Tag: Birding

Newsround 9th to 15th August 2025

Posted on by Mike Alibone

High pressure drifting east allowed the country to tap into hot and humid air off the continent, delivering a peak in local temperatures of 31°C on the 12th. The pick of the crop of this week’s hot birding saw a fly-over Goshawk and the year’s fourth Pied Flycatcher which, like the previous three, was not readily available to the masses, and the first of the autumn’s Tree Pipits …

Ducking but not diving, the female Ruddy Shelduck extended its stay on, and around, the dam at Ravensthorpe Res until at least 14th.

Female Ruddy Shelduck, Ravensthorpe Res, 12th August 2025 (James Urwin)

There was, however, a reasonable run of waders kicking off with a Curlew at Summer Leys LNR on 9th. The 13th saw two Black-tailed Godwits at Daventry CP and one at Pitsford Res, followed by six more, briefly, at Summer Leys on 15th, where a Ruff was also present on the same date.

Juvenile Black-tailed Godwit, Daventry CP, 13th August 2025 (Gary Pullan)

The latter locality was also visited by two Wood Sandpipers on 14th-15th.

Wood Sandpiper, Summer Leys LNR, 15th August 2025 (Alan Coles)

Greenshanks continued to proliferate, the maximum number being five, again at Summer Leys, on 11th, numbers having dropped to just two there by the week’s end. Both Hollowell Res and Pitsford produced numbers varying up to three apiece between 11th and 15th, while singles were to be had at Earls Barton GP on 10th, Naseby Res on 11th and Boddington Res from 12th to 15th.

Greenshanks, Summer Leys LNR, 13th August 2025 (Alan Coles)
Greenshank, Summer Leys LNR, 14th August 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Boddington also produced the week’s only Mediterranean Gull, a juvenile, on 9th.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Boddington Res, 9th August 2025 (Gary Pullan)

The German-ringed adult male Caspian Gull was seen again at Naseby on 11th and 14th and one – possibly the same – visited Hollowell on 15th. Yellow-legged Gulls again crept into double figures with daily sightings at Pitsford peaking there at ten on the last day of the period. Boddington was the only other site to produce one, a first-summer on 9th.

Last week’s White Stork remained into this week, being seen at Round Spinney Industrial Estate on 11th and in flight south over Northampton General Hospital two days later, on 13th. The ring number, CV03 (not CY03 as previously stated) identifies the bird as a male released as part of the wider UK reintroduction scheme, at Cove Valley, Devon on 4th June this year.

The period’s Cattle Egrets were limited to two flying south-west over Stanwick GP on 11th and one briefly visiting Summer Leys the following day.

Adult Cattle Egret, Summer Leys LNR, 12th August 2025 (Andy Howell)

Topping the week’s raptors was a male Goshawk which flew north over the church at Byfield on 12th. The species has long been suspected a scarce breeder in the county … somewhere … but it is seldom seen. We can only pray for more … So it was down to the now run-of-the-mill Ospreys and Marsh Harriers to lift the spirits, so to speak. With singles on 9th, 11th and 12th, Pitsford produced the most Ospreys, Thrapston GP coming second with singles on 13th and 15th, while either side of the latter locality, Ringstead GP and Oundle’s Biggin Lake held fishing birds on 9th and 12th, respectively. Marsh Harriers made their biggest impact so far this year, being seen at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 13th-14th, Boddington Res on 13th, in the Brampton Valley and at Ditchford GP on 12th, Harrington AF on 11th, Pitsford village, where there were two circling, on 10th, Pitsford Res on 12th, Stanford Res on 9th, 11th, 13th, 14th-15th (two), Summer Leys on 10th-12th and 14th-15th and at Warmington on 12th.

Lighting up the passerines, a Firecrest was an unusual August visitor to a Duston, Northampton garden, moving off quickly with a mobile tit flock, on 12th, while the fourth Pied Flycatcher to be reported so far this year put in an equally brief appearance at Pitsford on 11th.

Common Redstarts maintained their prominence, being seen at thirteen localities. Stanford produced the most with a total of seven trapped and ringed during the week, while one to two were seen at Blueberry Farm, at two sites in the Brampton Valley, Hanging Houghton, Harrington AF, Lamport, Long Buckby, Old, Thrapston GP, Welford Quarry, Woodford and Woodford Halse.

Male Common Redstart, Stanford Res, 14th August 2025 (Chris Hubbard)

Whinchats, on the other hand, were rather more scarce. Hollowell delivered the maximum of three on 14th, followed by just one there the next day. The 12th saw two in the Brampton Valley and one at Stanford, two were at Blueberry Farm on 14th with one there on 13th and one was at Thrapston on the latter date. The only Northern Wheatears were at Clifford Hill GP on 12th and at Blueberry Farm the following day.

Northern Wheatear, Clifford Hilll GP, 12th August 2025 (Mike Alibone)

After a meagre two in April, the first of the autumn’s Tree Pipits appeared, commencing on 9th with four in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth, two of which were trapped and ringed. These were followed the next day by two at Pitsford (one trapped and ringed), one over Abington Park, Northampton on 11th and one in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 12th.

And Crossbills continued to trickle through, with three south over Pitsford on 11th, six over Blueberry Farm on 14th and one south over Hollowell Res on the same date.

Newsround 26th July to 1st August 2025

Posted on by Mike Alibone

Atlantic low pressure systems moving across the UK delivered largely westerly and northerly airstreams and a mixed bag of weather conditions, along with close to average temperatures. Causing a stir, in old money, a ‘flying barn door’ lifted spirits for one birder and expectations for others … but it did not linger.

It was quiet, though, on the ducks deluxe front with, in a nod to the week, the female Ruddy Shelduck paying a visit to Ravensthorpe Res on 31st-1st.

Otherwise, it was down to two Black-necked Grebes together at Clifford Hill GP on 30th to keep things going on the water. Providing a second bite of the cherry for some, this is only the second record in what has so far proved to be a rather poor year for this species in the county after one – also at Clifford Hill – on 25th-26th March.

Juvenile and adult Black-necked Grebes, Clifford Hill GP, 30th July 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Scarcer waders were limited, in part, to the fast-declining trickle of Black-tailed Godwits, which included last week’s individual at Earls Barton GP on 26th and one at Stanwick GP from 29th until 31st. Add to that the first of the autumn’s Turnstones – at Clifford Hill, briefly, on 30th – plus single Greenshanks at Earls Barton on 27th and 30th-31st and at Pitsford Res on 1st and that’s the period’s meagre quota summed up.

Turnstone, Clifford Hill GP, 30th July 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

The run of Mediterranean Gulls continued this week with single juveniles at both Hollowell Res and Pitsford on 29th, followed by one at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 1st.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Titchmarsh NR, 1st August 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Caspian Gulls were limited to a second-summer at Stanwick on 30th and a fourth-summer at Daventry CP the next day, while numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls began to build, with eight at Stanwick on 29th and at least eleven there on 31st. Smaller numbers elsewhere included four at Pitsford on 29th, two there on 31st and one on 26th, while one visited Titchmarsh NR on 30th.

The Nene Valley gravel pits continued to deliver this week’s run of Ardeidae, with single Bitterns at Summer Leys LNR on 27th, one in flight over the A45 before dropping into reeds at Ditchford GP on 28th and one at Titchmarsh on 30th-31st, where the local Cattle Egret count hit a potentially all-time high of sixteen on 28th, although just one was present two days later, on 30th. Another was seen at nearby Ringstead GP on 26th.

As the UK’s Osprey population continues to grow, we’ve seen a year-on-year increase in numbers and frequency of sightings in the county. Pitsford again produced the most this week, with singles there on 28th, 29th and 31st, plus one over nearby Scaldwell heading toward the reservoir on 29th. Elsewhere, singles were seen at both Ringstead GP’s Barker Lake and Stanford Res on 26th and at Titchmarsh on 30th. Marsh Harriers were also on the up, with singles at Summer Leys on 26th, 27th, 28th, 30th and 31st, at Titchmarsh on 29th, at both Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows NR and Harrington AF on 31st and in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 1st, with one over Stanford on the same date.

Juvenile Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 28th July 2025 (Alan Coles)

But these were overshadowed, literally, by that flying barn door – aka White-tailed Eagle – over Pitsford Res on 31st. This bird was quickly confirmed as a radio-tagged individual from the UK reintroduction scheme and fledged from a nest in Sussex in 2023. Having been tracked moving south from the Cairngorms, it had apparently roosted between Clipston and Naseby the previous night. It was present in the skies above Pitsford for the best part of twenty minutes before moving off south. Although a tremendous sight to witness, it is not yet bona fide in terms of being countable on any county list. How many years will it be before this species is granted the same status as introduced Red Kites in Britain? We’ll just have to wait and see …

And from large to something smaller, Common Redstarts were again well represented by birds at a very respectable nine locations, one of which, Woodford Halse, produced the highest site total of three on 28th. Between one and two were seen elsewhere, including Cold Ashby, Duston, Everdon, Fawsley Park, Guilsborough, Hollowell, Long Buckby and Stanford, where one was trapped and ringed on 30th.

Male Common Redstart, Jurassic Way, Woodford Halse, 27th July 2025 (Bob Bullock)

A juvenile Stonechat at Boddington Res on 31st constituted the second of the autumn and a Northern Wheatear between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 30th was the autumn’s third so far.

Crossbills were again very much in evidence this week, with the highest numbers of approximately twenty and eighteen in pines at Hollowell on 26th and 30th, respectably. Elsewhere, thirteen flew south over Boddington Res on 30th, seven flew north-west over Yardley Chase on 26th, five flew south over Daventry CP on 31st and singles flew over East Hunsbury, Northampton on 27th, Harrington on 31st and Hollowell on 1st.

However, Chelveston AF was the prime place to visit this week to be in with a chance of seeing what has now become a much sought after bird in Northamptonshire – Corn Bunting.

Corn Bunting, Chelveston AF, 27th July 2025 (Chris Sidebottom)

At least two present alongside the southern end of the old runway there on 27th were only the third record for the year following single birds in the Brampton Valley on 2nd January and one over Harrington on 27th April.

Newsround 12th to 18th July 2025

Posted on by Mike Alibone

Atlantic air pushed back in during the period with temperatures falling slightly as a result, although atmospheric humidity remained high. With new birds arriving, migration was clearly on the up and the cross-country Crossbill movement continued apace …

Having returned last week, the infamous female Ruddy Shelduck was mobile around its established small area of choice in northwest Northants, being seen at Ravensthorpe Res on 12th before moving back to nearby (as the duck flies) Winwick Pools the following day. The movements of this returning bird fit well within the increasingly strong pattern to the species’ occurrence in the UK. A small peak in March and April – coinciding with the timing of the birds’ spring migration – is followed by a noticeable spike in late summer and early autumn, peaking between July and September. This is in parallel with the northward moult migration movement of European breeders, involving up to 2000 birds arriving in The Netherlands during summer, while small numbers remain during the UK winter, bottoming out in February. In 2021, the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee began a review of the status of Ruddy Shelduck in the UK, which appears still to be ongoing four years later. What happens in the BOURC stays in the BOURC, or so it seems, so don’t hold your breath … For further details from a wider perspective see here.

But we’re not done with contentious ducks just yet. Found during the early evening of 13th was a female Ferruginous Duck at Stanford Res. It had departed by the following morning. While its identification is not in doubt, its origin may well be. Looking back at the last one, a juvenile drake present at Daventry CP between 31st July and 15th September 2022, it was accepted by the British Birds Rarities Committee but, along with others in Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Warwickshire, it was placed in a group classification where identification was accepted, but origin is uncertain or known not to be wild. This bird is likely to follow suit, although it is recognised that late summer drought-induced vagrancy may occur for this species.

Female Ferruginous Duck, Stanford Res, 13th July 2025 (Chris Hubbard)

There was no such worry over waders in general, but concern of a different kind with regard to Curlews, one of which was seen in flight over Old Pastures Wood, Yardley Hastings on 17th. In recent years, numbers of this species have been dropping locally, with no proven Northamptonshire breeding records since 2018, although it has been suspected in the north-east of the county. This reflects the British Trust for Ornithology’s Breeding Bird Survey which revealed a 49% decline in breeding Curlews across the UK from 1995-2021. It is now included on the UK Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern and the UK holds over one-quarter of the global breeding population which, in a wider context, is highly significant.

Once again, Black-tailed Godwits featured reasonably strongly during the period, with Clifford Hill GP producing the maximum of eleven on 14th and one on 17th, Summer Leys LNR holding on to five on 15th-16th and one on 12th and Pitsford Res securing two on 14th and one on 15th.

A single Wood Sandpiper made a short stopover at Clifford Hill early on 16th, while the early autumn trickle of Greenshanks continued with singles at Daventry CP on 14th-15th and Pitsford on 17th.  

Greenshank, Daventry CP, 14th July 2025 (Gary Pullan)

The first, neatly-scalloped juvenile Mediterranean Gull of the year paid a visit to Boddington Res on 15th and a second-summer Caspian Gull was found at Daventry CP the following day.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Boddington Res, 15th July 2025 (Gary Pullan)

Yellow-legged Gulls were, predictably, to be found at Pitsford, where there were four on 15th and one on 16th, while Daventry held a juvenile on 15th and an adult on 16th and single adults visited Stanford on 12th and Thrapston GP on 17th.

A Little Tern at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows NR was a surprise on 13th.

This week’s Bittern was a short-shower at Summer Leys on 16th, while the number of Cattle Egrets at the Nene Valley breeding site climbed from four or five on 12th to eleven – including seven adults – on 17th.

Four sites dished up Ospreys, the reservoirs of Pitsford and Stanford producing singles on 14th and 16th at the former and on 12th and 14th at the latter, with Thrapston/Titchmarsh getting in on the action with birds on 14th, 17th and 18th, while Harrington AF produced a northbound flyover on 17th. The latter site also held single Marsh Harriers on 12th and 14th-15th.

Osprey, Stanford Res, 14th July 2025 (Chris Hubbard)

Passerine migration gained momentum this week with Common Redstarts featuring strongly for the time of year. Blueberry Farm, Maidwell produced one, possibly two, between 12th and 18th, Harrington singles on 12th, 14th-15th and 17th, the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton one on 17th-18th, while further singles were at Hollowell Res on 13th and Litchborough the following day. Following the autumn’s first at Blueberry Farm last week, a Whinchat was again there on 14th and two more were found at Harrington on 15th. Another 2025 autumn first was a juvenile Stonechat trapped and ringed at Stanford on 17th.

Juvenile Stonechat, Stanford Res, 17th July 2025 (Chris Hubbard)

And then there were Crossbills. The influx continued with a notable movement logged across seven localities, with the highest number of ten flying east over Kettering on the last day of the period. Supplementing this were eight at Wakerley Great Wood on 13th followed by a straggler there on 16th, four flew west over Abington Park, Northampton on 17th, three flew over Fermyn Wood on 12th, two flew over Blueberry Farm on 18th, the same day seeing two separate individuals moving over Harrington, while one was at Harry’s Park Wood on 13th.

Newsround 24th to 30th May 2025

Posted on by Mike Alibone

The period’s weather was dominated by a slow-moving low pressure system to the north of the UK, delivering west to south-westerly winds and showers throughout, resulting in a somewhat tepid week, birdwise. While it’s commonplace for migration to take a dive as spring fizzles out, the last week of May has, over the years, been known to produce the stuff of legend in the county. Etched into the memories of those of us of a certain age will be the hallowed 29th, which has delivered Bridled Tern, Sooty Tern and Buff-breasted Sandpiper – rarities of the highest eminence, the likes of which may never be seen locally again …

However, the week’s best birds were rather more down to earth, exemplified by the idling drake Red-crested Pochard still present throughout the period at Earls Barton GP.

Avocets were again well represented with nine at the above locality on 30th and twos at Lilbourne Meadows NR from 24th to 27th and at Clifford Hill GP on 27th-28th.

Avocets, Lilbourne Meadows NR, 25th May 2025 (Mike Alibone)

A Grey Pover spent the afternoon and evening at Summer Leys LNR on 29th, the same site having produced a Sanderling on 25th, when one also visited Lilbourne Meadows.

Grey Plover, Summer Leys LNR, 29th May 2025 (Aamir Aziz Mughal)
Grey Plover, Summer Leys LNR, 29th May 2025 (Alan Coles)

Lilbourne Meadows also held on to a Tundra Ringed Plover until 27th, while a Greenshank at Pitsford Res on 24th is likely to be the last one for the spring which has seen an unusually good run of them throughout.

The same cannot be said for Kittiwake, an adult – and the first for 2025 – putting in a brief appearance at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 28th before heading off south. This year is fast shaping up to become possibly the worst in recent history for the species … A couple of late Caspian Gulls included one at Pitsford on 24th and a first-summer on floodwater at Braunston on 29th, while Pitsford produced the week’s Yellow-legged Gulls, with two there on 27th and one on 28th.

Bitterns continued to be seen at Summer Leys, where there were two on 25th and single birds on 26th and 30th. With Cattle Egrets up and down of late, five were at the highly favoured North Lake of Stanwick GP on 25th and one dropped in at Clifford Hill on 28th.

Bittern, Summer Leys LNR, 25th May 2025 (Ricky Sinfield)
Bittern, Summer Leys LNR, 30th May 2025 (Tony Stanford)

Rounding off this week’s raptors and all, single Ospreys graced the skies over Earls Barton on 24th and Pitsford on 28th-29th.

Citrine Wagtail x Yellow Wagtail hybrid … or what?

Posted on by Mike Alibone

While talking to Martin Swannell and David Smith during a visit to Earls Barton GP late afternoon on Tuesday 15th April, MS picked up a ‘yellow’ wagtail in flight before it dropped down in a muddy corner at the eastern end of New Workings (South), about 60 metres away from where we were standing.

Looking through bins, it was immediately apparent that this was no ordinary Yellow Wagtail as it had strikingly grey upperparts and bold, white tips to the median coverts, which produced a noticeably strong white wing-bar. Scope views enabled more detail to be seen as the bird moved around feeding and, appearing fidgety, flying short distances within the area.

Looking like a female, to my eyes, the bird had a citreola vibe to it but it was certainly not identifiable as a Citrine Wagtail, as it lacked a number of diagnostic features of that species.

Apparent ‘hybrid’ Yellow Wagtail showing some Citrine Wagtail-like characteristics, Earls Barton GP, 15th April 2025 (Mike Alibone)

An interesting looking bird with a grey mantle that was concolourous with the nape and extended into the crown, the latter then merging into a yellowish-grey forehead, itself merging with the supercilium above the dark lores. On rear views, the rump had a slight greenish tinge to it.

Apparent ‘hybrid’ Yellow Wagtail showing some Citrine Wagtail-like characteristics, Earls Barton GP, 15th April 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Pro-citreola features are the grey upperparts, strong white median covert tips and strong(est) yellow colouration on the throat as opposed to the belly. Pro-flava features are off-white/yellow-buff-tinged greater covert tips, yellow undertail coverts and lack of supercilium curving around behind ear coverts.

Apparent ‘hybrid’ Yellow Wagtail showing some Citrine Wagtail-like characteristics, Earls Barton GP, 15th April 2025 (Mike Alibone)

After some 15 minutes, the bird flew off north and, unfortunately, was not heard to call.

Individuals with almost identical features to this have been recorded in the UK on previous occasions (see here) and a Citrine x Yellow Wagtail hybrid, photographed in July 2010, appears not too dissimilar but with a more Citrine-like head pattern (see here). Mixed pairs have bred in Poland, while hybrids have also been recorded in India, Israel and the United Arab Emirates, although images (here) appear to show birds with more striking head patterns, which are probably males.

The above bird, though exhibiting hybrid characteristics may, of course, be an established, unknown Yellow Wagtail variant – an alternative advocated by Martin Garner back in 2012 …

References and suggested reading for further information

Newsround – 29th March to 4th April 2025

Posted on by Mike Alibone

After the driest March since 1961, April continued in the same vein, kicking in with a lingering spell of high pressure and a hearty dose of easterlies. These near-perfect conditions resulted in a decent number of migrants, including a hefty passage of Little Gulls and another dollop of firsts for the year.

The week’s new-in summer visitors kicked off with a smart male Common Redstart on day 2, followed by a Ring Ouzel on day 6 and Common Tern on the final day of the week.

Otherwise, it was a week of unsurprisingly diminishing returns as far as wildfowl were concerned, with the long-staying Pink-footed Goose still in the Cogenhoe Mill/Earls Barton GP area until at least 3rd, the drake Red-crested Pochard still in the same vicinity on the River Nene until 1st and the first-winter female Greater Scaup hanging on at Blatherwycke Lake until at least 29th.

Pink-footed Goose, Earls Barton GP, 3rd April 2025 (Leslie Fox)
Drake Red-crested Pochard, Earls Barton GP, 1st April 2025 (Leslie Fox)

After two flyover records in the first half of March, Common Cranes were again on the radar this week as a group of four flew south over Whitfield, in the deep south of the county, on the last day of the period. One on the ground would surely prove itself extremely popular …

In terms of number of species, the week’s waders widened out to include the year’s first Grey Plover at Clifford Hill GP, for one day only, on 3rd. Avocets were again to be found at three Nene Valley localities, Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR delivering two on 30th while, on 3rd, two visited Clifford Hill GP and Earls Barton GP dished up six.

Avocets, Earls Barton GP, 3rd April 2025 (Leslie Fox)
Avocets, Earls Barton GP, 3rd April 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Black-tailed Godwits were the sole preserve of Summer Leys LNR, where one lingered from last week until 30th, the number then swelling to four there from 31st until the week’s end on 4th.

Black-tailed Godwits, Summer Leys LNR, 2nd April 2025 (Mark Tyrrell)

Just one Jack Snipe made it into April, still on site at Hollowell Res on 1st.

Following the previous mini-run of Little Gulls on 21st-22nd March, two appeared at Thrapston GP’s Town Lake on 31st, ahead of three at Pitsford on 3rd, preceding a build-up of numbers across 8 localities the following day. The latter saw site maxima of at least thirty-four at Stanford Res, at least nineteen at Summer Leys, fourteen at Clifford Hill, thirteen at Earls Barton, nine at Stanwick GP, seven at Daventry CP, three at Pitsford and two flying north-east over Irthlingborough. All in all, a great start to April for this diminutive, much admired, pocket rocket of a gull.

Adult Little Gull, Stanford Res, 4th April 2025 (Chris Hubbard)
Little Gulls, Summer Leys LNR, 4th April 2025 (Alan Coles)

Other gulls were, of course, available – only if you were at Pitsford, that is, where a third-winter Caspian Gull was present on 31st, as were up to two Yellow-legged Gulls throughout the period.

And another first for the year was inbound this week in the shape of Common Tern, four of which got themselves noticed at Ditchford GP on 4th.

Still hanging on in there was the juvenile Great Northern Diver, which saw another week out at Pitsford.

Copy that for the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis …

Up to five Cattle Egrets were still to be found at Stanwick GP between 29th and 1st, while one put in an appearance by the River Nene at Cogenhoe Mill on the latter date.

The week’s Ospreys were to be seen at five localities and included two over Deene Lake on 29th, singles at Summer Leys on 29th and 4th and at Thrapston on 30th, Hollowell on 31st and Pitsford on 3rd.

Male Osprey, Summer Leys LNR, 4th April 2025 (Andy Howell)

The only Marsh Harriers, however, were at Summer Leys on 31st and 2nd.

The Northern Treecreeper, last photographed at Summer Leys on 20th, was reported there again on 30th-31st.

Returning once more to firsts for the year, a male Ring Ouzel was clearly ‘old hat’ for a local patch watcher at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 3rd and the first Common Redstart to break cover was a male at nearby Hanging Houghton on 30th, with the second one not far behind it at good old Blueberry Farm again the following day. These were followed by two more males – one in the Nene Valley near Great Doddington and the other at Harrington AF – both on 4th.

Other migrant passerines of note included single Northern Wheatears at Clifford Hill on 29th and 31st with two there on 30th, singles at Harrington on 29th and 31st with two there on 4th, one at Earls Barton on 29th and two at Blueberry Farm on 31st and one there on 3rd.

And in the grey area of the spectrum, two White Wagtails were found at Earls Barton GP on 29th, followed by singles at Lower Barnwell Lock on 30th and Hollowell on 31st.

Northern Treecreeper: The First Record for Northamptonshire

Posted on by Mike Alibone

Currently considered a national rarity based on statistics, a Treecreeper showing characteristics of the northern European race familiaris – more commonly known as ‘Northern Treecreeper’ was found, photographed, and subsequently identified, by Julie Roe at Summer Leys LNR on 20th March. It was present in trees on the west side of the path between the Feeding Station and Screen Hide.

The bird, first noticed by its ‘frosty’ appearance, exhibited all the key identification features including the obvious white spots on the mantle, pale scapular feathers with white shafts and a warmer rump.

Northern Treecreeper, Summer Leys LNR, 20th March 2025 (Julie Roe)

Its broad and startlingly white supercilium extended and flared into the upperparts as well as extending in front of the eye and over the lores. The underparts were gleamingly snow-white with only a slight buff tinge limited to rear flanks and undertail coverts.

Northern Treecreeper, Summer Leys LNR, 20th March 2025 (Julie Roe)
Northern Treecreeper, Summer Leys LNR, 20th March 2025 (Julie Roe)

The above features are spot-on for this race which occurs in Fennoscandia, eastern Europe and northern Russia as far east as western Siberia, while our own race britannica is restricted to Britain & Ireland.

One further feature outlined by the late, great Martin Garner in his Birding Frontiers Challenge Series – Autumn (2014) is that the forward-pointing claws of Northern Treecreeper are wholly pale/translucent compared to the usually slightly darker sides to the same claws on britannica. This feature is clearly evident in the images captured by Julie.

With only 36 accepted UK records up to 2022 and a further 11 in 2023 – deemed a bumper year for the occurrence of this race in the UK – records of Northern Treecreeper are currently considered by the British Birds Rarities Committee, although its national status is recognised as uncertain but possibly more common than statistics suggest.

The Northern Isles have accounted for the majority of records but they have also occurred further south along the east coast. Our bird in Northants is likely to be the only one to have knowingly occurred this far inland. The record will be submitted to BBRC in due course.

Suggested reading for further information on Northern Treecreeper identification and status

Newsround – 1st to 7th February 2025

Posted on by Mike Alibone

A moist and mild, westerly airstream had flipped to a cold easterly by the week’s end but it was the early part of the week that produced the goods, in the shape of a fine drake Ring-necked Duck …

This was, of course, in addition to the ongoing supporting cast of wildfowl we have become familiar with and grown accustomed to seeing since the turn of the year. There was little change in this respect, with the mobile Pink-footed Goose now seemingly more settled in the Cogenhoe Mill/Earls Barton GP area, where the adult White-fronted Goose also saw another week out with the local Greylags. The two long-staying Whitefronts at Ravensthorpe Res also put in another seven days on site.

Pink-footed Goose, Earls Barton GP, 6th February 2025 (Leslie Fox)
Adult White-fronted Goose, Cogenhoe, 2nd February 2025 (Leslie Fox)
White-fronted Geese, Ravensthorpe Res, 2nd February 2025 (Phil West)
Adult White-fronted Goose, Earls Barton GP, 6th February 2025 (Leslie Fox)
White-fronted Geese, Ravensthorpe Res, 7th February 2025 (Jon Cook)

Likewise, the female Ruddy Shelduck did another week at Winwick Pools, as did the female Red-crested Pochard at Daventry CP.

Ruddy Shelduck, Winwick Pools, 2nd February 2025 (Phill West)
Female Red-crested Pochard, Daventry CP, 3rd February 2025 (Gary Pullan)

Thrapston GP’s reputation for delivering Ring-necked Ducks was upheld and brought into sharp focus this week, though, with the discovery of a splendid drake showing nicely there on 3rd. Bizarrely, despite a thorough search, it was nowhere to be seen the following day but it reappeared on 5th, favouring Heronry Lake until the end of the period.

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Thrapston GP, 3rd February 2025 (Nick Parker)
Drake Ring-necked Duck, Thrapston GP, 3rd February 2025 (Bob Bullock)
Drake Ring-necked Duck, Thrapston GP, 5th February 2025 (Mike Alibone)
Drake Ring-necked Duck, Thrapston GP, 5th February 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Allowing for highly mobile individuals – particularly along the chain of Nene Valley wetlands – this bird would appear to be the 14th county record, Thrapston laying claim to at least four, if not five, of these, including a run of four consecutive years between 2021 and 2024. With some forty individuals currently present across Britain and Ireland, this species has shed its former rarity status, now having been replaced by Lesser Scaup – seen as the ‘new Ring-necked Duck’ – the first of which is eagerly awaited in Northants …

Not as rare but a whole lot smarter, drake Smews were available for the second week running, although with a pronounced tendency to be mobile they were not easy to catch up with. Ravensthorpe again produced one on 1st and one was at Clifford Hill GP on 2nd and 7th. Conceivably, only one bird may have accounted for all three sightings.

Drake Smew, Ravensthorpe Res, 1st February 2025 (Jon Cook)
Drake Smew, Clifford Hill GP, 2nd February 2025 (Phil West)

And things were looking up for waders this week with the pick of them coming from Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South), where a Black-tailed Godwit and an unseasonal Common Sandpiper were photographed on 1st and a Greenshank was heard calling in flight on 2nd. As ever, Jack Snipes were also to be found during the period, including one at Stanford Res on 2nd, while twos were at Hollowell Res on 3rd and 6th, at Stanwick GP on 4th and Barnes Meadow NR (Northampton) on 7th.

Numbers of the scarcer gulls were also up, with an adult Caspian Gull at Ravensthorpe, briefly, on 4th, one at Boddington Res the next day and a first-winter at Daventry CP on 7th. Meanwhile, the Yellow-legged Gull collective comprised an adult at Hardingstone GP on 4th, two at Pitsford Res on 5th and a single adult there on 6th-7th.

Pitsford also retained its wintering juvenile Great Northern Diver throughout, interestingly being joined by another, with both birds seen together in Catwalk Bay on 5th.

Juvenile Great Northern Diver, Pitsford Res, 5th February 2025 (Phil West)

Northamptonshire’s longest ever staying Glossy Ibis remained at and around Summer Leys LNR until at least 5th.

The period’s Cattle Egrets were restricted to the one remaining from last week at Blatherwycke Lake on 2nd and two at Stanwick on the same date, followed by three there on 3rd.

And a ‘new’ Marsh Harrier was seemingly taking up temporary residence at Thrapston, where it was present between 4th and 7th, while the one floating around the Summer Leys/Earls Barton area was again seen on the latter date.

Those Short-eared Owls whose whereabouts were disclosed this week included the two on private land near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell between 1st and 5th and one at Harrington AF on 6th – the latter believed to be one of the Blueberry birds, this being based upon a plumage anomaly visible in one of its wings.

With passerines few and far between, Stonechats were seen at Earls Barton, Hollowell, Pitsford and Towcester, with a maximum of four present at the first of these localities on 2nd, while Hawfinches were down to the bare minimum of one, at Cottesbrooke on 5th.

Female Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 5th February 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Newsround – 4th to 10th January 2025

Posted on by Mike Alibone

The week kicked off with a messy mix of precipitation – snow, quickly followed by rain and gloomy conditions – before a sinking Arctic airmass brought below-average temperatures to the country as a whole. And with it came a few new birds …

Geese were very much in evidence this week with the occurrence of a Barnacle Goose on floodwater at Oundle on 9th and the reappearance on 4th and 7th of the Pink-footed Goose at Clifford Hill GP, following its initial discovery there last year on 16th December. What was clearly the same individual subsequently appeared within spitting distance accompanying the sizeable Greylag flock further down the Nene Valley, at Cogenhoe Mill, on 9th.

Pink-footed Goose, Clifford Hill GP, 4th January 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)
Pink-footed Goose, Clifford Hill GP, 7th January 2025 (Bob Bullock)
Pink-footed Goose, Cogenhoe Mill, 9th January 2025 (Mike Alibone)

The long staying adult and first-winter White-fronted Geese saw another week out at Ravensthorpe Res but their exclusivity came to an end with the discovery on 9th of a new bird – an adult – again with the Greylags at Cogenhoe, where it was still present the following day.

Adult White-fronted Goose, Cogenhoe Mill, 9th January 2025 (Mike Alibone)
Adult White-fronted Goose, Cogenhoe Mill, 10th January 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Stanford Reservoir’s run of Whooper Swans continued this week when two adults dropped in on 9th.

Whooper Swans, Stanford Res, 9th January 2025 (Barry Silverman)

After a week with no reports, the female Ruddy Shelduck was seen daily at Winwick Pools until 9th, after which it moved to Hollowell Res following the freezing over of its highly favoured site.

Female Ruddy Shelduck, Winwick Pools, 9th January 2025 (Phil West)

Diving ducks were in short supply with the female Red-crested Pochard seeing out another week at Daventry CP, while a ‘new’ drake was found at Barnwell CP on 5th.

Scarce waders hit rock bottom with a Jack Snipe at Stortons GP on 4th.

The gull roost at Stanford continued to attract a first-winter Mediterranean Gull, which was also present briefly on the reservoir’s partly frozen surface first thing in the morning on 10th. The roost there also produced a first-winter Caspian Gull on 4th, while single adult Caspians were present at Hollowell on the same date and at Summer Leys LNR and Earls Barton GP on 10th. Two Yellow-legged Gulls were at Pitsford Res on 5th, followed by one there on 9th and one was present at Daventry CP on 6th.

Pitsford also held on to its wintering juvenile Great Northern Diver, which remained there throughout the period.

Copy that for the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis, although it seems to have become a little more flighty since the colder weather kicked in. With just the one reported at Stanwick GP on 4th, Cattle Egret numbers now appear to be at a low ebb.

It’s been a while – exactly seven weeks, in fact – since we’ve seen a local Marsh Harrier and that situation remains unchanged, but single ‘ringtail’ Hen Harriers at Summer Leys on 4th and at Harrington AF on 4th and 10th represented rather more typical winter fare.  

Two Short-eared Owls on private land near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell were present throughout the week, while single Merlins were seen nearby in the Brampton Valley on 5th and at Irthlingborough on 8th.

The week’s passerines were limited to just two species. In ones and twos, Stonechats were to be found at Borough Hill, Cogenhoe, Catesby, Deene Lake, Oundle, Stanford, Summer Leys, Towcester and Upton CP, while four were seen at both Earls Barton and Hollowell.

Female Stonechat, Summer Leys LNR, 4th January 2025 (James Underwood)

Hawfinches remained on the weekly birding agenda, the largely reliable locality of the churchyard at Blatherwycke delivering four on 4th ahead of singles found at both Greens Norton and St Lawrence Churchyard, Towcester on 7th.

Newsround – 30th November to 6th December 2024

Posted on by Mike Alibone

Although having crossed the line into meteorological winter this week, new arrivals continued to materialise, adding a little extra spice to the mix of what was already on offer.

Two sites from last week continued to hold single Pink-footed Geese tagging along with local Greylags, these comprising Wicksteed Park Lake area on 2nd and Pitsford Res throughout the period. In addition to these, a new bird was discovered at Blatherwycke Lake on 3rd. But as Pinkfeet numbers continue to increase year on year, White-fronted Geese are becoming harder to connect with. Two found in fields alongside Ravensthorpe Res on 2nd were only second record for 2024, following four in the early part of the year which spent the majority of March in the Thrapston GP/Wadenhoe area.

Adult and first-winter White-fronted Geese, Ravensthorpe Res, 2nd December 2024 (Bob Bullock)

On 1st, a single adult Whooper Swan was picked up in flight over Ringstead, later being relocated in water meadows just south of Woodford.

The female Ruddy Shelduck continued to occupy its favoured locality of Winwick Pools, still to be found there on 1st and, as for this week’s Red-crested Pochards, well, there was just the one, at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North), on 4th.

Female Ruddy Shelduck, Winwick Pools, 1st December 2024 (James Urwin)

A drake Smew found in Pitsford’s Pintail Bay on 2nd spent little more than three hours there after its discovery before heading off in the direction of the causeway and not being relocated subsequently. With just single ‘redheads’ at Clifford Hill GP in January-March and at Pitsford in March, Smew is a locally rare commodity these days. It has recently been acknowledged that numbers wintering in Britain have declined significantly and, in some counties, e.g. Surrey and Sussex, its status has changed from being an expected winter visitor to that of a county rarity with a ‘description required’ tag attached to it. This downward trend is reflected in our own county and with only seven further individuals scattered across the UK during this week things are looking bleak indeed.

A Black-necked Grebe found at Stanford Res on 2nd was the second for the site this year, following a juvenile there on 23rd-25th August, as well as being only the sixth for the county in 2024.

Black-necked Grebe, Stanford Res, 2nd December 2024 (Barry Silverman)

For the second week running, Daventry CP was the only locality to produce Jack Snipe with just the one there on 3rd.

Gull numbers continued to bump along the bottom, the best of which were a second-winter Mediterranean Gull in the roost at Stanford on 30th and 1st and a daytime adult north of the causeway at Pitsford on 5th. Hollowell Res produced two Caspian Gulls – a first-winter on 30th and an adult on 3rd, while Stanford’s roost held an adult and a third-winter on 1st and single adults on 2nd and 5th. Way out west, the roost at Boddington Res contained an adult on 2nd and the last day of the week saw Wicksteed Park Lakes dish up a German-ringed XU3X first-winter, ringed as a pullus at Hiddensee on 5th June 2024. Only one Yellow-legged Gull came to light during the period, that being the regular Pitsford adult.

German-ringed first-winter Caspian Gull, Wicksteed Park Lake, 6th December (Julie Roe)
German-ringed first-winter Caspian Gull, Wicksteed Park Lake, 6th December (Julie Roe)
German-ringed first-winter Caspian Gull, Wicksteed Park Lake, 6th December (Julie Roe)
First-winter Caspian Gull, German-ringed XU3X, from Hiddensee to Kettering

Having shown a tendency to wander a little further north and east of its favoured on-site location, the popular crayfish-crunching Great Northern Diver saw out another week at Pitsford.

Juvenile Great Northern Diver, Pitsford Res, 30th November 2024 (Ant Hall)
Juvenile Great Northern Diver, Pitsford Res, 4th December 2024 (Bob Bullock)

And so, too, did the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis – one of just ten largely static birds across the UK.

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 3rd December 2024 (Mike Alibone)

Just one Bittern was in evidence and that was the Titchmarsh LNR individual, showing again from the North Hide there on 1st and 3rd while, just up the Nene Valley, the Ringstead/Woodford area continued to hold its own as the current hotspot for Cattle Egrets with one there on 1st, three on 3rd and six on 6th. Elsewhere, three were in fields just west of Chacombe on 30th and one visited Stanwick GP on 3rd.

Bittern, Titchmarsh LNR, 1st December 2024 (Nick Parker)

Harrington AF produced the only birds resembling raptors in any way, shape or form during the period, namely a Merlin on 30th and two Short-eared Owls on 3rd.

Remaining elusive, the female Bearded Tit continued to be mobile about Stanwick and was present there until at least 4th.

Hollowell held the highest total of the week’s Stonechats – a respectable five on 6th – while ones and twos were seen at Deene Lake, Earls Barton GP and Pitsford.

And still out there to be had were Hawfinches – all of this week’s in their favoured churchyard locations, including one at Thenford on 30th and two at both Blatherwycke and Deene on 3rd.