Category: Weekly Reports

There was little change in either the weather or the birds from last week. West to south-westerly winds, sunny spells and lower than hoped-for temperatures continue to be the hallmarks of a generally lacklustre summer. Waders continued to trickle through in small numbers while the seasonal build-up of Yellow-legged Gulls at Stanwick GP continued.

Both the escaped – presumed taverneri – Cackling Goose and the injured Ruddy Shelduck were both still at Pitsford Res on 10th, as was a Red-crested Pochard on the same date. At Stanwick GP, the Garganey remained until at least 14th and two Common Scoters dropped on to the A45 Lay-by Pit, also on 14th – while a Marsh Harrier flew east on 10th and it, or another, was hunting over the reedbed there two days later. The only other raptor of note was a Peregrine at Thrapston GP on 9th.

Four Little Ringed Plovers were at Summer Leys LNR on 10th and two, along with a Dunlin, were at Stanwick GP on 12th. Stanwick also produced three Ruff on 14th and Summer Leys saw a run of Black-tailed Godwits, with two on 12th, an unconfirmed report of forty the following day and between eleven and fourteen on 14th. Numbers of Common Sandpipers rose from two at Stanwick GP on 10th to four there on 15th, while two were also at Summer Leys on 10th and ten were counted at Pitsford Res on the same date with just one there on 14th. The only Green Sandpipers were singles at Stanford Res on 9th and at Pitsford Res on 9th-10th, while two Greenshanks were at Stanwick GP on 13th dropping to one the following day and Summer Leys produced two adult Redshanks with at least two chicks during the period.

The annual late summer build-up of Yellow-legged Gulls at Stanwick GP continued with numbers there exceeding fifty by the week’s end and there were also four at Pitsford Res on 10th. More Caspian Gulls accompanied the Stanwick Yellow-leggeds and included at least two first-summers and a second-summer between 11th and 15th.

A Turtle Dove was seen at Finedon on 9th and two were ‘purring’ in Lady Wood the following day, while a single male Crossbill was at Bucknell Wood on 14th.

Despite the continued westerly airstream, the weather remained largely dry with temperatures around average at best. Few new migrants were reported during the period.

The presumed escaped Pitsford Res Cackling Goose, showing characteristics of the race taverneri, was still among the Canadas there on 4th, as was the injured Ruddy Shelduck on 6th. The only other wildfowl of note were a Garganey at Stanwick GP on 8th and a Red-crested Pochard at Thrapston GP on 2nd and it was a quiet week for raptors with just a Marsh Harrier at Earls Barton GP on the same date.

Up to three Little Ringed Plovers were at Summer Leys LNR on 2nd-3rd, a Black-tailed Godwit was there on 4th, followed by four more at Stanwick GP on 7th and a Dunlin was at Earls Barton GP on 7th. Numbers of Common Sandpipers remained stable with four at Pitsford Res and one at Summer Leys on 3rd and two at Stanwick GP on 7th. Both of these sites held at least two Redshanks during the period.

Further down the Nene valley, two Yellow-legged Gulls were found at Thrapston GP on 2nd, while numbers of this species continued to build at Stanwick GP, where there were seventeen on 4th and twenty-seven on 6th, accompanied by a second-summer Caspian Gull on the latter date.

Quality, not quantity, was the order of the week for passerines as four male Firecrests continued to sing at the same site as in June, although song had considerably diminished during the last week, while two Crossbills were seen at Fineshade Wood on 2nd.

More Atlantic weather systems produced largely overcast skies and frequent showers on the back of a westerly airstream, while traditional ‘summer’ weather has yet to emerge. Finding anything new proved hard graft for most, although a certain high flying raptor constituted manna from heaven for one observer, while others made do with a steady trickle of migrant waders serving as a reminder that birds were on the move.

At Pitsford Res a Cackling Goose, showing characteristics of the race taverneri, was discovered among the Canadas there on 30th, although its chances of being wild are, of course, pretty much zero – nevertheless it’s an interesting bird to see.

The drake Goldeneye was also still there on 25th and so was the Stanford Res bird on 26th – the latter thought to be flightless and so not the same individual as the Pitsford bird as surmised in last week’s report.

This week’s ‘bird of the week’ appeared in the north-east of the county on 25th. While James Underwood was photographing Red Kites and Common Buzzards over his garden, in Corby Old Village, a Honey Buzzard came into view, drifting high west. The moment was captured and the species swiftly added to the garden list, hot on the heels of the White Stork which circled over there less than three weeks previously, on 6th June!

The only other raptors of note were an Osprey at Welford Res briefly on 28th and single Peregrines at Northampton on 25th and at Thrapston GP the following day.

Some recent news on last week’s colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit at Summer Leys concerns its being seen four days later at Creek Common, North Hayling, Langstone Harbour, Havant, Hampshire on 30th. Who says birds aren’t site-faithful! On the wader front, four Little Ringed Plovers were at Stanwick GP on 27th and two Ringed Plovers were there the next day, while a Curlew flew over Stanford Res on 25th and one visited Summer Leys LNR briefly on 29th.  More Common Sandpipers appeared this week, with singles at Stanford Res on 26th and 29th, one at Stanwick GP on 28th plus two there on 30th and three at Welford Res on 28th, a Green Sandpiper was at Stanwick GP on 27th with a Redshank there on the same date.

Stanwick also produced the week’s only Yellow-legged Gulls, which included seven on 27th, three on 30th and eight on 1st, along with a second-summer Caspian Gull on the latter date. Beyond that, a Turtle Dove still at Harrington AF on 27th and one at Stanwick GP on 1st was all the week could muster.

The past two weeks have been influenced by weather systems from the Atlantic, with predominantly overcast conditions, heavy showers and thunderstorms accompanying hot air from Europe at the end of the period. Southbound waders at several localities were clear indications that ‘ornithological autumn’ was well underway.

Usually in the vicinity of the sailing club grounds, the injured Ruddy Shelduck was reported from Pitsford Res all week and a female Garganey was seen at Stanwick GP on 13th.

As wildfowl numbers began to build at some of the larger bodies of water, ducks on the move included a drake Red-crested Pochard at Thrapston GP from 16th to 19th, one at Pitsford Res on 17th and two there on 21st, while a drake Goldeneye at Stanford Res earlier in the month was likely to have been the same individual present at Pitsford Res from 18th.

Just one Quail was reported during the period – a male singing in set-aside west of Everdon on the evenings of 21st and 22nd. Ospreys continued to be seen, with one over Borough Hill and two at Welford Res on 11th and singles at Hollowell Res on 19th, Pitsford Res on 22nd and over Welford on 23rd, while single Peregrines visited Clifford Hill GP on 11th, Summer Leys LNR on 20th and Thrapston GP the next day.

Already autumn has begun. Waders were noted moving south and, aside from two young Little Ringed Plovers at Summer Leys, a fully-fledged juvenile appeared at Stanwick GP on 13th and seven new arrivals were counted there on 24th. Stanwick also produced two Ringed Plovers on 13th when two – perhaps the same – also visited Summer Leys. Curlews made news this week. Aside from wandering individuals at Clifford Hill GP on 11th, Lilbourne on 14th and Stanford Res on 21st, a pair with three young was discovered at a new breeding site, which is good news for a species over which national concern has been highlighted this year. A Black-tailed Godwit paid a brief visit to Summer Leys on 13th and three more – one of them colour-ringed – were there on 24th. The colour-ringed individual was ringed at Farlington Marshes, Hampshire on 5th September 2010.

Common Sandpipers returned right on cue with one at Pitsford Res on 22nd, followed by two there the next day, a Green Sandpiper was at Stanwick GP on 21st and Greenshanks were earlier than normal with singles at Stanwick on 11th and Pitsford on 17th. Just one Redshank was seen at Stanwick on 24th.

For the gullers, the expected annual build up in numbers of Yellow-legged Gull got underway at Stanwick GP with an adult there on 13th, followed by a second-summer on 20th and six were present by 24th.

Black Terns paid a surprise visit to Earls Barton GP on 11th when three were found on Mary’s Lake, while the dearth of Turtle Doves continues with up to two at Harrington sporadically between throughout the period and singles at Grafton Park Wood on 17th and Twywell Hills & Dales on 21st. A juvenile Siskin on a garden feeder at Orlingbury on 14th was unusual and is suggestive of a local origin.

A pretty mixed bag of weather conditions saw temperatures reaching the high twenties under a continental influence at the start of the week, sparking thunderstorms and heavy showers in some areas. Atlantic weather systems ensured a return to average temperatures by the week’s end as the winds took on a more westerly direction prior to the onset of more unsettled conditions.

The injured Ruddy Shelduck continued to be reported from Pitsford Res until 8th and another drake Garganey was discovered – this time on the scrape at Summer Leys LNR on 4th.

The same also date produced a Great White Egret in flight over Northampton, while a White Stork was watched circling above Old Corby village on 6th before heading off high north-west. The only raptors reported this week were three Ospreys – one west over Pitsford Res on 5th, another over Brampton Lane, Northampton the next day and one drifting over Guilsborough on 8th.

An ephemeral flame from the dying embers of spring – and the undoubted highlight of the week – was the rather smart female Red-necked Phalarope which was discovered at Stanwick GP on the evening of 4th, when it was present around the islands in the A45 Lay-by Pit. Sadly, it had departed by the next morning.

Perhaps confusingly, however, we were dealt a taste of autumn when a Green Sandpiper appeared at Stanwick GP on 7th. This species normally returns toward the end of the month so the early appearance of this individual suggests a failed breeder.

Cool, unseasonal weather continued throughout a week which was dominated by often strong north-easterlies, depressing temperatures, birds and birders alike. With migration all but dried up there were slim pickings – assuming anyone was out looking, of course. In this respect, on the occasions I visited Summer Leys it was devoid of weekend birders. With hides creaking and shutters banging in the wind, the only things missing were the tumbleweeds. While the end of May can deliver exceptional rarities, this year there was none – the hallowed 29th (Sooty Tern 1980, Bridled Tern 1993) passing without incident.

The injured Ruddy Shelduck had little choice but to remain at Pitsford Res, where it was present in the vicinity of the sailing club. One of the two which probably originated from the feral population on continent and overshot the established Dutch summer moulting grounds, it is unlikely ever to make it back. Aside from this, Stanwick’s drake Garganey, still present on the A45 Lay-by Pit on 29th, was the sole representative of scarce wildfowl during the period.

Two Ospreys were seen on 2nd – one flying over Pitsford dam toward Holcot, the other over Earls Barton GP toward Great Doddington. This week’s Peregrines were one at Earls Barton GP on 29th, two there on 2nd and one over Broadholme STW at Ditchford GP on 31st while, sadly, last week’s escaped male Barbary Falcon x Gyrfalcon hybrid was found dead at Felmersham in Bedfordshire.

Numbers of passage waders were understandably low with, aside from local breeders, just one Dunlin at Summer Leys on 29th, four Redshanks flying east over Stanford Res on 2nd and a Common Sandpiper at Ditchford GP on 29th-30th.

On the passerine front, the exciting discovery of three singing male Firecrests was made at an undisclosed locality on 28th and the singing male Common Redstart remained in Badby Wood on the same date.

Although the period was largely dry, winds from the north-west produced some rain on Saturday, followed by a sunny and relatively warm Sunday, after which it became cooler as north-easterlies set in. In comparison with the previous review period this last week has been rather slow in terms of new arrivals. Ospreys at three sites and a couple of Sanderlings appeared to be the highlights – the migration tap not having been completely turned off but simply left dripping …

The injured Ruddy Shelduck remained at Pitsford Res, where it was present in the vicinity of the sailing club and the drake Garganey at Stanwick GP was seen again on 23rd. Another Quail was heard at Harrington AF on 22nd and then it was straight into raptors but, with nothing as glam as a Lam to look at, a handful of local birders connected with Ospreys at Stanwick GP on 22nd, at Hollowell Res on 22nd and 24th-25th and at/near Naseby Res on 24th/26th.

This week’s only Peregrine was an adult at Earls Barton GP on 26th but it’s also worth flagging up that a Barbary Falcon x Gyrfalcon hybrid escaped from an owner at Wellingborough on 23rd and is still on the loose …

 

Little Ringed Plovers were reported only from Stanwick GP and Summer Leys, with both sites also producing single Ringed Plovers on 26th and 27th respectively while a Sanderling accompanied the Stanwick individual. More readily accessible and obligingly showy was a Sanderling on the dam at Pitsford Res on 22nd, providing excellent photo opportunities for those who saw it.

There was just one Dunlin this week, at Summer Leys on 27th, but one which didn’t make it into the last round-up is worth a mention for the locality alone – Shelfley’s Lake, West Hunsbury on 15th May – an odd record for suburban Northampton and surely a first for this tiny, mainly tree-lined site. The only other waders this week were the three to four Redshanks present at Summer Leys throughout.

There was no improvement in the Turtle Dove situation during the period with the two still near Newton Bromswold on 19th and two at Harrington AF on 22nd and 26th, while the latter site produced a late Northern Wheatear on the first of these two dates.

The first two weeks of May proved to be particularly rewarding for migration-watchers, the highlight of which occurred during the period 4th to 9th when high pressure over north-east Europe combined with a central European low produced a prolonged spell of south-easterly winds stretching to the UK. These conditions proved conducive to opening the gates for a significant influx of Black Terns while, at the same time, delivering higher than average numbers of waders, both in terms of quantity and diversity. Summer Leys received the lion’s share – primarily as a result of habitat management through the control of water levels. It was also understandably an exceptional period for the spread and proliferation of bird news across the county, with Twitter now seemingly the principal line of communication for much of this. By contrast, the last week of the period was particularly quiet, despite some bouts of overcast and wet conditions towards the end of it, which looked likely to ground a few more migrants. Is it all over? Only the next two weeks will tell …

A late migrant Pink-footed Goose joined the Greylags at Pitsford Res on 14th and was still present the following day and, after an apparent absence, the Ruddy Shelduck returned to the same site on 18th, sadly trailing an injured left wing.

Seven Garganeys were found, including a pair at Summer Leys LNR on 2nd followed by single drakes there on 5th and 10th and at Stanwick GP on 13th and 20th and Ditchford GP on 15th, while the female Scaup reappeared briefly at Summer Leys on 4th.

The first Quail of the year was heard at Harrington AF on 2nd, followed by another at Welford Res on 8th. Neither of these lingered beyond their discovery date. Also on the move, a Great White Egret flew over Hardwater Crossing at Earls Barton GP on 5th and, at adjacent Summer Leys, four Spoonbills arrived from the south on the morning of 7th, remaining on the scrape there for only forty-five minutes before heading off north-west – much to the delight of the handful of birders on site at the time. This is only the 33rd record for the county, with the May being the peak month of occurrence.

Four Marsh Harriers were logged during the period, including singles flying high north over East Hunsbury (Northampton) and in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton on 30th, one at Earls Barton GP’s Quarry Walk on 1st followed by another over Hardwater Crossing there the following day.

Ospreys were seen at Hollowell Res on 30th, 2nd, 12th-13th and 17th and one visited Ravensthorpe Res on 1st. Aside from the fifteen records of Hobbies – including ten at Quarry Walk on 12th – the only other raptors of note were single Peregrines in Northampton on 5th-6th and at Summer Leys on 5th and 10th.

One of the period’s highlights – for two observers at least – was the second appearance this spring of Common Crane in the Nene Valley with one flying east at Stanwick GP on 2nd. There have been less than twenty county records in total.

The small passage of Avocets this spring continued with another at Summer Leys on 1st but a remarkable run of waders kicked off at the same locality on 5th with the discovery there of a Grey Plover, which had become three by the next day, these birds remaining until 7th, after which two remained until the following day.

More Grey Plovers were found on floodwater at Braunston on 9th, at Stanwick GP on 9th-11th and at Clifford Hill GP on 10th-12th. Little Ringed Plovers were present at four localities, with a maximum of five at Clifford Hill GP on 10th, while Ringed Plover passage ramped up with possibly as many as seventy scattered across six localities between 1st and 18th, including one flock of twenty-four at Clifford Hill GP on 11th. Several of these were identified as belonging to the ‘arctic’ race tundrae, including four at Harrington AF on 3rd, the same number at Braunston on 9th and one at Stanwick GP on 18th, although many more – if not all – were probably of this subspecies.

There were few Whimbrels by comparison, with one lingering at Summer Leys between 30th and 6th followed by five there on 10th, three were at Stanwick GP on the latter date and singles visited Stanford Res on 11th and Clifford Hill GP on 15th. Just one Curlew was reported during the whole of the period – one at Stanford Res on 6th. After the recent record-breaking flock of Black-tailed Godwits at Summer Leys, five there on 30th followed by one on 4th seemed meagre by comparison; one also visited Stanwick GP on 1st. Bar-tailed Godwits have been scarce this spring and, if we disregard the unconfirmed report of a flock of forty-six over Aldwincle on 10th, there was just one at Stanwick GP on the same date with two there the next day and two at Clifford Hill GP on 11th-12th.

Turnstones put on a reasonable show, however, with singles visiting Stanwick GP on 2nd and 9th, two there on 11th and four on 12th, while Summer Leys produced two on 10th, four on 11th and two on 13th-14th. Elsewhere, two visited Pitsford Res on 10th and one was at Clifford Hill GP the following day.

Only one site produced any Ruff and that was Summer Leys, where up to four were present between 4th and 13th, including a rather black-looking male.

The waders continued with the first of the few migrant Sanderlings being found on Pitsford Res dam on 10th, followed the next day by two at Stanwick GP and singles at Clifford Hill GP and Summer Leys. On 12th one remained at Stanwick and another was there on 16th and a different individual arrived two days later on 18th.

Dunlins were also on the move with a total of at least seventy-four birds spread across six sites and records almost daily until 16th. Double-figure counts came from Summer Leys, where there were ten on 4th, Clifford Hill GP, with twelve on 10th and Stanford Res, where thirteen were counted the following day.

At least sixty Common Sandpipers were recorded across fourteen localities with a maximum of nine at Clifford Hill GP on 11th, while a rather late Green Sandpiper was found at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve on 7th. One or two Spotted Redshanks were reported over the three-day period 6th to 8th at Summer Leys, with the same site holding up to two Greenshanks between 1st and 8th. Other Greenshanks were at Braunston on 10th, at Stanwick between 10th and 17th (with a maximum of six on 13th) and at Ditchford GP, where four were present on 14th-15th. The scrape at Summer Leys produced another Wood Sandpiper from 6th to 8th, while another visited Stanwick briefly on the latter date.

Aside from potential breeders, Redshanks were also on the move with at least twelve at Summer Leys on 6th, followed by singles at Daventry CP and Braunston on 10th, Pitsford Res and Clifford Hill GP on 11th, six at Stanwick GP on 13th and up to six – possibly eight – at Summer Leys on 20th.

Arguably the most prominent feature of this spring has been the notable influx of Black Terns into the country – primarily as a result of the prolonged south-easterlies during the first week of the month. Records came from nine localities over a ten-day period with well over a hundred birds being logged.

Little Terns, too, were a nice addition to the mix with two arriving at Summer Leys on 10th, another there on 11th and one at Stanwick GP the following day.

Good numbers of Arctic Terns were also on the move at the same time, with Stanwick GP seeing twenty-seven over on 10th and around forty through on 11th; one was also there on 13th. Elsewhere, two visited Daventry CP on 3rd with singles there on 10th and 12th, seven on 11th and six there on 13th and at Clifford Hill GP there were two on 12th, four on 13th-14th and one on 18th.

After all the Little Gulls last month it is surprising that only one was seen during the review period – a first-summer at Stanwick GP on 30th. Stanwick also produced an adult Mediterranean Gull on 11th and two adults the following day, which were doubtless those seen there at the end of last month. Where had they been throughout the intervening period? The only other gull of note was a second calendar year Yellow-legged Gull, which flew over Harrington Airfield on 2nd.

The Turtle Dove situation is currently dire. Just four local records reflect the shocking demise of this species both nationally and in Europe. Singles were purring at Polebrook AF on 8th (but subsequent searches drew a blank) and Old Sulehay on 9th, one flew north over Stanwick on 11th and two were near Newton Bromswold on 15th. A Short-eared Owl was hunting over waterside vegetation at Pitsford Res on 11th before disappearing over adjacent fields, after a relatively poor winter for this species.

Migrant passerines included a short-staying, singing Wood Warbler at Earls Barton GP on 1st, the long-staying, singing male Ring Ouzel at Harrington AF, where it remained until 3rd and two more were found at Borough Hill on 30th, while the last migrant Common Redstarts included single females at Boddington Res, Fawsley Park and Long Buckby – all on 30th and a singing male appeared to be holding territory at Badby Wood from 8th to 15th. Northern Wheatear passage continued quite strongly into the first week of May, with 30th producing singles at Long Buckby and Earls Barton GP and ten at Borough Hill; four were at Clifford Hill GP on 1st with ten there the following day and, at Harrington AF, three to five were present on 2nd, nine on 3rd, seven on 4th and two on 5th, while a male Greenland Wheatear was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton on 2nd. There were, however, few Whinchats, with the Earls Barton GP bird from last month being joined by a second on 30th, one of which remained until 2nd, singles were at Blueberry Farm and Long Buckby on 30th and, on 4th, one was at Eastcote and two visited Harrington AF. Similarly, there were few White Wagtails with the total of four being made up of singles at Stanwick on 2nd and 11th, Pitsford Res on 3rd and Harrington AF on 5th.

Seven Crossbills flying over Denton Wood on 17th rounded off one of the busiest spring periods locally for a long time.

Unsettled and cold weather, with below average temperatures, were the hallmarks of the last week of the month, which was characterised in the main by stiff northerly winds bringing rain, sleet and snow – albeit in mercifully small quantities across the county. Spring migration continued unabated, however, with plenty of new birds turning up to keep local birders busy.

Still very much part of the furniture, Pitsford’s Ruddy Shelduck remained but rather more transient were a drake Garganey at Summer Leys LNR and a drake Common Scoter at Clifford Hill GP – both one-day wonders on 24th.

Another Great White Egret was seen around the north side of Pitsford Res on 25th but, more interestingly, a White Stork reported over Northampton on 23rd has the potential to make it on to the record as the county’s 20th – if anyone bothers to submit a description.

The 23rd also produced a couple of Marsh Harriers – one at Summer Leys and the other in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton – while another was seen moving high north-east over Thrapston GP the following day. Also on 23rd, a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier was at Lyveden but apart from this there were no more scarce raptors reported during the period.

This week, however, belonged to the waders. More specifically – Black-tailed Godwits. While we’ve had ‘big’ flocks before they have not run into triple figures, let alone triple hundreds! But this was indeed the case on the evening of 27th, when an astonishing three hundred and twenty-five descended on Summer Leys, much to the amazement of the handful of birders on site at the time.

Arriving just after 7 pm, the majority had departed by 8 pm, leaving just four or five on 28th-29th, one of which was colour-ringed. Of course, this small group may have been new, later arrivals. This remarkably short-staying flock gives rise to speculation of what else goes through the county that we must be missing. In much smaller numbers other waders included an Avocet at Clifford Hill GP on 25th and Little Ringed Plovers at three sites throughout the week, while the Whimbrel passage continued with one on Mary’s Lake at Earls Barton GP on 23rd, two at adjacent Summer Leys from 23rd until 25th with one remaining until 29th, two at Clifford Hill GP on 24th with three there on 28th and one over Daventry CP on 26th.

Curlews were scarce by comparison with a pair at a potential breeding site on 24th. Small numbers of Dunlin included three at Stanwick GP on 25th, singles at Pitsford Res on 27th, Summer Leys on 28th and Stanford Res on 29th and four at Summer Leys on the last of these dates.

Common Sandpipers were recorded from six localities with a maximum of six at Stanford Res on 29th, while 24th saw Green Sandpipers arriving at Upton Valley (Northampton), Summer Leys and Clifford Hill GP, where there were two. Last week’s Spotted Redshank remained at Summer Leys until 24th, with the same site holding up to three Greenshanks to 27th and the relatively long-staying Wood Sandpiper until 26th. The scrape at Summer Leys provided ideal habitat for Common Snipe, where the maximum count came to at least twenty-three on 24th.

Arctic Tern passage was still very much in evidence this week with five at Summer Leys and ten at Daventry CP on 23rd – with one at the latter site on 24th-25th – fourteen at Stanwick GP and two at Clifford Hill GP on 25th and one at Earls Barton GP on 27th. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls joined the Black-headed Gull colony at Summer Leys on 28th but then chose to move to the Stanwick GP colony the next day, when they were seen displaying.

Migrant passerines included the long-staying male Ring Ouzel at Harrington AF, where it was observed singing on 29th. Common Redstarts were thin on the ground this week with a female at Daventry CP from 24th to 26th, two near Walgrave on 25th, and singles at Stanwick GP on 27th and Summer Leys on 29th, while Northern Wheatears again maintained their presence all week at Harrington AF with the site attracting up to eight on 24th, the same date seeing six at Clifford Hill GP, while two were at Chelveston AF on 26th. The first migrant Whinchat was discovered at Earls Barton GP on 25th, remaining there until 29th and another appeared at Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) on 27th, while single Bramblings in gardens at Hanging Houghton on 25th and 27th and at Kettering on 26th-29th represented the last remnants of winter …

The week commenced with cold northerlies and biting rain on 16th, when observers at Harrington Airfield also experienced snow showers. Following overnight frost, the 17th dawned bright and sunny and occasionally relatively warm, dry weather ensued for the remainder of the week, with the wind taking on an easterly element. Migrants – it seems – were undeterred and both new arrivals and fly-overs were logged in numbers throughout the county.

The law of diminishing ducks kicked in this week and, aside from Pitsford’s Ruddy Shelduck, the female Scaup remained at Summer Leys LNR until 20th, after which it promptly disappeared. Speculation it is incubating eggs containing Tufted Duck DNA has been running high …

Just when we thought we’d seen the back of them, another Great White Egret was seen flying north-east along the River Nene Valley at Summer Leys on 17th; it did not linger.

There was a better showing of raptors this week with a Marsh Harrier between Wollaston and Strixton on 21st, the immature male Goshawk again in Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res on 18th and an Osprey at the same location on 16th-17th, while reports of

Peregrines were limited to one at Stanford Res on 16th and a pair at a potential breeding site all week. The first Hobbies of the spring were singles between Pitsford Res and Holcot on 19th and at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell two days later.

Preceding a flurry of wader activity at Summer Leys later in the week, three Common Cranes were picked up flying low north-east along the River Nene Valley there late in the morning on 17th. This species remains a scarce visitor and, following the fourteenth county record in 2013, four reports in 2015 have yet to be assessed.

Reports of Ringed Plovers were limited to singles at Pitsford Res on 20th-21st and Summer Leys on 22nd, while Little Ringed Plovers were present at Summer Leys, Stanwick GP and near Northampton, with a fly-over at Harrington AF on 18th. Following the first Whimbrel of the spring at Pitsford Res on 15th, more appeared with singles at Thrapston GP on 17th, Pitsford Res on 18th and 22nd and three at both Summer Leys and

Stanwick GP on 20th, while single Curlews visited both Summer Leys and Stanford Res on 16th and single Bar-tailed Godwits appeared at both Summer Leys and Stanwick GP

on 20th. The latter site held the week’s only Ruff for one day, on 17th, and half of the week’s Dunlin, with three there on 16th – the others being two at Clifford Hill GP on the same date and one at Pitsford Res on 18th.

Common Sandpipers were recorded throughout the week at Pitsford Res, Stanford Res, Stanwick GP and Summer Leys with no more than two at any one site, while single Green Sandpipers were still at the Northampton end of the Brampton Valley on 16th, Pitsford Res between 16th and 20th and at Ditchford GP on 20th. Two splendid full summer-plumaged Spotted Redshanks arrived at Summer Leys on 20th, with one remaining

there until the week’s end and being joined by up to two Greenshanks and a Wood Sandpiper from 21st. The only Common Snipe reported were two at Stanford Res on 16th.

Following last week’s influx of Little Gulls, this week seemed strangely quiet with just a first-winter at Pitsford Res on 16th and it, or another, there on 18th.

The latter date saw the arrival at Stanwick GP of an adult Kittiwake but the only other gulls of note were a second-summer Yellow-legged Gull at Stanwick on 16th and one at Pitsford Res on the same date.

A Black Tern visited Hollowell Res on 19th and Arctic Terns continued to move through with 16th seeing eight at Stanwick GP, five at Boddington Res and one at Hollowell Res, while eleven were at Stanwick and one at Stortons GP the next day, followed by singles at Clifford Hill GP on 21st and Stanwick again on 22nd.

Ring Ouzels continued to be seen at Harrington AF until 21st with up to three there on the latter date, including a male which often showed well in a ploughed field adjacent to the shooting wall. One was also found at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 17th. Harrington also attracted migrant Common Redstarts with three there on 17th and one on 21st, while two were at Fawsley Park on 16th and one at Brackley on 21st.

Harrington AF again proved to be the principal location for Northern Wheatears with the site attracting up to six between 16th and 21st. Interestingly four were trapped and ringed on 17th with two of these proving to be of the Greenland race leucorhoa – colloquially known as Greenland Wheatear. Elsewhere, single Northerns were at both Pitsford Res and Hollowell Res on 16th with four at Blueberry Farm the following day. Similarly northbound, White Wagtails again occurred in small numbers which included two at Pitsford Res on 16th with one there on 20th, two at Summer Leys on 17th, three at Clifford Hill GP on 18th and one at Hollowell Res on 22nd, while single Tree Pipits flew over Harrington AF on 18th and Hollowell Res the following day.