Category: Weekly Reports

With the winds swinging to the north-west and then remaining so throughout, the week opened with Storm Corrie hitting northern parts of the UK, before closing with sleet showers locally as a band of freezing rain crossed the country. Arguably however, the weather had little influence on this week’s birds, top of which was the county’s sixth record of Dartford Warbler.

But it was all very much déjà vu on the wildfowl front – the small numbers of wintering geese apparently not in any hurry to move on. So, with seemingly nowhere to go, Pitsford’s Barnacle Goose remained all week, as did Ravensthorpe’s Pink-footed Goose and Sywell’s White-fronted Goose, while last week’s trios of the latter species continued to frequent Stanwick GP until at least 3rd and Stanford on Avon, border-hopping, throughout.

Found last week, the grazing adult Whooper Swan was still in fields near Cosgrove, just north of the Navigation Inn, on 4th and by 30th, the female Ruddy Shelduck had moseyed on down from Stanford to Hollowell, while the female-type White-cheeked Pintail was still at Deene Lake on the same date. Oh, the joy of flagging up ornamentals …

Back on the menu after the best part of three weeks’ absence, the only right and proper duck this week was a drake Smew, on show at Ravensthorpe for three days, between 31st and 2nd.

Remarkably appearing to elicit little interest, Pitsford’s Great Northern Diver was still present on 2nd and the Bittern, glimpsed flying into the reedbed at Stortons GP at the end of last week, offered similarly fleeting views there on 30th.

Cattle Egrets peaked at five at Stanwick GP on 3rd, although there were no reports from anywhere else during the period. Once again, Stanwick was also the place to be for impressive numbers of Great Egrets, the roost count there maxing out at fifteen on 1st. Other maximum site totals notched up included six at Summer Leys on 29th, five at Ravensthorpe on 1st, three at Thrapston GP on 29th, twos at Earls Barton GP on 30th, Hollowell on 2nd-4th and Naseby Res on 3rd, and singles at Stanford on 29th-30th and Ecton SF/Billing GP on 30th.

A Shag was reported from Pitsford on 2nd.

It’s fair to say the county struggled for waders this week. Aside from single Jack Snipes at Barnes Meadow LNR on 3rd and at both Hollowell and Ravensthorpe the next day, the only wader of note – simply because of its scarcity in winter – was a  Common Sandpiper at Pitsford, on the overflow at the end of the dam, on 2nd. Despite almost daily coverage, the overwintering individual at Earls Barton GP’s new workings (north) could not be found this week so perhaps this bird is one and the same.

On the Larid front, Caspian Gulls maintained their recent high profile, the Stanford gull roost producing a second-winter on 29th, a first-winter on 31st and a third-winter on 4th, while Hollowell hosted one on 30th, an adult and a third-winter on 2nd and a third-winter on 4th. Away from established water bodies, DIRFT 3 held an adult, a third-winter and a second-winter on 1st with the latter two individuals still present the next day, while Rushton Landfill produced an adult and a third-winter on 2nd. Yellow-legged Gulls continued to be overshadowed by the last species, with just four in the roost at Stanford on 30th, 2 there on 31st and an adult at Pitsford on 3rd.

This week’s token Merlin was one flying east near Gordons Lodge, on the Bucks/Northants border, on 4th.

Heading up the passerines was a much welcomed, top-notch vagrant. Yes, hot on the heels of the fleeting back garden bird in October 2020 was a Dartford Warbler, looking distinctly female-like, at Duston Mill, Northampton on 2nd and 3rd. Constituting Northamptonshire’s sixth record, and loosely associating with two Stonechats, it occupied a somewhat straggly field between Stortons GP and the Northampton ring road, at times showing well and giving the opportunity for local birders to catch up with what, let’s face it, has not been an easy bird to see in the county.

Aside from the aforementioned Blakesley bird in October 2020, the last twitchable one, readily available for those happy to negotiate the then icy conditions, was at East Carlton in late November 2010. Prior to that, a couple of long stayers were, interestingly, in similar surroundings on the opposite side of the ring road to this week’s bird, the land now an industrial development known as Swan Valley. That was way back, between December 2004 and February 2005. How long this one will stay is anybody’s guess. Their uncanny habit of fraternising with Stonechats is well known, so … find a Stonechat or two, spend that extra bit of time following them around and, well, you never know … Talking of which, this week’s were dotted about at DIRFT 3, Duston Mill, Earls Barton GP, Hollowell, Ravensthorpe and Upton CP, with Hollowell laying claim to the week’s highest site total of six, on 4th.

And lest we should forget … this week, overshadowed and underwatched, the wintering Black Redstart remained at Borough Hill throughout while, a hair’s breadth from the Bucks border, a Hawfinch popped up at the unusual location of Gordons Lodge, near Ashton, before quickly departing Northamptonshire, on 3rd.

The period’s weather remained predominantly dry but was essentially a mixed bag of dull, overcast conditions for the first four days, followed by a glimmer of sunshine during the last three, ahead of mild south-westerlies from the Azores. The best new bird this week was a Great Northern Diver, found in the fading light at Pitsford Res on 23rd.

With very few proving evasive, many of last week’s birds remained on station for anyone wanting to catch up with them. Geese were again prominent with the county’s sole Barnacle Goose, whatever its origin, still languishing at Pitsford at the period’s end. Ditto for the Ravensthorpe Pink-footed Goose, with another Pinkfoot being reported with two White-fronted Geese at Islip Water Meadows, on 22nd. At the adjoining site of Thrapston GP, the two adult and single first-winter Whitefronts remained until 23rd, subsequently being relocated at Stanwick GP on 27th-28th. Sywell CP’s first-winter Whitefront remained until at least 27th, while the trio at Stanford on Avon were still present, showing on the Northamptonshire side of the river on 27th-28th.

Following a minor flurry of records last week, just one Whooper Swan was available to catch up with this week, an adult in fields near Cosgrove, a mere stone’s throw from the cosy setting of the Navigation Inn, on 25th-26th.  

Now to more dodgy fare and after last week’s appearance at Hollowell, on 17th, the female Ruddy Shelduck popped again, this time at Stanford on 27th and the female-type White-cheeked Pintail was still frequenting Deene Lake on 22nd.

Kicking off the week, although two months later than the peak for arrivals, a Great Northern Diver was found at Pitsford, late on 23rd. It remained throughout and if you’ve got it in mind to find one, Pitsford’s the place, accounting for more than half of all the county’s records in the last 35 years, and November’s normally the month, producing 48% of the records during the same period, followed by December with 33%.

The first Bittern of 2022 also pitched up at Stortons GP, where it was seen flying into the reedbed on 28th. Cattle Egrets peaked at eight at Stanwick GP on 24th and two were at Irthlingborough/Ditchford on 24th and 28th. Great Egrets maintained last week’s low profile with fourteen leaving the roost at Stanwick on 27th, while top counts elsewhere were threes at Ravensthorpe and Summer Leys LNR, twos at Ditchford and Pitsford and singles at Clifford Hill GP and Hollowell.

With no reports of the Wood Sandpiper at Pitsford this week, top waders were down to just three species. Earls Barton’s Common Sandpiper remained throughout, while a Ruff scraped in at Summer Leys on 22nd and single Jack Snipes were present at Hollowell all week and at Ditchford on 27th.

On the Larid front, Caspian Gulls once again came to the fore, with Stanford hosting a third-winter on 23rd and DIRFT 3 producing two adults on the same date. An adult was at Rushton Landfill on 24th and 28th with two first-winters there on the latter date and Hollowell held an adult on 26th and two adults on 28th. In a similar vein to last week, Yellow-legged Gulls remained in short supply with just a first-winter at Clifford Hill on 25th.

This week’s token Merlin was again between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 28th.

Once again, the Black Redstart remained at Borough Hill throughout, Stonechats were thinly distributed this week with birds at Ditchford, Upton CP and Hollowell, with a maximum of six at the latter site on 28th. And it looks as though interest in Hawfinches is now running at a low ebb, with just one seen at the much favoured site of Blatherwycke Churchyard on 23rd. At least one Corn Bunting hung on in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, being seen on 24th and 28th.

In a similar vein to last week, a high pressure system remained over the UK for the greater part of the period, extending the calm, dry conditions with low, single-figure daytime temperatures and sometimes heavy, overnight frosts.

In the dim and distant past, January was once described by the late, great DIM Wallace as the only truly migration-free month, as far as the UK was concerned. But are things changing? We are only a few weeks away from the first Sand Martins and Northern Wheatears … or are we?

More on that later but this week’s rattle through the top birds kicks off with a veritable Goosefest and for anyone who cared to take a gander, there were plenty of geese on offer. The long-staying Dark-bellied Brent Goose appeared settled at Clifford Hill GP at the beginning of the week but had seemingly gone AWOL by the end of it. It may still be in the area, of course. The Barnacle Goose stood up to be counted with the Canadas at Pitsford Res on 18th and the escaped Cackling Goose, missing for a good while, joined the mixed gaggle at Stanford on Avon on 21st. The three White-fronted Geese, mobile and elusive in the same area, did the decent thing and spent some time on the Northamptonshire side of the river on 18th and 21st, while a sprinkling of new Whitefronts comprised four at Thrapston GP on 16th-17th, dropping to three on 20th and one at Sywell CP from 17th until the week’s end.

A ’new’ Pink-footed Goose appeared at Hollowell Res on 19th at the same time as the original bird was still present near Ravensthorpe village and at its reservoir on the same date.

Whooper Swans were clearly on the move on 15th, when eleven flew west over Blatherwycke, appearing shortly afterward on the lake of the same name, while one was also found on DIRFT 3’s A5 Pool. Although none was present the following day, ‘approximately twelve’ seen flying east over Gretton on 18th appear likely to have been the Blatherwycke birds hanging on in the general area.

As the 17th dawned bright and clear, the long-lost female Ruddy Shelduck reappeared at Hollowell, a former favourite haunt at which it was last seen on 11th November last year. But with inimitable style, falling into this week’s truly dodgy duck category was a female-type White-cheeked Pintail at Deene Lake on 19th.

Cattle Egrets were seen only at Stanwick GP, where the highest count was five on 17th, the same date and location producing the week’s highest number of Great Egrets, fifteen. Numbers elsewhere were down, with six at Pitsford, three at Naseby, two at Summer Leys and singles at Stanford and Sywell.

On the wader front this week, the star of the winter, Pitsford’s Wood Sandpiper remained throughout, as did Earls Barton GP’s Common Sandpiper, while up to two Ruffs were still at Summer Leys on 15th-16th.

Four sites produced Caspian Gulls this week, Stanford hosting a third-winter on 15th, an adult or third-winter on 16th and an adult on 18th. An adult and a third-winter were at DIRFT 3 on 16th with 2 adults and a second-winter there on 18th, while an adult was at Rushton Landfill on 19th and two adults were on ice at Naseby Res on 21st. By contrast, the only Yellow-legged Gulls reported were a first-winter at DIRFT 3 on 16th and an adult at Stanford on 20th. None of these, collectively or otherwise, however, makes up for the lack of white-winged gulls so far this winter but there is still time …

The Hinton AF Merlin was again present there on 16th, while another was seen in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 19th.

Passerines were pretty much the same as last week with the Black Redstart keeping up appearances on Borough Hill until at least 20th, while Lilbourne Meadows produced the period’s highest tally of four to five Stonechats on 16th. Elsewhere, Borough Hill, Clifford Hill, Hollowell and Stanwick each produced two, while singles were found at Deene, Ravensthorpe and Upton CP.

Easily the most unusual report of the week was of a Northern Wheatear on a field fence post north of Maidwell, before flying off west, on 21st. Although initially eyebrow-raising, it’s not unprecedented in a UK context as one was also seen at Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire on 9th January and what was presumably the same bird was at Southampton on 18th.

Which brings us neatly on to the ever-popular Blatherwycke Hawfinches. Continuing to attract a steady stream of admirers on a daily basis, the churchyard has never been so busy. There’s even a strategically-placed, comfy bench, on which you can sit, relax and chew the cud with fellow observers while you wait for the birds to fly into the stark, bare branches of the nearby trees.

Although two birds is a given, up to five were reported there by a visiting Leicestershire birder on 16th.

Perhaps less appealing but with their current local rarity adding that appealing touch to the proceedings, two Corn Buntings remained in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, at the week’s end.

A high pressure system settled over the UK for much of the week delivered calm, though cold, conditions with overnight frosts and a succession of patchy, early morning fogs. Topping the week’s news, a short-staying Glossy Ibis had no difficulty in filling the slot for bird of the week.

But we start, as usual, with the Clifford Hill GP Dark-bellied Brent Goose which, present all week and in contrast to the aforementioned ibis, is now potentially a record-breaking long-stayer for this species in the county, having been on site since 17th November last year. Hopefully, it will remain there to see the winter out. The only Pink-footed Goose on show during the period was the individual mobile around fields between Ravensthorpe village and its reservoir, visiting the latter on 11th. Last week’s three White-fronted Geese remained in the vicinity of Stanford Res throughout the week but they were tricky to pin down, occasionally spending time with the Greylags and Canadas at nearby Stanford on Avon, where they were invariably on the wrong side of the river of the same name.

No Newsround would be complete without the inclusion of the odd dodgy duck, or two, so, enter Wood Duck, a female of which was on the river at Wellingborough Embankment during the last two days of the week. It’s not the first time one’s turned up on the Nene and it won’t be the last. Although a sure-fire escape, this species is currently vying for a place on the British List on the basis of several nationally occurring individuals, favourably located in time and space, all be they lacking other credentials beyond reproach. Over to you, BOURC.

A flash in the pan female Ring-necked Duck was reported from Thrapston GP on 12th. Unsurprisingly, those scrambling to see it went away empty-handed. Drake Smews were more obliging, though, with a good two at Pitsford remaining until at least 12th.

However, bird of the week was, indisputably, the county’s eighth-ever Glossy Ibis. Discovered on the currently flooded Main Lake at Summer Leys, at 09.15 on 10th, despite looking settled, it promptly did a bunk at 09.45 and hasn’t been seen since. Once again, local birders were robbed! In line with all but one previous occurrences, this sharp exiting behaviour represents a true return to form for this species in Northants. The exception was, of course, last winter’s long-stayer at Thrapston GP, which was present between 13th February and 17th April, also visiting Stanwick during the final days of its stay.

Its occurrence at this time comes as no real surprise. The UK and Eire are currently enjoying a huge winter influx, with a record minimum of 125 Glossies currently on the romp, from Shetland to the south coast, including double-figure flocks at some locations. So, is it still in the county? Well, that’s the problem because although generally associated with water, these birds are not fussy when choosing somewhere to feed. It appears any old, wet, boggy field will do. Some of us will no doubt have memories of seeing the wintering bird in Weymouth in December 2013, which spent most of its time on and around a waterlogged football pitch. It could be anywhere …

The number of Cattle Egrets roosting at Stanwick GP climbed no higher than eight on 9th and up to four visited Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows reserve on 9th-10th. Stanwick’s magic egret roost also produced the highest number of Great Egrets with a maximum of seventeen there, again on 9th, while Pitsford and Thrapston produced six apiece, Hollowell Res, Summer Leys and Sywell CP each mustered two and singles were found at Clifford Hill, Cranford STW, Earls Barton GP and Fawsley Park Lakes.

And while we’re in the west of the county, following the disappearance of the two first-winter Shags from Pitsford after the 2nd, two were discovered at Daventry CP on 10th and were still present off the dam there on 12th. Undoubtedly, they represented a welcome cache for the 2022 yearlisters who rapidly scurried over to see them.

With everything still in place, no such haste was necessary on the wader front this week. The Pitsford Wood Sandpiper and the Earls Barton Common Sandpiper both rode it out until the end of the period, one Ruff remained at Summer Leys until at least 11th and Jack Snipes were present at Daventry CP, where there were three on 10th, at pools near Raventhorpe, where up to three were present all week and at Hollowell, where one remained on 9th.

Winter gulling continues to be slow, with an adult Caspian Gull at Clifford Hill GP on 9th and a first-winter on the roof of the recycling centre at Rushton Landfill on 13th, while the only Yellow-legged Gull reported was an adult in the roost at Clifford Hill GP’s Main Barrage Lake on 11th.

So far, winter 2021-22 has turned out to be somewhat poor for Short-eared Owls, so one over rough grassland, east of Ellands Farm, Hemington, was a wholly worthwhile find for one observer on 13th. Two airfield-based Merlins were singles at Harrington on 8th and 10th and at Hinton on 9th.

There was no improvement on last week’s thinly spread collection of passerines but who would grumble about the quality – after all, how many showy, mid-winter Black Redstarts are currently at large in the UK? OK, nearby Milton Keynes currently has a handsome male … but it’s not in Northants. Our wintering Borough Hill bird was still playing to an audience this week and remained in place around the summit compound there on 14th.

With a maximum of four at Upton CP on 13th, Stonechats were found at a further ten localities, comprising Borough Hill, Catesby, Clifford Hill, Earls Barton, Ecton SF, Hollowell, Ravensthorpe, Summer Leys, Sywell CP and Wellingborough Embankment, the image of one at the last of these perfectly encapsulating the foggy, frosty conditions characterising the latter part of this week.  

The other ‘quality’ passerine on show throughout the period was, of course, the one Hawfinch, still in Blatherwycke Churchyard, while similarly remaining were two Corn Buntings in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton at the week’s end.

With many of December’s birds clearly going nowhere fast, it was time to sharpen the pencil as 2022 had local yearlisters off to a sprinting start, stepping out into the dawn of a New Year’s Day which delivered a UK record-breaking balmy high of 16.2°C. Temperatures were to tumble, however, as a northerly blast from the Arctic set in during the latter half of the week, with sub-zero daytime figures and overnight frosts.

Going unreported for a week, Clifford Hill GP’s Dark-bellied Brent Goose was still present on 1st, duly remaining on parade and approachable throughout the period. Back on show, too, was the Pitsford Barnacle Goose on 2nd, as was the Ravensthorpe Pink-footed Goose on 7th and, also making it over the line, the three White-fronted Geese at Stanford Res on 1st but not subsequently. Other Whitefronts were available, however – at least one, anyway – as an adult was seen at Ditchford GP on 2nd and later relocated at Stanwick GP on 6th-7th.

The year’s first Red-crested Pochard was found at Summer Leys LNR on 1st, shortly to be followed by eight at Stanford on 4th, while a female Greater Scaup was reported from Thrapston GP on 7th, the date on which a ‘redhead’ Smew was also reported there. Better looking and more tangible, however, last year’s three drake Smews at Pitsford were all present and correct for anyone wanting to take a peak on 1st and 2nd but only two remained at the week’s end.

Once again climbing into double figures, Cattle Egrets peaked at thirteen at Stanwick on New Year’s Day, followed by smaller numbers there on subsequent dates throughout the week. The Ringstead GP roost on Kinewell Lake maxed out at seven on 3rd and 7th and three visited Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows reserve on the latter date. Stanwick also hosted the highest number of  Great Egrets with a tally of twelve there on 3rd, while Pitsford came second with eight, Thrapston mustered three, Ringstead two and Ditchford and Naseby Res one apiece.

With no reports for a week, it could have been considered a bonus when, on 1st, one of the first-winter Shags which had been frequenting Pitsford since 15th December, surfaced by the causeway car park. It remained for the following day but there have been no subsequent sightings.

A male Hen Harrier was reported flying south-east at Bulwick on 5th.

Despite rising water levels and subsequent icy weather, the Pitsford Wood Sandpiper miraculously remained, providing another welcome fillip to 2022 local yearlisting. How much longer it stays remains to be seen.

The two Ruffs at Summer Leys also remained on 1st at least, two Jack Snipes were at Stanwick on 6th and last week’s was still present at Hollowell Res on 7th, while the wintering Common Sandpiper saw the New Year in at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North), again remaining there for another week.

Winter gull flocks are always worth scrutiny and, for that matter, so too are they during other seasons. While nothing breathtaking has appeared so far this winter, two adult Caspian Gulls at Naseby Res on 6th were noteworthy, as were two more at Rushton Landfill on 7th and a first-winter at Ravensthorpe on the same date. Other than that, an adult Yellow-legged Gull was found in the roost at Clifford Hill GP’s Main Barrage Lake on 3rd.

Adding a touch of wholly anticipated magic to the new year’s proceedings, a Merlin was found in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, on 2nd and may have been the same bird reported across the other side of the A508, at Harrington AF, later in the week.

And a collective sigh of relief came as the Borough Hill Black Redstart hung on into the new year, duly lining up for a procession of snap-happy admirers throughout the week. Stonechats, normally a popular quarry for toggers, simply had to take a Borough Hill back seat this week, while others were seen at Clifford Hill, Hollowell and Upton CP.

But a big, New Year’s Daze for some was delivered by two superb Hawfinches, found in Blatherwycke Churchyard on 1st and remaining for all good people of the yearlisting congregation over the following four days. This is a site which has earned a reputation for producing winter records of this species over a many years but its appearance there is sporadic and far from guaranteed.

Far less impressively adorned, though, two Corn Buntings were found in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, on the last day of the week. Having undergone a massive decline in recent years, they are now a scarce visitor to the county. Get them while you can …

This week saw little brightness between the clag and haar as rather damp and gloomy conditions prevailed in the run up to Christmas. Nevertheless, the weather failed to put the dampers on birding and new birds were still being found in addition to the established long-stayers …

In the latter category, the first-winter Dark-bellied Brent Goose remained at Clifford Hill GP until at least 22nd, while Pitsford’s Barnacle Goose, not quite in the same league, was again present on 21st.

This last date saw an obvious and noteworthy movement of wildfowl across the county as more geese added flavour to the week’s proceedings. A Pink-footed Goose joined the local Greylags at Thrapston GP, where it remained the following day and the Ravensthorpe bird was still in the area on 23rd, feeding in fields between Ravensthorpe village and the reservoir causeway. White-fronted Geese were also added to the mix on 21st, when four flew south over the causeway at Pitsford and three arrived at Hollowell Res. Three were also found at Stanwick GP the following day.

It was back in October when we last saw a big day movement of Whooper Swans, echoed this week on 21st when, following two at Pitsford the day before, three flew south-east over the causeway and five appeared there in The Narrows during the morning, before moving up to Scaldwell Bay as daylight faded, late in the afternoon. The morning also saw two adults on Clifford Hill GP’s Main Barrage Lake, while two flew south-east over Denton Wood late in the afternoon, when one was also found at Stanford Res. None remained the following day.

With the highest number of six, at Kislingbury GP – again on 21st – Red-crested Pochards made a bit of a comeback this week and this also included two at Ditchford GP on 20th-21st and a female at Stanford Res from 20th to 22nd. A first-winter female Greater Scaup was also found at Stortons GP on 19th, remaining throughout the week.

After an apparent week’s absence, the ‘redhead’ Smew resurfaced on Thrapston GP’s Aldwincle Lake on 20th but it was nowhere to be seen the following day, while the two dapper drakes, last seen at Pitsford on 15th, were relocated at Hollowell on 21st.

Cattle Egrets rallied somewhat this week, with the fields below Irthlingborough Church mustering eight on 18th and four on 22nd, while nearby Stanwick GP produced up to four during the period, as well as the week’s highest total of at least seventeen Great Egrets coming in to roost there on 18th. Top totals elsewhere were three at Pitsford on 23rd, two at Ditchford GP on 19th and singles at Summer Leys on 20th and at Stanford Res from 20th to 22nd.

Pitsford’s juvenile/first-winter Shag total doubled to two on 18th, falling back to one from 19th to 21st – at least that’s what it looked like, although the bird on the latter date was seen off the old Scaldwell road and therefore well away from its/their usual haunt of the pontoon at the north end of the sailing club.  

There was no real movement on the wader front this week, with the Wood Sandpiper remaining at Pitsford throughout the period and the long-staying Ruff, or two, lingering at Summer Leys until at least 20th and the wintering Common Sandpiper also remaining at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) on 22nd. Jack Snipe was well represented this week with six at Ditchford on 19th and seven apiece at Ravensthorpe on 23rd and Daventry CP the following day.

An adult Mediterranean Gull dropped in to Daventry CP on 21st but there were more Caspian Gulls this week, with adults in the roost at Stanford Res on 18th and 23rd and a third-winter there on 20th. At Rushton Landfill, a first-winter was present on 21st and an adult visited Hollowell Res on 23rd. Aside from the regular adult at Pitsford, present all week, a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull was seen at Rushton Landfill on 21st, where the number of gulls appears to be down on previous winters.

A Short-eared Owl was reported from Harrington AF on 19th, while star of this week’s passerines proved to be a Siberian Chiffchaff, calling frequently and showing well, close to the causeway car park at Pitsford on the last day of the week. In second place, a Black Redstart, scarce at any time but even rarer in winter, was found near the summit compound on Borough Hill on 22nd and was still present there on 24th.

Stonechats, on the other hand, were well represented by two at Ditchford from 18th to 20th, three at Lilbourne Meadows on 19th, four at Upton CP on 22nd, when two were also at Borough Hill, and three at Hollowell Res on 23rd.

There was no drama in regard to this week’s weather, which remained settled and largely dry, with temperatures above average.

Emulating the weather, many of the previous week’s long-stayers also remained settled, among them the first-winter Dark-bellied Brent Goose, which was still at Clifford Hill GP when checked in on, on 14th. The Barnacle Goose, last reported at Pitsford Res on 3rd, was relocated there on 16th, the same site continuing to hang on to its star attraction of the two debonair drake Smews until at least 15th.

A drake Greater Scaup was also reported there on 14th and, after a week without any, two Red-crested Pochards were at Daventry CP on 16th-17th.

Back at Pitsford, a Black-necked Grebe was reported on 14th and Cattle Egrets hit rock bottom this week with just one at Stanwick GP on the same date. Conversely, Great Egrets reached a new record high on 16th, when nineteen were counted coming in to roost at the latter site. Top totals elsewhere were up to eight at Pitsford on 16th, three at Thrapston GP on 11th, two at Stanford Res on 12th and singles at Upton CP on 15th and at Stortons GP and Summer Leys LNR on 16th.

Arguably the period’s top bird, in terms of rarity, was the juvenile/first-winter Shag found at Pitsford on 15th and still present there as the week drew to a close on 17th. Given that most records of this species are in autumn, December records are few and far between, this one likely to stir memories for many a local birder of the highly approachable, fearless first-winter that took a shine to Abington Park Lake in suburban Northampton, from 17th December 2006 until 4th February 2007.

Again, it was a case of as you were, on the wader front, with the Wood Sandpiper remaining at Pitsford and the long-staying Ruff lingering at Summer Leys until at least 16th, last week’s Black-tailed Godwit remaining at the latter locality until 12th and the wintering Common Sandpiper also staying put at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) at the end of the period. Jack Snipe was added to the mix this week, with one near Wicksteed Park (Kettering) on 11th and five at Daventry CP on 16th.

Gulls fared better, with an adult Mediterranean Gull at Summer Leys on 12th, a third-winter Caspian Gull at Stanford Res on 11th, accompanied there by 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, while the usual, single adult Yellow-legged Gull was seen at Pitsford on 16th-17th.

Hardly a week passes without a Merlin these days, so one in a field adjacent to Ravensthorpe Res on 14th served to keep the species on the radar and comes as no real surprise.

On the passerine front, the number of Stonechats remained low, with up to four at Upton CP to 15th, two in the Brampton Valley on 13th and one at Borough Hill on 17th.

And it looks like the recent supply of Water Pipits has now dried up, with just one remaining on view at Summer Leys’ scrape until 11th, after which … nothing.

Pushing on into December and Arwen’s successor, Storm Barra, swept in off the Atlantic during 7th and 8th but appeared to have a negligible impact on local bird movements. New in, and undeniably topping this week’s celebrity bill, were two handsome drake Smews, found at Pitsford Reservoir at the eleventh hour …

But the wildfowl line-up kicks off with the first-winter Dark-bellied Brent Goose, remaining faithful throughout the period, to the eastern end of the Main Barrage Lake at Clifford Hill GP. The Ravensthorpe Pink-footed Goose was still with Greylags at Ravensthorpe Res on the last day of the week and a ‘small flock’ flew south, calling, over the Brampton Valley near Hanging Houghton, after dark on 9th.

A female Greater Scaup was reported from Summer Leys LNR on 6th but our ducks deluxe highlight was provided by the two dapper drake Smews, discovered at Pitsford Res on the last day of the week. With the two recently at Ringstead GP and the ‘redhead’ currently settled at Thrapston GP’s Aldwincle Lake, things look like they’re shaping up nicely for the usual sprinkling of this species over the winter – a far cry from last year, when local Smews were very much in short supply.

This week’s capricious Cattle Egrets were unpredictable in terms of where they might be reliably encountered. The much-depleted Ringstead roost, seemingly now out of favour with this species, produced three, in from the nearby horse paddocks, on 10th, while at least eight were seen leaving the former roost at Stanwick, early on 5th. On the latter date, the same roost also produced the week’s highest count of Great Egrets when nine also emerged at first light. Elsewhere, Pitsford held at least six – well down on the recent record high of eighteen – and singles were at Clifford Hill, Foxholes Fisheries (Crick) and Summer Leys.

A Marsh Harrier flying west at Stanford Res on 10th was the period’s only raptor of note.

Once again, this week, the county remained in a winter waderland, with the Wood Sandpiper remaining at Pitsford throughout, the long-staying Ruff lingering at Summer Leys, again being joined by another on 4th, while a Black-tailed Godwit dropped in there on 10th. The wintering Common Sandpiper was also still present at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) at the week’s end.

Propping up the Larids, as usual, single adult Yellow-legged Gulls were at Pitsford on 9th-10th and at Clifford Hill on the first of these two dates.

Passerines were limited to last week’s two Water Pipits on Summer Leys’ scrape until 5th, with one remaining until the week’s end. A quick analysis of the records for the last twenty years reveals a trendline indicating a slight decline in numbers, November being the peak month for occurrences and, historically, Ditchford accounting for the majority of those seen during the winter months.

The number of Stonechats was down on last week, with just two at Upton CP on 8th and the same number at Earls Barton GP on 10th.

A true taste of winter was delivered by the much-publicised Storm Arwen as the week opened on day one. Gale force northerlies sucked in high Arctic air, bringing snow showers to the county on 27th-28th, along with a daytime wind chill of -4°C. Winds subsequently wavered westerly mid-period, providing a short, milder interlude before again turning northerly.

Few would deny the above meteorological cocktail played a significant part in delivering a Northamptonshire ‘first’ in the form of a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, to Boddington Res, on 27th. Initially reported simply as a ‘Brent Goose’, it was rightly flagged up by John Friendship-Taylor as a Pale-bellied Brent, when he called in to see it shortly after its discovery. It had gone by the following morning and if it hadn’t been for JF-T, well, the frightening prospect of it slipping through the net is likely to have been a stark reality and simply doesn’t bear thinking about …

Pretty much an ‘inland mega’ in its own right, our Pale-bellied Brent was one of a number to be recorded inland during the weekend of 27th-28th. Wetlands away from the coast in Cambridgeshire, Durham, East, West and North Yorkshire and Lincolnshire were similarly paid visits by short-staying individuals. Latest estimates put the British wintering population of Pale-bellied Brents at approximately 5,000 in contrast to some 98,000 Dark-bellieds (Frost et al 2019).

While current taxonomic classification lumps Pale-bellied with Dark-bellied Brent and Black Brant, it has been proposed to treat them as three separate species. This is based on a number of factors, including distinctive plumage differences, the apparent rarity of hybrids and the fact that where the wintering ranges of Pale-bellied and Dark-bellied races overlap, flocks do not usually mix, their activity rhythms are often different and interactions between them do not seem higher than those between other species of geese (Reeber 2015). So, who knows what the taxonomic future holds? But don’t hold your breath …

Other Brents were also available, of course, this comment referring specifically to the first-winter Dark-bellied Brent Goose, now into its third week at Clifford Hill GP. This may well be a unique event in history when Northants plays host to both pale- and dark-bellied races of Brent Goose at the same time.

However, as December kicked in, of undeniably dubious origin was a Barnacle Goose found at Pitsford Res on 1st and still present at the week’s end. Although the same might be said about lone Pink-footed Geese, they tend to enjoy a smoother ride, currying favour with local birders when they join local Greylags, as did this week’s at Ravensthorpe Res, ex-Hollowell, from 27th to 29th, while last week’s Stanford bird was still present on 27th and another – perhaps Arwen-induced – dropped in at Boddington on 28th.

And while we’re back on the storm theme, a blow-in of Common Scoters was clearly evident over the weekend of 27th-28th, with a first-winter female apparently enjoying the company of a certain Brent Goose at Boddington on 27th, followed by two there on 28th, when two were also in deep water at Pitsford Res.

Pitsford also continued to hold good numbers of Red-crested Pochards with a maximum of eighteen there on 27th. Out east, in the Nene Valley, a ‘redhead’ Smew was found at Thrapston GP on the last day of the week – perhaps one of the two which went missing from nearby Ringstead GP after 23rd November.

Maintaining last week’s low profile, Cattle Egrets continued to take a back seat and just five were seen on 29th and 1st, in fields below Irthlingborough, close to the lakes and meadows of the same name. In contrast to the last two weeks, Great Egrets narrowly scraped into double-figures with just ten at Pitsford on 28th while, elsewhere, Thrapston held six, Stanford four, Stanwick three, Clifford Hill and Summer Leys two, while singles were also found at Ditchford GP, Hollowell and Ringstead.

On the wader front, the Wood Sandpiper remained at Pitsford all week, the long-staying Ruff kept up its presence at Summer Leys, being joined there by another on 28th and the Common Sandpiper at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) crossed the timeline into meteorological winter and can now be declared as ‘officially wintering’. Other scarce waders were two Jack Snipes at Thrapston on 27th.

Gull numbers were their poorest for a long, long time, with just one Yellow-legged Gull at Pitsford on 27th. In the coming weeks we can hopefully look forward to some ‘white-wingers’, Arwen having failed to deliver any locally.

Single Merlins were seen this week at Summer Leys on 28th and at Harrington AF on 2nd-3rd.

This week’s passerines were shaping up nicely, starting with four Stonechats at Hollowell, twos at Denton, Thrapston and Upton CP and one at Clifford Hill.

But the best turned out to be a Water Pipit or two at Summer Leys. Showing nicely for long periods from the Paul Britten Hide, the first was discovered on 30th and was subsequently joined by another there on 3rd.

These were undoubtedly the most easily observed Water Pipits in recent years and certainly since the regular wintering birds at Ditchford GP, which were always difficult to pin down, often being seen only in flight. Talking of which, one also flew north-east over Harrington, calling, on 29th as did three Hawfinches later the same day. Meanwhile, staying with Harrington, this winter’s Brambling bonanza continued with an estimated two hundred still present there at the week’s end.

Flyovers aside, with some of the above birds appearing settled, it looks like we could be in for an interesting winter …

It was pretty much déjà vu as far as the week’s weather was concerned, with no real let-up in the westerlies until the week’s end, when the winds swung northerly, introducing a colder, more wintry airstream. There were few new avian arrivals, either, but there was still a grand selection of interesting fare to focus on.  

Appearing settled, last week’s Dark-bellied Brent Goose remained with the Canada Goose flock around the Main Barrage Lake at Clifford Hill GP throughout the period. Bets are on to see if it stays into winter proper. Meanwhile, at Stanford Res, the roving, escaped Cackling Goose put in a brief appearance on the last day of the week and just down the road, Hollowell’s Pink-footed Goose had moved to Ravensthorpe Res, where it was seen on 22nd. Hollowell Res, itself, was paid a brief visit by nine Whooper Swans on 21st, obviously choosing not to linger.

At Pitsford Res, Red-crested Pochards appeared to vary in numbers by the day, peaking at sixteen on 21st, while last week’s ‘redhead’ and eclipse drake Smew were the only other ducks of note, remaining on Ringstead GP’s Brightwells Lake until 23rd, after which they did a bunk.

After last week’s all-time high, numbers of Cattle Egrets tumbled to just two in flight over Stanwick GP on 23rd and a mere five remained in the fabled cattle field north of Ringstead GP, where the record-busting sixteen had been present on 16th-17th. Numbers of Great Egrets, on the other hand, continued to climb, setting another Northants site total record of eighteen at Pitsford on 21st and 25th. Elsewhere, Hollowell held three and Ditchford GP, two, while singles were also found at Foxholes Fisheries (Crick), Ravensthorpe, Ringstead and Summer Leys LNR.

A ’ringtail’ Hen Harrier was reported from Harrington AF on 21st.

On the wader front, the late, late Wood Sandpiper show continued at Pitsford throughout the week, the long-staying Ruff remained at Summer Leys and the Common Sandpiper at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) was still present at the period’s end.

Gull numbers remained low and included the third-winter Caspian Gull at Hollowell on 22nd and 24th, with another – or the same – visiting Stanford on the first of these two dates, while an adult was in the roost at Boddington Res on 26th. The same roost produced four Yellow-legged Gulls and the adult continued to be seen at Pitsford throughout the week.

Just two species represented this week’s passerines, with Stonechats found at Clifford Hill, Ditchford, Hollowell, Pitsford and Sywell CP and no more than two at any one locality. Worthy of a mention, if only for sheer numbers, Bramblings came to the fore once again and after last week’s prediction of more to come, an estimated three hundred showed up at Harrington on 21st, falling to around two hundred on 23rd and tens by the week’s end.