 25th plus a sub-adult in the roost there on 28th. The usual adult Caspian Gull was still at Hollowell Res on 23rd, being accompanied by a first-winter there, three days later, on 26th, while a second-winter was in the gull roost at Pitsford on 27th. Looking likely to be the only ‘white-winger’ of the first part of the winter, the juvenile Glaucous Gull found at Rushton Landfill on 22nd was seen there again on 24th and 28th, while the only Hawfinches reported this week were two at the regular site of Blatherwycke Churchyard on 26th and 28th.

With this being the last round-up of 2017, I would like to thank all who have contributed records and sightings via the various media channels and to extend a special thank you to all those who have sent in the photographs which bring the weekly reports to life. Happy New Year to all!

The cold, northerly airstream in place at the beginning of the week ultimately gave way to warm air from the Atlantic, resulting in damp, foggy conditions and a local daytime temperature peak of 11ºC, 5ºC above average, at the week’s end. This appeared to have little effect on local birds, with most of the scarce winter visitors staying put and the arrival of the first ‘white-winged’ gull of the winter more likely down to seasonality than weather conditions.

A sense of déjà vu ensued as Ravensthorpe Reservoir’s juvenile Whooper Swan remained throughout the week and, again, Stanwick GP’s juvenile Pink-footed Goose was reported only on one date, 17th, with the four first-winter/female Scaup also still there on the same day.

Sywell CP’s long-staying female Scaup was still present on 19th and a drake was discovered halfway between the causeway and the dam at Pitsford Res on 21st. Pitsford was also one of only two localities to produce Smew, with a ‘redhead’ from 18th to 20th being joined by a drake there on 19th. Another drake was at Ditchford GP’s Higham Lake from 18th to 20th.

The juvenile Great Northern Diver remained at Hollowell Res all week and, again, seven localities produced Great White Egrets, with no more than two at Pitsford, Ravensthorpe and Stanwick and singles at Summer Leys LNR, Billing GP, Thrapston GP and Ditchford GP.

A Black-tailed Godwit at the latter site on 20th was the only wader of note this week. Winter gulls were on the radar for some of us, although Yellow-legged Gulls again remained scarce, with just single first-winters at Rushton Landfill on 17th and 22nd and this week’s Caspian Gulls including the wintering adult at Hollowell Res on 16th and 21st, a third-winter in the gull roost at Pitsford Res on 16th, an adult and a first-winter at Rushton Landfill on 17th and two adults there on 22nd. Rushton also produced the first ‘white-winger’ of the winter – a juvenile Glaucous Gull on 22nd and with around four thousand large gulls now visiting the landfill when active, this locality is now clearly on the map as the county’s premier winter gull-watching site.

The world beyond wetland birds was relatively quiet, with just a Short-eared Owl at Harrington AF on 17th and a trickle of Hawfinch sightings comprising one in flight over Kelmarsh on 16th, two at Fawsley Park on 16th and 18th and one or more at Cottesbrooke on 19th.

The low temperatures experienced at the end of last week continued well into the period with dramatic effect. Warm, moist, Atlantic air from the south-west met high Arctic air sweeping south over the Midlands, resulting in persistent snow across Northamptonshire on 10th, when deposits of 15 cm or more produced a ‘whiteout’ and made for hazardous driving conditions. Few birders ventured out on this date, or indeed over the following two days, when early morning temperatures down to -5ºC ensured the continued presence of icy road conditions and the freezing over of local bodies of water. The effect on bird movements was clearly apparent, with easterly movements of Redwings and Fieldfares noted at numerous localities and local waterbodies becoming frozen over – albeit for a very short period before temperatures rose and rainfall ate deeply into the laying snow.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir’s juvenile Whooper Swan remained all week, while Stanwick GP’s juvenile Pink-footed Goose was reported only on one date, 11th. Last week’s four first-winter/female Scaup were still present there until at least 12th and the long-staying female at Sywell CP remained off the dam all week. Back at Ravensthorpe, a ‘redhead’ Smew was found on 9th but promptly disappeared thereafter.

The juvenile Great Northern Diver remained in place off the dam at Hollowell Res until at least 12th and eight localities produced Great White Egrets, with site maxima comprising three at Ravensthorpe Res, two at Pitsford Res and singles at Ditchford GP, Stanford Res, Stanwick GP, Summer Leys LNR, Thrapston GP and between Wootton and Quinton.

A Jack Snipe at Hollowell Res on 9th was the only wader of note, while this week saw the occurrence of two Mediterranean Gulls – a first-winter at Pitsford Res on 11th and an adult in the pre-roost at Daventry CP on 14th. Yellow-legged Gulls again remained scarce, with one at Pitsford Res on 11th and two in the roost at Boddington Res on 15th, while this week’s Caspian Gulls comprised the wintering adult at Hollowell Res, an adult at Sulby Res and a third-winter at Pitsford Res – all on 9th – and two adults at Rushton Landfill, plus an adult and a third-winter at Boddington Res roost on 15th.

On the passerine front, a suburban Firecrest at Towcester’s Shires Meadows was a nice find on 12th but Hawfinch sightings continued to dominate, with twos at both Cottesbrooke and East Carlton CP on 9th, three just west of Blatherwycke Churchyard on 11th, two or three at Thenford Churchyard on 14th and singles at Bucknell Wood and in flight over Shires Meadows, Towcester the following day.

A largely dry week, dominated in the first six days by north-westerly to south-westerly winds, culminated in a strong northerly airflow and plummeting temperatures on the last day. Highlights included a lingering Great Northern Diver, the first Smew of the winter and Snow Bunting.

Remaining all week, the juvenile Whooper Swan was ensconced at Ravensthorpe Res, as was Stanwick GP’s juvenile Pink-footed Goose and the female Scaup at Sywell CP. The Ravensthorpe Scaup put in one of its sporadic appearances on 2nd and four more, all females or first-winters, were found at Stanwick GP on 8th, while the first Smew of the winter – inevitably a ‘readhead’ – was north of the causeway at Pitsford, between 4th and 6th.

The juvenile Great Northern Diver remained at Hollowell Res all week, continuing to favour the area around the dam.

Six localities produced Great White Egrets, with site maxima comprising threes at Pitsford, Ravensthorpe and Stanwick, and singles at Ditchford GP, Summer Leys and Thrapston GP. An unconfirmed report of two Common Cranes south of Potterspury on 7th remained exactly that, with negative reports from the area the following day.

This week’s one and only star wader was … a Jack Snipe at Stanford Res on 7th. Yellow-legged Gulls remained thin on the ground, with single adults at Boddington Res on 2nd and Ravensthorpe on 8th, again being outnumbered by Caspian Gulls, which included single adults at Rushton Landfill on 2nd, Pitsford on 7th and Hollowell all week, plus an adult and a third-winter at Sulby Res on 2nd and a third-winter – along with a first-winter Mediterranean Gull – in the roost at Boddington on the same date.

No longer in vogue, a ‘Nordic’ Jackdaw was present with the large corvid flock in fields on the approach to Fineshade Wood on 2nd, while Hawfinches were much diminished in numbers in comparison to previous weeks. On 3rd, one was at East Carlton CP and two were still at the traditional site of Blatherwycke Churchyard, followed the next day by one at Pitsford Res and another was photographed at Cottesbrooke on 8th. Single Snow Buntings – or perhaps the same one – were seen in flight, west-southwest over Pitsford Res on 4th and in the Brampton Valley two days later, on 6th.

Under the influence of an enduring northerly airstream, including light snow showers early on the first day, the week which dipped its toe into winter delivered no further surprises for local birders. An accessible Great Northern Diver and the continuing presence of Hawfinches were the star attractions.

Still present on 27th, the juvenile Whooper Swan looks settled enough to stay at Ravensthorpe Res for some time, while another long-stayer – Stanwick GP’s juvenile Pink-footed Goose – remained until at least 29th.  Last week’s two Red-crested Pochards hung on at Stanford Res until at least 25th, as did single Scaup at Ravensthorpe Res and Sywell CP, until 26th and 1st respectively, while up to two remained at Pitsford Res until at least 27th.

The juvenile Great Northern Diver, discovered on 24th at Stanford Res, was still present there early the next morning, on 25th, after which it promptly vanished and was not seen again, despite intense observer coverage. Later the same day, an unidentified diver sp. was seen in flight over the dam at Ravensthorpe Res prior to the discovery of a Great Northern Diver at nearby Hollowell Res on 27th, where it remained all week. The timing of the observations, coupled with the proximity of the three locations, suggest the same individual accounted for the sightings at all three sites, although this cannot be proven, of course.

This week’s Great White Egrets were scattered in a pattern similar to last week’s, with up to three at Stanwick, three at Ravensthorpe, two at Pitsford and singles at Ditchford GP and Summer Leys LNR. A male Merlin near Brackley on 26th was the only rare raptor representative during the period, while a Black-tailed Godwit at Stanwick on 28th constituted the only scarce wader.

Surprisingly, just one Yellow-legged Gull was reported – at Pitsford on 30th – being outnumbered by Caspian Gulls, which included a first-winter at Stanford on 25th and the wintering adult at Hollowell all week, accompanied there by a third-winter on 27th.

Once again Hawfinches stole the show for many, with Delapre Abbey proving itself the most popular locality with visiting birders. Located less than a mile from the town centre, this site held up to four throughout the week, often providing excellent views and great photo opportunities.

Elsewhere, singles were at Bucknell Wood on 25th while, the next day, three were at East Carlton CP, at least two were in Fawsley Park and singles were seen at East Haddon, Rushton and Thenford.

A mild mid-week, though windy with southerly gales, was sandwiched between two northerly blasts of cold Arctic air at both ends of the period. Visible migration dwindled further, being evidenced primarily by a continuing small, westward passage of winter thrushes. The autumn Hawfinch movement likewise diminished, with most reports now of small numbers in potential wintering habitats.

Last week’s showy juvenile Whooper Swan remained at Ravensthorpe Res until at least 21st, while the long-staying juvenile Pink-footed Goose was still present at Stanwick GP on 23rd. Numbers of Red-crested Pochards were restricted this week to a female at Pitsford Res from 18th to 21st and the two at Stanford Res until the latter date, while the female Scaup remained at Sywell CP all week. Three Scaup were still at Pitsford on 18th, with at least one still present until 21st and the same site sprung a female Common Scoter – initially reported north of the causeway and subsequently relocated in Pintail Bay – on 19th.

November is the classic month for the arrival inland of Great Northern Divers and this month did not disappoint, with Stanford Res attracting a juvenile to the area by the dam on the last day of the week.

Another sign of the approaching winter was the appearance of a Bittern, seen coming in to roost at Stortons GP on 22nd. This suburban site has become established as a wintering site for two or the individuals over the past few years. Great White Egret were still ensconced in the usual sites, with maxima including five at Pitsford on 18th, four at Stanwick GP on 22nd, three at Ravensthorpe on 21st and two over Ditchford GP on 24th.

In a similar vein to last week, there were few notable gulls around but a first-winter Little Gull managed a one-night stand at the Boddington Res gull roost on 18th, along with six Yellow-legged Gulls, while two Caspian Gulls were at Hollowell on 18th and two appeared in the Pitsford Res gull roost the following evening.

The latter site again produced a Water Pipit on 18th – no doubt the same which has been reported sporadically there of the past three weeks.

There has been no better time to be religious, but it’s unlikely when he wrote Take me to Church that Hozier had Hawfinches in mind. Churchyards have become a magnet for this species and, therefore, birders in recent weeks – primarily as a result of the tradition of growing Yew trees in them as evergreens are said to be linked with immortality. In England long before the Christian era, yew trees were planted on pagan temple sites, and they were eventually adopted by the church as “a holy symbol.” Traditions die hard, and although nonconformists did not follow the trend, modern British cemeteries still feature yew trees in their flora. Sermon over, then, but it’s no coincidence that BWP commences its list of Hawfinches’ favoured non-invertebrate food with Yew. Three popular localities continue to hold birds this week, fuelling speculation that they will stay throughout the forthcoming winter.

So, this week’s little (seed) crackers gave themselves up to photographers and came out into the open at Blatherwycke Churchyard, where up to two were present all week, Delapre Abbey (Northampton), where up to three remained throughout and Thenford Churchyard, where a minimum of four was present until at least 19th. Elsewhere on 19th, two were at Edgcote and singles were at Hinton-in-the-Hedges and Scaldwell and one flew over Bulwick on 23rd. Hopefully they will stick around …

After a wet start, this week’s weather was predominantly dry and cold, with a north to north-westerly airstream keeping temperatures relatively low. Visible passerine migration continued and again included significant numbers of Hawfinches at various localities across the county. Further news on the Stanford Dusky Warbler also emerged this week …

It is panning out to be the best autumn locally for Whooper Swans for many years, with this week’s arrivals comprising seven – four adults and three juveniles – at Stanwick GP on 11th and a juvenile at Hollowell Res on 15th, later moving to nearby Ravensthorpe Res on 17th.

The long-staying juvenile Pink-footed Goose remained at Stanwick GP all week, the same locality hanging on to is four Red-crested Pochards until at least 12th, when two were also still at Stanford Res. Just one – a drake – remained at Pitsford Res on 15th-16th, where up to five Scaup remained throughout the period, while one of these, or another, visited nearby Sywell CP from 14th to 16th.

Great White Egret counts held steady, with site maxima including five at Pitsford, four at Stanwick and two at Ravensthorpe – all on 17th – while this week’s raptors included a male Hen Harrier between Harrington AF and the Brampton Valley on 12th and single male Merlins at Stanford Res on 11th, Thenford on 13th and Newton Bromswold on 16th.

It’s still a little early for northern white-winged gulls and the only scarce larids this week were a first-winter Mediterranean Gull at Stanwick on 13th, a Yellow-legged Gull at Pitsford on 11th-12 and two and six in the roost at Boddington Res on 12th and 13th respectively. Caspian Gulls were at three localities, including one at Pitsford on 11th, two at Hollowell on 11th and 14th with one there on 15th and one in the roost at Boddington on 13th.

 
Apart from Hawfinches, scarce passerines were poorly represented but the appearance of a back garden Firecrest in Little Billing on 11th was the highlight of the weekend for one lucky observer. So, back to Hawfinches, then. Although predominantly fly-overs, two localities at opposite ends of the county – one in the far north, the other in the extreme south – stood out as the most reliable places to see them ‘on the ground’. These are Thenford churchyard and environs, at which there were two on 11th, one on 12th, six on 13th and three on 17th, and Blatherwycke churchyard, where up to two were seen on 11th, 14th and 16th and believed to be commuting to nearby Bulwick churchyard, where they have been seen on three separate occasions. Elsewhere, birds in transit included one over Pitsford Res and seven over Ditchford GP on 11th, one over Ravensthorpe Res on 12th, one over Hanging Houghton, thirteen at East Carlton CP and two at Wakerley Great Wood on 13th, three over Daventry CP and four at Wicken on 14th, two over Borough Hill, five over Sywell CP and three at Harrington AF on 15th and, on 16th, two at Harrington AF, three over Earls Barton and one over Upper Harlestone. Hopefully we are in for a good winter with this charismatic crusher of fruits and seeds …