Category: Weekly Reports

The past week’s weather was largely uneventful, the winds veering between north-westerly and south-westerly, bringing little rain with varying temperatures hovering around the average. With just about all winter visitors now in, expectations for new arrivals in late December are normally low …

The three European White-fronted Geese, which were originally found at Pitsford Res on 12th, relocated at Sywell CP on 16th – where they stayed until at least 21st – were back with the goose flock at Pitsford on 23rd, while the same flock continued to hold the two

long-staying Ruddy Shelducks on the same date. Two female Red-crested Pochards were still at Stanford Res on 26th and remain the only ones seen in the county during the period and the first-winter drake Scaup was still being seen at Hollowell Res until 24th. The only truly new bird of the week was a female Ring-necked Duck discovered at Billing GP on 24th and still present on 26th. Its appearance was significantly different to that of last month’s individual at Wicksteed Park Lake and so – moult notwithstanding – this one makes it into the record books as the county’s sixth.

 

This week’s Smew comprised single drakes at Ravensthorpe Res on 20th and Pitsford Res on 26th with three ‘redheads’ at Pitsford Res 20th and one on 26th.

Vying for top site total for Great White Egrets, Ditchford GP produced two on 24th, equalling this week’s ‘count’ at Pitsford Res on 20th but beating just the one at Summer Leys LNR all week. The only raptors of note were a male Merlin at in Brampton Valley on 23rd and single Peregrines at Pitsford Res and Harrington AF – both on 20th.

Golden Plovers have climbed with site maxima reaching approximately seven hundred and fifty at Stanwick GP and approximately two hundred at Harrington AF – both on 20thh, while the only report of Common Snipe was the bare minimum of one at Ravensthorpe Res on the same date and a Jack Snipe was at Ditchford GP on 21st. Other waders were two Redshanks at Stanwick GP – also on 20th – with eight there the following day and one at Clifford Hill GP on 24th and two Green Sandpipers were at Ravensthorpe Res on 20th. The 24th produced the only rare gulls of the period with an adult Mediterranean Gull at Stanford Res and two Caspian Gulls – an adult and a second-winter – at Stanwick GP.

A Ring-necked Parakeet was again in Abington Park, Northampton on 26th and belated news came through of a Firecrest in a Cogenhoe garden on 16th. Three Chiffchaffs – singles at Stanwick GP and Ditchford GP on 21st and at Stanford Res on 24th – surely do not truly reflect the size of the wintering population. Similarly, two male Central European Blackcaps – one a Duston, Northampton garden on 20th and the other in a Kingsthorpe, Northampton the following day are also not representative. Two Stonechats remained at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 20th, two were at Summer Leys LNR the following day and singles were at opposite ends of Ditchford GP on 23rd and 24th.

With a dominating westerly airstream, ‘rollercoaster’ was the buzzword for the week’s weather, which started cold, became mild and ended with temperatures again depressed – some areas experiencing a 13°C shift in temperature within the space of 24 hours. A few more winter visitors arrived …

Last week’s three European White-fronted Geese, which were seen only briefly at Pitsford Res on 12th, managed to evade would-be observers at the weekend and made it out under the radar to Sywell CP, where they were relocated on 16th. These three, still present at the week’s end, constitute the only record of this species in the county so far this year.

Another Pink-footed Goose was found with Greylags in the north of the county – this time at Blatherwycke Lake on 17th, while the two Ruddy Shelducks were still at Pitsford Res on 14th. Last week’s drake Red-crested Pochard was again at Stortons GP on 13th, also visiting nearby Hardingstone GP on 15th-17th and the two females remained at Stanford Res until at least 14th, while the first-winter drake Scaup remained at Hollowell Res all week. The Stortons GP ‘redhead’ Smew was still present on 13th, with up to three ‘redheads’ at Pitsford Res all week and the first classic ‘white nun’ of the winter was found at Ravensthorpe Res on 19th.

Highly mobile and frequently distant, a Great Northern Diver discovered at Pitsford Res on 13th, and subsequently present until at least 16th, was not entirely unexpected and, if past form is anything to go by, it seems likely to remain throughout the winter. Up to three Great White Egrets continued to be seen intermittently at Pitsford Res, while the Summer Leys LNR individual was still present there on 18th.

Unseasonal for Northants, a Marsh Harrier flew over the A45 close to Clifford Hill GP on 16th but apart from this the only other raptors of note were a male Merlin at Harrington AF on 13th-14th and single Peregrines at Stanford Res and Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 13th, Blatherwycke Lake and Higham Ferrers on 17th and two near Hardingstone GP on the same date.

Numbers of Golden Plovers were low this week, with up to one hundred and fifty at Harrington AF between 14th and 16th, while counts of Common Snipe were also low, with one at Stanford Res on 13th and eleven at Pitsford Res and three at Sywell CP on 16th. Single Redshanks appeared at Pitsford Res on 13th and at Wicksteed Park Lake, Kettering the following day, while the week’s only Green Sandpipers were one at Ecton SF on 13th and two at Ravensthorpe Res on 19th. An adult Caspian Gull visited Stanford Res on 13th and the regular two adult Yellow-legged Gulls remained at Hollowell Res all week but, apart from these, there were no other noteworthy gulls. The first ‘white-winger’ of the winter is surely due any day now …

Central European Blackcaps rose to prominence – at least compared to last week – with a female in a Wellingborough garden on 13th, a male in a Northampton garden on 14th and a female there on 17th and a male and two females intermittently in a Sywell garden throughout the period.

Other wintering passerines of note were two Chiffchaffs at Ecton SF on 13th with two at Stanford Res the following day and up to six Stonechats at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell until at least 15th, two at Hollowell Res on the same date and one at Thrapston GP the following day.

A mixed bag of weather, including overnight frosts and rain, culminated in a rush of strong north-westerlies which made little difference to this week’s birding mosaic. Renewed interest in C-listers at both ends of the systematic list appeared to be the order of the day.

They have been dropped from recent reports – they breed and their numbers are increasing – but it’s still worth mentioning that Egyptian Goose produced an all-time high count of seventeen at Ditchford GP on 12th, while four Pink-footed Geese at Fotheringhay on 9th, three White-fronted Geese at Pitsford Res on 12th and a Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Stanford Res on 6th were a bit more on the money. Again, Red-crested Pochard numbers remained low with a drake at Stortons GP on 7th and 12th – visiting nearby Hardingstone GP on 11th – and two at Stanford Res on 12th, while the first-winter drake Scaup from Hollowell Res moved to nearby Ravensthorpe Res on 6th-7th, returning to Hollowell on 8th, where it remained until the week’s end.  Following the first two of the winter last week, more Smew moved in, with this week’s arrivals – all ‘redheads’ – including singles at Stortons GP from 6th to 12th, at Stanford Res from 7th to 12th and two at Ravensthorpe Res from 8th to 12th.

Two or three Great White Egrets were still being seen intermittently at Pitsford Res, another remained at Summer Leys LNR all week and another was at Ditchford GP on 12th, while the Black-necked Grebe remained on Thrapston GP’s Town Lake until at least 7th. This week’s raptors were limited to single Merlins at Harrington AF on 10th and Stanford Res on 7th with a Peregrine at the latter site on the same date.

Counts of Golden Plovers remain in the hundreds, with three hundred and thirty-one at Ditchford on 7th and approximately four hundred and forty there on 12th. Up to three Green Sandpipers at Ravensthorpe Res between 6th and 12th were the only ones this week as were three Common Snipe at Ecton SF on 6th and four at Stanford Res on the same date.

Rare larids this week mirrored last week, with an adult Mediterranean Gull at Stanford Res on 12th, an adult Caspian Gull there on 7th plus a first-winter at Ditchford GP on 12th and two adult Yellow-legged Gulls at Hollowell Res between 8th and 12th, with one at Ditchford GP on the latter date.

A Short-eared Owl was still hunting the fields at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 8th, while Ring-necked Parakeets continued to be seen in Abington Park, Northampton,

with up to two present until at least 9th but the only Central European Blackcap – a male – was in a Northampton garden on 10th and 12th. Other wintering passerines of note were four Chiffchaffs at Ecton SF on 6th with two at Stanford Res on the same date, eight at Ditchford GP on 12th and two Stonechats present at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 8th and at Ditchford GP and Pitsford Res on 12th.

The balmy south-easterlies and relatively high temperatures of the last two days of November rapidly gave way to colder winds from the north and temperatures fell with the commencement of the final month of the year. As the curtain began to slowly fall on 2014, the arrival of more seasonal fare marked the advent of winter proper …

Five Whooper Swans at Hollowell Res on 3rd are the first – and probably the last – record of the year, while the two Ruddy Shelducks continued to tough it out at Pitsford Res until the week’s end; will they make it into the New Year?

Red-crested Pochard numbers remained low with up to five at Pitsford Res between 29th and 1st and the two Wicksteed Park Lake birds were still there on 2nd, while a female Scaup was found at Stanford Res on 29th and the first-winter drake was still at Hollowell Res on 2nd. Against a flush of Goldeneye, the first Smew of the winter – both of them ‘redheads’ – arrived this week, one at Pitsford Res on 30th-1st and the other at Earls Barton GP on 3rd.

All three Great White Egrets were still being seen intermittently at Pitsford Res, another was again at Summer Leys LNR on 29th and 5th and one – perhaps the same – was reported from Stanwick GP on 4th. The Black-necked Grebe was still on Town Lake at Thrapston GP on 30th and the only raptors this week were single fly-over Peregrines at Stanford Res on 29th and at The Lakes/Clifford Hill GP on 2nd plus a male Hen Harrier at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 4th.

Counts of Golden Plovers comprised approximately three hundred at both Summer Leys LNR on 29th and Stanwick GP on 4th and one hundred were at Harrington AF on 2nd, while a Dunlin and a first-winter Knot – scarce in the county, especially in winter – visited Hollowell Res on the same date. Thirty-seven Common Snipe was a good count at Pitsford Res on 1st and single Redshanks were found at Stanford Res on 29th, Wicksteed Park Lake and Pitsford Res on 3rd and at Stanwick GP the following day.

Rare larids this week were restricted to an adult Mediterranean Gull at Pitsford Res on 1st, two Caspian Gulls (an adult and a second-winter) at Stanwick GP on 4th and a Yellow-legged Gull at Pitsford Res on 1st-2nd with two at Stanwick GP, again on 4th.

Winter wouldn’t be the same without at least one Ring-necked Parakeet appearing in Abington Park, Northampton – and so it was, on 30th while, across town, a male Central European Blackcap visited a Kingsthorpe garden on 29th followed by a female there on 4th and another female was in a Kettering garden on 2nd. Wintering Chiffchaffs numbered two each at Stanford Res on 29th and Stanwick GP on 4th, the latter site continuing to host spectacular nightly Starling murmurations, with one flock size estimated to be in the region of fifteen thousand to twenty thousand birds and frequently attracting the attention of local Sparrowhawks.

By contrast the only Stonechats this week were one at Thrapston GP on 29th and the usual two at Hollowell Res on 2nd.

The weather remained relatively mild and blustery with showers and occasional heavy rain as the initial south-south-westerly winds at the beginning of the period gave way to a south-easterly airstream for the majority of the week.

The Stanford Res Pink-footed Goose remained with the Greylag flock all week, while the two Ruddy Shelducks at Pitsford Res were still present on 12th, when ten Pintails were also there. Only nineteen Red-crested Pochards – a drop from last week’s record thirty – were counted there on the same date and a respectable twelve were at Stanford Res on 9th. The female Scaup remained at Daventry CP, being joined there by another on 13th, both birds being present the following day.

The ducks deluxe highlight of the autumn was, however, the female Ring-necked Duck discovered at Wicksteed Park Lake, Kettering on 8th and remaining throughout the week. This very obligingly showy individual, present with just a handful of Tufted Ducks and Pochards, represents only the fifth record for Northamptonshire, following hot on the heels of the fourth, at Stanwick GP, in November 2013. How many more of these need to occur before Northants gets its first Lesser Scaup – long overdue for the county list …?

Up to two Great White Egrets remained at Pitsford Res throughout the week, female Merlins were at Harrington AF on 9th and Pitsford Res on 12th, the only Peregrines were singles at Ditchford GP on 8th and Harrington AF on 10th, while the only other raptor of note was a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier between Brigstock and Lower Benefield on 9th.

The maximum number of Golden Plovers during the period was four hundred at Clifford Hill GP on 8th with the same number at Bozenham Mill on 12th, while up to fifty at Harrington AF was the only other recorded count of this species this week. Three Green Sandpipers at Ravensthorpe Res on 14th was the week’s only record, as were single Redshanks at Clifford Hill GP on 8th and Daventry CP on 13th, while fifty-nine Common Snipe at Pitsford Res on 12th was an impressive count by today’s standards.

A first-winter Mediterranean Gull at Daventry CP on 13th may have been a revisit by last week’s individual and no more than one Yellow-legged Gull was seen here or at reservoirs at Boddington, Hollowell, Pitsford and Ravensthorpe, while Stanwick GP saw four on 13th, with the same site hosting two adult Caspian Gulls on 13th with a sub-adult at Boddington Res on 12th.

The run of Short-eared Owl records from Blueberry Farm appears to have dried up in recent days, although two were at nearby Harrington AF on 10th, while Ring Ouzels just keep coming – this week’s being a first-winter over Daventry CP with Fieldfares on 8th and single males – also associated with Fieldfare movements – at Harrington AF on 9th and Boddington Res on 11th. This week’s Stonechats were singles at Ditchford GP and Clifford Hill GP on 8th, Pitsford Res on 9th and 12th and three at Hollowell Res on 14th, while a late Rock Pipit flew over Boddington Res on 9th, several Bramblings were over Harrington AF on the same date and a single Snow Bunting – the second of the year – visited Clifford Hill GP on 8th.

More of the same as the country remained under the influence of a continued south-westerly airstream, ensuring generally mild – though blustery – conditions with only a minor, short-lived north to north-easterly airflow in the second half of the period. A new record high temperature of 24°C (21°C locally) was set for the last day of October.

The Pink-footed Goose at Stanford Res seems set to stay and was still being seen there on 6th, while the two Ruddy Shelducks at Pitsford Res were still present until at least 30th and the Pintail flock appeared to peak at eighteen there the following day. The only other Pintail during the period was one at Stanwick GP on 29th. Also reaching new heights, the flock of Red-crested Pochards at Pitsford Res increased to thirty on 2nd and the Stanford Res flock comprised seventeen between 29th and 6th, while three were at Thrapston GP on 1st and singles visited Stortons GP on 4th and Ravensthorpe Res on 7th. A female Scaup was discovered at Daventry CP on 29th, remaining there until 6th and a female Common Scoter paid a brief visit to Stanford Res before flying of west on 2nd.

Up to three Great White Egrets remained at Pitsford Res until at least 3rd, and another dropped in to Byfield Pool (Boddington Res) briefly before heading south on 26th, another was at Irthlingborough Meadows (Ditchford GP) on 28th and possibly the same individual visited Barclaycard Pit at Thrapston GP on 4th. By comparison a Bittern at Stortons GP on 25th seemed rare … The two Black-necked Grebes were again very much in evidence on Thrapston GP’s Town Lake between 28th and 1st.

A better than normal selection of raptors included a female Merlin at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 28th, 29th and 2nd plus a male at Stortons GP on 1st, while Peregrines were seen at Blueberry Farm, Cold Higham, Daventry CP, Harrington AF, Polebrook AF, Stanford Res and Thrapston GP. Moving up a size, a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier visited Blueberry Farm on 2nd and a male flew SSW at Daventry CP on 6th and a male Marsh Harrier was at Great Oxendon on 25th. Raptor of the week – or year – or decade, depending on your perspective, was the juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard which drifted past a couple of seriously jammy observers as it headed down the Brampton Valley, without so much as a look back, on 29th. This is the 17th record for the Teflon county and the first since 2009 when two were seen in spring. Prior to that it was a fly-over in October 1994 and veteran birders will remember the one before that as being a single-observer fly-by at Pitsford Res in October 1974 – the last time there was an invasion of this species into the UK. With others currently appearing well inland it’s clearly time to stop counting Tufted Ducks and get out to the remoter parts of the county to look for them. Can you really afford to wait another 40 years for the next influx …?

The maximum number of Golden Plovers during the period was three hundred and fifty at Stanford Res on 25th with smaller numbers in Brampton Valley, Harrington AF and near Cotterstock, while a Grey Plover put in appearances in Brampton Valley on 29th and 1st. A Ruff visited Pitsford Res on 1st, single Dunlins were seen briefly at Stanwick GP on 30th, Hollowell Res on 31st and Stanford Res on 6th and the (relatively) long-staying Grey Phalarope remained at Pitsford Res before finally departing on 30th. A sprinkling of Green Sandpipers included two at Pitsford Res on 25th and 31st and singles at Ravensthorpe Res on 27th-29th and again on 7th, while the Greenshank – believed to have had a damaged wing – was still at the latter site on 29th. The only Redshank reported was one at Stanwick GP on 30th, small numbers of Common Snipe were reported from reservoirs at Hollowell, Ravensthorpe and Stanford as well as at Stortons GP, where there was also a Jack Snipe on 25th-26th and another of the latter species was flushed at Harrington AF on 3rd.

The 29th produced two Mediterranean Gulls – an adult at Hollowell Res and a first-winter at Daventry CP and another first-winter visited the gull roost at Pitsford Res on 1st, while a strong candidate for an adult Baltic Gull was seen well for a period of thirty minutes at Hollowell Res – also on 29th. No more than two Yellow-legged Gulls were seen at Daventry CP, Pitsford Res, Hollowell Res, Stanford Res and Stanwick GP during the period, with the latter site hosting single adult Caspian Gulls on 29th and 1st with an adult and a second-winter there on 2nd and two adults there on 5th.

Up to two Short-eared Owls remained throughout the period proving, as ever, to be a popular draw with locals and out-of-county birders alike, and further singles were at Harrington AF on 27th-29th, below Hanging Houghton on 30th and at Stanwick GP on 4th.

It’s worth mentioning that a Cetti’s Warbler trapped at Stanford Res on 1st was the second to be trapped at the site this year; this species is rare in Northants away from the Nene Valley.

Airfield Ring Ouzels continued to appear with a male – this time at Chelveston on 31st while a Black Redstart on farm buildings near Long Buckby on 3rd was another typical late autumn record in a similarly typical choice of habitat.

It’s still proving to be a good autumn for Stonechats and, aside from the six present at Blueberry Farm, lower numbers were found in the wider Brampton Valley and at Borough Hill, Ditchford GP, Harrington AF, Hollowell Res, Pitsford Res and Sywell CP, while two late Greenland race Northern Wheatears were at Polebrook AF on 26th. What was probably the last Rock Pipit of the autumn flew over Stanford Res on 1st and, as winter drew ever closer, more Bramblings were found at Daventry CP, Hanging Houghton, Harrington AF, Pitsford Res, Stanwick GP and near Lyveden New Bield, while four Crossbills were at Harlestone Heath on 27th.

This week’s weather was again dominated by Atlantic low pressure systems – initially delivering a warm, southerly airstream with temperatures up to 20°C – before the winds turned strong north-westerly on 20th-21st as the tail-end of ex-Hurricane Gonzalo hit the UK, resulting in the strongest gales of the autumn so far. Surprisingly, there were fewer inland seabirds than were recorded during last week’s north-easterly blow and, not surprisingly, Northants received none.

Forget the usual escapes and ferals – a Pink-footed Goose at Stanford Res on 19th was surely ‘real’ while the two Ruddy Shelducks remained at Pitsford Res until at least 22nd, the same site hosting thirteen Pintails and the now regular flock of Red-crested Pochards, which reached a record twenty-seven on 22nd. Two drakes of the latter species were at Stanford Res on 18th – the same date a Garganey was found at Pitsford Res, while another ‘new’ Garganey was at Ravensthorpe Res two days later. The first Goosander of the winter, a drake, appeared at Daventry CP on 22nd.

It appears last week’s Gannet at Pitsford Res on 14th was not alone as belated news emerged of another flying over Rushden, late in the afternoon, on the same date. At least two Great White Egrets remained at Pitsford Res and one visited Summer Leys LNR briefly on 19th, while a Bittern was found at Ditchford GP on 18th and two were seen flying into the reedbed at Stanwick GP on 24th. Just one Black-necked Grebe remained on Thrapston GP’s Town Lake by 18th and Peregrines were at Stanford Res on 18th, Hollowell Res on 20th, Higham Ferrers on 21st and Lamport on 23rd.

The maximum number of Golden Plovers this week was two hundred and ninety-five at Daventry CP on 24th and, for the second week running, a Grey Plover was seen in the Nene Valley – this time at Clifford Hill GP on 18th. The only Dunlin this week was one at Pitsford Res on 22nd and this appears to be the last date on which the well-photographed, celebrity Grey Phalarope was reported there, becoming ludicrously approachable toward the end of its stay.

Three late Common Sandpipers were found: one at Stanford Res on 18th, one at Stanwick GP on 20th-21st and one at Pitsford Res on 22nd, while a single Green Sandpiper was found at Ditchford GP on 18th and other site maxima for this species included three at Pitsford Res on 22nd and five at Ravensthorpe Res on 20th. The latter site continued to host a Greenshank until at least 23rd and Common Snipe were reported from this locality as well as at Barnes Meadow, Brixworth STW, Ditchford GP and Pitsford Res, where there was a maximum of thirty-eight present on 22nd. A Jack Snipe was also found at Barnes Meadow on 19th.

Up to three adult Yellow-legged Gulls were at Pitsford Res during the period, with singles at Hollowell Res, Ravensthorpe Res and Stanwick GP, with the latter site hosting an apparent adult showing characteristics of the race atlantis, colloquially known as ‘Azorean Gull’, for little more than twenty minutes during the late afternoon of 20th. This is the second or third occurrence of this race in the county, following one – possibly two different individuals – at the same site on six dates during September/October 2013.

Blueberry Farm’s Short-eared Owl remained all week, showing frequently in the southernmost field of the complex, and another was at Harrington AF on 18th-19th. October is a strong passage month for Shorties so it’s too early to predict if it’s going to be a good winter for this species. Barely a week goes by these days without a report of a flyover Ring-necked Parakeet and this one is no exception with one flying over Weston Favell, Northampton on 19th, while it appears that the previous week’s Swallows were not the last after all as one was at Pitsford Res, also on 19th. Similarly, the Willow Warbler trapped and ringed at Stanford Res on 15th made it on to this week’s list, being retrapped there on 18th, along with an equally late Reed Warbler on site. A Ring Ouzel appeared at Harrington AF on 24th – now almost to be expected in late October at this site – and up to two Stonechats were present here and at Pitsford Res, Blueberry Farm and Ditchford GP with three still at Hollowell Res on 23rd. Single Northern Wheatears hung on at Pitsford Res, Harrington AF and in the Brampton Valley between 18th and

20th; surely they are the last ones this year … and a Water Pipit was back at this species’ traditional wintering site of Ditchford GP on 18th – or it may just have been a migrant. A handful of Bramblings were seen in the Brampton Valley and at Harrington AF between 20th and 24th, while Harrington hosted a latter-day local scarcity – a Corn Bunting – on the last of these two dates.

Atlantic low pressure systems shaped the weather for the week, a particularly deep low crossing the UK on 13th, bringing with it strong north-easterly winds and rain and displaced seabirds inland in several counties. Northamptonshire’s share was, as usual, meagre compared to neighbouring counties, nevertheless this was arguably the most exciting week of autumn so far.

Aside from the lingering escapes and ferals – specifically Cackling Goose still at Stanford Res on 11th, the two Barnacle Geese still at Hollowell Res all week and the female Wood Duck coming out of the woodwork (where else) on the River Nene in downtown Northampton on 14th, the number of wildfowl remained unremarkable. On 15th-17th the two Ruddy Shelducks were again at Pitsford Res, where sixteen Pintails were counted on 11th and 25 Red-crested Pochards were present the following day. The count for the last species also reached double figures at Stanford Res with ten (eight drakes) on 11th.

An immature Gannet at Pitsford Res on 14th was the chief prize delivered by the previous day’s low pressure system, although it remained on site for little more than one hour after its discovery.

The same locality collected yet another Great White Egret – a colour-ringed individual from France – bringing the total there to three from 11th to at least 15th, with singles still at Thrapston GP on 12th and Summer Leys LNR on 14th. Following the two Black-necked Grebes at Pitsford Res last week, two, perhaps the same, were discovered at Thrapston GP on 11th and remained all week.

An immature Merlin flew over Boddington Res on 16th, two Peregrines were at Rushden on 11th and 13th and singles were seen at Polebrook AF on 12th, over Northampton on 14th and at Hollowell Res on 17th.

Passage waders enjoyed a resurgence this week. Single Golden Plovers appeared at Stanford Res on 11th and Boddington Res on 14th with ten over Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 12th and 2 at Hollowell Res on 13th, although two hundred at Harrington AF on 11th are presumably set to winter in the area. A Grey Plover visited Thrapston GP on 14th and a Dunlin appeared at Summer Leys LNR on 12th and 13th, with two more visiting Hollowell Res on the second of these two dates. Hollowell also produced a Little Stint on 14th as well as the first of this week’s storm-driven Grey Phalaropes briefly on 13th, which was quickly followed by two more equally briefly at Pitsford Res the following day. One of these – or perhaps a different individual – was relocated at the southern end there on 15th. A dapper first-winter, it initially showed well and remained until the week’s end, becoming increasingly elusive during its stay.

Late Common Sandpipers visited Stanford Res on 11th and Boddington Res on 16th, with 2 there on 17th, while a single Green Sandpiper remained at Pitsford Res to 17th and four were at Ravensthorpe Res on the same date. Spotted Redshanks continue to remain scarce migrants in Northants and the one which visited Sywell CP for minutes on 14th didn’t do anything to reverse its current status while, on the following day, a Redshank and two Greenshanks visited Pitsford Res and another Greenshank was at Ravensthorpe Res from 15th until 17th.    A Woodcock – perhaps the first of the many continental migrants – was at Harrington AF on 15th and single Common Snipe were at Stanford Res on 11th and Boddington Res on 16th with twelve at the latter site on 17th.

Lone, straggler terns are often encountered inland in late autumn so a juvenile Arctic Tern at Thrapston GP on 12th was not unusual so neither was the juvenile Common Tern seen there over the following two days … More unusual – although not entirely unexpected – was one of the largest flocks of Kittiwakes in the county for many years, in the wet and windy conditions at Pitsford Res on the evening of 13th; another visited Summer Leys LNR during the afternoon on the same date. Thrapston GP produced a juvenile Little Gull, an adult Mediterranean Gull and a second-winter Caspian Gull the following day, at which time a first-winter Mediterranean Gull was at Pitsford Res. The usual single, lingering adult Yellow-legged Gulls remained at Pitsford Res, Hollowell Res and Ravensthorpe Res and one visited Boddington Res on 17th, although three adults were present at the first of these four sites on 14th.

Site-faithful Short-eared Owls returned to Blueberry Farm, Maidwell from 10th with two there on 12th and singles on 14th and 16th, the southernmost set-aside fields having consistently held varying numbers of this species in recent winters. For the second year running, an October Hoopoe was found in Northants, this time visiting a garden near Towcester Racecourse only briefly on 13th. While two Ring-necked Parakeets were seen flying over Eastfield, Northampton on 14th, late news emerged of a ‘colony’ consisting of three nest-holes in trees at a locality in south Northants. This species is still on the up in the UK but numbers recorded in the county remain low. Potentially the last Swallows, three at Pitsford Res on 15th, and the last House Martin, one at Polebrook AF on 12th, were recorded this week and a late Willow Warbler was trapped and ringed at Stanford Res on 15th. Among the many northern thrushes coming through during the week – five hundred Redwings being notable at Thrapston GP on 14th – a juvenile Ring Ouzel was found at Blueberry Farm on 12th and the first Fieldfares, approximately sixty, were seen nearby in the Brampton Valley the following day. The same area hosted four Stonechats throughout the week, while the same number was at Thrapston GP on 16th, up to six remained at Hollowell Res on 15th and two were still at Harrington AF on 12th.

Perhaps the year’s last Northern Wheatears visited Harrington AF on 11th and Pitsford Res on 15th-17th and up to two Rock Pipits were at Hollowell Res on 13th-14th, with singles at Thrapston GP on 14th and Pitsford Res on 14th-15th and again on 17th.

Finally, Bramblings moved in: two or three at Blueberry Farm on 11th, six at Thrapston GP on 14th and singles at Harrington AF and Hanging Houghton on 15th and 17th and at Castle Ashby Lakes and Pitsford Res on 16th. Winter is here … nearly.

A succession of Atlantic lows introduced intermittent periods of rain on predominantly south-westerly winds, which brought temperatures back in line with the average for the time of year.

A Cackling Goose – undoubtedly an escape – was found at Stanford Res on 5th and the two Barnacle Geese were still at Hollowell Res on 10th, while the number of Pintails at Pitsford Res had jumped to twelve by 5th. The same site continued to host a juvenile Garganey by the dam until at least 6th, while Ravensthorpe Res similarly held on to its long-staying juvenile until at least 7th.

Meanwhile, back at Pitsford, the lingering Red-crested Pochard flock had risen by three to sixteen on 5th and five drakes, plus a female hybrid, were at Stanford Res on the same date.

Great White Egrets came to the fore this week with the Summer Leys/Earls Barton GP individual remaining until at least 7th and new birds turning up at Pitsford Res on 5th, being joined there by another on 7th with both still present on 10th, while another was at Thrapston GP on 9th-10th. Two Black-necked Grebes appeared by the dam at Pitsford Res on 9th but appeared to be absent the next day.

A female or immature Merlin visited Daventry CP on 10th, probably the last of the summer Hobbies were two at Thrapston GP on 4th and at least one adult Peregrine remained at a locality in the Nene Valley on the same date, otherwise the week was notable for its lack of raptor reports.

Dwindling passage waders included four Ringed Plovers at Pitsford Res on 6th and a single Golden Plover at Stanford Res on 5th while numbers at Harrington AF built further with approximately eighty there on the same date. Two Ruff were still at Pitsford Res on 4th and single Common Sandpipers visited Stanford Res and Stanwick GP on 5th, while the same date produced single Green Sandpipers at Pitsford Res (and again on 10th) and Stanford Res, followed by one at Daventry CP on 8th and 10th and two at Ravensthorpe Res on 8th with four there on 10th. A handful of Common Snipe included up to three at Summer Leys LNR and two at Ravensthorpe Res and Pitsford Res mid-week.

Yellow-legged Gull numbers were again low with just single, lingering adults at Pitsford Res, Hollowell Res and Ravensthorpe Res on 5th and 8th plus an adult and a first-winter at Daventry CP on the last of those two dates.

Passerines were poorly represented this week, the best being a late Reed Warbler trapped and ringed at Stortons GP on 5th, single Stonechats at Pitsford Res, Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) and Harrington AF on 5th and at least four at Hollowell Res until 8th

and one at Clifford Hill GP on 10th, while a Northern Wheatear visited Pitsford Res on6th and up to four Rock Pipits were at Hollowell Res between 6th and 10th and another at Ravensthorpe Res on the latter date and a White Wagtail was at Hollowell Res on 10th.

The dry weather persisted throughout the two weeks of this period, although the winds  became predominantly westerly and light. Some long-staying ‘favourites’ remained, wader passage predictably dwindled and a couple of scarce migrants made all too brief appearances in suburban gardens.

A Pink-footed Goose arrived from the north at Ravensthorpe Res and promptly joined the Greylag flock there on 25th, while the two Ruddy Shelducks at Pitsford Res were still present on 20th, although they were not reported again until 2nd. On site there the lingering flock of Red-crested Pochards remained at thirteen throughout, the leucistic drake was again at Clifford Hill GP on 21st and the eclipse drake was still at Stanford Res on 20th with three Pintail there on the same date. Up to two more Pintail were at Pitsford Res between 29th and 2nd and up to three Garganeys were on view at Summer Leys LNR between 20th and 28th, while one remained at Ravensthorpe Res until 25th and another was at Pitsford Res on the same date.

A Bittern visited Summer Leys briefly before heading west on 21st and the same site hosted a Great White Egret the following day, remaining there until 30th. In the west of the county, Daventry CP’s Red-necked Grebe was last seen on 23rd.

‘Cream-crown’ Marsh Harriers visited Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 22nd and Harrington AF two days later and Ospreys visited Pitsford Res on 21st and Thrapston GP on 26th, while male Merlins appeared at Harrington AF on 20th and Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 25th. Up to two adult Peregrines remained at a locality in the Nene Valley throughout the period, the regular adult female was seen at Blueberry Farm and Harrington AF on four dates and singles visited Summer Leys on 22nd and Hollowell Res on 25th.

Two Little Ringed Plovers were still at Clifford Hill GP on 21st with single Ringed Plovers there on 23rd and 26th and further singles at Summer Leys on 23rd and Pitsford Res on 25th, while Golden Plovers were recorded at there, as well as Brampton Valley and Harrington AF, with a maximum of approximately fifty at the latter site on 22nd. The only Black-tailed Godwit this week was one at Clifford Hill GP on 23rd, where there were also two Ruff on 21st and 25th. Another Ruff visited Earls Barton GP on 20th and two were present at Pitsford Res from 27th to 30th and two Dunlin were at Clifford Hill GP on 21st and 26th. Just one Common Sandpiper – at Daventry CP on 23rd – preserved this species’ status as a weekly reportee in these summaries, while single Green Sandpipers were seen at Stanford Res on 20th and Hollowell Res on 25th and three were present at both Daventry CP on 23rd and Ravensthorpe Res on 24th-25th. Seven reports of Common Snipe included singles at Pitsford Res on 20th and 30th with three there on 25th, six at Moulton Quarry on 22nd with four there on 2nd, four at Summer Leys on 22nd and three at Ravensthorpe Res on 25th. Yellow-legged Gull numbers dwindled to just two at Hollowell Res on 24th and 30th and three at Pitsford Res on 25th with one there on 2nd but no counts were received from the established ‘stronghold’ at Stanwick GP, which had hosted ninety on 18th September.

A Ring-necked Parakeet flying over Riverside, Northampton on 27th was unremarkable but a Wryneck photographed in a Rushden garden on the same date was a bit more on the money, as was a probable Yellow-browed Warbler, glimpsed in a Great Billing garden on 23rd! Potentially the two best birds of the month, they were not seen again after their initial sightings. The first autumn Redwings, four, flew over Harrington AF on 28th and, after the huge run of Common Redstarts this autumn, only two were seen during the period: one between Pitsford Res and Walgrave on 21st and the other trapped and ringed at Stanford Res the following day. Similarly, Whinchat numbers began to tail off with one at Clifford Hill GP on 21st, at least four at Blueberry Farm until 23rd and singles at Thrapston GP on 23rd and at Hollowell Res on 27th and 30th but it’s proving to be a good autumn for Stonechats with records of singles at Pitsford Res and Clifford Hill GP, up to two at Blueberry Farm and up to four at Hollowell Res until 30th.

Northern Wheatears continued to remain scarce, however, with two still at Harrington AF to 23rd and one at Blueberry Farm the following day while two White Wagtails visited Hollowell Res on 24th and a Rock Pipit visited the scrape at Summer Leys LNR on 3rd before being flushed by a Sparrowhawk, never to return …