Northants birds

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.