Mike Alibone

Newsround – 12th to 18th April 2025

Posted on April 19, 2025 by Mike Alibone

A cooler week by far, despite a run of strong southwesterlies delivering a temperate airstream off the Atlantic and western Europe. With more inbound spring migrants there was plenty to play for but, once again, the cream of the crop was well out of reach for all but those in the right place at the right time …

Summer visitors added to the clock during the period all occurred in the Nene Valley, although there was a Reed Warbler at Stanford Res the previous week but it was, alas, on the Leicestershire side of the county line.

Pink-footed Geese were still very much in evidence this week and, as well as the long-stayer in the Earls Barton GP/Cogenhoe area being present throughout, the period’s quota included one again at Stanford Res on 13th and 14th and nine flying east over Lilbourne Meadows NR on the latter date. Last week’s Garganey duo remained throughout at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings, moving to the northern section on 18th, while the drake Red-crested Pochard was also keeping up appearances on the adjacent River Nene.

And, while we’re still in the same area, this site laid claim to the fourth occurrence of Common Crane for the county this year as one flew over, calling, on 12th.

Further up the valley, Clifford Hill GP notched up its – and the county’s – second record of Grey Plover this year as an eastbound flock of five flew through without stopping on 15th. Whimbrels were also on the move, with singles at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South), Lower Barnwell Lock (Oundle) and Summer Leys – all on 12th and another paid a brief visit to Clifford Hill GP on 17th.

Whimbrel, Clifford Hill GP, 17th April 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

Last week’s solitary Bar-tailed Godwit at Summer Leys made it into the week, still being present there on 12th, while the same site produced a Black-tailed Godwit on 12th, 15th, 17th and 18th and two were at Stanford Res at different points in time on 15th.

Black-tailed Godwit, Summer Leys LNR, 17th April 2025 (Alan Coles)

More Greenshanks moved through during the period in which singles visited Lower Barwell Lock on 12th and 15th, Summer Leys on 12th, Earls Barton GP on 14th and Stanford on 15th and a single Jack Snipe was still holding out at Hollowell Res on 14th.

Compared to last week, this week’s Little Gull passage had reduced to a mere drip comprising three at Earls Barton GP on 12th, while a Mediterranean Gull dropped into Stanford on 17th. Larger gulls included a first-summer apparent hybrid Caspian x Herring Gull at DIRFT 3 on 13th, where there was also a first-summer Yellow-legged Gull on the same date.

First-summer presumed Caspian Gull x Herring Gull hybrid, DIRFT 3, 13th April 2025 (Mike Alibone)

The only other Yellow-legged Gulls were single adults at Pitsford Res on 13th and 16th.

A Little Tern at Clifford Hill on 16th was much appreciated as well as equalling the earliest ever county record – the latter being at Earls Barton GP in 1996.

Little Tern, Clifford Hill GP, 16th April 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

And another week, another White Stork – this one visually tracked as it took its time in moving westward from Earls Barton/Whiston Lock toward Ecton. Surprisingly, there were no subsequent sightings in Northants but undoubtedly the same bird was logged later in the day over Napton Res in east Warwickshire, 37 km further west.

White Stork, Earls Barton GP, 13th April 2025 (Ant Hall)

Once again, the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis clocked up another week, the latter site also producing a showy Bittern on 16th and 18th.

Bittern, Summer Leys LNR, 18th April 2025 (Tony Stanford)

Four Cattle Egrets flying south-west over Stanwick GP on 17th once again represented a rather poor weekly showing for this species.

Not so for Marsh Harriers, though – that is, of course, for those in the right place at the right time. Favouring the reedbed, the immature male was again seen at Stanwick on 12th and 18th, Summer Leys produced two on 14th and one on 16th and one was nearby at Earls Barton GP’s Quarry Walk on the latter date.

Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 16th April 2025 (Alan Coles)

We’ve become increasingly aware of this spring’s invasion of Hoopoes into the southern reaches of the UK and their subsequent penetration further north. Given that this week saw just over a hundred in the country, prior to the astoundingly higher total of one hundred and eighty the week before, it would have been surprising if we’d not managed to secure one in our own good county. And we did. Two, to be precise. Unfortunately, they were both off limits and appeared to be short-stayers only. The first was in a garden in Hanging Houghton on 13th before flying off, giving rise to a local search that yielded no result. The following day, one was photographed on the windowsill of a farmhouse at Silverstone prior to making a similar rapid departure. The wait for one nailed down goes on …

Hoopoe, Silverstone, 14th April 2025 (Tom Howse)

Meanwhile, there were more Ring Ouzels, unsurprisingly comprising one at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 14th and another at Harrington AF the following day – both favoured localities that have history for the species.

Conversely, Summer Leys does not have history when it comes to producing Pied Flycatchers, a male of which was seen briefly from the car park on 18th.

A Black Redstart at Harrington did a bunk before any would-be observers were on the scene on 17th, as did one photographed on a roof in Easton on the Hill the previous day. These are the fourth and fifth for the year, none of which has had the decency to stay put.

Black Redstart, Easton on the Hill, 16th April 2025 (Jeff Davies)

Single male Common Redstarts were found at Harrington on 13th-14th, Blueberry Farm on 15th and at Lilbourne Meadows on 17th.

Male Common Redstart, Harrington AF, 14th April 2025 (David Arden)

There was a mini-surge in Northern Wheatears this week with, on 17th, Harrington producing nine, Hinton AF at least six, Clifford Hill four, and both Earls Barton and Mears Ashby one apiece.

Male Northern Wheatear, Earls Barton GP, 17th April 2025 (Leslie Fox)

On other dates, two were at Heathencote on 12th, three were at Harrington and two at Earls Barton on 14th, two were at Blueberry Farm and one below Great Doddington on 15th and one was at Borough Hill on 18th. A male Greenland Wheatear was at Clifford Hill on 17th.

Male Greenland Wheatear, Clifford Hill GP, 17th April 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

With Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) rising in popularity and attracting more birders of late, it comes as no surprise that more interesting birds are being found there. One such individual – a ‘yellow’ wagtail – came under scrutiny on 15th when it exhibited some features inconsistent with the standard fare in the Yellow Wagtail group of races and may have been a hybrid (see here for a more detailed discussion).

Apparent ‘hybrid’ Yellow Wagtail showing some Citrine Wagtail-like characteristics, Earls Barton GP, 15th April 2025 (Mike Alibone)

No such queries were raised by this week’s White Wagtails, a maximum of at least five of which were at the latter site on 18th, while singles were logged at Lower Barnwell Lock on 12th, Clifford Hill on 15th and 17th, Pitsford on 16th and at Ditchford GP’s Rushden Lakes on 17th.

Citrine Wagtail x Yellow Wagtail hybrid … or what?

Posted on April 18, 2025 by Mike Alibone

While talking to Martin Swannell and David Smith during a visit to Earls Barton GP late afternoon on Tuesday 15th April, MS picked up a ‘yellow’ wagtail in flight before it dropped down in a muddy corner at the eastern end of New Workings (South), about 60 metres away from where we were standing.

Looking through bins, it was immediately apparent that this was no ordinary Yellow Wagtail as it had strikingly grey upperparts and bold, white tips to the median coverts, which produced a noticeably strong white wing-bar. Scope views enabled more detail to be seen as the bird moved around feeding and, appearing fidgety, flying short distances within the area.

Looking like a female, to my eyes, the bird had a citreola vibe to it but it was certainly not identifiable as a Citrine Wagtail, as it lacked a number of diagnostic features of that species.

An interesting looking bird with a grey mantle that was concolourous with the nape and extended into the crown, the latter then merging into a yellowish-grey forehead, itself merging with the supercilium above the dark lores. On rear views, the rump had a slight greenish tinge to it.

Pro-citreola features are the grey upperparts, strong white median covert tips and strong(est) yellow colouration on the throat as opposed to the belly. Pro-flava features are off-white/yellow-buff-tinged greater covert tips, yellow undertail coverts and lack of supercilium curving around behind ear coverts.

After some 15 minutes, the bird flew off north and, unfortunately, was not heard to call.

Individuals with almost identical features to this have been recorded in the UK on previous occasions (see here) and a Citrine x Yellow Wagtail hybrid, photographed in July 2010, appears not too dissimilar but with a more Citrine-like head pattern (see here). Mixed pairs have bred in Poland, while hybrids have also been recorded in India, Israel and the United Arab Emirates, although images (here) appear to show birds with more striking head patterns, which are probably males.

The above bird, though exhibiting hybrid characteristics may, of course, be an established, unknown Yellow Wagtail variant – an alternative advocated by Martin Garner back in 2012 …

References and suggested reading for further information

Newsround – 5th to 11th April 2025

Posted on April 12, 2025April 12, 2025 by Mike Alibone

Easterlies persisted until mid-week, after which a more northerly vector dominated, although temperatures managed to reach an unseasonally high 20°C by the end of the period. With the weather highly conducive to migration, it was unusually busy for the second week of April, which produced an uplift in migrants as well as some class birds, but getting to grips with the latter remained the preserve of the lucky few …

On the summer visitor front, new birds for the year appeared thick and fast this week with seven new species on the clock. One Common Sandpiper had already been logged, of course, although the latter was a rogue, overwintering individual at Earls Barton GP during February and March.

Wildfowl bounced back from last week, with the long-staying Pink-footed Goose still seeing the week out in the Earls Barton GP New Workings (South) area, where the year’s first Garganeys – a duck and drake – were found on the last day of the period.

Drake Garganey, Earls Barton GP, 11th April 2025 (Mike Alibone)

The above site also held on to its drake Red-crested Pochard, favouring the River Nene until at least 9th, while further up the Nene Valley, two Common Scoters made a stopover at Clifford Hill GP on 10th.

Common Scoters, Clifford Hill GP, 10th April 2025 (Mark Williams)

Two Avocets visited Summer Leys LNR on 7th but waders of the week and, at this juncture, of the year, were the two Dotterels that dropped in at Harrington AF the following day. Completing little more than a two-hour stay, they moved on without so much as a by your leave … This apparently constitutes the 15th county record and first since one at Hemington in April 2022, as well as appearing to be the earliest-ever in the county and generally very early for the UK as a whole. To put things in context, there were others in Dorset on 27th-28th March, Cumbria on 2nd April and in Ayrshire on 8th April.

Avocets, Summer Leys LNR, 7th April 2025 (Bob Bullock)

The number of other waders moving through ramped up appreciably and included the first, second and third records of Whimbrel this year, kicking off with one at Summer Leys LNR on 5th, followed by four at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 10th and one flying north over Ravensthorpe Res the following day.

Whimbrel, Titchmarsh NR, 10th April 2025 (Nick Parker)

The first Bar-tailed Godwit of the year dropped into Summer Leys on 10th and was still to be found there on 11th, while four Black-tailed Godwits left over from last week also remained there on 5th-6th, dropping to three on 7th and one on 9th. One also visited Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows NR on 7th.

Bar-tailed Godwit, Summer Leys LNR, 10th April 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Bar-tailed Godwit, Summer Leys LNR, 11th April 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Single Ruffs visited the flooded meadow by the River Nene at Oundle’s Lower Barnwell Lock on 5th and one was at Titchmarsh NR two days later, on 7th. The first of these two sites produced an early spring record of no less than three Spotted Redshanks together on 5th, dropping to just one straggler there on 6th-7th. It has been a good few years since a ‘flock’ of Spotted Redshanks last visited the county …

Spotted Redshank, Lower Barnwell Lock, Oundle, 7th April 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Two Greenshanks at Summer Leys on 5th represented only the second record for the year after an exceptionally early one over Earls Barton GP in February. Up to two Jack Snipes remained at Hollowell Res throughout the period.

Clearly associated with the continuing easterly airflow, there was no let up in the number of Little Gulls moving through. The Nene Valley undoubtedly enjoyed the lion’s share, with fourteen at Clifford Hill GP, ten at Stanwick GP, 2 at Summer Leys and one at Thrapston GP – all on 5th, while five were at Ravensthorpe Res and one at Pitsford Res on the same date. The following day’s stragglers comprised twos at both Pitsford and Thrapston.

Larger gulls on the scarcity spectrum were a second-summer Caspian Gull at Priors Hall Quarry Lake on 11th, where there was also a second-summer Yellow-legged Gull on the same date. Pitsford continued to hold up to two Yellow-legged Gulls throughout.

Second-summer Yellow-legged Gull, Priors Hall Quarry, 11th April 2025 (James Underwood)

An Arctic Tern at Summer Leys on 10th was new for the year.

Still to be had at Pitsford on 7th was the juvenile Great Northern Diver which has extended its winter occupancy well into spring.

Given its ongoing reintroduction project, perhaps only to be expected with increasing frequency in the county is White Stork, one of which flew over Warmington on 9th. Wild or not, a pulse-racer on a chance encounter.

Once again, the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis clocked up another week …

Cattle Egrets continued to maintain a low profile, with singles in the Nene Valley below Cogenhoe on 7th and at both Stanwick and Hollowell on 11th, the latter apparently a site first.

And so to raptors … and away from the Nene Valley it was, for Ospreys at least. Hollowell enjoyed a visit from the blue-ringed male, ‘3AY’ on 5th, which was the same individual that was photographed at Summer Leys last week. It originates from the Rutland project and was ringed as a pullus in 2019. So far, it remains unpaired. Up to two were also seen at Pitsford between 7th and 11th.

Male Osprey, Hollowell Res, 5th April 2025 (Jon Cook)

Back in the valley, though, Marsh Harriers were seen at Summer Leys on 5th, Stanwick on 5th and 11th and Titchmarsh NR on the latter date. Rather more upmarket, an adult male Hen Harrier was seen close to Everdon Stubbs on 5th.

The week’s passerines were not to be outdone, though, and a male Ring Ouzel at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 5th was considered to be a different individual to the bird present there last week. A splendid male Black Redstart in a private garden in Old was pretty much off limits for any would-be observers on 8th. It’s the third one this year, the previous two having also been inaccessible. There will be more …

Male Black Redstart, Old, 8th April 2025 (Krysten Newby)

Common Redstarts continued to trickle through, with one trapped and ringed at Stanford Res on 8th, followed the next day by single birds at Blueberry Farm and on farmland north of Ashby St Ledgers.

Female Common Redstart, Stanford Res, 8th April 2025 (Adam Homer)

Northern Wheatears were also low in numbers, this week’s birds being compressed into a small, localised region of north-central Northants that included Blueberry Farm, where there was one on 5th and three on 10th, Harrington AF, which held one on 6th-8th and in the Brampton Valley, where two were present on 10th.

A male Blue-headed Wagtail appeared at Clifford Hill on 7th, while Lower Barnwell Lock held a single White Wagtail on 5th, followed by two there on 7th.

Newsround – 29th March to 4th April 2025

Posted on April 5, 2025April 6, 2025 by Mike Alibone

After the driest March since 1961, April continued in the same vein, kicking in with a lingering spell of high pressure and a hearty dose of easterlies. These near-perfect conditions resulted in a decent number of migrants, including a hefty passage of Little Gulls and another dollop of firsts for the year.

The week’s new-in summer visitors kicked off with a smart male Common Redstart on day 2, followed by a Ring Ouzel on day 6 and Common Tern on the final day of the week.

Otherwise, it was a week of unsurprisingly diminishing returns as far as wildfowl were concerned, with the long-staying Pink-footed Goose still in the Cogenhoe Mill/Earls Barton GP area until at least 3rd, the drake Red-crested Pochard still in the same vicinity on the River Nene until 1st and the first-winter female Greater Scaup hanging on at Blatherwycke Lake until at least 29th.

Pink-footed Goose, Earls Barton GP, 3rd April 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Drake Red-crested Pochard, Earls Barton GP, 1st April 2025 (Leslie Fox)

After two flyover records in the first half of March, Common Cranes were again on the radar this week as a group of four flew south over Whitfield, in the deep south of the county, on the last day of the period. One on the ground would surely prove itself extremely popular …

In terms of number of species, the week’s waders widened out to include the year’s first Grey Plover at Clifford Hill GP, for one day only, on 3rd. Avocets were again to be found at three Nene Valley localities, Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR delivering two on 30th while, on 3rd, two visited Clifford Hill GP and Earls Barton GP dished up six.

Avocets, Earls Barton GP, 3rd April 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Black-tailed Godwits were the sole preserve of Summer Leys LNR, where one lingered from last week until 30th, the number then swelling to four there from 31st until the week’s end on 4th.

Black-tailed Godwits, Summer Leys LNR, 2nd April 2025 (Mark Tyrrell)

Just one Jack Snipe made it into April, still on site at Hollowell Res on 1st.

Following the previous mini-run of Little Gulls on 21st-22nd March, two appeared at Thrapston GP’s Town Lake on 31st, ahead of three at Pitsford on 3rd, preceding a build-up of numbers across 8 localities the following day. The latter saw site maxima of at least thirty-four at Stanford Res, at least nineteen at Summer Leys, fourteen at Clifford Hill, thirteen at Earls Barton, nine at Stanwick GP, seven at Daventry CP, three at Pitsford and two flying north-east over Irthlingborough. All in all, a great start to April for this diminutive, much admired, pocket rocket of a gull.

Adult Little Gull, Stanford Res, 4th April 2025 (Chris Hubbard)

Little Gulls, Summer Leys LNR, 4th April 2025 (Alan Coles)

Other gulls were, of course, available – only if you were at Pitsford, that is, where a third-winter Caspian Gull was present on 31st, as were up to two Yellow-legged Gulls throughout the period.

And another first for the year was inbound this week in the shape of Common Tern, four of which got themselves noticed at Ditchford GP on 4th.

Still hanging on in there was the juvenile Great Northern Diver, which saw another week out at Pitsford.

Copy that for the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis …

Up to five Cattle Egrets were still to be found at Stanwick GP between 29th and 1st, while one put in an appearance by the River Nene at Cogenhoe Mill on the latter date.

The week’s Ospreys were to be seen at five localities and included two over Deene Lake on 29th, singles at Summer Leys on 29th and 4th and at Thrapston on 30th, Hollowell on 31st and Pitsford on 3rd.

Male Osprey, Summer Leys LNR, 4th April 2025 (Andy Howell)

The only Marsh Harriers, however, were at Summer Leys on 31st and 2nd.

The Northern Treecreeper, last photographed at Summer Leys on 20th, was reported there again on 30th-31st.

Returning once more to firsts for the year, a male Ring Ouzel was clearly ‘old hat’ for a local patch watcher at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 3rd and the first Common Redstart to break cover was a male at nearby Hanging Houghton on 30th, with the second one not far behind it at good old Blueberry Farm again the following day. These were followed by two more males – one in the Nene Valley near Great Doddington and the other at Harrington AF – both on 4th.

Other migrant passerines of note included single Northern Wheatears at Clifford Hill on 29th and 31st with two there on 30th, singles at Harrington on 29th and 31st with two there on 4th, one at Earls Barton on 29th and two at Blueberry Farm on 31st and one there on 3rd.

And in the grey area of the spectrum, two White Wagtails were found at Earls Barton GP on 29th, followed by singles at Lower Barnwell Lock on 30th and Hollowell on 31st.

Newsround – 22nd to 28th March 2025

Posted on March 29, 2025March 30, 2025 by Mike Alibone

A largely dry week, weatherwise, delivered more inbound migrants which included another set of firsts for the year. While some winter visitors stubbornly refused to shift, however, there was the first hint that a number had upped sticks and moved on by the week’s end …

This week’s new summer visitors comprised White Wagtail, House Martin, Sedge Warbler, Yellow Wagtail and Willow Warbler.

While a Pink-footed Goose was seen at Stanford Res on 24th, the Nene Valley’s geese remained for different durations – the regular Pinkfoot in the Cogenhoe Mill/Earls Barton GP area extended its stay throughout the period but the seven wintering White-fronted Geese in the same area went unreported after 24th, as did the two at Ravensthorpe Res.

Pink-footed Goose, Earls Barton GP, 25th March 2025 (Leslie Fox)

The drake Red-crested Pochard at Earls Barton GP and on the River Nene between Cogenhoe and Whiston Lock remained throughout the period but the drake Greater Scaup on Mary’s Lake at Earls Barton GP was not seen after 25th.

Drake Red-crested Pochard, Earls Barton GP, 27th March 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Though not a summer visitor, a new bird for the year was the Black-necked Grebe that turned up on 25th at Clifford Hill GP, where it was still to be found the following day.

Black-necked Grebe, Clifford Hill GP, 26th March 2025 (Leslie Fox)

The week’s waders were limited to three species, top of which again were Avocets at three gravel pit locations in the Nene Valley. Last week’s duo remained settled at Earls Barton throughout the period, while Clifford Hill GP hosted another two new arrivals on 22nd and one on 24th.

Avocets, Earls Barton GP, 22nd March 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Avocet, Clifford Hill GP, 24th March 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

Avocet, Clifford Hill GP, 24th March 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Avocet, Clifford Hill GP, 24th March 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Summer Leys was the prime site for Black-tailed Godwits, with five there on 23rd and one on 27th-28th, while two visited floodwater at Lower Barnwell Lock, Oundle on 24th.

Black-tailed Godwits, Summer Leys LNR, 23rd March 2025 (Aamir Aziz Mughal)

Black-tailed Godwit, Summer Leys LNR, 28th March 2025 (Aamir Aziz Mughal)

Aside from one at Ditchford GP on 24th, Jack Snipes continued to be seen at Hollowell Res, where up to two were present throughout the week.

In the scarce larid category, last week’s six Little Gulls at Earls Barton GP roosted overnight and were still to be found there, on New Workings (South), mid-afternoon on 22nd. An adult Mediterranean Gull flew east at Clifford Hill on 24th, while more typical fare in the shape of Yellow-legged Gulls included up to three at Pitsford Res between 22nd and 25th and an adult at Clifford Hill on 28th. Single first-winter Caspian Gulls visited Stanford on 23rd and Hollowell on 25th.

Adult Mediterranean Gull, Clifford Hill GP, 24th March 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

Long stayers from last year included the Great Northern Diver still at Pitsford on 25th and the somewhat relaxed Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys for yet another week …

Apparently having decided to move on after spending the last two and a half weeks at Clifford Hill, the Cattle Egret was nowhere to be seen after 26th. Elsewhere, four flew north-east from Stanwick GP’s Main Lake early on 25th.

Cattle Egret, Clifford Hill GP, 23rd March 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

And so to raptors, with Osprey sightings coming thick and fast from the Hollowell area, where one was seen daily from 26th to 28th and one flew east between Ravensthorpe and the Guilsborough to Teeton road on 25th. Another flew north over Boddington Res on 26th. The period’s Marsh Harriers were about par for the course, with singles at Stanwick on 22nd, Earls Barton on 24th and Summer Leys on 27th, while a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier spent some time at Boddington Res on 24th.

On the passerine front … Single Northern Wheatears occurred in four locations with the Brampton Valley producing one on 22nd and 28th, Borough Hill hosting one on 24th, Clifford Hill retaining one from 24th to 28th, and Harrington AF delivering one on 22nd and 26th. And in addition to the aforementioned individuals on 22nd, single White Wagtails were found at Stanford and Summer Leys – both on 23rd. A Crossbill was present at Irchester CP on 28th.

White Wagtail, Pitsford Res, 22nd March 2025 (Jon Cook)

White Wagtail, Stanford Res, 22nd March 2025 (Chris Hubbard)

As a postscript, first-ever record for Northants in the shape of a Northern Treecreeper (the north and east European nominate race, familiaris which also extends well into western Siberia) was present at Summer Leys during the preceding week. It transpires it was also first seen (and photographed) there on 23rd December 2024 and so has overwintered on site under the radar. It may still be present …

Northern Treecreeper: The First Record for Northamptonshire

Posted on March 28, 2025 by Mike Alibone

Currently considered a national rarity based on statistics, a Treecreeper showing characteristics of the northern European race familiaris – more commonly known as ‘Northern Treecreeper’ was found, photographed, and subsequently identified, by Julie Roe at Summer Leys LNR on 20th March. It was present in trees on the west side of the path between the Feeding Station and Screen Hide.

The bird, first noticed by its ‘frosty’ appearance, exhibited all the key identification features including the obvious white spots on the mantle, pale scapular feathers with white shafts and a warmer rump.

Northern Treecreeper, Summer Leys LNR, 20th March 2025 (Julie Roe)

Its broad and startlingly white supercilium extended and flared into the upperparts as well as extending in front of the eye and over the lores. The underparts were gleamingly snow-white with only a slight buff tinge limited to rear flanks and undertail coverts.

The above features are spot-on for this race which occurs in Fennoscandia, eastern Europe and northern Russia as far east as western Siberia, while our own race britannica is restricted to Britain & Ireland.

One further feature outlined by the late, great Martin Garner in his Birding Frontiers Challenge Series – Autumn (2014) is that the forward-pointing claws of Northern Treecreeper are wholly pale/translucent compared to the usually slightly darker sides to the same claws on britannica. This feature is clearly evident in the images captured by Julie.

With only 36 accepted UK records up to 2022 and a further 11 in 2023 – deemed a bumper year for the occurrence of this race in the UK – records of Northern Treecreeper are currently considered by the British Birds Rarities Committee, although its national status is recognised as uncertain but possibly more common than statistics suggest.

The Northern Isles have accounted for the majority of records but they have also occurred further south along the east coast. Our bird in Northants is likely to be the only one to have knowingly occurred this far inland. The record will be submitted to BBRC in due course.

Suggested reading for further information on Northern Treecreeper identification and status

Newsround – 15th to 21st March 2025

Posted on March 22, 2025March 23, 2025 by Mike Alibone

The week just gone saw a flip back to warmer conditions as a southerly airmass moved in from the continent, giving rise to the UK’s warmest day of the year so far, with local temperatures reaching 18°C, while the wind took on an easterly vector during the final two days. Perfect conditions for northbound migrants … and in they came.

There were, however, some winter visitors that were simply refusing to budge and we’re referring here to the Pink-footed Goose, still with the Nene Valley Greylags in the Cogenhoe Mill/Earls Barton GP area all week, although there were no further reports of the two at Thrapston GP/Titchmarsh NR beyond 15th.

Pink-footed Goose, Earls Barton GP, 15th March 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Pink-footed Goose, Thrapston GP, 15th March 2025 (James Underwood)

Also seeing the week out were the seven (eight on 18th) White-fronted Geese with the above Greylags, as did the two at Ravensthorpe Res, while last week’s three remained at Titchmarsh until at least 17th.

White-fronted Geese, Ravensthorpe Res, 20th March 2025 (Jon Cook)

Seemingly settled, too, was the drake Red-crested Pochard at Earls Barton GP and on the River Nene between Cogenhoe and Whiston Lock, where it was still to be found at the period’s end.

Drake Red-crested Pochard, Earls Barton GP, 15th March 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Greater Scaup was still on the radar this week, with the first-winter female remaining at Blatherwycke Lake until at least 15th and the drake continued to rub along with the Tufted Ducks on Mary’s Lake at Earls Barton throughout.

First-winter female Greater Scaup, Blatherwycke Lake, 15th March 2025 (James Underwood)

Drake Greater Scaup, Earls Barton GP, 17th March 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Drake Greater Scaup, Earls Barton GP, 19th March 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Perhaps having now vacated the area, the drake Smew was still to be seen at Clifford Hill GP until 19th, after which there were no further reports.

Following three in flight over Stanford Res the previous week, a Crane was reported flying west at Titchmarsh NR on 16th, although no further details were forthcoming.

However, the waders on offer during the period served to lift the spirits, underlining that spring is now firmly established, if not yet in full flow. Four Avocets dropped into Clifford Hill early in the morning of 18th before swiftly moving east, after which they also paid a brief visit to Summer Leys LNR, some fifteen minutes later. For those – and that’s nigh on everyone – unable to catch up with them, two more were found on floodwater at Lower Barnwell Lock, Oundle, where they spent at least two and a half hours on 20th. More were still to follow, two subsequently being located at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South), mid-afternoon on 21st, seeing the rest of the day out asleep and choosing to extend their roost there. These are, so far, only the second, third and fourth records of the year, following one at Summer Leys on the unusually early date of 26th February.

Avocets, Clifford Hill GP, 18th March 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

Avocets, Lower Barnwell Lock, 20th March 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Avocets, Earls Barton GP, 21st March 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Other waders were, of course, available and three Black-tailed Godwits dropped in at Summer Leys for a brief spell on 20th, followed by two at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows NR the next day.

Black-tailed Godwit, Summer Leys LNR, 20th March 2025 (Clive Bowley)

Summer Leys also produced a couple of Ruffs – one on 17th-18th, joined by a second bird on 19th-20th.

Ruff, Summer Leys LNR, 18th March 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Ruff, Summer Leys LNR, 18th March 2025 (Clive Bowley)

Ruff, Summer Leys LNR, 19th March 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Aside from up to three Jack Snipes seeing out the back end of winter at Hollowell this week, two additional localities produced further singles, these being at Pitsford Res on 16th and Summer Leys on 19th.

And we were to be treated to a new wave of Little Gulls as the week drew to a close on 21st. Ditchford produced at least three, while a respectable six turned up at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South), mid-afternoon, providing some prime viewing opportunities before choosing to roost there.

Little Gull, Ditchford GP, 21st March 2025 (Tony Vials)

Little Gulls, Earls Barton GP, 21st March 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Though arguably less entertaining, other scarce larids showed up in the form of four transient adult Caspian Gulls – considered two be two pairs – at Ravensthorpe on 17th, followed by another adult at Summer Leys the following day. And aside from a first-summer at Hollowell on 21st, Yellow-legged Gulls were down to just the one adult at Pitsford between 17th and 20th.

Pitsford also continued to play host to the wintering Great Northern Diver, the latter clearly in no hurry to move on.

And the same applied to the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis … still there at the week’s end.

Bitterns are booming, or so it seems, with one heard on several days at an undisclosed locality and one was seen again at Hollowell Res, where it’s clearly keeping a low profile, on 17th. The same cannot be said for Cattle Egrets, numbers of which remain low in comparison to a couple of years ago. Aside from singles extending their stays at Blatherwycke and Clifford Hill, until at least 15th and 21st, respectively, up to four were seen exiting a roost site at Stanwick GP, early doors on 15th and on 19th-21st.

What was set to have been the county’s first Osprey of the year, at Pitsford on 17th, was superseded by belated news of an earlier one at Fawsley Park Lakes on 11th. One was also seen at Hollowell on 18th and on 20th-21st.

The period’s Marsh Harriers were limited to localities beginning with ‘S’, with one at Stortons GP on 15th, what was presumably last week’s individual continuing to put in appearances at Stanwick on 17th and 21st, and one also visiting Summer Leys on the last of these dates.

And another summer visitor crossed the line to become the first of its kind to enter the county this year in the shape of a Swallow at Hollowell on 21st.

The year’s second Northern Wheatear was also found on the same date at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South), a location which has more than proven itself attractive to wetland species of late and is becoming increasingly popular with birds and birders alike.

And in common with many of the winter visitors stubbornly refusing to up sticks and go, two Hawfinches remained in Cottesbrooke until at least 16th.

Newsround – 8th to 14th March 2025

Posted on March 15, 2025 by Mike Alibone

In a striking about-turn, the week’s main weather feature consisted of a considerable drop in temperature, the wind direction doing a one-eighty as a significantly cold airstream slid down from the high Arctic in a bid to engulf the country. While this did not completely put the mockers on migration, there were no new summer visitors and although Sand Martins and Little Ringed Plovers continued to trickle through in small numbers, two much larger birds were to make the week’s headlines …

The regular collection of wildfowl remained in place and their numbers swelled this week, commencing with Pink-footed Geese, which saw two new individuals arrive on the scene – one at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 8th, remaining throughout the period and the other at Stanford Res on 8th-10th.

Pink-footed Goose, Stanford Res, 8th March 2025 (Chris Hubbard)

Pink-footed Goose, Whiston Lock, 8th March 2025 (Alan Coles)

Pink-footed Goose, Earls Barton GP, 8th March 2025 (Leslie Fox)

The long-staying individual saw another week out in the Cogenhoe Mill/Whiston/Earls Barton GP area, alongside the seven White-fronted Geese amid the local Greylag flock there. Three new Whitefronts were also found at Titchmarsh on 13th and were still present the following day, while the Ravensthorpe Res duo extended their stay there by another week.

White-fronted Geese, Earls Barton GP, 8th March 2025 (Leslie Fox)

White-fronted Goose, Earls Barton GP, 9th March 2025 (Phil West)

While the drake Red-crested Pochard from the previous week spent most of its time on the River Nene between Cogenhoe and Whiston Lock throughout, another drake turned up at Daventry CP on 10th.

Drake Red-crested Pochard, Earls Barton GP, 8th March 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Drake Red-crested Pochard, Earls Barton GP, 9th March 2025 (Phil West)

Drake Red-crested Pochard, Daventry CP, 10th March 2025 (Gary Pullan)

The drake Ring-necked Duck again remained at Titchmarsh until the period’s end, while the ever-popular drake Smew extended its stay by another week at Clifford Hill GP.

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Thrapston GP, 9th March 2025 (Phil West)

Drake Smew, Clifford Hill GP, 14th March 2025 (Tony Stanford)

Eclipsing all of the above by size alone, though, were the three Cranes (no, not the pub in Cransley) that flew low over Stanford Res during the late morning of 9th. A subsequent search of the surrounding area unfortunately drew a blank. These were the first to be recorded since 2023, a year when there were three records, including two very accommodating birds at Summer Leys LNR.

Aside from a further dusting of migrant Little Ringed Plovers, waders were limited to up to four Jack Snipes at Hollowell Res between 10th and 14th and the wintering Common Sandpiper that remained at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North), where it was seen on 8th, 9th and 14th.

March is traditionally the month in spring for Mediterranean Gulls moving through the county, as exemplified this week by birds found at three localities. Boddington Res produced the biggest haul with an adult on 10th, 12th and 13th, joined by a first-winter on 10th and a second-summer on 12th, while an adult visited Pitsford Res on 11th and a first-winter was at Hollowell on 14th.

First-winter Mediterranean Gull, Boddington Res, 10th March 2025 (Gary Pullan)

Second-summer Mediterranean Gull, Boddington Res, 12th March 2025 (Gary Pullan)

Adult Mediterranean Gull, Boddington Res, 13th March 2025 (Gary Pullan)

Aside from a first-winter in the Boddington gull roost on 12th, the week’s Yellow-legged Gulls were restricted to Pitsford Res, where there was one on 9th, five in the gull roost there on 10th, three on 11th, four on 12th and two on 14th.

Pitsford also continued to hang on to its Great Northern Diver until at least 11th.

Seeing out yet another week at Summer Leys, the Glossy Ibis appeared to be in no hurry to move on, yet …

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 12th March 2025 (Mike Alibone)

The period’s Cattle Egrets included last week’s individual at Clifford Hill extending its stay there for a further seven days, while two flew north-east over Stanwick GP in the early mornings of 11th and 13th.

Cattle Egret, Clifford Hill GP, 14th March 2025 (Tony Stanford)

Stanwick also appeared to be the place of choice for a roosting Marsh Harrier, first seen on 11th and again leaving the reedbed there first thing in the morning on the following day. Another was again seen further up the Nene Valley as it flew south across the A45 toward the Cogenhoe/Whiston area on 8th.

Marsh Harrier, Stanwick GP, 12th March 2025 (Steve Fisher)

Expanding the harrier tally, a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier was present briefly at Hollowell on 13th.

And then things went decidedly large on the raptor front …

Although not 100% wild, a British born and bred White-tailed Eagle was GPS-tracked in flight over Hollowell Res on the afternoon of 10th, after having visited Rutland Water and roosting near Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire, 20 km to the north-east, the previous night. It was identified as ‘G602’, a second calendar year male translocated from a nest in the Isle of Skye to the Isle of Wight as a pullus last summer. Not travelling overly far, it subsequently roosted near Church Brampton and was seen early on 11th between there and Althorp before flying over north Northampton and then south-east to Yardley Chase, where it chose to linger for several hours. Further tracking indicated that it then left Northamptonshire and was south of Milton Keynes by early afternoon on 12th.

Second calendar year White-tailed Eagle, Althorp/Church Brampton, 11th March 2025 (Adey Greeno)

With very little new on offer, passerines took very much a back seat in the week’s proceedings and were limited to a single Hawfinch at Blisworth on 9th and two in the established environs of Cottesbrooke on 9th-10th, while just the one Crossbill was seen at Bucknell Wood on 9th.

Newsround – 1st to 7th March 2025

Posted on March 8, 2025March 9, 2025 by Mike Alibone

A high pressure system over eastern Europe and a low over the North Atlantic between them delivered a substantial and sustained, warm southerly airstream, providing what was no doubt a considerable catalyst for northward migration. No less than three summer visitors opened the gates of spring and set the clock ticking for more to follow as we headed into March …

Before the first of these though, the usual scattering of wildfowl served as a reminder that we’re not quite done with winter, yet. All present and correct, then, were the geese we have been lucky to pull in and retain over the past few months, starting with the Pink-footed Goose with Greylags in the Cogenhoe Mill/Earls Barton GP area, which saw another week out there, along with the seven White-fronted Geese – the latter still present on 7th. The two longest staying Whitefronts also remained at Ravensthorpe Res until at least 5th.

Pink-footed Goose, Earls Barton GP, 4th March 2025 (Leslie Fox)

White-fronted Geese, Earls Barton GP, 2nd March 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Remaining all week within spitting distance of the of the Cogenhoe cluster, the week’s sole Red-crested Pochard – a fine drake – was mobile along the River Nene as well as on the adjacent Earls Barton GP New Workings (South). More upmarket diving ducks were still to be had throughout the week in the shape of the drake Ring-necked Duck, seemingly now settled at Titchmarsh NR, and the drake Smew tucked in at the western end of Clifford Hill GP’s Main Barrage Lake.

Drake Smew, Clifford Hill GP, 6th March 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

And now the first of those summer visitors to get a mention in this week’s lineup is Little Ringed Plover, one of which dropped into Clifford Hill GP. Its visit was brief, however, moving on shortly after its discovery there on 6th. Other waders were also available and included up to three Jack Snipes at Hollowell Res between 3rd and 7th and singles at Harrington AF on 4th and Stanford Res on 7th. The wintering Common Sandpiper was also still mobile around Earls Barton GP’s New Workings, being seen there on 4th and 7th.

Common Sandpiper, Earls Barton GP, 4th March 2025 (Leslie Fox)

A Yellow-legged Gull at Clifford Hill on 5th was the sole representative of its kind during the period.

And the Pitsford Great Northern Diver? Still there until at least 6th.

Meanwhile, back in the Nene Valley, the Glossy Ibis notched up another week at Summer Leys LNR. Its days on site must now surely be numbered …

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 4th March 2025 (Bob Bullock)

A Bittern was an unusual site record – but not the first – for Ravensthorpe Res on 3rd. Leaning toward standard patter, though, was a Cattle Egret at Clifford Hill on 6th and 7th.

Cattle Egret, Clifford Hill GP, 6th March 2025 (Mike Alibone)

The week’s Marsh Harriers were widely spread, with single birds at Cransley Res on 6th and at both Earls Barton and Thrapston on the following day. Harrington AF delivered the week’s only Short-eared Owl on 4th and a Merlin was clocked in hot pursuit of Goldfinches over Sixfields, Northampton on 2nd.

The second of the period’s summer visitors appeared in the shape of two Sand Martins at Quarry Hall Lake, Priors Hall, Corby on 5th. There will no doubt be many more to come over the following weeks …

And with singles at Clifford Hill on 3rd and Earls Barton on 7th, Stonechats are seemingly melting away, being replaced by one of the most iconic of summer visitors, Northern Wheatear, a male of which was found at Clifford Hill on 6th. Like the Little Ringed Plover at the same site on the same date, its stay there was, however, somewhat short-lived …

Male Northern Wheatear, Clifford Hill GP, 6th March 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

And, as a final reminder of the winter’s Hawfinch invasion, at least one was still in and around Cottesbrooke on 1st.

Newsround – 22nd to 28th February 2025

Posted on March 1, 2025March 1, 2025 by Mike Alibone

February, now done and dusted, ended cleanly on the last day of the review period. But even before the first day of meteorological spring was upon us, the county notched up two new spring migrants for the year – well ahead of when we would normally expect to see them …

Aside from these, all of the winter wildfowl appeared to remain settled throughout the week and, although the Pink-footed Goose in the vicinity of Cogenhoe Mill was reported only on day one, the seven White-fronted Geese in the same area were seen almost daily. Away to the north, the county’s other two wintering whitefronts saw another week out at Ravensthorpe Res.

Pink-footed Goose and White-fronted Goose, Cogenhoe Mill, 22nd February 2025 (James Underwood)

White-fronted Geese, Cogenhoe Mill, 24th February 2025 (William Miller)

White-fronted Geese, Earls Barton GP, 27th February 2025 (Leslie Fox)

A mere stone’s throw away from the latter locality, the long-standing female Ruddy Shelduck was still present at Winwick Pools on 27th and, as the week progressed, it appears we became awash with Red-crested Pochards. Two made a short stopover at Ravensthorpe on 24th, the same date on which two were also seen at Clifford Hill GP and a drake appeared on the River Nene between Cogenhoe and Whiston on 25th, moving to Earls Barton GP on 27th. Meanwhile, the long-staying female remained at Daventry CP until at least 26th.

Drake Red-crested Pochard, Earls Barton GP, 27th February 2025 (Leslie Fox)

With no sign last week of the drake Ring-necked Duck at Thrapston GP – or anywhere else, for that matter – it was back there at Heronry Lake on the last day of the period. Further up the Nene Valley, the year’s third Greater Scaup, an advanced first-winter drake, was found at Summer Leys LNR on 23rd before relocating to adjacent Mary’s Lake on 25th, where it remained until at least the following day. Further north, the first-winter female remained at Blatherwycke Lake until at least 23rd.

First-winter drake Greater Scaup, Summer Leys LNR, 23rd February 2025 (Mike Alibone)

The drake Smew chose to bide its time all week at Clifford Hill GP.

Fronting this week’s waders was a first for the year in the shape of a very early migrant Avocet at Summer Leys, first thing on 26th. But its stay was brief, moving on in haste as soon as the rainclouds lifted … Aside from this, two Jack Snipes were at Barnes Meadow NR on 22nd followed by up to two at Hollowell Res between 25th and 27th, while the wintering Common Sandpiper once more raised its head at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on the last of these two dates.

Another early bird – and the second new one for the year this week – was an adult Little Gull that clearly found Ravensthorpe to its liking, making an extended stay of five days between 23rd and 27th, during which it proved a popular draw.

Adult Little Gull, Ravensthorpe Res, 23rd February 2025 (Jon Cook)

Adult Little Gull, Ravensthorpe Res, 23rd February 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Adult Little Gull, Ravensthorpe Res, 24th February 2025 (Jon Cook)

Adult Little Gull, Ravensthorpe Res, 25th February 2025 (Phil West)

Otherwise, scarce larids were well down in numbers with just two adult Mediterranean Gulls appearing in the gull roost at Boddington Res on 28th – another sure sign of spring movement – and a first-winter Caspian Gull at Hollowell Res on 25th.

Adult Mediterranean Gull, Boddington Res, 28th February 2025 (John Friendship-Taylor)

Meanwhile, the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis extended its five-month stay by another week …

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 28th February 2025 (Leslie Fox)

A Cattle Egret also appeared at Summer Leys on 23rd and three were again in the vicinity of Stanwick GP’s North Lake two days later, on 25th.

With nothing to shout about on the raptor front, single Short-eared Owls – most likely just the one – were again on private land near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 22nd-23rd and at the adjacent site that is the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, on 27th-28th, where a Merlin was also reported on 27th.

And it was left to Stonechats to prop up this week’s passerines, with Earls Barton producing the highest count of six on 27th, while Hollowell mustered five, Borough Hill two and Harrington AF one.