Author: Mike Alibone

High pressure building over the last week ultimately delivered some weather which may be viewed as being loosely associated with ‘summer’. There was no pressure building on the birding front, however, as we drifted further into what is generally regarded locally as one of the quietest times of the year.

Another telltale sign of the period is the emergence of wildfowl ‘sporting’ eclipse plumage. One such bird was the drake Garganey that appeared on the dam at Stanford Res on 17th.

Not normally associated with this point in time, a second-summer Yellow-legged Gull was found at Daventry CP on 20th.

The ongoing presence of Bitterns at a minimum of two locations in the Nene Valley this week continues to fuel speculation they are breeding … somewhere.

However, with a nest holding at least two young, Cattle Egrets are definitely breeding at one site in the Nene Valley – a welcome return after they last bred in 2020. Also in said valley, two visited Summer Leys LNR on 15th, one was at Stanwick GP on the same date and one was present at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 18th.

The week’s raptors saw a fall in the number of Ospreys reported to singles at Ravensthorpe Res on 15th and at Pitsford Res on 16th and 21st, while a Marsh Harrier flew north-east over Stanwick on 20th.

Almost seeing out a fourth week, the singing male Wood Warbler remained at Harry’s Park Wood until 20th but was nowhere to be seen subsequently.

And here’s something else to think about. Virtually three-quarters of the way through June and the fact that we have not yet had even a sniff of a Common Quail in Northamptonshire is perhaps a sad reflection of the times. But, one singing east of Raunds and south of Keyston, Cambridgeshire, on the last day of the week, was less than one kilometre from the county boundary. There’s still time and the Brampton Valley’s always a good bet …

A varied week weatherwise saw, on average, a month’s rainfall over 36 hours during the middle of the period with the resultant effect of raising water levels, sadly to the detriment of a number of wetland breeding species. The same weather system also brought a class migrant or two into the county.

It was, as they say though, perfect weather for ducks and this week’s were limited to a drake Garganey at Stanwick GP between 18th and 21st and a now proven two drake Red-crested Pochards in the Nene Valley at their respective locations of Earls Barton GP and Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR, also between 18th and 21st.

Out of the rain came another handsome summer-plumaged Grey Plover – this time at Stanwick GP on 22nd, while the following day saw at least two Tundra Ringed Plovers drop into Stanford Res. Late May is the peak time for a chance encounter with this subtly different subspecies as small numbers move through en route to their breeding grounds in the high Arctic. And, while we’re on the subject of subspecies, what should turn up this week but a smart, nominate limosa race ‘Continental’ Black-tailed Godwit at Summer Leys LNR. Found on 20th and identified on 21st, it remained on site until 22nd, after which rising water levels had an adverse impact on suitable wader habitat.

Although considered to be a rare passage migrant, the precise status and history of occurrence of this race in the county is unclear. What we do know is that they are very scarce in Northants and massively outnumbered during spring and autumn by the much commoner islandica race, known simply as ‘Icelandic’ Black-tailed Godwit.

Salient ID points, along with images of the Summer Leys bird in May 2020, can be found here and ‘Godwit Guru’, Mark Golley, who has kindly advised on the ID of some of our local birds, will be providing fully up-to-date coverage of how to separate these two races in the July issue of Birdwatch magazine, due out on 27th June.

The week also brought another Sanderling – the county’s fourth of the year – to the dam at Stanford Res on 21st.

Few would argue that topping the bill this week, though, was a smart female Red-necked Phalarope at Lilbourne Meadows NR on 22nd. Found mid-afternoon, it remained late into the evening but was not present the following day. This is only the 21st record for Northants, the last being three years ago, at Summer Leys on 31st May 2021. Consequently, it drew a small crowd.

Lilbourne Meadows was also the only site to attract Greenshank this week, with singles there on 20th and 23rd.

During the inclement weather on 22nd, and in contrast to previous weeks, it was the west of the county’s turn to dish up a Little Tern, this time at Daventry CP, which also pulled in four Arctic Terns at the same time, while a solitary Black Tern put in a brief appearance at Summer Leys on the same day.

Bitterns continued to be seen and, or, heard at two localities this week and single Cattle Egrets overflew Summer Leys at three-day intervals on 18th, 21st and 24th.

The first of these three dates saw a male Osprey again visiting Summer Leys, while others were duly noted at Hollowell Res on 18th, Biggin Lake (Oundle) on 19th, Cransley Res on 20th and Welford Res on 24th.

The only other scarce raptor making it into the period was a male Marsh Harrier seen heading east over Earls Barton GP on 19th.  

And as for scarce passerines, well they were exactly that, propped up by just the female Whinchat left over from the week before, at Clifford Hill GP on 18th.

A mixed bag of weather over the past week included a predominantly south-easterly airstream off the continent and, although devoid of new summer visitors, there was a run of decent birds that oozed quality rather than quantity. Representing the first of its kind in the county this century, one stood head and shoulders above the rest …

But it was not the easiest to catch up with as, after the news of its discovery broke on 15th, local birders had barely a two-hour window to see Northamptonshire’s first Common Eider for 25 years before it headed off high east from Boddington Res. A fine adult drake, it showed outrageously well at the northern end of the reservoir before swimming toward the sailing club prior to its departure.

There have been nineteen previous records, primarily in winter, with a notable run in the 1980s. An exceptional year, 1993, saw a remarkable influx into the county involving forty-six birds across eight localities, thirty-one of which occurred at Pitsford Res on 31st October. Smaller numbers of between one and four were subsequently found at Boddington, Cotterstock/Oundle, Daventry CP, Ditchford GP, Earls Barton GP, Hollowell Res and Sywell CP. This influx formed part of a wider movement of Common Eiders across the Midlands at the time.

Notable, too, for racking up an exceptional 93-day stay, was an immature drake at Croughton Quarry between December 1998 and March 1999 – the last to be seen in Northants before this week’s bird, which was clearly long awaited … and maybe long lamented by those who missed it.

Overshadowed but not overlooked, was a/the drake Garganey at Summer Leys LNR on 11th and 17th and single drake Red-crested Pochards – or perhaps just one mobile individual – at Summer Leys on 11th, Ditchford GP on 13th and 17th and at Earls Barton on 14th.

The week proved fruitful for more uncommon waders on the move. Boddington again featured, with its sailing club jetty hosting an Avocet on 16th.

Summer Leys hung on to its – and the county’s – second Grey Plover of the year on 11th, after which another dropped in to Clifford Hill GP on 14th to be joined by a second bird there the following day.

For those up and awake in the early hours, a ‘noc mig’ listen-in produced two parties of Whimbrels moving over Kettering on 14th, while daylight hours on 11th produced two Turnstones at Clifford Hill GP, followed by singles at Summer Leys on 12th and 14th. The second Sanderling of the year was found at Clifford Hill on 12th, hot on the heels of which was one at Summer Leys on 13th-14th.

Another ‘second’ to check in this week was a Wood Sandpiper at Lilbourne Meadows NR, obligingly staying three days from 13th to 15th, in stark contrast to last week’s brief appearance put in by the bird at Summer Leys.

The latter site held the majority, such as it was, of this week’s Greenshanks, with two on 11th and 12th and one from 13th to 14th, while another was found at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 12th.

Thrapston was also the venue for a showy Little Tern, present for a good 3 hours around Town Lake on 15th.

Black Terns, too, continued to filter through, numbers of which included seven at Summer Leys on 11th, two at Stanwick GP on 12th and one at Stanford Res on 15th.

Bitterns continued to be seen and/or heard at three localities this week.

Seemingly becoming more regular in the Nene Valley this year, Ospreys were seen at Thrapston GP on 12th, Summer Leys on 12th and 13th and at Earls Barton on 17th. In more traditional reservoir settings, singles were at Pitsford on 14th, Hollowell on 16th and at both Boddington and Stanford on 17th.

And after a blank week prior, Marsh Harriers were back, with one drifting high over Barton Seagrave on 11th and another mobile around Earls Barton/Summer Leys on 11th-12th.

A lingering Short-eared Owl remained at Harrington AF on 15th.

Always much scarcer in spring than in autumn, single Whinchats found in the Brampton Valley on 11th and at Clifford Hill GP on 17th, were only the sixth and seventh of the year so far, as well as being the only passerines of note during the period.

Looking ahead, there are just five summer visitors left to clock in: Common Quail, Turtle Dove, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and Tree Pipit. Scarce though they are, surely one of these will make landfall in the county next week.

The week just gone can only be described as one of those which was neither good nor bad in terms of what it actually produced. A high pressure system firmly anchored over the country provided excellent conditions for non-stop migration and the majority of the week’s best birds seemingly took full advantage, moving rapidly through the county in little more than the blink of an eye.

Two more summer visitors clocked in – both of them on the same day.

While the Wood Sandpiper arrived pretty much on cue, it could be argued that the Spotted Flycatcher had plenty of scope to do better, having set a record as long ago as 1971 and 1976 for the earliest arrival date of 20th April. It was quickly followed by singles at Braunston, Evenley Wood and Towcester, all on 8th.

This week’s ducks deluxe were represented by four species, starting with a drake Garganey at Summer Leys LNR on 6th-7th. Currently proving scarcer than usual this spring, this is only the fifth record so far and, aside from the early, lingering drake at Ditchford GP, the other three were limited to one-day birds.

The long-staying drake Red-crested Pochard remained in place at Earls Barton GP until at least 4th, while the female Ring-necked Duck, having moved from Ditchford to Clifford Hill GP on 2nd, remained at the latter site until 6th. The only other duck new in this week was a female Common Scoter found on Thrapston GP’s Town Lake on 7th.

In addition to the aforementioned Wood Sandpiper, which stayed only briefly at Summer Leys, more waders arrived and included another teasing Tringa in the shape of a fly-over Spotted Redshank, declining to drop in at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR as it headed north-east over the reserve on 10th. This was the first – and maybe the last – of the year, for all we know but, by contrast, the week’s Greenshanks adopted a more leisurely approach to migration with singles at Summer Leys on 4th and 6th and two there on 10th.

These were joined there by the second Grey Plover of 2024 on the latter date, following the first at the same site on 28th-30th March.

Compared to the previous week, the number of Arctic Terns appearing was somewhat subdued, with two on 4th and singles on 5th and 7th – all at Summer Leys.

Filling the gap, Black Terns duly obliged, appearing at six localities, which included a build-up throughout the day, on 10th, of a respectable twenty at Stanford Res. Elsewhere, Summer Leys produced four on 4th and one on 6th-7th, Ditchford held two on 5th, Earls Barton and Thrapston two and one, respectively, on 6th – the latter site holding a further six on 9th, while two visited Ringstead GP on 10th.

Two Bitterns were present at one locality on 8th and Cattle Egrets were keeping up appearances, with the highest total of four reported from Thrapston GP on 6th. Smaller numbers included two at Stanwick GP on 4th, two at Summer Leys on 5th and singles there on 6th and 8th, plus singles between the River Nene and Cogenhoe from 5th until at least 8th and between Nether Heyford and Upper Heyford on the latter date.

Ospreys graced Summer Leys on 4th and 8th, Stanford on 4th and 10th, Pitsford Res on 6th and 10th and Stanwick on 7th.

And, once again, Short-eared Owls continued their late spring tenure with single birds hanging on all week at Harrington AF and in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton. One was also present at South Hill Farm near Wellingborough during the evening of 8th.

Passerine migrants were in short supply during the period and included a male Ring Ouzel between Brixworth and Hanging Houghton on 6th, two Northern Wheatears at Clifford Hill on 4th, followed by one at Harrington AF on 6th and a White Wagtail at Orlingbury on the same date.

This week we entered the merry month of May against a background of mixed weather conditions, including both southerly and easterly winds, with activity ramping up on the last day of the period. Once again, the Nene Valley laid claim to most of the action.

There were two new summer visitor arrivals in the shape of Black Terns and some pleasingly smart Little Terns, the dates of which were unremarkable in terms of timing.

Unusual but not unprecedented for the time of year, a Pink-footed Goose turned up at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR on 28th but was not reported thereafter. Other wildfowl were, unsurprisingly, in short supply and included the lingering drake Red-crested Pochard at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) – also on 28th – and a female Ring-necked Duck fresh in to Clifford Hill GP on 2nd, remaining there the following day. The logical conclusion is, of course, that this is the same female which had hitherto been present at Ditchford between 5th March and 26th April, now with itchy, spring feet.

In terms of numbers, waders were, arguably, thin on the ground and fast-moving with none staying for any appreciable length of time. Four Whimbrels put in a brief appearance at Summer Leys LNR on 27th, when one also flew east over Earls Barton, while three flew west over Stanford Res on 3rd. So far proving difficult to catch up with at mainstream localities, just two individual Bar-tailed Godwits made it to the county this week, with one dropping in briefly at Clifford Hill on 27th and the other following suit at Summer Leys on 3rd. Seven Black-tailed Godwits visited Summer Leys on 27th.

Following an obliging bird at Stanwick last week, six Turnstones at Summer Leys on 3rd were far less accommodating and were in and out in little more than a heartbeat.

Also on 3rd, the year’s first Sanderling appeared at Clifford Hill, remaining there for much of the day, while single Greenshanks were found at both Ditchford and Summer Leys on 28th.

Roundly kicked into second place by terns this week, gulls, small and large, were represented by just an adult Little Gull at Clifford Hill on 3rd and a Caspian Gull at Ravensthorpe Res on 1st.

Aside from the aforementioned Little Terns, after a rough deal on Arctic Terns last week, the county came back with some for everyone, starting with at least four at Summer Leys on 27th, followed by singles there on 28th and 2nd and then at least twelve on 3rd. Elsewhere, four visited Clifford Hill on 28th ahead of three more on 3rd, while at least nine were at Stanford on the latter date when six different birds – three, two and one – passed through Hollowell Res.

Following the year’s first Black Terns, of which there were five at Stanford on 27th, further arrivals occurred during the week when singles were found at Ditchford and Thrapston GP on 28th and at Stanford again and Summer Leys on 2nd, with two at the latter site the following day, on 3rd.

While Bitterns were skulking and booming at two locations (undisclosed as they are potentially breeding) this week, numbers of the rather more showy Cattle Egrets peaked on 29th, when there were eight at Stanwick GP. Three were in the Nene Valley below Cogenhoe on 27th and up to two were seen, on and off, at Summer Leys throughout the period.

The week’s raptors were solely represented by Ospreys, all of which were found in north-central Northants. Singles visited Pitsford Res on 30th and 2nd, two flew east over Spratton on the latter date, and one was seen at both Hollowell and Ravensthorpe on 3rd.

Seemingly stretching out the winter, Short-eared Owls were again in evidence with single birds still in the Brampton Valley on 27th and 28th and at Harrington AF on the latter date, while one was over fields on the southern periphery of Clifford Hill on 2nd.

And while we’re on the subject of ‘winter’, a lone Waxwing was found on Brackmills Industrial Estate, Northampton on 29th. This bird clearly has some catching up to do …

In what has turned out to be an excellent spring for long-staying Ring Ouzels, one of the Harrington AF females remained on site until 27th, while the Weston Mill, Northampton bird appeared to have departed on 30th, having been in residence there for a good twelve days. Common Redstart numbers continued their downward trend with single males at Harrington and Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 27th and 29th respectively and Whinchats remained thin on the ground with the Brampton Valley and Harrington producing one apiece on the last of these two dates. Northern Wheatears, too, were in short supply. Singles were at Clifford Hill GP on 27th and 1st while, on 29th, two were found in the Brampton Valley and one was at Upton CP. A Greenland Wheatear was a May Day visitor to fields north-east of Daventry CP on 1st.

And for those who are of the view that a potential ‘Greenlander’ is best left unidentified, then spare a thought for the finders of the striking female Yellow Wagtail in fields adjacent to Stanford Res on 2nd. Initially believed to be a Channel Wagtail, or possibly a Blue-headed Wagtail, it’s fair to say that racial variation swilling around in the murky waters of hybridisation in this species produces much head-scratching, resulting in the safe relegation of these birds to ‘flava-type’ status. A fine bird, nonetheless.

Last week’s straightforward male Channel Wagtail at Aynho apparently had no such identificational baggage attached and was still present there on 27th, while the period’s only White Wagtail was found at Summer Leys on 27th.