This news page aims to provide up to date news of all interesting and uncommon birds as, and when, they occur in Northamptonshire. I will endeavour to update this page regularly but I do not guarantee any specific update frequency. News and information may be received from a variety of sources and it is published in good faith.
Northantsbirds will not in any way be held responsible for incorrect or inaccurate information which may appear here, or for any inconvenience caused as a result.
All reports remain unauthenticated until acceptance by the Northamptonshire Bird Report (Northants Birds) Records Committee. Records are added in chronological order so be sure to scroll down the whole table for the full detail and check the Twitter feed in the right sidebar for the most up-to-date news, which may not have yet made it into the main body of the news page. All birders are welcome to email their sightings, corrections or updates to alibone.mike@gmail.com and are encouraged to supply as much information as possible (directions to site, time of observation, grid reference, etc). For the more uncommon species, observers may also like to ‘cc’ their email reports to the national bird news and information services Birdguides and Rare Bird Alert.
As a result of the high volume of information received via various media, I do not normally acknowledge receipt of bird news.
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Latest update: FRIday, 15th January 2021 22.55
TOday
15 Jan Cattle Egret Stanwick GP – six at the north-eastern end, late afternoon
15 Jan Cattle Egret Stanwick GP – two still at the north-eastern end, also 24 White-fronted Geese still this afternoon
15 Jan Crossbill Hollowell Res – nine this morning
WEDNESday, 13th January
13 Jan Hawfinch Weldon – female, 12.30
13 Jan Cattle Egret Stanwick GP – five flew north-east, early morning, also c.30 White-fronted Geese still, plus female Ferruginous Duck-type hybrid briefly before flying toward Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows end of Ditchford GP, 3 Great Egrets and 3 Redshanks
13 Jan Crossbill Hollowell Res – one, early morning
TUESday, 12th January
12 Jan Cattle Egret Stanwick GP – five still at north end, 13.25
12 Jan Pink-footed Goose Hollowell Res – one with Greylags at the feeder stream end, 11.30, also Crossbill
12 Jan Crossbill Hollowell Res – nine behind Guilsborough Bay, 08.25
MONday, 11th January
11 Jan Cattle Egret Stanwick GP – five at north end, by Hogs Dyke, 13.45, also Great Egret
11 Jan Bearded Tit Stortons GP – two still, heard in the reedbed this morning, also 2 Red-crested Pochards and Merlin at Sixfields Lake
11 Jan Merlin Harrington AF – one still, 10.10
SUNday, 10th January
10 Jan Great Northern Diver Pitsford Res – juvenile still, between the causeway and Catwalk Bay, 12.25
10 Jan Bearded Tit Stortons GP – two still, in the north-west section of the reedbed this morning
10 Jan White-fronted Goose Stanwick GP – unspecified number at north end, by Hogs Dyke, 11.40
10 Jan Merlin Harrington AF – one, 08.50
SATURday, 9th January
09 Jan Bearded Tit Stortons GP – two still, in the reedbed where stream enters lake today
09 Jan Cattle Egret Stanwick GP – five still with sheep by North Lake, 14.45
FRIday, 8th January
⊗ 08 Jan Woodlark Aldwincle – no sign of one reported on stubble with Skylarks, east of track from Lowick Road to Elinor Trout Fishery at 52.417800, -0.524700
08 Jan Jack Snipe Wicksteed Water Meadows – one this afternoon, also 2 Stonechats
08 Jan Bearded Tit Stortons GP – two still, in the reedbed where stream enters lake, 13.00
08 Jan Crossbill Harlestone Heath – six, 100 m from entrance on the left hand side this morning
08 Jan Great Northern Diver Pitsford Res – juvenile still, off the sailing club, 11.15
08 Jan Bearded Tit Stortons GP – two (one male), in the reedbed where stream enters lake, 09.15
08 Jan White-fronted Goose Stanwick GP – thirty-three still, on Main Lake, early morning
08 Jan Crossbill Hollowell Res – ten flew south over Guilsborough Bay, 08.15
THURSday, 7th January
07 Jan Woodlark Aldwincle – one reported on stubble with Skylarks, east of track from Lowick Road to Elinor Trout Fishery at 52.417800, -0.524700
07 Jan Woodlark Aldwincle – wholly unconfirmed report of one with Skylarks today
⊗ 07 Jan Greenland White-fronted Goose Wicksteed Park, Kettering – no sign of yesterday’s adult with Greylags this morning
07 Jan White-fronted Goose Stanwick GP – thirty-three on Main Lake at first light before moving to nearby fields
WEDNESday, 6th January
06 Jan Greenland White-fronted Goose Wicksteed Park, Kettering – adult with Greylags this afternoon, not ‘Russian’ White-fronted Goose as previously reported
06 Jan Bittern Stortons GP – two flew into the reedbed, one at 16.28, the other at 16.45
06 Jan Cattle Egret Earls Barton GP – at least one still on sheep meadows alongside River Nene, north-east of Summer Leys LNR this afternoon, also 2 Great Egrets on the reserve
06 Jan White-fronted Goose Wicksteed Park, Kettering – adult with Greylags this afternoon
06 Jan White-fronted Goose Stanwick GP – thirty-one still at the north-eastern end, 15.25, also Cattle Egret
06 Jan Long-tailed Tit Ravensthorpe Res – one showing caudatus-type characteristics (probably caudatus/europaeus intergrade) again between car park and spillway, 14.30
06 Jan Merlin Arthingworth – one along Thorpe Road toward Desborough, 11.30
06 Jan Jack Snipe Daventry CP – six this morning, also 4 Common Snipes
06 Jan White-fronted Goose Stanwick GP – at least 21 still on fields at the north-eastern end this morning, also Cattle Egret in field to south of old railway track
⊗ 06 Jan Whooper Swan Clifford Hill GP – no sign, this morning, of yesterday’s seven
TUESday, 5th January
05 Jan Whooper Swan Clifford Hill GP – seven on the Main Barrage Lake, 16.00
05 Jan Caspian Gull Boddington Res – first-winter in the gull roost this afternoon, also 3 Mediterranean Gulls (adult and 2 first-winters) and adult Yellow-legged Gull
05 Jan Great Northern Diver Pitsford Res – juvenile still, south of the causeway, two thirds of the way to the gorse bushes this afternoon, also drake Pintail, Redshank and 6 Stonechats
05 Jan Iceland Gull Rushton Landfill – third-winter, 12.25-14.00, viewable from roadside gap in hedge on Oakley Road, 30 m north of entrance to windfarm, also 2 Caspian Gulls (first-winter and second-winter)
05 Jan Jack Snipe Ravensthorpe Res – two still in marshy field pool on opposite side of Spratton Road to the dam
05 Jan Long-tailed Tit Ravensthorpe Res – one showing caudatus-type characteristics (probably caudatus/europaeus intergrade) again east of the spillway, 12.10
05 Jan Cattle Egret Great Doddington – five still on sheep meadows north of the River Nene, north-east of Wollaston Lock, 11.30, viewable from The Ridge (main road running through the village)
05 Jan Red-crested Pochard Kislingbury GP – female, 09.30
05 Jan Whooper Swan Stanford Res – five (2 adults) in Keepers Lodge Bay, 08.30
05 Jan White-fronted Goose Stanwick GP – at least 27 still, 08.10, also 6 Pintails and 3 Redshanks
MONday, 4th January
04 Jan Cattle Egret Earls Barton GP – five still on sheep meadows alongside River Nene, north-east of Wollaston Lock toward Wellingborough, 16.10
04 Jan Great Northern Diver Pitsford Res – juvenile still, south of the causeway, off the gorse bushes, 15.35
04 Jan Jack Snipe Daventry CP – fourteen today, also 4 Common Snipes
04 Jan Cattle Egret Stanwick GP – two on Roadside Lake, 15.05
04 Jan Great Northern Diver Pitsford Res – juvenile still, showing very well just south of the causeway, past the car park, 13.10, also 2 Stonechats
04 Jan Cattle Egret Earls Barton GP – at least one still on sheep meadows, north of Summer Leys LNR, 11.45
04 Jan Crossbill Wakerley Great Wood – twenty around the car park toilet block, 11.25
04 Jan Great Northern Diver Pitsford Res – juvenile still, showing very well just south of the causeway, off the car park, 11.10
⊗ 04 Jan Northern Long-tailed Tit Ravensthorpe Res – no sign to 10.35 of the one showing caudatus-type characteristics (probably caudatus/europaeus intergrade)
04 Jan Merlin Helmdon – female over the tip, 09.35
04 Jan White-fronted Goose Stanwick GP – at least 27 this morning (20+ on field north-east of Main Lake, 7 on fields at the north-eastern end of the complex), also 4 Pintails and 4 Great Egrets
SUNday, 3RD January
03 Jan White-fronted Goose Laxton – twenty-two flew south-west, 15.35
03 Jan Cattle Egret Earls Barton GP – five still on sheep meadows north of River Nene, c.1 km north-east of Wollaston Lock toward Wellingborough, 14.30
03 Jan Northern Long-tailed Tit Ravensthorpe Res – one showing characteristics of the race caudatus with mixed tit flock in the south-east corner, 14.06, then flew down the spillway
03 Jan Crossbill Wakerley Great Wood – approximately 20 in larches along track, 200 m south-west of car park, 12.55
03 Jan Great Northern Diver Pitsford Res – juvenile still, south of the causeway, 12.10
03 Jan Whooper Swan Pitsford Res – two flew south-west, 11.28, also 2 Red-crested Pochards (one drake) south of the causeway
03 Jan Whooper Swan Hollowell Res – the 3 flew off north-west, 11.18
03 Jan Cattle Egret Stanwick GP – four still around Hogs Dyke, 11.10, also Great Egret
03 Jan Jack Snipe Ravensthorpe Res – one in ponds adjacent to dam, 10.55
03 Jan Whooper Swan Hollowell Res – three around the feeder stream, 10.30
03 Jan White-fronted Goose Stanwick GP – twenty-three on North Lake, 10.50
03 Jan Whooper Swan Barton Seagrave – three flew south-west, 09.30
03 Jan Cattle Egret Earls Barton GP – five still on sheep meadows north of River Nene, c.1 km north-east of Wollaston Lock toward Wellingborough, 09.20
SATURday, 2ND January
02 Jan Cattle Egret Earls Barton GP – five still on sheep meadows north of River Nene, near farm buildings between Wollaston Lock and Wellingborough, 16.00
02 Jan Caspian Gull Rushton Landfill – adult this afternoon
02 Jan Whooper Swan Hollowell Res – the 6 flew off north, 13.35, also female Ruddy Shelduck, Great Egret, Jack Snipe, 5 Common Snipes and 3 Stonechats
02 Jan Cattle Egret Earls Barton GP – five now on sheep meadows north of River Nene, between Wollaston Lock and Wellingborough, 13.15
02 Jan Whooper Swan Hollowell Res – six still, off Guilsborough Bay Point, 13.15
02 Jan Cattle Egret Earls Barton GP – three still on sheep meadows north of River Nene, in front of farm buildings between Wollaston Lock and Wellingborough, 12.15
02 Jan Great Northern Diver Pitsford Res – juvenile in The Narrows, 12.10
02 Jan Crossbill Hollowell Res – seven in Guilsborough Bay, 11.50, also 4 Bramblings in field opposite feeder stream
02 Jan Crossbill Wakerley Great Wood – at least 20, 11.15
02 Jan Whooper Swan Hollowell Res – six in Guilsborough Bay, 11.15, presumably ex-Pitsford
⊗ 02 Jan Whooper Swan Pitsford Res – the 6 flew off west and out of sight of the causeway, 10.30
02 Jan Whooper Swan Pitsford Res – six just south of the causeway, close to the car park, 10.00
02 Jan Great Northern Diver Pitsford Res – juvenile off the causeway, 09.40
02 Jan White-fronted Goose Stanwick GP – thirty-three flew from North Lake and feeding in adjacent fields, 09.25
02 Jan Jack Snipe Stanford Res – one behind the settling pond, 09.20, also 8 Golden Plovers and Stonechat
02 Jan Cattle Egret Earls Barton GP – three on sheep meadows adjacent to River Nene, approximately 1 km north of Mary’s Lane, 09.10
02 Jan White-fronted Goose Stanwick GP – at least 30 on North Lake, 08.50, also Green Sandpiper, plus 4 Pintails and 3 Redshanks on Main Lake
FRIday, 1st January 2021
01 Jan Mediterranean Gull Boddington Res – two (adult and first-winter) in the gull roost this evening, 16.30
01 Jan Great Northern Diver Pitsford Res – juvenile still, south of the causeway, off The Narrows, 15.14
01 Jan Crossbill Hollowell Res – seven behind the dam, 11.45
01 Jan Cattle Egret Stanwick GP – five with sheep between North Lake and Hogs Dyke Path, 11.40
01 Jan Caspian Gull Harrington AF – first-winter flew north-east, 10.15
01 Jan Crossbill Wakerley Great Wood – at least 10 around the car park area, 10.10
01 Jan Cattle Egret Stanwick GP – two this morning, also 33 White-fronted Geese (7 in fields + 26 on North Lake), plus 2 Pintails and 2 Great Egrets
01 Jan Great Northern Diver Pitsford Res – juvenile still, approximately 1.2 km south of causeway near the bench and gorse bushes on the Brixworth side, 08.50, also Great Egret north of the causeway
50+linnets pitsford res today at 12.near first hide
spotted the linnets along waters edge
Sole waxwing seen yesterday in Badby by allotment, watched for 20 minutes, no more about.
Thanks, Andy
Hi is this the right place to report birds? I’ve only just found you! I live in West Hunsbury, Northampton near the Shelfley lake off Ladybridge Drive. Very excited today as for the first time we have a flock of fieldfares in the Close. We feed a lot of birds in our garden so hopefully they will stick around. But also I walked round the lake this morning and spotted the single heron we have. Then I saw what looked like a black heron. I was a little way away from it so my details might not be quite right and my camera phone is useless. It was a bit smaller than a normal heron, completely black as far as I could see, long bill curved a bit at the end and the tail was quite fanned out. When I got home I looked for it and the only two things which resembled it were a shag and a cormorant. It looked more like the shag tbh but it would be as far away from the coast as you could get! Any thoughts? Many thanks, Sarah PS I will try to get a photo next time I go down if it’s still there.
Sarah, Thanks for the report. It will almost certainly be a Cormorant – they are common in Northants and breed at several localities. Shag is not impossible, though, as there was one on Abington Park Lake a couple of winters ago. If you would like to report sightings then please email me at northantsbirds@ntlworld.com Thanks!
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Mike – could the injured Ruddy Shelduck not be rescued and treated, e.g. by RSPCA?
In theory, yes. Attempts to catch the bird have so far failed.
Thanks, that’s good to hear someone’s trying to help it (:o)
20/01/2017 c20 Waxwing Park area back of Woodside Avenue.( North of Northampton College) Flew off over A43 towards woodland between Holmecross Road and Heather Lane.
I hope this is the right place to send a report in.
Thanks, Colin. Yes, this is a possible method of reporting but it’s better to email via the ‘Contact’ page to: mike@alibone.fsnet.co.uk Cheers. Mike.