Author: Mike Alibone

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.

Cool northerlies and arctic air were the order of the week as we approach the end of April, during which time it was revealed that England has experienced its wettest eighteen months since records began in 1836.

However, this did not put the dampeners on migration and the opening weekend saw the first widespread arrival of Common Swifts of the spring, particularly on Sunday, 21st, with birds arriving en masse across southern England. This was reflected in our own arrivals with reports from four localities across the county.

While the swift movement was underway, there were two ducks seemingly intent on going nowhere. Both long-stayers, the drake Red-crested Pochard at Earls Barton GP’s new workings area and the female Ring-necked Duck at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR saw another week out in the Nene Valley.

The same could not be said, though, for two different drake Common Scoters, a first-summer and an adult, both of which paid fleeting visits to Stanford Res on 21st and 24th, respectively.

But it was back to the Nene Valley in which, unsurprisingly, the majority of the week’s waders were to be found. Following last week’s two, more Whimbrels passed through the county, with singles at Summer Leys LNR on 21st, 23rd and 26th and at Clifford Hill GP on 25th – none of which stayed for any appreciable length of time. The opposite applied to last week’s Bar-tailed Godwit found on the established seasonal floodwater at Lower Barnwell Lock, Oundle on the last day of the preceding week, remaining in situ until 23rd. It’s been the only one to date this year and we’re now entering the peak time for this species, so more should surely be on the cards.

Otherwise it was down to Black-tailed Godwits to keep up the momentum. Taking the lion’s share, Clifford Hill produced five on 21st and three on 23rd while, on the latter date, three visited Stanwick GP and two were found on pools in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth. Summer Leys also supplied two on 24th-25th.

Arguably though, it was Stanwick which produced ‘wader of the week’, that slot being filled by the year’s first Turnstone, which saw a full day out on 23rd.

But now from wader of the week to wader flock of the week and, although not scare or rare as such, Redshank numbers swelled overnight to put on an impressive show at Clifford Hill GP on 22nd, when a record-breaking seventy-one were gathered together on the northern shoreline of the Main Barrage Lake. Unremarkable at a coastal location, perhaps, but in Northamptonshire this is something truly special! Tagging along with them was a solitary Greenshank, while further individuals of the latter were also seen at Summer Leys between 21st and 23rd and at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR on the latter date.

A late Jack Snipe was found at Hollowell Res this week, also on 23rd.

And so we turn to terns. While numbers of the ‘Common’ variety built steadily as more continued to arrive, it was Arctic Terns that stimulated a little more interest. Against the background of a sizeable movement across the UK, we might consider ourselves short-changed given the pitifully small numbers dealt out to Northants. These can be duly summed up as three at Summer Leys on 22nd, followed by five there the next day, three at Clifford Hill on 23rd and one at Stanford on 26th.

Following an unconfirmed report of one in flight over Wood Burcote last week, a ‘subadult’ – probably third calendar year – Spoonbill materialised at Clifford Hill on 21st. Alas, its stay was short and it was up and away less than an hour after its discovery. Given the increase in numbers in the UK in recent years, the hope of more during this spring and beyond is well justified and there is every chance this will be fulfilled …

For now, though, bread-and-butter Cattle Egrets continue to occupy the (formerly) rare heron slot and this week’s consisted of three in flight over Summer Leys on 23rd, when two were also at adjacent Hardwater Lake, one flying west over Earls Barton GP on 24th and two in flight over Thrapston GP’s Town Lake on 25th.

Raptor sightings were again unsurprisingly dominated by, but not limited to, Ospreys. All were seen in flight and included singles near Harrington on 20th, near Welford and over Weston Mill (Northampton) on 21st and at Pitsford on 24th, while two separate males visited Hollowell on 26th.

This last day of the week also saw a Marsh Harrier over Stanford and a smart male Hen Harrier over Bucknell Wood. Adult males of the latter are rarely encountered in Northants.

And the county continued to hold on to its ‘wintering’ Short-eared Owls. Two were still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell, remaining there until at least 23rd, Harrington hung on to one throughout the period and one remained in the Brampton Valley on 25th-26th. A favourable change in the weather may yet hasten their departure.

But once again, the passerine spotlight was firmly on Ring Ouzels which, in common with the last species, appear to be determined to extend their stay in the county. Under the circumstances, it’s no surprise that the easily accessible Weston Mill bird again proved to be the most popular pull for local birders. Initially found last week on 18th, it remained settled in Miller’s Meadow, showing well to all comers throughout the period. Others were available, of course, with at least one – possibly two – at Harrington all week and two at Honey Hill between 20th and 22nd.

There were fewer Common Redstarts, however, comprising singles in the Brampton Valley and at Weston Mill on 20th and at Harrington on 20th, 22nd and 26th. A solitary, first-summer male Whinchat – the spring’s third – was discovered on Borough Hill on the last day of the week.

Meanwhile, Northern Wheatear numbers held steady. Harrington, where birds were seen almost daily, produced at least four on 22nd, three on 20th and two on 24th and 26th. Similarly, Clifford Hill held up to four between 22nd and 25th, four were between Harringworth and Laxton on 20th, three were at Blueberry Farm on 23rd, two were at Hartwell from 20th to 23rd and one was found on Borough Hill on 20th.

Now, that just leaves wagtails. Four sites held White Wagtails and, of these, Lower Barnwell Lock produced the highest total of four on 20th followed by one there on 23rd. Elsewhere, three were at Summer Leys on 22nd with two there on 23rd and singles on 21st and 25th, while further singles were present at Clifford Hill on 20th and on floodwater at Aynho on 23rd and 25th.

This last site also produced a male ‘Channel’ Wagtail from 23rd until the week’s end.

As spring continued to advance, the weather remained unsettled throughout the week, with early west to south-westerly winds swinging round to strong north-westerlies and northerlies by the end of the period. Amid high expectations, the county again chalked up a handful of firsts for the year, including a significant rarity and two more summer visitors.

With a good 75% of these now having clocked in, Garden Warbler and Whinchat were the two new additions this week and, while the date for the former was unremarkable, the latter sets a new record for the earliest arrival of its kind in the county.

The previous earliest arrival date for Whinchat was 15th April – a record set in 1984 and then equalled in 2015. Also noteworthy, a second Whinchat was found this week in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, on 17th.

Spring continued to shape up nicely with another drake Garganey found at Stanwick GP on 14th. It did not linger, however, unlike the long-staying drake Red-crested Pochard mobile around Earls Barton GP’s new workings area and still present on 18th. Top of the week’s wildfowl for some, though, appeared in the form of a drake Ferruginous Duck at Stanford Res, where it remained throughout the day on 15th. With records well and truly close to rock bottom in recent years, this species has become a true rarity in both Northants and the wider environs of the UK.

In decline internationally and of increasing conservation concern, it’s been a British Birds rarity since it was reinstated on their descriptions required list in 2017. Stanford has three earlier records to its name with birds in 1950, 1972 and 1997 and Northants as a whole has 26 previously accepted records, including a returning drake passing through Pitsford Res during the three Septembers of 2009-2011. Aside from a juvenile drake present at Daventry CP from the end of July until mid-September 2022 (accepted but origin uncertain), the only other county record this century was a first-winter drake at Daventry CP from December 2002 to February 2003, also visiting Hollowell Res in February 2003.   

Unlike the fleetingly rare, polished mahogany example above, the female Ring-necked Duck, while extending its stay at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR until at least 16th, appeared to attract scant attention.

On the wader front, the year’s first ‘viewable’ Whimbrel put in an appearance at Summer Leys LNR on 13th, followed by one in flight over Stanford on 18th.

Another first for the year was a Bar-tailed Godwit, found on the regularly watched flood meadow at Barnwell Lock, Oundle, on 19th. Otherwise, Black-tailed Godwits continued to hold sway – principally at Summer Leys, where there were three on 16th, singles on 17th and 18th and two on 19th. Elsewhere, one visited Pitsford on 14th, two flew north-east over Daventry on 17th and two flew east over Far Cotton, Northampton on 18th.

Single Greenshanks visited Summer Leys on 13th and 16th and Stanwick GP on the last of these two dates.

Moving up the scale, a White Stork was reported over Summer Leys on 18th and an unconfirmed report of a Spoonbill flying east over Wood Burcote on 17th remained just that.

With two feet firmly on the ground, a Bittern put in an appearance at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 14th while, on the same date, seven Cattle Egrets were in a cow field near Hothorpe  Hall, south of Sibbertoft and three flew west over Summer Leys. Otherwise is was down to the regular singleton at the latter site to see the week out in the Nene Valley.

And so to the larger raptors, sightings of which were dominated by Ospreys. Taking it day by day, single birds were seen on 14th when a female was at Hollowell Res and one was over Oundle Golf Club Fishing Lake while, on 15th, a blue-ringed ‘3AY’, 5-year-old male ranging wide from Rutland visited Hollowell and two were at Ravensthorpe, remaining there until the following day. Also on 16th one flew north near Corby Golf Course and singles visited Stanford and Hollowell on 17th and 18th, respectively.

The week’s only Marsh Harrier dropped in at Stanwick on 15th.

It’s unusual for Short-eared Owls to remain into the latter half of April but that’s precisely what we’re seeing this year with two still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 17th and one lingering at Harrington AF until the week’s end.

A Merlin was seen between Clipston and Sibbertoft on 6th.

And it seems we’re not done with Waxwings yet, as four of last week’s Warth Park six remained at Raunds on 13th.

But the species attracting the most attention this week was Ring Ouzel. Following last week’s four, seven were up for grabs during the period. New in were singles between Cottesbrooke and Naseby on 14th and in the Brampton Valley on 18th, while three were found at Honey Hill on the latter date. And while last week’s long-staying female at Harrington proved a popular pull throughout this week, it was rightly trounced by a more easily accessible and showy bird on the edge of suburbia, in the newly-mown Miller’s Meadow at Weston Mill, Northampton, on 18th-19th.

Common Redstarts also upped their game with singles at Blueberry Farm, Broughton Pocket Park, Harrington AF, Honey Hill, Pitsford, Stanwick and Stoke Albany on 14th, at Harrington on 17th-19th and at Borough Hill on 19th.

Numbers of Northern Wheatears, too, were on the up with 14th seeing singles at Borough Hill and Stanford Res and two at Harrington AF. One was at Summer Leys on 16th, two were at Blueberry Farm on 17th and up to two in the Brampton Valley on 17th-18th, while four were at Harrington on 18th and singles dropped into Clifford Hill GP and Hartwell on 19th.

The new week opened up with Storm Kathleen which, although not designated high impact, shot strong south to south-westerly winds across our bows over the first two days. Immediately in its wake came Storm Pierrick, which was harsher than predicted, ushering in widespread heavy showers and a crop of new birds.

In fact, eight new summer visitors clocked in this week, of which the Lesser Whitethroat set a new record for the earliest arrival date in the county, the previous earliest having been on 10th April 2020.

At the same time, winter wildfowl numbers continued to diminish, although the first Garganeys since the Ditchford bird in February showed up, with a drake at Titchmarsh LNR on 7th, quickly followed by two at Stanwick GP the next day. Meanwhile, the female Ring-necked Duck chalked up another week on Ditchford’s Cotton Reel Lake and the drake Red-crested Pochard was still present at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) at the week’s end.

While it was arguably slim pickings for waders this week, an Avocet remained throughout the day at Stanwick on 12th, offering a second bite of the cherry for those who missed out on the three short-stayers at Summer Leys last month.

Otherwise, it was left to single Black-tailed Godwits at Titchmarsh on 7th and 10th and at Clifford Hill GP and Summer Leys on 8th to keep spring wader passage afloat. Single Jack Snipes remained at Hollowell Res on 8th and in the Brampton Valley below Lamport on 8th and 10th.

Gulls, unsurprisingly, were at a low ebb. Single adult Yellow-legged Gulls were at Pitsford on 7th and 9th and an adult plus a first-summer were there on 10th. A Little Gull dropped into Summer Leys late in the day on 9th – probably a fallout from Storm Pierrick, as was the year’s first Arctic Tern at Clifford Hill GP on the same date. Keeping company with two Common Terns, it departed mid-afternoon and it seems logical to assume that these were the same three birds found further down the Nene Valley, at Thrapston GP, later in the day.

Only the second this year, a Sandwich Tern flew east, non-stop, over Stanford Res on 6th.

Cattle Egrets continued to be seen but only in ones and twos. One flew north-east over Stanwick on 6th and one was seen intermittently at Summer Leys between 7th and 11th, being joined by a second bird on the latter date. Two were found on Sladebrook Flood Works at Wicksteed Park, Kettering on 7th, while singles were seen flying west at Clifford Hill GP and – likely the same bird later – at Upton CP on 8th and one was at the Alpaca farm off Ditchford Lane on 12th.

However, nothing else this week measured up to the rarity that was the adult Purple Heron found at Stanford Res on the afternoon of 9th. Although initially unsettled, it spent a good deal of time out in the open the following day, providing decent views for anyone keen to catch up with it. Special dispensation was kindly granted to non-permit holders by Severn Trent Water Authority to access the reservoir grounds on the day it was found. This bird represents the 22nd Northamptonshire record, hot on the heels of the popular first-summer present at Summer Leys in June last year.

On the raptor front, Ospreys continued to loom large – at least for those in the right place at the right time. Singles were seen at Summer Leys on 6th, Hollowell on 6th and 11th, Loddington on 7th and Pitsford on 7th, 10th and 12th. And for the second week running, two species of harrier were logged, with a Marsh Harrier visiting Titchmarsh on 6th and a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier flying east past the dam at Boddington Res on 8th.

Short-eared Owls remained at three locations in one small region of north-central Northants. Harrington AF held on to one between 6th and 11th, up to two remained at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell during the same period while, in the Brampton Valley, one was between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 12th and last week’s four at l‘endroit inaccessible below Lamport had reduced to two by the week’s end.

And, just when we’d relaxed, left winter behind and taken our eyes off many a depleted berry tree, there they were again. Waxwings. It all happened on 8th when, early in the morning, nine were found on the western periphery of Clifford Hill GP. They did not stay for any appreciable length of time. Six were then located on the Warth Park Industrial Estate the same morning, remaining there well into early evening.

The second Ring Ouzel of the year checked into the now well-established stop-off location for the species, Newnham Hill, on 6th, remaining late into the afternoon for those quick off the mark. A far less obliging bird put in the briefest of appearances in the Brampton Valley on the same date and another – or the same – was present there on 12th. All sightings related to males.

One was also seen fleetingly at Honey Hill on 8th but a far more accommodating female remained on show, hugging the bunkers at Harrington AF, between 9th and 12th.

Harrington was also the venue for two male Common Redstarts, one appearing there on 6th, the other on 10th-11th, while a female was found on the summit of Newnham Hill on 8th. Northern Wheatears, however, turned up in higher numbers than last week. Top to bottom, fields between Old and Walgrave held four on 8th, three appeared at Harrington on the same date with two there on 9th and one on 10th, two were at Lilbourne Meadows NR on 7th, at Blueberry Farm on 7th and 11th, plus two at Clifford Hill on 10th-11th, while singles were present in the Brampton Valley and at Borough Hill on 7th and at Willowbrook Industrial Estate, Corby on 12th.

The period’s White Wagtails, however, were again in short supply with three at Clifford Hill GP on 9th and one there on 10th.

Finches feature fleetingly in spring but a Hawfinch flying north-west over Cottesbrook on 6th and the ongoing presence of several Mealy Redpolls on the eastern periphery of Wicksteed Park kept the boat afloat, so to speak.

Finches aside, there’s a shedload of possibilities to look forward to as spring further unfolds over the coming weeks.