A mixed bag of weather ushered in five new summer visitors, while the week ended on a relatively cool note.
This year’s first Common Redstart is the earliest ever … by a clear four days.
With wildfowl firmly on the move, two adult Whooper Swans at Thrapston GP on the last day of the period are the only ones since 2nd and 3rd Jan, when singles were present at Hollowell Res and Clifford Hill GP, respectively.
Whooper Swans, Thrapston GP, 27th March 2026 (Bob Bullock)
And after an apparent absence of eighteen days, the Nene Valley Ring-necked Duck was back again at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 23rd and 24th – its ability to disappear for long periods is uncanny and unmatched. More Common Scoters paid the county a visit this week, with a drake at Titchmarsh NR on 22nd and two at Clifford Hill the following day.
The period’s waders included three Black-tailed Godwits at Titchmarsh NR on 23rd and a run of Ruffs, comprising seven at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows NR on 23rd-24th, dropping to one there on 26th, two at Earls Barton GP on 21st and singles at Summer Leys LNR on 21st and 27th.
Ruff, Summer Leys LNR, 27th March 2026 (Leslie Fox)
Two Jack Snipes were at Upton CP on 22nd and two at Ditchford the following day.
Hot on the heels of last week’s Kittiwakes were three or four more – all adults – at Thrapston GP on 26th-27th and at both Clifford Hill and Ravensthorpe, also on 27th. Nice but trivial in comparison to flocks of seventeen and forty-five over two sites in adjacent Buckinghamshire on 26th … A Mediterranean Gull visited Hardingstone GP on 23rd, the week’s only Caspian Gull was at Hollowell Res on 27th, while a single adult Yellow-legged Gull remained at Pitsford Res on 23rd and 25th.
The Red-throated Diver at Hollowell extended its stay there by yet another week.
Although seen almost daily up to 26th, there were no further reports of the Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys thereafter.
The period’s Cattle Egrets were limited to three together on farmland immediately north-east of Ringstead GP’s Kinewell Lake, on 27th.
Following the first Ospreys last week, two more flyovers passed Pitsford on 25th and Boddington Res, two days later, on 27th. Marsh Harriers fanned out a bit, single birds being seen at Earls Barton on 21st, Titchmarsh on 23rd-24th, over Irthlingborough and at Ditchford GP on 23rd, at Summer Leys on 23rd and 27th, at Stanwick GP on 24th and Clifford Hill on 26th.
Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 23rd March 2026 (Alan Coles)
And aside from the aforementioned incoming passerines, a Black Redstart stuck rigidly to the species’ rules of late and turned up … yep … in a private garden, this time in Kettering. More Northern Wheatears were likely on the cards and they duly arrived – two at Clopton on 25th and singles near Everdon and at Harrington AF on 26th and at Clifford Hill on 27th.
On 23rd, a Scandinavian Rock Pipit paid a brief visit to Summer Leys, much to the delight of local photographers being in the right place at the right time. A smart bird and the first this year of a species which has become increasingly difficult to connect with in the county in recent years.
Scandinavian Rock Pipit, Summer Leys LNR, 23rd March 2026 (Russell Simpson)
Which just leaves Crossbills, singles of which were seen at Pitsford 22nd and Hollowell on 24th.
A high pressure system over the country in the latter part of the week gave rise to above average temperatures and saw the wind direction change from south westerlies to an airflow with an easterly bias. Four new species were added to the county yearlist, only two of which were summer visitors …
And while there were no early birds, both Osprey and Northern Wheatear clocked on in an expectedly timely fashion.
Numbers of wildfowl took a tumble, the only birds of note being eleven White-fronted Geese which dropped in, briefly, at Ringstead GP on the last day of the week.
Barely had we passed mid-March and the second Common Crane of the year was notched up – another flyover and again at the eastern end of the county – this time at Lyveden New Bield, between Brigstock and Stoke Doyle, on 20th.
And Ravensthorpe’s Slavonian Grebe completed a 26-day stay on 17th, after which there were no further reports.
On the wader front, the second and third Avocet records for the year were not totally unexpected and included one at Pitsford Res on 15th, followed by one at Earls Barton GP on 18th being joined there by another the next day.
Avocets, Earls Barton GP, 19th March 2026 (Leslie Fox)
Summer Leys produced all the period’s Black-tailed Godwits, with one on 14th, sixteen on 17th and at least one on 19th.
Black-tailed Godwits, Summer Leys LNR, 17th March 2026 (James Underwood)
Further down the Nene Valley, five Ruffs at Ditchford GP’s Townholme Meadows constituted another first for the year on 20th, while single Jack Snipes were seen at Hollowell Res between 15th and 20th and at Pitsford on the latter date. Pitsford also continued to hold on to its wintering Common Sandpiper, seen only sporadically but still present on the causeway there on 19th.
And just over two weeks after the first Kittiwake of the year came six together, at Pitsford, on 16th, while the period’s only Mediterranean Gull – a first-winter – visited Stanford Res on three consecutive days from 14th. Other gulls were available, of course, including two second-winter Caspian Gulls at Clifford Hill GP on 15th, two adults at Hollowell on 18th and a single adult at Ravensthorpe on the same date. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was present at Pitsford on 16th-17th and two visited Ravensthorpe on 18th.
The Red-throated Diver at Hollowell extended its stay there by another week.
And the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis similarly saw another week out on site.
Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 17th March 2026 (James Underwood)Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 20th March 2026 (Leslie Fox)
The latter location also produced sightings of Bittern on 14th and 19th, while a Cattle Egret scraped into the period, appearing at Kislingbury GP on the first of these two dates.
Flying high north over Harrington AF on 18th, the year’s first Osprey was quickly followed by another over Hollowell two days later, on 20th. No doubt there’ll be many more to come … And now part of the furniture, it seems, Marsh Harriers were still around at Summer Leys, where single birds were seen on 14th, 16th and 18th, with two present on 17th. Nearby, in the wider reaches of Earls Barton GP, singles were at Quarry Walk on 14th and at New Workings (South) on 20th. A ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier flew west over Harrington AF on 16th.
And the week’s other first summer visitor arrived on 17th in the shape of a smart male Northern Wheatear at Clifford Hill GP, hot on the tail of which were three more – all males – the following day, at Blueberry Hill Maidwell, in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, and at Harrington AF.
Male Northern Wheatear, Clifford Hill GP, 17th March 2026 (Mike Alibone)
An early spring White Wagtail was found on a manure heap between Earls Barton and Ecton on 20th and the only Water Pipit so far this year flew over, calling, at Pitsford on the same date.
It’s been a tremendous winter – and indeed last year – for Crossbills and they are still with us, one being seen at Gamboro Plantation, east of Cottesbrooke, on 14th, five over Denton Wood, Yardley Chase on 16th and several at Pitsford Res on 20th.
A westerly to south-westerly bias to the wind direction this week may not have been in the best interest of migrants from the deep south but there were signs of the beginning of a winter goose clear-out, while some of the county’s recent scarcer visitors sat tight.
New in, however, was an early bird in the shape of a Whimbrel – the first of the year – at Clifford Hill GP on 7th.
This individual proved itself a record-breaker, comfortably beating the county’s previous earliest of one over Ravensthorpe Res on 10th March 2012. While by and large classed as a summer visitor, the UK supports a very small, but growing, wintering population with a concentration along the south coast of England, as well as some in Southern Ireland.
The week’s geese included a Pink-footed Goose found between Chipping Warden and West Farndon on 8th – the same date being the last on which the long-staying Tundra Bean Goose, along with its supporting cast of up to twenty-three White-fronted Geese, was seen at Ringstead GP. With regard to the latter species, the Stanwick seven were, appropriately enough, last seen on 7th, while the settled flock of up to thirty-seven remained in the vicinity of Stanford on Avon until the week’s end.
The female Ruddy Shelduck was still present at Lilbourne Meadows up to 9th but was not reported thereafter, the same being applicable to the drake Smew at Clifford Hill GP. New in, however, were two Common Scoters making a short stopover at Daventry CP, also on 9th and on the back of an inland movement across the Midlands and Northern England.
Common Scoters, Daventry CP, 9th March 2026 (Gary Pullan)
Having moved to Ditchford GP, last week’s Red-necked Grebe continued to prove elusive, having shifted to Big Lake there on 10th, the week’s only sighting, and there were no subsequent reports. By stark contrast, Ravensthorpe’s Slavonian Grebe extended its stay, being seen daily throughout the period.
Slavonian Grebe, Ravensthorpe Res, 13th March 2026 (Jim Urwin)
And aside from the aforementioned Whimbrel, the week’s prime waders were limited to a Black-tailed Godwit on floods in the Welland Valley near Harringworth on 7th and a Jack Snipe at Hollowell Res on 9th.
Mediterranean Gulls, part of the March movement menu, included a first-winter in the roost at Stanford Res on 8th-9th, an adult at Daventry on 10th and 12th and a first-winter at Hollowell on 13th.
Adult Mediterranean Gull, Daventry CP, 10th March 2026 (Gary Pullan)
Three Caspian Gulls – an adult and two third-winters – were at Clifford Hill GP on 7th, followed by a second-winter there on 9th, while an adult visited Earls Barton GP’s New Workings on 13th. The week’s sole Yellow-legged Gull was an adult at Clifford Hill on 7th.
Attracting scant attention after nearly five weeks in residence, the Red-throated Diver remained settled at Hollowell throughout the period.
Red-throated Diver, Hollowell Res, 13th March 2026 (Jon Cook)
And while the Glossy Ibis continued to busy itself at Summer Leys for yet another week, further down the Nene Valley three Cattle Egrets turned up at Stanwick on 7th before one was subsequently found on floodwater at Oundle on 13th.
Sticking with said valley, Marsh Harriers continued their presence at the hub which is Summer Leys, where at least two were seen – including the frequently present first-year male, wing-tagged ‘J4’ – between 10th and 12th. Elsewhere, singles were found at nearby Earls Barton GP’s New Workings on 9th and at Stanwick on 7th.
Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 10th March 2026 (Alan Coles)
In the Brampton Valley, a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier flew south-east between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 8th.
The week’s passerines were seriously thin on the ground, with just a small number of Crossbills at Harlestone Firs on 7th and five Corn Buntings between Deanshanger and Wicken on 9th.
We crossed the line into meteorological spring this week and to mark it came the first summer visitors of the year, aided and abetted by the continuing southerly airstream. Two additional firsts for the year also made their way to the county and with winter now firmly in recession, it’s time to reflect on some quality birds while at same time looking forward to what’s on the immediate horizon.
Yes, the summer visitor clock has again started ticking, spring is beginning to unfold …and not a moment too soon.
First up, predictably, was Sand Martin, with the initial arrival of three at Thrapston GP on 1st, quickly followed by one at Priors Hall, Corby on 3rd, two at Pitsford Res on 5th and, on 6th, three near Oundle and sixteen at Thrapston. But no sooner had this initial rush began than we saw a record-breaker in the shape of two Little Ringed Plovers at Clifford Hill GP on 4th, beating the county’s previous earliest, on 7th March in 2021, by a clear three days.
However, we’re not done with winter just yet – and what a winter it’s been. Class wildfowl continue to dominate with the Tundra Bean Goose seeing out another week in company with twenty-three White-fronted Geese in the Denford/Ringstead area.
Tundra Bean Goose, Denford, 28th February 2026 (James Underwood)Tundra Bean Goose, Denford, 28th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)
Other White-fronted Geese also remained settled in certain favoured localities, the largest concentration being up to thirty-eight at Stanford on Avon throughout the period. Eighteen lingered by the River Nene at Warmington Mill until at least 1st and seven extended their stay by another week at Stanwick GP.
White-fronted Geese, Stanford on Avon, 2nd March 2026 (Mike Alibone)White-fronted Geese, Stanford on Avon, 4th March 2026 (Mike Alibone)
Appearing on and off across a range of sites in northwestern Northants, the annually wintering female Ruddy Shelduck dropped into Lilbourne Meadows NR on 4th, remaining there until the end of the week.
The drake Ring-necked Duck continued to attract interest at Ringstead GP, where it was showing until at least 5th.
Drake Ring-necked Duck, Ringstead GP, 28th February 2026 (James Underwood)Drake Ring-necked Duck, Ringstead GP, 28th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)
Likewise, the drake Lesser Scaup held out on the River Nene at Clifford Hill GP until the same date, while the long-staying drake Smew also enjoyed another week on the lakes there.
Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 3rd March 2026 (Bob Bullock)
Having spent a full seven days at Ringstead, last week’s Red-necked Grebe was nowhere to be seen after the 28th until, that is, it resurfaced on 4th a mere 8 km up the river valley at Ditchford GP, where it was still present at the week’s end.
Red-necked Grebe, Ringstead GP, 28th February 2026 (James Underwood)Red-necked Grebe, Ringstead GP, 28th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)
And the previous week’s Slavonian Grebe was still present at Ravensthorpe Res on the first day of the period, remaining there throughout the week. Despite appearing to have gone missing for the five days, 21st-25th February, it has proven itself a skulker, hiding in overhanging vegetation, where it can easily be overlooked.
Slavonian Grebe, Ravensthorpe Res, 2nd March 2026 (Mike Alibone)
Although not a summer visitor, further representing waders as another first for the year were two Avocets at Earls Barton GP on 3rd, alongside other inland sightings in the UK during the week.
Avocets, Earls Barton GP, 3rd March 2026 (Leslie Fox)
Other waders were on offer, even if thin on the ground, including a Black-tailed Godwit at Summer Leys LNR on 2nd, the same date also producing three Jack Snipes at Daventry CP and two at Hollowell. Classed as a summer visitor, although odd birds appear locally in winter, a Common Sandpiper at Pitsford on 5th was no doubt the wintering individual seen sporadically there during past weeks.
And another new bird for the year this week was an adult Kittiwake which spent a short period of time at Summer Leys on 28th. More to come, no doubt.
Adult Kittiwake, Summer Leys LNR, 28th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)
Sticking with larids, March begins to see spring movements of Mediterranean Gulls taking place, the 4th giving rise to two adults in the roost at Stanford Res and two – also adults – at Summer Leys. One of the latter two carried a metal ring on its right leg and was back on site, alone, on 6th.
Caspian Gulls were present at Earls Barton GP, where there was a first-winter on 28th, down the road at Summer Leys, where the settled adult remained between 28th and 5th, and at Hollowell, where there was an adult on 2nd and two adults on 5th. A single adult Yellow-legged Gull was still to be found at Pitsford on 2nd.
The Red-throated Diver, now in its fourth week, remained throughout the period, being seen at both Hollowell and Ravensthorpe, although apparently having now developed a preference for the first of these two sites.
Back in the Nene Valley, Summer Leys continued to retain its showy Glossy Ibis, while a Bittern was caught on a trail camera at Ditchford GP’s Rushden Lakes and four Cattle Egrets visited Thrapston/Titchmarsh NR on 4th.
Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 28th February 2026 (James Underwood)
The recent flurry of Marsh Harriers calmed somewhat with singles at Summer Leys on 28th, 1st, 3rd and 6th and one at Stanwick on the last of these dates.
And propped up by the Daventry Siberian Chiffchaff on 2nd and 5th, the week’s passerines were at a low ebb with just four Stonechats at Ringstead GP on 1st and singles at Lilbourne Meadows on 1st and at Hollowell on 5th. Compared to recent weeks, the number of Crossbills dwindled to singles over Ravensthorpe Res on 3rd and at Scotland Wood, Kelmarsh on 5th.
Another late winter week saw cold, mostly overcast and foggy conditions with temperatures barely breaking 5°C, although the final day marked the beginning of something warmer to come. But the selection of birds on offer was not weather dependent and the surprise appearance of a certain duck at the week’s end went some considerable way toward breaking the ice …
The beginning of the week, however, was still owned largely by wintering geese. Following last week’s three at Stanford Res, a lone Pink-footed Goose was found with local Greylags alongside Thrapston GP at Islip Water Meadows on 15th, remaining there until 18th.
Pink-footed Goose, Islip Water Meadows, 15th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)
And Tundra Bean Goose was again on the week’s menu when two distinctly separate birds were present in the northern reaches of the Nene Valley. Based on its unique pattern of white at the base of the bill, the first was the same individual which has been kicking around in the Thrapston GP area since early January, although remaining under the radar for a significant amount of time. Keeping company with twenty-three White-fronted Geese, it appeared at Ringstead GP on 14th before settling in fields at nearby Denford from 16th until the end of the period. The second bird paid the briefest of visits to Islip Water Meadows with Greylags on 16th and was not seen subsequently.
Tundra Bean Goose and White-fronted Geese, Denford, 16th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)Tundra Bean Goose and White-fronted Geese, Denford, 18th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)Tundra Bean Goose, Denford, 18th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)Tundra Bean Goose, Denford, 18th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)
In addition to the aforementioned twenty-three, Stanford’s White-fronted Goose numbers remained high with at least forty mobile around fields between Stanford on Avon and the reservoir, on 15th. Lower numbers elsewhere included eight at Thrapston from 14th to 17th, visiting fields north of nearby Thorpe Waterville on 15th, and four at Stanwick GP between 15th and 18th.
Now seemingly settled on the Rosewater Fishing Lake at Ringstead, the drake Ring-necked Duck remained there from 14th until at least 18th and a Greater Scaup was reported on adjacent Kinewell Lake on 16th.
Drake Ring-necked Duck, Ringstead GP, 15th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)
But the period’s highlight was found on the last day of the week, when a dapper drake Lesser Scaup broke water on the River Nene alongside Clifford Hill GP. Had it been Northamptonshire’s first – and maybe it is the same individual from last autumn – it would have drawn a sizeable crowd, given the easily accessible location and prime viewing conditions. As it was, a trickle observers dropped in to soak up the good views on offer.
Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)Drake Lesser Scaup and Tufted Duck, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)
Dramatically overshadowed by the above – at least in terms of rarity – was the drake Smew which saw out another week at the same location.
And hybrids? The drake Pochard x Tufted Duck remains also at Clifford Hill, as does the presumed female Pochard x Tufted Duck at Daventry CP.
Moving swiftly on … and following a recent uptick in records in the UK, another new bird for the year this week was a Slavonian Grebe. First seen at Daventry on 19th, it moved to Ravensthorpe Res on 20th, where it was still present at close of play. Hard evidence in the form of a unique, small dark stripe on the left side of its head identifies it as the same bird at both locations.
Slavonian Grebe, Daventry CP, 19th February 2026 (Gary Pullan)Slavonian Grebe, Ravensthorpe Res, 20th February 2026 (Jon Cook)Slavonian Grebe, Ravensthorpe Res, 20th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)
Two Jack Snipes at Hollowell Res on 16th sums up the week’s scarcer waders.
The week’s gulls once again comprised two adult Mediterranean Gulls – one at Daventry on 16th and the other in the roost at Stanford three days later, on 19th, with two adult Caspian Gulls at Hollowell on the same dates.
Adult Mediterranean Gull, Daventry CP, 16th February 2026 (Gary Pullan)
Hollowell also played second locality fiddle to the Red-throated Diver, which upped sticks from Ravensthorpe on 16th but returned to the latter site on 19th, still being in residence there at the week’s end. It attracted far less attention than in the previous week, the novelty likely having worn off …
Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 19th February 2026 (Jon Cook)
Also, considered part of the winter furniture, the Glossy Ibis remained at Summer Leys LNR throughout.
Once again, a Cattle Egret dropped into the flooded area at Wellingborough Embankment on 15th.
Also in the Nene Valley, Marsh Harriers continued their right to roam, Summer Leys producing sightings on 14th, 15th and 17th that included the first-year male ‘J4’. Elsewhere, singles were at both Ditchford GP and Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 14th. A ringtail Hen Harrier in the Brampton Valley/Blueberry Farm area on 17th was the third of the year so far, one having been seen there on 1st January, followed the next day by one near Laxton.
There was close to nothing new on the passerine front this week. Daventry’s Siberian Chiffchaff extended its stay until at least 19th, while a Firecrest was reported from Thrapston on 17th.
Stonechat numbers were down, with twos seen at Earls Barton GP on 14th and 17th, in the Brampton Valley on 15th, at Hollowell on 16th and at Stanwick on 18th.
Female Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 17th February 2026 (Leslie Fox)
Up to eight Crossbills were still present at Gamboro Plantation near Cottesbrooke throughout the week and singles were at Scotland Wood, Kelmarsh on 16th and 20th.
Two Corn Buntings reappeared briefly in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 16th.
Another significant wave of White-fronted Geese in-off the near continent was reflected in this week’s upturn in numbers and with them came more Tundra Beans. An early scattering of Common Scoters provided an interesting distraction but topping the bill by a country mile was a Red-throated Diver, which saw fit to linger at Ravensthorpe Res …
Following this winter’s earlier influx of White-fronted Geese, significant numbers again arrived in the UK at the end of the previous week and into the first day of the period. Seemingly associated with this was the appearance of three Pink-footed Geese at Stanford Res, on 7th-8th, along with four Tundra Bean Geese there on the same dates.
Pink-footed Goose, Stanford Res, 8th February 2026 (Chris Hubbard)Tundra Bean Geese, Stanford Res, 8th February 2026 (Chris Hubbard)
Believed to be the same individual present in early January, another Tundra Bean Goose was also found adjacent to Thrapston GP at Islip Water Meadows, on 7th, in company with twenty-three White-fronted Geese. The 7th also saw a return to higher numbers of the latter at Stanford, with thirty-three there, rising to forty on 8th and forty-two the following day. Also on 8th, twenty-six were present at Warmington Mill and twenty-five dropped into Clifford Hill GP, albeit briefly, before heading off east. Seven were found at Cransley Res on 9th while, on 11th, six visited Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR, five were at Stanwick GP and two were mobile with Greylags between the reservoirs of Hollowell and Ravensthorpe. Numbers then increased to seven apiece at Stanwick and Titchmarsh the following day.
White-fronted Geese, Clifford Hill GP, 8th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)White-fronted Geese, Clifford Hill GP, 8th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)White-fronted Geese, Ravensthorpe Res, 11th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)
The female Ruddy Shelduck was back in its favourite haunt in the vicinity of Winwick on 12th-13th.
Female Ruddy Shelduck, Winwick, 13th February 2026 (James Urwin)
Mobile about the northern part of the Nene Valley, the drake Ring-necked Duck was relocated at Ringstead GP on 7th before moving off west. It was then back on site at Titchmarsh on the last day of the period, prior to which it was last seen there on 20th January. A presumed drake Ring-necked Duck x Tufted Duck hybrid was again present at Ditchford GP on 12th after previously being reported there on 23rd January.
And while we’re on the subject, last week’s drake Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid was still at Clifford Hill on 8th and the presumed female Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid was also still showing at Daventry CP at the period’s end.
Eliciting more interest, though, was a mini-influx of Common Scoters on the last day of the week. Stanford held five, Clifford Hill and Thrapston three apiece and Hollowell produced two. All of these were drakes, which tend to winter further north than females and so are likely to be the first to return toward the end of winter/early spring. Curiously, apart from one in Oxfordshire two days prior, these represented the only sightings in the whole of the Midlands.
Drake Common Scoters, Clifford Hill GP, 13th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)Drake Common Scoters, Stanford Res, 13th February 2026 (Chris Hubbard)
Clifford Hill’s drake Smew saw another week out, while another paid a brief visit to Hollowell on 13th.
Drake Smew, Clifford Hill GP, 9th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)
And, last seen on 18th January, Pitsford’s Black-necked Grebe was back again on 7th, remaining until at least 12th – although it’s not inconceivable that this week’s individual could be a different bird.
Also, back on the wader menu was Black-tailed Godwit with two briefly visiting Clifford Hill on 13th, while Hollowell gave rise to a decent count of five Jack Snipes on 11th, these being the only ones found during the period.
This is the first week of the year without Caspian Gulls, but more than making up for it was the presence of two fine adult Mediterranean Gulls – one at Ditchford on 8th and the other at Pitsford on 13th, the latter site also producing two Yellow-legged Gulls on 9th, 10th and 13th.
Found by our very own County Recorder in the failing light of a late winter’s afternoon, this week’s hallowed luminary emerged in the shape of a rather neat-looking Red-throated Diver, at Ravensthorpe Res on the 9th – a bird which, no longer the reasonably regular, though rare, visitor it once was, has become much sought after locally in recent years. The last one in the county spent barely five hours at Boddington Res on the last day of October 2024 and before that, well, you have to turn the clock back eighteen years to February 2008, when one saw out nearly two weeks at Pitsford Res. This week’s bird thus proved highly popular and, still present at the end of the period, has offered more than ample opportunity for those keen to connect with it.
Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 9th February 2026 (Jon Cook)Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 10th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 10th February 2026 (Phil West)Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 10th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 10th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 11th February 2026 (Alan Coles)Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 12th February 2026 (Antony Taylor)Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 13th February 2026 (James Urwin)
Our one and only stalwart wintering Glossy Ibis saw another week out at Summer Leys …
And it’s been a fair while since a Marsh Harrier graced Stortons GP but that was put to rights on 7th, when one was watched flying south. In the wider reaches of the Nene Valley, where they are now seen regularly, an immature was present at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lake & Meadows NR on 8th, the same date upon which the first-year male ‘J4’ was again at Summer Leys, where it was still present, along with another immature, the following day. Further sightings came from Summer Leys on 10th and Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 12th.
First-year Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 9th February 2026 (Alan Coles)First-year male Marsh Harrier ‘J4’, Summer Leys LNR, 9th February 2026 (Alan Coles)
The Daventry Siberian Chiffchaff was still present around the Grit Trap there on 12th-13th, while the more run of the mill passerines included Stonechats at Barnes Meadow NR, Brampton Valley, Clifford Hill, Earls Barton, Hollowell, Pitsford, Stanford and Thrapston, with maxima of four at Pitsford on 9th and 11th.
With the highest count of fifteen on 8th, Gamboro Plantation near Cottesbrooke continued to hold Crossbills, while two were at Wakerley Great Wood on 10th and one flew over Hollowell the following day.
Largely flatlining, the week’s birding efforts across the county didn’t deliver anything much that had not already been seen and appreciated – or undervalued and ignored. But if hybrid ducks are your thing, simply read on …
This winter’s goose parade continued. Get them while you can as their absence next winter is likely on the cards. Duly outnumbered by the following species, Pink-footed Goose was again on the week’s agenda with the discovery of two at Lilbourne Meadows NR on 5th. But in keeping with the current trend, White-fronted Geese were still to be found in and around the county, although numbers were noticeably down on those of previous weeks. Stanford Res mustered a mere sixteen on 3rd, while ten were again at Warmington Mill on 31st and single-figure counts came from Stanwick GP, where up to four were still present all week and Hollowell, where the long-staying, lone adult was still present on 1st.
Lilbourne Meadows was next in line to stage the reappearance of the female Ruddy Shelduck on the last day of the period, having previously visited Hollowell between 6th and 12th January.
Likely eliciting more interest, though, was a series of hybrid ducks sent to please or tease, depending on your point of view.
To delve deeper into the detail of hybrid ducks, Reeber (2015) is probably the best source of reference.
Unquestionably pure, however, was the fine drake Smew which extended its stay at Clifford Hill GP by another full week.
The only reasonably scarce wader to be found during in the period was Jack Snipe, which was seen at four localities including Upton CP, where two were present on 31st and one on 1st, Pitsford Res, which produced one also on the above two dates, Hollowell, where there was one on 1st and in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton with one on 3rd-4th.
And Caspian Gulls enjoyed a good run throughout the week, Summer Leys LNR hanging on to its seemingly settled adult until at least 5th and being joined there by a second-winter plus two first-winters on 2nd. The latter date also saw a third-winter and a first-winter at Daventry CP and a third-winter at Stanford, while one was at Hollowell on 1st.
A first-winter Yellow-legged Gull at Daventry on 2nd was the sole representative of its kind.
Glossy Ibis? Yes – Wellingborough Embankment on 31st and 1st before moving to Summer Leys on 2nd and remaining there until the week’s end. The latter site also held a Cattle Egret on 1st-2nd.
Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 5th February 2026 (Tony Stanford)
Playing tag, Marsh Harriers continued to roam the Nene Valley, Summer Leys unsurprisingly producing the lion’s share of the sightings, which included three first-years, including the wing-tagged male, ‘J4’ – all on 2nd. Otherwise, single birds were present there on 31st, 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th. Elsewhere, singles were present at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings, Ditchford GP and Stanwick GP – all on 31st, the Stanwick individual displaying an unread orange wing-tag.
Marsh Harrier, Ditchford GP, 31st January 2026 (James Underwood)Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 2nd February 2026 (Leslie Fox)
On the passerine front, the Siberian Chiffchaff was still present at Daventry CP on 4th, when it was joined by a second bird, both being actively mobile and elusive.
Siberian Chiffchaff, Daventry CP, 4th February 2026 (Gary Pullan)Siberian Chiffchaff, Daventry CP, 4th February 2026 (Gary Pullan). A second individual.
Once more set to tease – though likely long-forgotten – back in the frame on 3rd was the Black Redstart on farmland ‘with no public access’ between Lamport and Scaldwell, where it was initially found on New Year’s Day …
Rather more plentiful and accessible, Stonechats were to be found at nine sites, with maximum counts of four at both Ditchford GP and Upton CP on 31st. Other locations holding up to three were Aston le Walls, Barnes Meadow NR, Blatherwycke Lake, Brampton Valley, Earls Barton GP, Hollowell and Pitsford.
Male Stonechat, Ditchford GP, 31st January 2026 (James Underwood)
Gamboro Plantation near Cottesbrooke produced Crossbills almost daily, with the highest count of 22 there on 1st. Elsewhere, three and two were at Harlestone Heath and Wakerley Great Wood, respectively, on 31st.
Two Corn Buntings were still present in fields immediately west of Deanshanger on 2nd.
Sandwiched between low pressure systems driven in off the Atlantic by the jet stream and an area of high pressure stationed over Scandinavia, the UK was, by and large, under the influence of a south-easterly airstream that delivered a mixed bag of predominantly wet weather throughout the week. What effect this may have had on local birds has yet to be seen, although this last full week of January was largely quiet in terms of new arrivals.
Geese still featured prominently, though, kicking off with two Pink-footed Geese at Stanford Res on 26th-27th, followed the next day by a noteworthy skein of fifty-four flying north-east over Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR.
Pink-footed Geese, Stanford Res, 27th January 2026 (Chris Hubbard)
White-fronted Geese continued to feature reasonably strongly, with Stanford continuing to lead the way in terms of numbers. Fifty-eight were still there as the week opened and at least fifty remained on 28th. The latter date saw a respectable forty flying north-east over Stanwick GP, followed by four on the ground there on 30th, while nine were again present in fields at Warmington Mill on 24th, when last week’s seven were still to be seen at Summer Leys LNR.
Ducks of note were limited to three species. Five Red-crested Pochards on 26th comprised a drake and a female at Billing GP and two drakes and a female at Deene Lake, while a drake and female Greater Scaup were found on separate lakes at Stanwick on 28th. We can’t rule out the possibility that the latter are the displaced duo from Thrapston, the same site having been previously vacated by the drake American Wigeon, which subsequently relocated downriver to Peterborough’s Ferry Meadows CP, where it was showing down to a ridiculously close 20 metres during its stay there between 24th and 27th.
Very much a shining light in the dreary winter gloom, as well as being an easy ‘drive-up-and-see’, a drake Smew found at Ravensthorpe Res on 25th subsequently proved a popular pull throughout the following day but it was nowhere to be seen thereafter. This was not the case with the drake at Clifford Hill GP which, last seen on 5th Jan, was back there again and on view daily from 24th throughout the period.
Drake Smew, Ravensthorpe Res, 26th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)Drake Smew, Ravensthorpe Res, 26th January 2026 (Bob Bullock)
A dearth of waders saw just a Jack Snipe in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 28th, the same day producing a wintering Common Sandpiper again at Pitsford Res.
There was a slight improvement on the gull front, however, with single adult Mediterranean Gulls in the reservoir roosts of Pitsford on 26th and Stanford on 28th and 30th. Summer Leys’ adult Caspian Gull remained into this week, being seen intermittently between 25th and 30th, while another adult visited the roost at Stanford on 26th and a first-winter was found at Stanwick on 28th.
Yellow-legged Gulls were again at a low ebb and a single adult at Pitsford on 26th and 28th was all the week could muster.
Just the one Glossy Ibis remained prominent at its preferred site of Wellingborough Embankment this week, being seen there on 24th and on 26th-29th, having visited Summer Leys on 25th.
Glossy Ibis, Wellingborough Embankment, 28th January 2026 (Bob Bullock)Glossy Ibis, Wellingborough Embankment, 28th January 2026 (Bob Bullock)
The latter locality was again prime for Marsh Harriers, the 24th seeing the immature male ‘J4’ on site there ahead of single birds on 25th, 28th and 29th. In the wider complex of Earls Barton GP singles were seen in the New Workings area on 24th and 30th, while Stanwick also produced one on 24th. Just how many are kicking around in the Nene Valley is difficult to assess.
Marsh Harrier, Earls Barton GP, 24th January 2026 (Leslie Fox)
Headlining the cast of the week’s passerines was a Siberian Chiffchaff at Daventry CP on 30th and likely to be the same one as previously seen there on 21st November and 22nd December last year.
And continuing as an integral part of the weekly billing so far this year, a Firecrest was on site at Ravensthorpe on 26th.
Meanwhile, Stonechats were to be found at six localities, four at Pitsford on 28th being the highest single site total, while two were present in the Brampton Valley between 25th and 28th, two were at Barnes Meadow NR on 24th and 30th and singles were to be found at Earls Barton GP on 24th and 30th, Clifford Hill on 28th and Thrapston on 29th.
Female Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 28th January 2026 (Leslie Fox)
Which just leaves Crossbills, which have maintained quite a high profile over the past ten months. This week saw a minimum of twenty at Wakerley Great Wood, between twelve and sixteen at Gamboro Plantation near Cottesbrooke and at least seven at Harlestone Heath. Breeding must surely be on the cards this year …
Male Crossbill, Wakerley Great Wood, 28th January 2026 (James Underwood)Male Crossbill, Wakerley Great Wood, 28th January 2026 (Paul Young)Male Crossbill, Wakerley Great Wood, 28th January 2026 (Paul Young)
A change in the weather and the best part of a month’s rainfall in one day saw us aquaplaning our way out of a week in which we’ve once again been spoiled rotten with wild geese. That’s not to say there was nothing else on offer – quite the contrary, in fact, with the previous week’s delectable ducks and an obliging Ibis still to be had, as well as some choice passerines, one of which, clearly, was not …
We start, as has recently become customary, with Tundra Bean Goose – this week seen at three localities. Previous speculation that last week’s birds at Stanwick GP and Thrapston GP/Islip Water Meadows were likely one and the same was quickly kicked into touch with the emergence of images showing two distinctly different individuals and flagged up as such by the photographers of the Islip Water Meadows bird, below. The latter shows distinct white feathering at the base of the bill, this feature being absent on the bird at Stanwick.
Tundra Bean Goose and White-fronted Geese, Islip Water Meadows, 10th January 2026 (Phil West)Tundra Bean Goose, Islip Water Meadows, 10th January 2026 (Dave James)Tundra Bean Goose, Islip Water Meadows, 10th January 2026 (Dave James)Tundra Bean Goose, Stanwick GP, 6th January 2026 (Bob Bullock)
While the Stanwick bird remained until 13th, the Thrapston/Islip individual promptly vacated the area and was nowhere to be seen after 11th. Once again, however, one was found at Blatherwycke Lake among an eight hundred-strong gaggle of Greylags on 14th and was subsequently averred on 16th. A new bird? Or the same one from late December, keeping a low profile for the last couple of weeks?
The 16th also saw a Pink-footed Goose reported at Summer Leys LNR. But the week belonged to White-fronted Geese, numbers of which remained solid throughout the period. Top of the locality leaderboard was, once again, Stanford Res, where a slight increase took the total to an impressive seventy-five on 15th. Maximum counts at nine other sites consisted of fourteen at Islip on 10th-11th, up to ten at Pitsford Res between 13th and 16th, ten at Stanwick during the same period, ten at Warmington Mill on 10th, eight at Blatherwycke on 16th, four at Clifford Hill GP on 10th-11th, two at Thrapston on 16th and singles at Aynho on 10th and at Hollowell Res on 11th-12th.
White-fronted Goose, Stanwick GP, 14th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)
After reappearing at Hollowell last week, the county’s long-serving female Ruddy Shelduck was still present there on 9th.
And anyone out for a duck need look no further than Thrapston, where having almost been relegated to part of the furniture, the drake American Wigeon extended its stay at Titchmarsh NR until at least 13th.
Drake American Wigeon, Titchmarsh NR, 12th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)
Thrapston’s Town Lake also held on to two Red-crested Pochards – seen daily from 11th – the same date on which the itinerant drake Ring-necked Duck was last reported there during the period. Remaining far easier to catch up with, though, were the two long-staying Greater Scaups, Town Lake now enjoying countywide exclusivity following the departure of the Stanford birds last week.
With Smew in mind, the same could be said about Pitsford, where a ‘redhead’ popped up again on 14th and a drake was also back on show on the last day of the week.
And staying with Pitsford, last week’s Black-necked Grebe remained there until at least 14th.
Seeing a slight increase, wader numbers were up on those from the previous week – particularly Black-tailed Godwits, of which there were multiples at two localities. Titchmarsh produced one on 10th, two on 12th and one again on 15th-16th. Just shy of hitting double figures, though, nine were present at Stanwick on 14th.
Black-tailed Godwit, Titchmarsh NR, 12th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)
Pitsford’s winter visiting Common Sandpiper made it into the week, still to be seen on 10th, and two Jack Snipes were also present there on 14th, following one at Hollowell again on 12th.
Pitsford was also the prime producer of the period’s scarcer gulls, with an adult Caspian Gull present on 10th, two Yellow-legged Gulls on 10th and 14th and one on 11th – the latter date also seeing an adult Caspian in the gull roost at Stanford.
And after two flying over Summer Leys on 4th being the only record in the previous week, there was a welcome return of a Glossy Ibis to Wellingborough Embankment on 10th, where it remained settled until 14th, after which the area unsurprisingly suffered a significant rise in water level.
Glossy Ibis Wellingborough Embankment, 14th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)
Cattle Egrets looked like they were on the up but only in terms of the number of localities visited. Singles flew low east over Duston and north-east over Stanwick on 11th while, on the ground, one spent the best part of the day at Wellingborough Embankment on 13th.
Cattle Egret, Wellingborough Embankment, 13th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)
The week’s raptors were dominated by Marsh Harriers, although with their tendency to wander, it’s difficult to determine just how many birds were involved. On a day-by-day basis, the 10th saw twos at both Summer Leys and Titchmarsh – one of which at the latter locality was the Nene Valley rover, ‘J4’, the young male which has now been present in the county for the best part of a month. One was at Summer Leys on 11th while, on 12th, singles were at Ditchford GP and Stanwick and two were again at Titchmarsh. The 13th saw one again at Ditchford and two were at Stanwick on 15th. The period ended with singles at Blatherwycke and Stanwick and two at Summer Leys on 16th.
By contrast, just the one Merlin this week was the wintering bird still in residence in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, on 11th and 13th.
With increasing frequency – and headlining the period’s passerines – Yellow-browed Warblers are being found locally during winter and this one is no exception. A Raunds garden was the seasonal setting for the latest one to appear, on 15th, although its exact whereabouts remains undisclosed …
Hot on the heels of the New Year’s Day Duston Firecrest came another at Thrapston, first seen on 12th and still present in the same location on 16th, the latter date also giving rise to one mobile bird reported in Wakerley Great Wood.
With no more than three at any one site, the week’s Stonechats were seen in the Brampton Valley and at Clifford Hill GP, Hollowell, Pitsford and Summer Leys.
Crossbills were to be reliably found in double figures at Wakerley Great Wood, with a maximum of at least twenty-five on 16th, at Gamboro Plantation east of Cottesbrooke, where up to fifteen were present between 10th and 14th and at Harlestone Firs, where an unspecified number of mobile birds were present on the latter date.
And the area of dilapidated crop fields between Deanshanger and Wicken continued to be a popular pull for local birders looking to connect with Corn Buntings. Seen daily, numbers there peaked at twenty-two on 14th – a welcome resurgence in the county … but for how long?
With autumn cooling down, on the penultimate day of the period, Storm Benjamin bore down on the country as it moved from the English Channel to the North Sea. There were high hopes for a wrecked seabird or two although, in this respect, nothing materialised in any way, shape or form … but the county did land another first for the year.
And we’re still at that time when wildfowl numbers are gradually building, including transient migrants such as Whooper Swans, three more of which appeared on 22nd, comprising two adults at Stanford Res and a juvenile at Pitsford Res.
Adult Whooper Swans, Stanford Res, 22nd October 2025 (Chris Hubbard)
Two drake Red-crested Pochards remained at Daventry CP until at least 23rd and a female was at Ravensthorpe Res on 22nd, while last week’s Common Scoter at Hollowell was seen there again on 18th.
Once more heading the cast of the week’s waders was the now long-staying, juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, successfully chalking up another full seven days at Hollowell, although becoming increasing difficult to see as a result of its recent habit of lurking in vegetation away from the waterline.
Unsurprisingly, numbers of other waders continued to fall, with Ruffs now down to just one at Pitsford between 18th and 23rd, while the long-staying Greenshank at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) stayed put until at least 22nd.
Greenshank, Earls Barton GP, 22nd October 2025 (Leslie Fox)
In addition to this, the Norwegian-ringed bird seen at New Workings (South) on 8th October appears to have remained in the area, being seen again at Summer Leys on 21st and 23rd before moving to nearby New Workings (North) the following day.
Norwegian-ringed Greenshank, Summer Leys LNR, 21st October 2025 (Roger Eads)
Roger Eads’ images of the bird’s tag enabled him to identify it as a first calendar year individual which was ringed at Havika, Farsund, Norway, 797 km distant, on 19th August.
Three Jack Snipes were present at Summer Leys on 18th, one being seen regularly until 21st, and another was found at Clifford Hill GP on the latter date.
Jack Snipe, Summer Leys LNR, 18th October 2025 (Clive Bowley)Jack Snipe, Summer Leys LNR, 20th October 2025 (Alan Coles)
Another good week for Caspian Gulls saw them present at seven localities, kicking off with a second-winter at Wicksteed Park Lakes, Kettering on 18th (the same bird having been present there on 8th), single adults at Pitsford, Stanford and Summer Leys on 19th, a third-winter at Hollowell on 21st, an adult at Naseby Res on 22nd, an adult at Hollowell on 23rd plus a second-winter at Pitsford on the same date and an adult at Earls Barton GP on 24th.
Second-winter Caspian Gull, Wicksteed Park Lakes, 18th October 2025 (Julie Roe)Adult Caspian Gull, Stanford Res, 19th October 2025 (Chris Hubbard)
In contrast, there were only two reports of Yellow-legged Gulls – an adult at Pitsford on 23rd and two at Earls Barton GP the following day.
Seemingly bidding for residency, Summer Leys retained its three Glossy Ibises throughout the period, while one remained at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR until at least 18th and, becoming less reliable, two were seen again at Stanford on 18th and 21st.
The two Bitterns at Stanford continued their occupancy at Stanford throughout the period, although, again, predominantly on the Leicestershire side, while one was seen at Summer Leys on 18th and 21st. And, keeping a low profile of late, four Cattle Egrets were seen to leave a roost site at Stanwick GP’s Main Lake, heading off north-east, at first light on 18th.
There were even fewer raptors out there to be had than last week, with a late Osprey over Stanford on 18th and as Goshawk over Crick on the same date.
This week’s Short-eared Owl report came, unusually, from an unspecific location near Wootton, also on 18th, while the weekly Merlin was at Boddington Res on 24th.
Once again, the period’s passerines were of an admirable standard and included a couple of the scarcer phylloscs. A Northern Willow Warbler – showing characteristics of the race acredula – was trapped and ringed at Stanford on 18th, the same date on which a Siberian Chiffchaff – tristis – was found at Wicksteed Park Lakes. It did not hang around.
Northern Willow Warbler, Stanford Res, 18th October 2025 (Adam Homer)
Similarly not staying put, a Firecrest was a brief visitor to Boddington Res on 23rd, while news emerged of a Ring Ouzel ‘on private land’ near Long Buckby the following day.
Firecrest, Boddington Res, 23rd October 2025 (Gary Pullan)
Respectable numbers of Stonechats came from the seven sites of Brampton Valley, Harrington AF, Hollowell, Pitsford, Stanford, Summer Leys and Wicksteed Park Lakes, the first of these producing the highest site total of six on 20th.
Male Stonechat, Pitsford Res, 23rd October 2025 (Mike Alibone)
And it’s now getting late for Northern Wheatears, singles of which were found at Clifford Hill GP on 21st and between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton in the Brampton Valley on 22nd.
Another first for the year turned up this week in the shape of a Water Pipit at Summer Leys, on 22nd. Found on the Scrape during the morning, its presence there was short-lived … and it was nowhere to be seen during the afternoon.
Water Pipit, Summer Leys LNR, 22nd October 2025 (Pete Marshall)Water Pipit, Summer Leys LNR, 22nd October 2025 (Sukhdev Singh)
Over the last decade, including two blank years, Water Pipit records have averaged two per annum, of which 55% have been in autumn, 30% in spring and 15% in winter, making it a nice bird to catch up with.
The recent run of Rock Pipits spilled over into this week, with two at Hollowell on 18th, one there on 21st and another at Pitsford on 20th all contributing to a local standout year for this species.
Approaching the above in terms of a ‘good year’ are, of course, Crossbills, which have been in the running for some time now. This week’s quota included a maximum of fifteen over Salcey Forest on 20th, while several were at New Covert, Kelmarsh on 19th, three at Pitsford and one over Harrington on 18th and singles over Stanford on 19th and Harrington again on 24th.
And five days on from last week’s sighting, the Corn Bunting resurfaced between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton in the Brampton Valley on 20th.
Northants birds 