Bewick’s Swan – Northants birds

A somewhat sombre but largely dry week saw fluctuations in both temperature and wind direction although, apart from a second for the year for one species in particular, the birding landscape pretty much maintained its status quo.

Geese continued to feature this week and what was presumably a ‘new’ Pink-footed Goose was found with Greylags at Clifford Hill GP on 16th, while the two White-fronted Geese, first found on 2nd December, remained at Ravensthorpe Res throughout.

Adult White-fronted Goose, Ravensthorpe Res, 15th December 2024 (Ant Hall)

Following this year’s one and only at Stanford Res, very briefly, on 28th November, two Bewick’s Swans at Kislingbury GP/Upton CP on 14th offered a second bite of the cherry for anyone wanting to catch up with this now scarce visitor to the county. Discovered late morning, they were seen to depart mid-afternoon.

Adult Bewick’s Swans, Kislingbury GP, 14th December 2024 (Bob Bullock)

The female Ruddy Shelduck was still to be found at Winwick Pools throughout the period, while last week’s female Red-crested Pochard at Daventry CP was joined by a drake from 16th onwards and four (two drakes) were found at Clifford Hill GP on the same date. The drake seen intermittently at Earls Barton GP was still present on 15th.

Red-crested Pochards, Daventry CP, 16th December 2024 (Gary Pullan)

Jack Snipe was the week’s only wader worthy of note and numbers included one at Summer Leys LNR on 14th and up to two at Hollowell Res throughout.

Jack Snipe, Summer Leys LNR, 14th December 2024 (Clive Bowley)

After none reported last week, Mediterranean Gulls were back in the frame on 16th, when a first-winter visited Stanford and a second-winter was found at Pitsford Res. Other scarce larids were also available in the shape of Caspian Gulls, with two adults in the roost at Stanford on 15th-16th, plus an adult there on 18th and an adult at Hollowell Res on 17th. Yellow-legged Gulls were limited to two at Pitsford on 15th, one there on 16th and a first-winter at DIRFT 3 on 17th.

Pitsford continued to hold on to its juvenile Great Northern Diver, present until at least 19th.

The Summer Leys Glossy Ibis chalked up another seven days on site, bringing its stay there to a perfectly round thirteen weeks. Just twelve more days there to see the new year in … Hollowell dished up a surprise this week in the shape of a Bittern on 14th and again on 19th. They are scarce away from the Nene Valley and, as far as Hollowell is concerned, this species is a very rare commodity indeed.

Bittern, Hollowell Res, 19th December 2024 (Jon Cook)

Up to six Cattle Egrets were at, and around, Ringstead GP on 14th and again on 17th.

A ’ringtail’ Hen Harrier was reported from farmland east of Tiffield on 17th and, again, just one Short-eared Owl was seen – in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, on 15th. How many more might be out there that are not being reported for fear of human disturbance – a topic which has featured prominently on social media of late.

There was another isolated report of the Bearded Tit, photographed at Stanwick GP, on 14th. Stonechats bounced back this week with four near Towcester on 18th, three at Hollowell on 17th, plus ones and twos at Borough Hill, Earls Barton, Harrington AF, Holcot, Lilbourne Meadows NR, Pitsford, Stanford and Upton CP.

Female Stonechat, Stanford Res, 16th December 2024 (Barry Silverman)

Female Stonechat, Upton CP, 20th December 2024 (Tony Stanford)

And no week during this winter so far would be complete without at least one Hawfinch popping up somewhere … and one duly obliged, the mature housing estate of Brixworth Hall Park being this week’s venue, on 16th.

Lastly, the discovery of a bird with a capricious taxonomic history. Following the announcement that all redpolls are effectively one species (yet again), an individual which would have formerly been firmly in the standalone Mealy camp was found between Delapre Abbey and Hardingstone GP on the last day of the week. We await a definitive, formal declaration as to whether ‘Mealy Redpoll’ is able to at least be given a retentional subspecific status or whether it will be totally lumped and absorbed into the ‘one name fits all’ fate that redpolls appear to await. More details here.

The week kicked off with Storm Bert, which effectively put paid to any local birding for two days, as well as failing to deliver any much anticipated wrecked seabirds. But with the appearance of a showy Great Northern Diver and the first – and likely last – Bewick’s Swan of the year, the week certainly did not fall flat.

Pink-footed Geese continued to feature, too, with single birds accompanying local Greylags at Wicksteed Park Lake on 25th and at Pitsford Res on 27th-29th.

Pink-footed Goose, Pitsford Res, 29th November 2024 (James Underwood)

With no Whooper Swans for the first time in a while, the slot was filled with the welcome sight of a Bewick’s Swan at Stanford Res on the afternoon of 28th. Located only an hour before darkness fell, it provided little opportunity to connect with, having departed by the following morning.

Adult Bewick’s Swan, Stanford Res, 28th November 2024 (Chris Hubbard)

The majority of last week’s Red-crested Pochards appeared to have melted away, leaving just two at Stanford Res on 26th.

And the highlight of the week’s waders was a locally unseasonal Bar-tailed Godwit that paid a brief visit to Summer Leys LNR on 29th, while two Jack Snipes at Daventry CP on 26th were the only ones of their kind during the period.

Gulls formed another group significantly down in numbers, with just one Mediterranean Gull – a first-winter – in the Stanford roost on 27th. Caspian Gulls consisted of an adult at Hollowell Res on 25th, a first-winter at Daventry on 26th and an adult in the gull roost at Pitsford, along with the regular adult Yellow-legged Gull, on 28th.

Adult Caspian Gull, Pitsford Res, 28th November 2024 (Mike Alibone)

Following one at Clifford Hill GP, present on the Main Barrage Lake only in the early mornings of 25th and 26th before flying off, a Great Northern Diver was found on the latter date at Pitsford. Considered to be a different bird, it remained to see the week out, providing all comers with some splendidly rewarding views. November has proven to be a classic month for arrivals and these are only the second and third of the year, the first also having been at Pitsford between November 2023 and January 2024.

Great Northern Diver, Clifford Hill GP, 26th November 2024 (Tyler Atkinson)

Juvenile Great Northern Diver, Pitsford Res, 28th November 2024 (Mike Alibone)

Slipping well down from its once headline-making position, the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis saw out another week on the reserve, having now chalked up 70 days on site. Summer Leys also produced a Cattle Egret on 28th, while up to three remained on the farm immediately north-east of Ringstead GP at the week’s end.

And raptors? A ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier in flight over Gleneagles, Wellingborough on 29th was all the period could muster, unfortunately.

But things looked a little better as far as Short-eared Owls were concerned with, up on last week’s total, two near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 26th and one there on 27th, followed by singles in the Brampton Valley on the latter date and at Harrington AF on 29th.

The female Bearded Tit remained at Stanwick GP and was still present on 29th.

Stonechats were present Duston, Earls Barton GP, Harrington, Hollowell, Pitsford, Summer Leys and Upton CP with no more than two at any one site.

Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 29th November 2024 (Leslie Fox)

And Hawfinches continued to be seen at last week’s two key localities of Blatherwycke and Cottesbrooke, with the first of these holding four on 26th and one on 28th and the latter with three on 26th and two on 29th.