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
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.
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
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)
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.
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.
Edging that little bit closer to late autumn saw the arrival of large waves of winter thrushes pushing through the county, as well as the first Whooper Swans this side of the last winter period. Reluctant to move on, the Glossy Ibis dug its heels in, while yet more Yellow-browed Warblers seemed intent on making further advances on their already record high numbers.
Stanford was the top performing reservoir this week, with the birds on offer there including the locally roaming Pink-footed Goose again dropping in on 17th. Prior to this, four Whooper Swans flew east early on 13th, followed by what was believed to be a different quartet on the water there later in the afternoon. This latter herd remained overnight and was seen to depart to the east early the next day. Thrapston GP also got in on the action with four on Titchmarsh LNR on 13th, one of which bore rings – a white ‘65L’ on its right leg and a metal ring on its left. Observer research revealed it had been ringed as an adult male at Lake Sandvatn, Iceland on 8th August this year and that the Titchmarsh sighting was the first anywhere since this date.
Whooper Swan, Stanford Res, 13th October 2024 (Chris Hubbard)
Back at Stanford, Red-crested Pochard numbers fell from seven to four, all of which were still present at the week’s end. Elsewhere, the first-winter drake remained settled at Boddington Res throughout the period and two were present at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 13th.
Red-crested Pochards, Earls Barton GP, 13th October 2024 (Bob Bullock)
With waders well and truly off the radar, it fell to gulls to provide a little waterfront entertainment. Boddington Res and Stanwick GP were to carve up the Mediterranean Gulls between them, Boddington regularly producing a first-winter between 14th and 18th and Stanwick a second-winter on 14th-15th.
First-winter Mediterranean Gull, Boddington Res, 15th October 2024 (Gary Pullan)
Stanwick also produced a first-winter Caspian Gull on 12th, while single adults visited both Boddington and Stanford on 15th and Hollowell Res held two adults on the latter date and one on 17th. The week’s Yellow-legged Gulls were found at three widely separated localities with singles at Stanwick on 12th, Boddington on 12th and 14th and Ravensthorpe Res on 17th, while five joined the roost at Boddington on 15th.
A late Black Tern was found at Pitsford Res, also on 15th.
Continuing its protracted stay, the Glossy Ibis notched up another week at Summer Leys LNR and surrounding area, where it has now been present for a solid 28 days. Interestingly, one was reported by a biodiversity survey team at Stanwick on 13th, which seems likely to be a different individual as the Summer Leys bird was being reported at, or about, the same time.
Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 15th October 2024 (Paul Young)Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 17th October 2024 (Mike Alibone)
Stanwick was also the only site to record Bittern this week, with one there on 14th, while the same location saw three Cattle Egrets fly over on 12th and four on the ground there the following day. Further down the valley, fields immediately north-east of Ringstead GP produced the highest counts of the week, though, with one on 12th, eight on 15th and six on 18th, while one turning up to roost at Boddington on 14th was only the second record for the site.
Meanwhile, raptors were up on the last period with sightings of Marsh Harriers dominating. Seemingly now part of the Summer Leys furniture, one remained there throughout the week, also being seen in the wider area of the Earls Barton GP complex on 15th and 18th, while further reports came from Titchmarsh on 14th, Stanwick on 15th and Ditchford GP on 18th.
Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 17th October 2024 (Clive Bowley)Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 17th October 2024 (Clive Bowley)
A Hen Harrier – the fifth of the autumn, so far – was present at Stanford on 17th-18th but was not seen thereafter and a Merlin stuck around in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, on 14th-15th.
Juvenile female Hen Harrier, Stanford Res, 18th October 2024 (Chris Hubbard)
After the last fortnight’s record-breaking four Yellow-browed Warblers, there was more to come and it seems we’re not done yet with this little Siberian gem. While the Ringstead bird was still to be had on the first day of the period, another was found at Stanford on 15th, followed by yet another at Earls Barton GP three days later, on 18th. And here’s the thing: over the last ten years (2014-2023) Yellow-broweds have outnumbered Wood Warblers in the county with a total of fourteen vs. thirteen of the latter. Throw in this year’s (2024) occurrences for both so far and Wood Warbler moves up one to fourteen, while Yellow-browed soars to nineteen – potentially twenty if this week’s individual at Stanford was indeed a new bird!
Rightly overshadowed, as well as likely overlooked, a Ring Ouzel at Harrington AF on 16th was about par for the autumn course as far as this species is concerned.
And as for other passerines, Stonechats were found in at least eight localities, comprising Brampton Valley, Ditchford, Earls Barton, Harrington, Hollowell, Pitsford, Stanford and Summer Leys, with maxima of six in the Brampton Valley and at Earls Barton.
Male Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 15th October 2024 (Leslie Fox)
It should be said that, given the numbers seen in the UK so far this autumn, ‘Eastern Stonechat’ is not impossible and, although it’s a bit of a long shot, inland records are not unprecedented …
We’re now well into October and sustained easterlies in the early part of the month have produced a veritable smorgasbord of Siberian vagrants along the eastern coast of Britain. Although situated far inland, we can’t really complain about the mid-autumn fare on offer locally. With a long-staying Glossy Ibis remaining throughout the period and a record number of Yellow-browed Warblers set to match that present on the Isles of Scilly (well, almost), there was enough out there to fuel enthusiasm and set local pulses racing.
With the provenance of a lone White-fronted Goose flying south-west over Stanford Res on 28th unestablished, it fell to the reservoir itself to produce the majority of this week’s more static wildfowl. Remaining there from the last full week of September was the flock of seven Red-crested Pochards, holding steady throughout the period, while the first-winter drake at Boddington Res also appeared similarly settled. Two more put in a one-day appearance at Daventry CP on 4th.
Red-crested Pochards, Stanford Res, 5th October 2024 (Barry Silverman)
After a visit on 3rd September, what was presumably the same female Ferruginous Duck was back again at Stanford on 11th. It seems likely this is one of the birds which has been frequenting Shawell Sandpit, Leicestershire, since early September. As the duck flies, this site is little more than 6 km from Stanford.
Ferruginous Duck, Stanford Res, 11trh October 2024 (Chris Hubbard)
And after what has turned out to be a decent year for Common Scoters in the county, three more were found at Daventry CP on 9th.
Common Scoters, Daventry CP, 9th October 2024 (Gary Pullan)
Summer Leys held the pick of the period’s meagre offering of waders, with a Black-tailed Godwit there on 3rd and a Ruff on 29th, 4th and 5th, while a Jack Snipe was found at Daventry CP on 7th.
The number of scarce gulls was down to just a first-winter Mediterranean Gull at Stanford on 9th-10th and single adult Caspian Gulls at Hollowell Res on 2nd and at Stanford on 5th. Yellow-legged Gulls did not fare much better, with a second-winter at Hollowell on 29th and a near-adult at Daventry on 9th.
First-winter Mediterranean Gull, Stanford Res, 9th October 2024 (Chris Hubbard)
And a late juvenile Arctic Tern at Thrapston GP’s Town Lake, from 30th until 2nd, was about par for the course for local records at this time of the year. Black Terns continued to appear throughout the period, though, with the four late September juveniles lingering at Clifford Hill GP until 1st and new birds turning up at Thrapston GP’s Town Lake, where there were three on 29th, followed by singles at Ravensthorpe Res on 30th, Hollowell from 10th to 11th and at Pitsford Res on the latter date.
Juvenile Black Tern, Hollowell Res, 11th October 2024 (Jon Cook)
And sticking more or less with seabirds, it’s been a while since the last Gannet was recorded in the county – 7th October 2021, to be precise – so two together in flight over Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR on 2nd was a boon for one local observer. They flew south-west but, perhaps surprisingly, they were not picked up by any other observers further up the Nene Valley in the same way that some have been in previous years.
Now seemingly settled, the Glossy Ibis, first found on 21st September, was seen daily on and around Summer Leys, although it was mobile between Earls Barton GP’s Hardwater Lake area and, at one point, Wellingborough Embankment. Not the crowd-puller it once was, we can no doubt expect more to come as ‘Cambridgeshire overspill’ following recent breeding in that county, where the species seems nigh on gaining residential status.
Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 6th October 2024 (Ricky Sinfield)Glossy Ibis, Earls Barton GP, 10th October 2024 (Leslie Fox)Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 11th October 2024 (Clive Bowley)
While Summer Leys held on to its Bittern, which was seen sporadically up until 9th, there was neither sight nor sound of the one at Stanford after 28th.
Bittern, Summer Leys LNR, 29th September 2024 (Aamir Aziz Mughal)
The number of Cattle Egrets in the Nene Valley looked like it was beginning, once again, to approach double figures when eight were located in water meadows immediately east of Woodford on 4th. At least seven were still present the following day. One also visited Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows LNR on 3rd.
Cattle Egret, Woodford, 5th October 2024 (Nick Parker)
And have we now seen the last of this year’s Ospreys? Single birds were watched flying purposefully over Stanford on 3rd and south-east over Lowick on 9th. To demonstrate just how quickly they make tracks for their winter quarters, a ringed individual that was present at Belvide Res, Staffordshire on the 25th September was back at the Palmarin Reserve in Senegal 14 days later, on 9th October (per Tim Mackrill).
Other raptors were also available – namely Marsh Harriers. As well as being seen almost daily at Summer Leys, singles appeared at Pitsford Res on 28th, in the River Tove Valley below Grafton Regis, on 4th and at Thrapston on 7th-8th.
Also out quartering rough ground was the autumn’s first Short-eared Owl, at Harrington AF on 3rd.
But the classic jewel in the autumn crown for many of us is Yellow-browed Warbler and with another major UK influx underway it would have been surprising if we had not picked up at least one. And so it came as no surprise when one was pulled from the hallowed nets of the Stanford Ringing Group on 28th, when it was ringed and immediately released it back into the nearby scrub from whence it came.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Stanford Res, 28th September 2024 (Barry Silverman)
What was a surprise, though, was the trapping of a second Yellow-browed at the same site the following day! Could things get any better? Well, in fact, yes. A third, unringed, individual was found only a few hundred metres away along the reservoir periphery, on 30th, this third bird remaining in the area until 4th.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Stanford Res, 29th September 2024 (Chris Hubbard)
Meanwhile, the individual trapped and ringed on 29th was retrapped on 3rd and upon weighing, it was discovered that it had increased its weight from 7.1 grams to 7.8 grams – a weight gain of almost 10%.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Stanford Res, 3rd October 2024 (Chris Hubbard)
Before the period was out, though, another was discovered at Ringstead GP, alongside Kinewell Lake, on 11th, giving rise to a record four Yellow-broweds in one Northamptonshire autumn – and it’s not over yet …
Other passerines were available, of course, and a late Common Redstart was trapped and ringed at Pitsford Res on 4th, while Stonechats were found at Earls Barton, Grafton Regis, Hollowell and Stanford, with no more than two at each locality.
In Northampton, a Hawfinch was reported briefly at Dallington Cemetery on 5th.
The last full week of September kicked off nicely with a Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys and ended on the same note. However, from the get-go, heavy downpours off the near continent and in from the Atlantic persisted throughout the period, resulting in all-out flooding of the Nene Valley, considerably widening the choice of wetlands for any visiting birds associated with them. Conversely, the choice for birders became more limited as rising water levels effectively cut off access to a number of favoured areas.
Despite being nice weather for ducks, as they say, there was little new in the way of dabblers and divers this week and it’s overwhelmingly likely that the Pink-footed Goose found with Greylags, at Hollowell Res on 24th, was last week’s bird from not-too-distant Naseby Res. Once again, the female Ruddy Shelduck was seen on the dam at Ravensthorpe Res on 22nd and, at Stanford Res, the number of Red-crested Pochards had nudged up to seven well before the end of the week. A new Red-crested Pochard appeared at Boddington Res on 26th and was still present the next day.
Red-crested Pochard, Boddington Res, 26th September 2024 (Gary Pullan)
Sticking with Boddington, the reservoir was added to the list of sites producing Black-necked Grebes this autumn when one was found there on 24th. Like last week’s bird, though, it had disappeared by the following day.
Black-necked Grebe, Boddington Res, 24th September 2024 (Gary Pullan)
It’s late September and we’re now seeing a wind-down in wader passage with just two species featuring in the week’s tally. Two Black-tailed Godwits visited Stanwick GP on 22nd, the same date seeing two Ruffs fly over Stanford, followed by one discovered at an extensively flooded Summer Leys on 27th.
More was to unfold at Stanwick where, as we moved into day 2 of the period, a gull passing through, initially identified as a first-winter Kittiwake, is now believed more likely to have been a juvenile Sabine’s Gull. With one in Leicestershire on the same date and another in Derbyshire two days later, it would seem in all probability that this was, frustratingly, the one that got away …
Not quite measuring up to the above but certainly in no shadow of a doubt, a first-winter Little Gull visited Boddington on 23rd. Two first-winter Mediterranean Gulls also appeared this week, although both moved quickly on. The first was at Stanford on 22nd, the second at Daventry CP three days later, on 25th. The period’s Caspian Gulls comprised a first-winter and near-adult at Daventry on 23rd and two adults – including the regular, loitering, German-ringed individual – at Naseby Res on 24th, one of which remained the next day. Pitsford held up to two adult Yellow-legged Gulls between 21st and 24th, while a first-winter appeared at Boddington on 26th.
Following a recent run of records from several localities, including Clifford Hill GP, during the second week of September, Black Terns were back in the frame at the latter locality with three juveniles there on 24th being joined by a fourth individual from 25th to 27th.
Juvenile Black Tern, Clifford Hill GP, 25th September 2024 (Tyler Atkinson)Juvenile Black Tern, Clifford Hill GP, 25th September 2024 (Tyler Atkinson)Juvenile Black Tern, Clifford Hill GP, 26th September 2024 (Mike Alibone)Juvenile Black Tern, Clifford Hill GP, 26th September 2024 (Mike Alibone)
But the star prize was discovered further down the Nene Valley at Summer Leys, just as the week commenced, on 21st. Enter Northamptonshire’s eleventh-ever Glossy Ibis. After spending little more than three hours on the Scrape there, it flew off and that was that – or so it was believed. Early on 22nd, though, it was back for a matter of minutes before again vanishing and reappearing as a fly-past on 24th. Three more days elapsed before it was again seen there on the ground in a landscape drastically changed by extensive flooding. In the meantime, one was reported flying over the A5 north of Towcester at Foster’s Booth, on 23rd.
Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 21st September 2024 (Aamir Aziz Mughal)Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 21st September 2024 (Ady Leybourne)
Far less rare nowadays, the period’s Bitterns were divvied up between Summer Leys, where there were up to two, and Stanford, which held on to its newly acquired individual found last week. All remained throughout. Continuing to maintain a low profile, Cattle Egrets were reduced to two at Stanwick on 21st.
Bittern, Summer Leys LNR, 22nd September 2024 (Bob Bullock)
And after none last week, an Osprey drifted over Stanford on 27th, while Marsh Harriers took a tumble down to just the one, regularly visiting Summer Leys throughout the period.
Marsh Harrier and Bittern, Summer Leys LNR, 27th September 2024 (Ricky Sinfield)
A Whinchat at Hollowell on 25th might well be the last we see of the species this year, having been replaced by Stonechats both moving through and moving in for the winter. Examples of the latter were singles at Summer Leys on 23rd and Boddington on 26th, while two were at Hollowell on 24th-25th.
Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 21st September 2024 (Leslie Fox)Stonechat, Boddington Res, 26th September 2024 (Gary Pullan)
Northern Wheatears were also on the wane, with up to two – possibly three – at Clifford Hill between 24th and 26th.
Northern Wheatear, Clifford Hill GP, 24th September 2024 (Tyler Atkinson)
In the world of gulls, things aren’t always what they seem …
And so it was with the apparent ‘Caspian’ Gull at DIRFT 3 on 23rd July. This bird was part of a day-roosting flock of approximately 150 large gulls, which also included 7 Yellow-legged Gulls. Based on structure alone, this bird was within the Caspian camp but there were some anomalies when it came to plumage and, potentially, leg colour.
Adult possible Caspian Gull x Yellow-legged Gull hybrid, DIRFT 3, 23rd July 2024 (Mike Alibone)
The upperparts and upper wings were darker than normal ‘western’ Caspian and as dark as nearby Yellow-legged Gulls, the legs dull/pale yellowish, flesh-coloured feet, it showed extensive black on the outer primaries while three inner primaries had been replaced with new ones which were still growing.
Adult possible Caspian Gull x Yellow-legged Gull hybrid, DIRFT 3, 23rd July 2024 (Mike Alibone)Adult possible Caspian Gull x Yellow-legged Gull hybrid, DIRFT 3, 23rd July 2024 (Mike Alibone)
According to Malling Olsen & Larsson (Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America, 2004), these features seemed to fit reasonably well with Caspian Gulls from the eastern part of the species’ range. It did not go all the way to being a different race, not fitting barabensis in terms of the latter’s more compact structure, precise primary pattern and more intense yellow bare part colour.
After posting the images included here on the Western Palearctic Gulls Facebook page, out of 26 likes/comments, 4 were pro-Yellow-legged Gull and one pro-Caspian.
I also consulted Carl Baggott (Leicestershire Recorder and renowned gull expert). Here’s his take on it:
“Interesting looking beast. I can see where you are coming from, but it might be better to think of something closer to hand. Yellow-legged Gull is the most likely and I have seen some very Caspian Gull like birds in southern Europe. As you have gathered, the amount of black in the primaries is too extensive for a cachinnans, but it falls within the range of barabensis or michahellis. The leg colour is a bit insipid for a michahellis but within variation. The long legged small headed appearance can also be a result of the bird being a bit malnourished. Head moult can also alter a gull’s appearance. Can’t be certain but I would lean towards YLG. Another thing that seems to be an issue is Birdflu as some adult HGs now have black eyes and this might be affecting YLGs as well.”
However, given its Caspian-like features (parallel-sided bill, more gently curved distal part of upper mandible, consistently flattened head and long, sloping forehead, plus general jizz) I don’t think Caspian x Yellow-legged can be entirely ruled out, as hybrids have been recorded where the ranges of the two species overlap.
Carl kindly commented further:
“The hybrid idea may well be the answer.”
“ However, the long legs and flattish head do suggest Caspian Gull, but this isn’t always cast iron. There are a lot of YLGs in Eastern Europe and so hybrid Caspian x YLG should exist. I just can’t 100% rule out an odd ball YLG.”
Northants birds 