Unsettled weather and continuing wet conditions were the hallmarks of a week which saw few surprises and an apparent thinning out in numbers of winter geese.
As in previous weeks, Pink-footed Goose made it into the period when a group flew over Desborough, calling, prior to first light on 19th, while a putative Tundra Bean Goose was retrospectively identified from photographs taken at Summer Leys LNR on 20th.
Compared to the previous week, fewer sites held White-fronted Geese, with the highest count coming again from Stanford Res, where fifty-seven were present on 20th. Elsewhere, nine were at Blatherwycke Lake on 17th, seven were at Summer Leys on 23rd following six there on 20th and four on 19th and 22nd. Pitsford Res held just two on 19th, while the lone adult with the local geese at Hollowell Res was still present there on 17th.
Adult White-fronted Geese, Summer Leys LNR, 23rd January 2025 (Mike Alibone)Adult and first-winter White-fronted Geese, Summer Leys LNR, 23rd January 2025 (Mike Alibone)
Thrapston’s Town Lake continued to hold two Red-crested Pochards and two Greater Scaups until at least 22nd and the frequently evasive drake Ring-necked Duck also resurfaced there on 20th, having last been seen on 11th. Further west along the valley, a bird believed to be a drake hybrid Ring-necked Duck x Tufted Duck was found at Ditchford GP’s Wilson’s Pits on the last day of the period.
Pitsford’s primary offering remained the Black-necked Grebe, still to be found in the general area of Pintail Bay and The Narrows on 18th.
On the wader front, Black-tailed Godwits continued to feature as an unusual local winter visitor, with one continuing its occupation of Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR until at least 19th, while one was seen again at Summer Leys on 22nd. A single Jack Snipe was also present at the latter site on 23rd.
And there was little on offer in the shape of gulls this week, an adult Caspian Gull being seen at Summer Leys on 19th, 20th and 22nd, while the roost at Stanford held an adult and a first-winter on 20th and a first-winter again on 23rd. Even thinner on the ground were Yellow-legged Gulls, with just a single adult at Pitsford on 22nd.
Last week’s end of period deluge likely accounted for the subsequent disappearance of the one remaining Glossy Ibis after its favoured area around Wellingborough Embankment became highly waterlogged. However, with water levels quickly subsiding, it was back there again, albeit intermittently, from 18th until the week’s end. Appearances of one at Summer Leys daily from 20th leads to the assumption that they are one and the same, as the two sites are little more than 3 km apart and they were not seen simultaneously. Some may beg to differ but until proven one way or the other, the jury’s still out …
Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 21st January 2026 (Tony Stanford)Glossy Ibis, Wellingborough Embankment, 21st January 2026 (Mike Alibone)
Following the one-day bird in the previous week, the favoured marshy field at Wellingborough embankment was paid another visit by a Cattle Egret on 20th, although it wasn’t seen thereafter.
And more Marsh Harrier magic was always on the cards this week with five Nene Valley locations in the frame for supplying one or two throughout the period. One was at Titchmarsh on 19th and 20th, roosting there on the latter date while, on the same dates, Stanwick produced an immature male and a wing-tagged individual, respectively. Summer Leys came up trumps with three, including the wing-tagged ‘J4’ immature male on 20th, one on 21st and two (one tagged) on 22nd, while nearby Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) saw one flying west on 22nd and one or two were seen at Ditchford GP on 23rd.
Marsh Harrier, Earls Barton GP, 22nd January 2026 (Leslie Fox)
Heading up this week’s passerines was last week’s Firecrest at Thrapston GP, remaining faithful to the same area of scrub, on 17th-18th.
Firecrest, Thrapston GP, 17th January 2026 (Bob Bullock)Firecrest, Thrapston GP, 17th January 2026 (Bob Bullock)
Eight Stonechats at Ditchford GP’s Townholme Meadows on 22nd is the highest single site total so far this year, with twos only in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 17th and 21st, at Deene Lake on 17th and at both Ditchford and Pitsford on 18th.
And aside from one in flight over Wellingborough Lock on 18th and six at Yardley Chase on 20th, the much-favoured areas of Wakerley Great Wood and the Brampton Valley’s Gamboro Plantation continued to produce Crossbills – the first of these locations holding up to fifteen between 17th and 20th, while the latter held up to ten between 17th and 21st.
And with Corn Buntings now hardwired into the area between Deanshanger and Wicken, a massive count of thirty-one there on 18th became the highest onsite total to date, single-figure tallies being made on 17th, 19th and 20th.
Corn Bunting, Deanshanger, 20th January 2026 (Alan Coles)
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.
A largely dry and settled week saw us taking a step closer to winter with movements of small numbers of Redwings noted across the county. Similarly, winter wildfowl were also on the up with the first Whooper Swans appearing at a number of localities. Aside from this, rare waders were still out there to be had …
It’s clearly evident that we’re taking the first steps down the road to winter when Whooper Swans start moving through the county … and this was the week it happened. First up was the herd of eight that flew over the north side of Pitsford Res on 5th and, thinking better of landing, headed off north-east. These were followed the next day by a brief drop-in by a single bird at Daventry CP and similarly, on 7th, one also paid a short visit to Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR before moving off south. On 8th, three dropped in at Stanford Res, ahead of five more settled birds found at Clifford Hill GP on 9th.
Whooper Swan, Titchmarsh NR, 7th October 2025 (Nick Parker)
The only other wildfowl just about worthy of note was a long-staying drake Red-crested Pochard at Daventry seeing another week out on site.
Last week’s excitement generated by the county’s fourth-ever American Golden Plover spilled over into this week, with the bird still present at Pitsford on day one, the 8th, after which it appeared to be gone for good.
Meanwhile, the nicely confiding juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper at Hollowell Res continued to attract a respectable number of admirers, having notched up a nine-day stay there by the end of the period.
Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, Hollowell Res, 6th October 2025 (Colin Manning)Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, Hollowell Res, 6th October 2025 (James Urwin)Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, Hollowell Res, 6th October 2025 (Phil West)Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, Hollowell Res, 7th October 2025 (Mike Alibone)Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, Hollowell Res, 8th October 2025 (Jon Cook)Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, Hollowell Res, 9th October 2025 (Jon Cook)
This week’s best of the rest included a Black-tailed Godwit at Pitsford from 5th until 9th and three Ruffs at the latter locality on 4th, with one remaining until 10th. One also lingered at Titchmarsh NR, being seen sporadically throughout the period. Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) continued to hold on to a Greenshank, still present on 10th, while a new arrival at New Workings (South) on 8th bore tibial bling – a red ring on the left and a yellow flag on the right. Unfortunately the characters on the flag were not legible at distance but the colour coding and positioning identify the bird as an individual from a ringing scheme in Norway.
Norwegian-ringed Greenshank, Earls Barton GP, 8th October 2025 (Leslie Fox)
A further sign that winter is on its way appeared in the form of a Jack Snipe – the first of the season – at Summer Leys between 4th and 7th.
Scarce gulls were at a low ebb this week, with a first-winter Caspian Gull at Earls Barton GP’s Mary’s Lake on 4th and two second-winters – one at Daventry CP on 6th and the other at Wicksteed Park Lakes, Kettering on 9th.
Second-winter Caspian Gull, Daventry CP, 6th October 2025 (Gary Pullan)Second-winter Caspian Gull, Wicksteed Park Lakes, Kettering, 9th October 2025 (Julie Roe)Second-winter Caspian Gull, Wicksteed Park Lakes, Kettering, 9th October 2025 (Julie Roe)
Yellow-legged Gulls were down to an adult at the first of the above locations on 4th and four adults at Pitsford on 10th.
Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Pitsford Res, 10th October 2025 (Mike Alibone)
Last week’s Glossy Ibises all remained present and correct throughout the period, including two daily drop-ins at Stanford’s Settling Pond and single birds seemingly settled at Summer Leys LNR and Titchmarsh.
Two Bitterns were seen together in flight at Stanford on 8th, again being present on the Leicestershire side of the reservoir for the larger part of their stay during the period, while single Cattle Egrets were on the ground at both Ringstead GP and Summer Leys on 4th.
An Osprey at Pitsford on 4th was the only one reported during the period.
Also on 4th, a Short-eared Owl – presumably last week’s individual – was at Harrington AF, the latter site producing a Merlin on 7th, the same or another of which was seen in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 4th and 9th.
On the passerine front, Stonechats were present at nine localities, the Brampton Valley holding up well with last week’s ten still there on 4th. Elsewhere, four were at Newton Bromswold on 10th, three at Lilbourne Meadows NR on 5th, with ones and twos at Borough Hill, Harrington, Hollowell, Pitsford, Summer Leys and Titchmarsh.
Female Stonechat, Pitsford Res, 10th October 2025 (Mike Alibone)Male Stonechat, Pitsford Res, 10th October 2025 (Mike Alibone)
Northern Wheatears were down to a trickle and included two at DIRFT 3/Lilbourne Meadows NR on 5th and one at Harrington the following day.
And following on from last week’s Rock Pipits at Daventry, another one put in an equally brief appearance there on 9th.
To round off, Crossbills are still out there to be found, all be they fly-overs with, on 6th, three above Harrington and one over Kettering.
An Azores high pressure system brought settled and relatively warm conditions up from the deep south west for the first half of the week, after which things deteriorated somewhat. It was anything but settled on the birding front, however, with three new birds for the year, including a top-class wader, the likes of which have not been seen in the county for nigh on a quarter of a century …
We can quickly dispense with the week’s ducks at this point – just the two malingering drake Red-crested Pochards shooting the breeze at Daventry CP throughout the period.
And so on to the bird which ultimately turned into a crowd-puller … It had been all quiet on the wader front until, that is, the 30th, when things began to look up along the northern shoreline of Clifford Hill GP’s Main Barrage Lake. Enter an unidentified Pluvialis sp. Grey Plover? No. Golden Plover? No. Turns out the bird in question was a pretty obvious American Golden Plover … and only the fourth for Northamptonshire to boot. With somewhat itchy feet it appeared unsettled, prone to taking long flights but ultimately returning and remaining until the middle of the following morning, after which it flew high south and was gone.
Juvenile American Golden Plover, Clifford Hill GP, 30th September 2025 (Mike Alibone)Juvenile American Golden Plover, Clifford Hill GP, 30th September 2025 (Bob Bullock)Juvenile American Golden Plover, Clifford Hill GP, 30th September 2025 (Bob Bullock)Juvenile American Golden Plover, Clifford Hill GP, 30th September 2025 (Jim Dunkley)
But not gone for good, however, providing a second bite of the cherry for those who had failed to connect with it as, two days later, on 2nd, there it was, bold as brass in Pitsford Reservoir’s Scaldwell Bay, remaining there to see the week out.
Juvenile American Golden Plover, Pitsford Res, 2nd October 2025 (Mike Alibone)Juvenile American Golden Plover, Pitsford Res, 2nd October 2025 (Mike Alibone)Juvenile American Golden Plover, Pitsford Res, 2nd October 2025 (Mike Alibone)
The last record of American Golden Plover was at Summer Leys LNR, from 13th to 17th May 2001 and, prior to that, one was near Welford in October 1992, quickly following the county’s first at Pitsford in October 1991.
But this was not the end as far as American waders were concerned as, on 2nd, a fine, stripy juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper dropped in to Hollowell Res, again still present at the week’s end.
Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, Hollowell Res, 2nd October 2025 (Jon Cook)Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, Hollowell Res, 2nd October 2025 (Jon Cook)Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, Hollowell Res, 2nd October 2025 (Bob Bullock)
And the best of the rest was the lingering Little Stint at Pitsford, chalking up a week’s stay there until 28th. The period’s only Black-tailed Godwit was also at Pitsford on 27th, the same site continuing to hold three Ruffs throughout the week. Elsewhere, single birds were at Boddington Res on 27th, Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 27th and 1st and at Hollowell on 30th.
Juvenile Ruff, Pitsford Res, 28th September 2025 (Mike Alibone)Juvenile Ruffs, Pitsford Res, 29th September 2025 (Tony Stanford)Juvenile Ruff, Pitsford Res, 30th September 2025 (Wayne Weedon)
Titchmarsh also produced two Greenshanks on 1st, while one remained at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (North) on 2nd.
Greenshank, Earls Barton GP, 2nd October 2025 (Leslie Fox)
The week’s gulls were restricted to a first-winter Mediterranean Gull at Boddington on 29th, while the usual German-ringed adult male Caspian Gull was present at Naseby Res on 30th, visiting Hollowell on 1st and returning to Naseby on 3rd, when it was accompanied by another adult. A first-winter visited Earls Barton GP’s Mary’s Lake on 2nd, the latter site also producing an adult Yellow-legged Gull on 1st-2nd, while single adults were present at Pitsford on 28th and in the roost at Stanford Res on 2nd.
Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Pitsford Res, 28th September 2025 (Mike Alibone)
In this grand year for Glossy Ibises, they continued to mark their presence at three localities throughout the week. Producing the only multiples, the top site was Stanford, where four were seen in flight over their favoured Settling Pond area on 3rd. Up to two continued to drop in there, early in the morning, on a daily basis. Summer Leys continued to hang on to its long-stayer, throughout, while one of last week’s Titchmarsh individuals remained loyal to the site all week.
Glossy Ibises, Stanford Res, 30th September 2025 (Chris Hubbard)Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 1st October 2025 (Mike Alibone)
Four localities accounted for the period’s Bitterns, with single birds at Stanwick GP and Titchmarsh on 27th, Summer Leys on 3rd and Stanford virtually daily, although present on the Leicestershire side of the reservoir in the majority of instances.
The number of raptors continued to diminish. Single Ospreys were seen at Pitsford on 28th-29th and 2nd and at Hollowell on 29th.
Juvenile Osprey, Pitsford Res, 29th September 2025 (Tony Stanford)
And only one day saw Marsh Harriers, singles of which were logged at both Harrington AF and Summer Leys on 30th, the first of these two sites laying claim to a Short-eared Owl on 27th and 29th.
Following one over suburban Northampton on 8th September, the second and third Merlins of the autumn were logged this week, with a male at Duston on 1st and a female in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton the following day.
And on the passerine front, the autumn’s first Ring Ouzel was reported from Harrington on 27th, the same site producing one of the week’s two Common Redstarts on 29th, the same date on which the other was trapped and ringed at Stanford Res. Similarly, Whinchats were down to just two sightings, both in the Brampton Valley where there was one on 29th and two on 2nd. Moving in to replace them, however, were more Stonechats, numbers of which have been steadily increasing as we move deeper into autumn. The top locality was the Brampton Valley, where there were ten on 2nd – pipping Hollowell by one, the latter site producing nine on 29th. Across the wider region, top counts consisted of four at Pitsford on 27th and the same number at Sammocks Hill, Old Sulehay on 30th, two at Harrington between 27th and 30th, two at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 2nd and singles at Boddington on 29th and Summer Leys on 3rd.
Stonechat, Pitsford Res, 28th September 2025 (Mike Alibone)
Northern Wheatears continued to move through in small numbers, singles being found on 28th at Clifford Hill, Harrington and Hollowell, followed by one in the Brampton Valley on 29th.
Northern Wheatear, Hollowell Res, 28th September 2025 (Jon Cook)
And to round off on a higher note, two Rock Pipits – the first of the year – dropped in briefly at Daventry CP on 29th.
Rock Pipit, Daventry CP, 29th September 2025 (Gary Pullan)
With lower numbers now passing through the county in recent years, this species has become much more difficult to connect with, although October is traditionally the month …
The week’s weather was dominated by a high pressure system drifting slowly east, keeping Atlantic weather fronts at bay and delivering an easterly airstream out of Eastern Europe and beyond. What impact this may ultimately have remains to be seen, but, clearly unrelated to this came a bolt from the blue in the shape of a long-awaited first for Northamptonshire …
While multiples have occurred in all of our surrounding counties, one species has been the bane of frustration for many a local birder, having managed to evade us for many years. Until now, that is. This week, finally, the sun shone on our own fair county, the clouds parted and there it was … Northamptonshire’s first Lesser Scaup – a fine adult drake coming out of eclipse, found on the morning of 23rd at a location that has already offered up another county first this autumn. Yes, Stanford Res has done it again but, thankfully, it was not the product of a mist-net which vanished into the ether. No, this bird was, of course, out on the water, found by Chris Hubbard as a just reward for his high level of commitment and dedication to his personal stomping ground. While showing throughout the afternoon, this bird remained into only the early morning of the following day before deciding to up sticks and move on, much to the annoyance of those who made the journey to see it and were left looking at a drake Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid which had been present there for several days.
Drake Lesser Scaup, Stanford Res, 23rd September 2025 (Mike Alibone)Drake Lesser Scaup, Stanford Res, 23rd September 2025 (Mike Alibone)Drake Lesser Scaup, Stanford Res, 23rd September 2025 (Bob Bullock)Drake Lesser Scaup, Stanford Res, 23rd September 2025 (Bob Bullock)
While other wildfowl were left in the shade, Stanford also dished up the next best duck of the week – certainly in the context of this year’s abnormally low numbers – a Garganey on 25th.
Garganey, Stanford Res, 25th September 2025 (Chris Hubbard)
Vying for recognition, though, came Hollowell Res, where a female or immature Common Scoter was found on the same date as the aforementioned Garganey.
Common Scoter, Hollowell Res, 25th September 2025 (Jon Cook)
Which leaves us with two drake Red-crested Pochards at Daventry CP from 22nd until 26th and a solitary drake at Pitsford on the last day of the period.
And when it came to rare grebes, Daventry, Hollowell and Stanford were up there again when each produced its own Slavonian Grebe – the first ones for 2025. All proved to be one-day stayers, at Daventry and Hollowell on 24th and Stanford on 26th.
Slavonian Grebe, Daventry CP, 24th September 2025 (Gary Pullan)Slavonian Grebe, Daventry CP, 24th September 2025 (Bob Bullock)Slavonian Grebe, Daventry CP, 24th September 2025 (Bob Bullock)Slavonian Grebe, Hollowell Res, 24th September 2025 (Jon Cook)Slavonian Grebe, Stanford Res, 26th September 2025 (Barry Silverman)Slavonian Grebe, Stanford Res, 26th September 2025 (Chris Hubbard)
But it wasn’t over just yet for Stanford, which also added a Black-necked Grebe to its tally on 20th.
Black-necked Grebe, Stanford Res, 20th September 2025 (Chris Hubbard)
Moving into late September traditionally marks the period for declining numbers of passage waders, which is what we saw this week. At Boddington Res, a Curlew flew over on 20th, while three Ruffs were present there on 20th-21st, followed by one from 22nd to 23rd and two on 24th. The only other site to host this species was Pitsford Res, where up to three were to be found throughout the period.
Juvenile Ruff, Boddington Res, 24th September 2025 (Gary Pullan)
Pitsford also produced the county’s fifth Little Stint of the year, from 22nd until the week’s end. Greenshank numbers took a further tumble, with two at Earls Barton GP on 20th, dropping to one there from 23rd until 26th. Two were found at Clifford Hill GP on 23rd, followed by one on 24th, when one was also at Pitsford.
Greenshank, Earls Barton GP, 23rd September 2025 (Leslie Fox)
Last week’s first-winter Mediterranean Gull at Boddington was again to be found there on 20th, while Caspian Gulls were the preserve of Hollowell and Naseby Reservoirs, the latter site holding on to its regular German-ringed adult male all week and Hollowell producing a first-winter on 22nd and an adult on 26th.
German-ringed adult male Caspian Gull, Naseby Res, 21st September 2025 (Mike Alibone)
Three reservoirs also delivered the week’s quota of Yellow-legged Gulls, with an adult at Naseby on 21st, one at Pitsford on 21st and 24th-25th and one at Ravensthorpe Res on 26th.
Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Naseby Res, 21st September 2025 (Mike Alibone)
A Sandwich Tern was seen in flight over Stanwick GP on 20th.
Following a south-westerly blow during the preceding week, significant numbers of Manx Shearwaters were driven inland with many apparently being taken into care. Northants was not to be left out of the proceedings and two – the first in the county since 2017 – duly appeared. The first was found exhausted at Blisworth on 22nd and was taken into care by Animals In Need, Little Irchester and, with no apparent injuries, was still in good health at the period’s end prior to its intended release at a coastal location next week. Sadly, the same could not be said for the second one – a corpse picked up on the A428 near Long Buckby on 23rd.
Manx Shearwater, Long Buckby, 23rd September 2025 (John Seymour)Manx Shearwater, Little Irchseter, 24th September 2025 (Animals In Need Northamptonshire)
There have been approximately 33 previous county records, the overwhelming majority of which have occurred in September.
And, not unexpectedly, Glossy Ibises were on the up. Present for a month now, the Summer Leys individual remained throughout the period, while the Pitsford bird chalked up its third week, staying loyal to the site at the week’s end. Stanford’s trio were there for early risers, appearing to roost in the vicinity and flying in for no more than half an hour to feed near the Settling Pond from around 06.45. Their number had dropped to two from 24th, one of the three having exhibited a damaged wing prior to this. Its fate is not currently known. Two were also present at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR from 24th until the week’s end.
Juvenile Glossy Ibis, Pitsford Res, 21st September 2025 (Bob Bullock)Glossy Ibises, Stanford Res, 21st September 2025 (Chris Hubbard)
A Bittern was again at Stanford between 23rd and 26th and last week’s Cattle Egret was still to be found there on the first day of the period.
Bittern, Stanford Res, 25th September 2025 (Barry Silverman)
On the raptor front, Ospreys had all but faded away, with just one seen at Pitsford almost daily between 20th and 26th. Marsh Harriers were down, too, with singles at Summer Leys on 20th and 24th, Stanford on 22nd-23rd, Harrington on 24th and Pitsford on 25th. And the sky momentarily darkened over Byfield on 22nd as a White-tailed Eagle flew south during the afternoon. The Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation has confirmed that satellite tracking shows this was ‘G602’, a second-calendar year male released on the Isle of Wight last year, having summered on the North Yorks Moors and is now heading south.
On to passerines and a single Common Redstart at Clifford Hill GP on 20th was the only one of its kind this week, being outnumbered by Whinchats, with up to two at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell between 20th and 24th, one at Hollowell Res on 23rd and two in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton from 23rd until 25th.
Whinchat, Hollowell Res, 23rd September 2025 (Jon Cook)
This week saw a significant increase in Stonechat numbers, which reached double figures at Hollowell where there were at least ten on 25th. Elsewhere, up to five were present in the Brampton Valley, four at Pitsford and one at Clifford Hill GP. Single Northern Wheatears were found at Lilbourne Meadows NR on 21st, in the Brampton Valley on 23rd and 25th and at Blueberry Farm on 24th.
Pitsford saw two fly-over Crossbills on 22nd and one flew south over Naseby on 26th, while a Corn Bunting remained elusive in the Brampton Valley between 20th and 25th.
A hefty westerly blow across the UK also included some southerlies on the back of it which may have influenced the birds found in this week’s mix …
Apart from the female Ruddy Shelduck, which jumped ship from Naseby Res and moved to nearby Stanford Res by the week’s end, there were no other ducks to elicit any serious interest.
It was a different matter with regard to waders, though, and, with this summer’s drought-induced multiple muddy margins to choose from, they were well scattered. Proving prime in this respect, Pitsford Res continued to deliver the goods with five Black-tailed Godwits from 30th to 1st, dwindling to three by the end of the week. Elsewhere, Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR also produced a juvenile on 5th, this site already having held a short-staying flock of 5 Knots on 3rd.
Black-tailed Godwits, Pitsford Res, 30th August 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)
Continuing their respectable autumn run, Ruffs were found at seven localities, the highest count being five at Stanford on 4th. Pitsford came second with three between 3rd and 5th, Summer Leys LNR was home to one between 30th and 4th, with two present there on 1st and singles were at Hollowell Res on 31st, Naseby on 1st, Titchmarsh NR on 5th and at Daventry CP all week.
Hot on the heels of the year’s first Little Stint at Clifford Hill GP on 22nd, two more juveniles arrived on 30th – one at Boddington Res, the other at Pitsford – both proving to be short-stayers.
And numbers of Greenshanks remained solid, Pitsford producing the week’s top site total of nine between 31st and 4th. Elsewhere, three were found at Ditchford on 2nd, Boddington held two between 30th and 4th and singles were at Naseby between 1st and 5th, Summer Leys on 30th and 2nd, Hollowell on 2nd and Daventry on 3rd.
Stanford scored on the larid front with, on 3rd, a smart juvenile Little Gull, as well as a juvenile Mediterranean Gull – both in the vicinity of the dam there. Another juvenile Mediterranean Gull dropped into Daventry on 30th.
Juvenile Little Gull, Stanford Res, 3rd September 2025 (Chris Hubbard)Juvenile Little Gull, Stanford Res, 3rd September 2025 (Chris Hubbard)Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Daventry CP, 30th August 2025 (Gary Pullan)
Remaining faithful to Naseby, the German-ringed adult male Caspian Gull was present all week, while an adult visited Pitsford on 31st and a juvenile was at Daventry on 2nd. And the usual Yellow-legged Gulls were around at Pitsford, where there were three on 31st, four on 3rd and one on 4th, two were at Thrapston GP on 2nd and a juvenile was present Daventry from 1st to 3rd.
A single Black Tern stayed on from the previous week, remaining at Pitsford from 30th to 4th.
Following last week’s reappearance of a Glossy Ibis at two sites in the Nene Valley, this initially mobile individual finally settled at Summer Leys, where it showed nicely all week, after flipping back to Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows NR for a quick recce on 31st. This bird is seemingly an integral part of a mounting nationwide invasion, involving at least fifty birds, as far north as Lancashire, down to some far southwestern outposts, including multiples on the Isles of Scilly and double figures in Cornwall.
Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 2nd September 2025 (Bob Bullock)Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 3rd September 2025 (Mike Alibone)Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 3rd September 2025 (Mike Alibone)Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 3rd September 2025 (Mike Alibone)
If your local wetland patch begins with an ‘S’ then it may only be a matter of time before a Bittern turns up, single birds being seen daily at Summer Leys between 2nd and 5th, at Stortons GP on 3rd and again at Stanford on 5th. The period’s Cattle Egret sightings were somewhat restricted this week, the 5th yielding three at Ringstead GP and one at Titchmarsh.
And the raptor draw continued to hold plenty. Pitsford was prime for Ospreys with two – possibly three – there on 30th, followed by singles on 31st-1st and 4th-5th. Elsewhere, singles were present at Thrapston/Titchmarsh on 1st-2nd and flying west over both Mears Ashby and suburban Northampton’s Abington Park on 4th.
Osprey, Abington Park, Northampton, 4th September 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)
Meanwhile, Marsh Harriers were still to be seen in reasonable numbers, with singles at Pitsford on 30th, Harrington AF on 31st and 2nd, Stanford on 31st and 4th, in the Brampton Valley on 1st, Summer Leys on 2nd and 4th and at Titchmarsh on 5th. Following recent occurrences of a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier in the Brampton Valley/Blueberry Farm area, what was presumably the same individual was back quartering the arable fields and hedges there again on 30th and daily between 3rd and 5th.
And sticking with the same general area above, what was presumably the same Pied Flycatcher was again seen at Gamboro Plantation on 30th and 1st and, again, it remained highly elusive, with multiple would-be observers leaving empty-handed …
Keeping up appearances, Common Redstarts were seen at seven localities with, unsurprisingly, Stanford Res claiming the highest daily total of five trapped and ringed on 30th, followed by one there on 4th. Harrington laid claim to three on 31st and one on 2nd, up to two were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell between 1st and 5th, Brampton Valley held two separate birds from 2nd to 5th, while further singles were present at Earls Barton GP’s Mary’s Lake on 30th and at both Lamport Hall and Nobottle Woods on 31st.
Common Redstart, Earls Barton GP, 30th August 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)
Rural Whinchat numbers dropped a little – the usual sites of Brampton Valley holding four between 1st and 5th, Blueberry Farm three on 2nd, Harrington one on 31st and 2nd and, off the regular Whinchat grid, Boddington one on 2nd.
Whinchat, Boddington Res, 2nd September 2025 (Gary Pullan)
Aside from two at Clifford Hill GP on 3rd, lone Northern Wheatears were to be found at Pitsford Res on 30th and 5th, Harrington AF on 31st and 2nd, in Brampton Valley on 1st-2nd and 5th, at Blueberry Farm on 2nd, at Hollowell Res on 4th-5th and at Thrapston on 5th.
Northern Wheatear, Stanford Res, 3rd September 2025 (Chris Hubbard)
A Tree Pipit touched down at Stanford, briefly, on 5th and, up in the north of the county, the Corby area produced single Crossbills at Corby Old Village on 30th and Brookfield Plantation on 31st.
Against a largely south-westerly airstream, migration continued apace, going on to deliver some more quality birds of which, so far this year, have been in short supply.
Excluded from the latter category, though, was the itinerant female Ruddy Shelduck, which ditched Hollowell Res for the more modest confines of Naseby Res, where it stayed until the week’s end. Conversely, Garganey, a duck we’ve not had the pleasure of easily connecting with this year, was found at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 27th, subsequently followed by another at Summer Leys LNR on 29th. These are only the fourth and fifth records of the year, following a rather lacklustre spring for this species in the county. Back on the agenda this week, three drake Red-crested Pochards appeared at Stanford Res on 28th, quickly followed by a female at Summer Leys the next day.
For once seen and not heard, a Quail in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 29th was only the third one for the year, following singing males at nearby Blueberry Farm in mid-July and at Stanford for three days in early June.
The period enjoyed another good run of waders with the 26th seeing a passage of Whimbrels at the select locations of Stanford Res – where a total of fifteen (twelve, two and one) flew south-west within a two-hour period – Clifford Hill GP, where two circled before moving on, and at Naseby, where a solitary individual flew south.
Whimbrel, Clifford Hill GP, 26th August 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)
A single Curlew flew south over Boddington Res on 24th. Black-tailed Godwits were still on the move, trickling through in small numbers with last week’s three remaining at Titchmarsh NR until 26th, two at Pitsford Res on 23rd and singles at Clifford Hill GP on 25th and 29th.
Following the year’s one and only Knot at Clifford Hill on 19th May, three more appeared there on 25th, after which two remained until 28th.
Juvenile Knot, Clifford Hill GP, 25th August 2025 (Mike Alibone)
And it was another decent week for Ruffs, the run of which continued with five remaining at Pitsford Res until 25th, with three thereafter until 28th and one on 29th. Last week’s two at Boddington Res remained on site until 28th and singles were present at Titchmarsh NR on 23rd and 28th, Summer Leys from 24th to 29th, Clifford Hill from 25th to 28th, Hollowell Res on 25th and Daventry CP from 27th to 29th.
Juvenile Ruff, Boddington Res, 26th August 2025 (Gary Pullan)
Pitsford and Summer Leys carved up the week’s Wood Sandpipers between them, singles of which were at the former site from 23rd until 25th and at the latter from 25th to 27th.
Following up to three at Barnwell Lock, Oundle between 5th and 7th April, the second and third Spotted Redshanks for the year were found at both Clifford Hill and Summer Leys on 25th, the latter individual seeing the day out.
Meanwhile, Greenshanks continued to proliferate, being present throughout at Boddington, Ditchford GP, Earls Barton GP, Hollowell, Naseby, Pitsford and Summer Leys, the peak count of seven coming from Pitsford on 24th.
Greenshanks, Boddington Res, 29th August 2025 (Gary Pullan)
Taking the prime slots for the week’s larids were Caspian Gulls, the German-ringed adult male seeing another week out at Naseby, while Daventry produced a third-summer on 27th and a juvenile on 28th. Pitsford delivered the week’s highest count of six Yellow-legged Gulls on 25th, two were at Earls Barton on 27th and single adults were at Cransley Res and Stanford on 28th and 29th, respectively.
The week also saw small numbers of the county’s scarer terns, with a juvenile Arctic Tern flying west through Summer Leys on 27th, while single Black Terns visited both Stanford and Hollowell on 25th, two were at the latter site the following day and two were at Pitsford on 27th, followed by one there on 28th-29th.
It’s been a while since the long staying Glossy Ibis departed Summer Leys, with the last confirmed report there on 14th May, followed by what was presumably the same bird at Stanwick from 14th to 16th May. This week, both sites saw a return to form, with one flying south-west over Stanwick on 28th before being relocated at Summer Leys later in the day, set to hang out there over the coming days, no doubt.
This week’s two Bitterns were both seen in flight at Stanford on 23rd and at Stanwick on 29th and a more respectable showing of Cattle Egrets than of late included ten flying low north-west over Boddington on 27th, constituting only the third record for the site. Elsewhere, six were in a field adjoining Ringstead GP on 24th, five visited Stanwick GP on 27th and one was at Titchmarsh on 23rd and 25th.
We’ve being used to it for a while now and, throughout the period, the usual raptors abounded – Brampton Valley, Hollowell, Pitsford and Thrapston all providing this week’s locational mix for Osprey numbers of between one and two.
Osprey, Brampton Valley, 24th August 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)
Marsh Harriers followed suit, with singles reported from Blueberry Farm (Maidwell), Harrington AF, Hollowell, Pitsford, Stanford, Stanwick and Wellingborough. A Goshawk flew over the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, on 23rd.
Juvenile Marsh Harrier, Pitsford Res, 24th August 2025 (Steve Nichols)
And, once more from the nets of Stanford, another smart catch in the shape of a Pied Flycatcher on 25th – a great bird but rather sublime in comparison to last week’s top-notch rarities served up there. Much more elusive, though, was a male found the previous day at Gamboro Plantation in the Brampton Valley, north-east of Cottesbrooke. It was also present on 25th, remaining under the radar until the end of the week … and showy it wasn’t.
Pied Flycatcher, Stanford Res, 25th August 2025 (Stanford Ringing Group)
Present at seven sites, Common Redstarts retained their prominence, being seen with some regularity, with up to three at Blueberry Farm and Harrington and three being trapped and ringed at Stanford on 24th. Ones and twos were also seen in the Brampton Valley and at Lamport, Old and Yardley Chase throughout the period.
Common Redstart, Brampton Valley, 24th August 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)
Whinchat numbers were on the up, reaching double figures, with ten in the week’s most popular locality of the Brampton Valley on 28th. Top site totals elsewhere were twos at both Blueberry Farm on 25th and Harrington on 25th-27th and singles at Thrapston on 23rd and Earls Barton on 29th.
Whinchat, Brampton Valley, 24th August 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)
The third Stonechat of the autumn was a juvenile at Hollowell Res on 28th, while numbers of Northern Wheatears were up slightly on last week’s with the top total being four at Harrington AF on 27th, when three were also at Spanhoe AF. Elsewhere, singles were at Blueberry Farm on 23rd and 25th, Stanford on 23rd and 27th and in the Brampton Valley on 23rd and 28th-29th.
Northern Wheatear, Stanford Res, 27th August 2025 (Chris Hubbard)
And after none last week, Tree Pipits put in a further appearance when two flew south over Pitsford on 24th while, also still on the move, Crossbills numbered five at Gamboro Plantation on 25th with four there on 28th and six flew over Blueberry Farm on 25th.
Not normally hot on the birding front, sliding into the latter half of August, for once, caused a phenomenal stir. From mid-week the winds turned favourably easterly, quickly followed by northeasterlies and then northerlies. Off the back of this came a first for Northamptonshire, as well as a second, and then two more firsts for the year. On the downside, being trapped and ringed, those apical birds were, sadly, not widely available to the masses, having apparently vanished into thin air immediately upon being released …
Having now moved from Ravensthorpe Res, the female Ruddy Shelduck was relocated at nearby Hollowell Res on the last day of the period.
With the overwhelming majority of water bodies now at a low level, waders were the main focus of the week for many local birders. Single Curlews visited Lilbourne Meadows NR on 17th and Hollowell on 22nd, while the only other ‘large’ waders in evidence were Black-tailed Godwits, which included one at the latter locality on 18th and three at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 21st.
The second Turnstone of the autumn appeared at Summer Leys LNR on 17th and there was a decent run of Ruffs this week with birds present at eight sites. Pitsford Res was the standout locality, producing daily sightings, with three from 16th to 20th, five on 21st and four on 22nd. Stanwick GP held three on 21st, one remained at Boddington Res from 18th to 21st with two present on 22nd, one was at Summer Leys on 17th-18th and two were there on 21st. Elsewhere, singles were at Stanford Res from 18th to 21st, Clifford Hill GP from 18th to 22nd, Naseby Res on 21st-22nd and Hollowell Res on 22nd.
Juvenile Ruff, Clifford Hill GP, 18th August 2025 (Mike Alibone)Juvenile Ruff, Stanford Res, 18th August 2025 (Chris Hubbard)Juvenile Ruffs, Boddington Res, 22nd August 2025 (Gary Pullan)
Upping the quality, somewhat, a Sanderling visited Naseby on 19th and the year’s first Little Stint was found at Clifford Hill the following day.
Little Stint, Clifford Hill GP, 22nd August 2025 (Bob Bullock)
And then there were Wood Sandpipers. Following an exceptional spring, the autumn run continued with daily sightings from Pitsford, where one was present throughout the week, joined by a second individual on 17th. Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) produced one on the latter date, while Summer Leys held on to singles on 16th-17th and 22nd.
Wood Sandpiper, Summer Leys LNR, 22nd August 2025 (Alan Coles)Wood Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper, Summer Leys LNR, 22nd August 2025 (Alan Coles)
Keeping up appearances, too, were Greenshanks with numbers hitting double figures at one site – that locality being Pitsford, where birds were present daily, numbers peaking at eleven on 19th. Summer Leys held up to four between 16th and 19th and one on 22nd, while Naseby produced three on 19th-22nd after two there on 18th. Two at Earls Barton GP on 16th preceded three there the following day and one on 20th, three were at Ditchford on 19th, two visited Clifford Hill on 18th and singles were present at Boddington on 16th-17th and Hollowell on 18th.
Boddington also produced a juvenile Kittiwake, briefly, on 18th before it headed off south. This unfortunately short-stayer is only the second record for the county this year.
Juvenile Kittiwake, Boddington Res, 18th August 2025 (Gary Pullan)
This week’s standard showing juvenile Mediterranean Gull was found at Stanwick on 21st, while the German-ringed adult male Caspian Gull continued its stay at Naseby throughout, being joined there by a first-summer on 18th. A juvenile (or hybrid) was also seen at Pitsford on 20th. By contrast, Yellow-legged Gulls were found at five localities, with Pitsford holding the highest total of five on 20th. Twos were at Thrapston on 18th and Stanwick on 20th, while singles visited Hollowell and Boddington on 18th and 19th, respectively.
Terns were back on the books this week, with single juvenile Arctic Terns at Daventry CP on 16th and Naseby on 20th – both remaining for only a few minutes at each locality. Black Terns also put in an appearance, one being at Boddington on 16th and two spending a short time at Stanford on 19th.
Juvenile Black Tern, Boddington Res, 16th August 2025 (Gary Pullan)
Stanford birders also welcomed an unusual visitor to the site in the shape of a Bittern on 20th-21st, while further singles were at the more traditional Nene Valley localities of Stortons GP on 17th and Titchmarsh NR on 18th. The latter site also produced three of the period’s four Cattle Egrets on 16th, followed by a lone bird at Stanwick two days later, on 18th.
Raptors continued to feature throughout. Once again, Pitsford was the standout locality for Ospreys which were seen there on multiple occasions on at least four days during the period. Hollowell laid claim to two – possibly three – on 19th, followed by one there on 22nd, single birds flew over Stanwick on 16th and 18th, while Stanford and Titchmarsh logged one apiece on 18th and 22nd, respectively. And hardly a week now goes by without the presence of Marsh Harriers, the glut of which continued with what was presumably the same bird seen between 16th and 18th at Summer Leys and further singles at both Boddington and Titchmarsh on 16th, Stanford on 17th-18th and 21st, Pitsford on 19th, Stanwick on 20th, Harrington AF on 20th and in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 22nd. The latter site also produced a juvenile female Hen Harrier, showing well periodically, often toward Blueberry Farm, between 18th and 21st.
Juvenile Hen Harrier, Brampton Valley, 19th August 2025 (Bob Bullock)
But it was up on the northern border of the county where this week’s action played out, as the hallowed nets of Stanford once again delivered … big time. With the way events unfolded at Stanford Res this week, the local ringers could be forgiven for thinking they were operating on the UK’s east coast. It wasn’t so long ago – 8th September 2022, in fact – that Northamptonshire’s first and only Blyth’s Reed Warbler was trapped and ringed there and, this week, the story was to be repeated with another Blyth’s extracted from the nets and ringed on 16th. A shock and a mega in no uncertain terms.
But as the week rolled out, the site was to become a warbler wonderland as, some four days later on 20th, during a somewhat drizzly spell, an early round of the nets yielded a rather meagre twenty-two birds, twenty-one of which were, shall we say, standard fare. Bird number twenty-two, however, was a different kettle of fish entirely. And there it was … Northamptonshire’s first-ever Barred Warbler – a sight to behold indeed. After being released it rapidly disappeared into the extensive swathe of waterside vegetation and largely impenetrable scrub that borders Blowers Lodge Bay and that, as they say, was that. It was never seen again, despite being searched for on and off throughout the day.
Juvenile Barred Warbler, Stanford Res, 20th August 2025 (Chris Hubbard)Juvenile Barred Warbler, Stanford Res, 20th August 2025 (Chris Hubbard)
More was to come. The week went out with a bang as, on 22nd, a Wood Warbler – a latter-day local rarity – was also trapped and ringed, this being only the fifth for the site after previous records in 1977, 1982, 1999 and 2020. It’s also a first for the year in Northants.
Wood Warbler, Stanford Res, 22nd August 2025 (Chris Hubbard)
And just for good measure, a Willow Warbler showing characteristics of the Northern race acredula was also trapped and ringed on 16th. Stanford has produced all of the county’s records of this race to date.
Northern Willow Warbler, Stanford Res, 16th August 2025 (Chris Hubbard)
All of the above are arguably just reward for a week’s concerted effort on site by the Stanford Ringing Group.
Following one in a suburban Northampton setting last week, another Firecrest was found – this time at Hinton AF on 17th.
Back at Stanford the ringers were busy with Common Redstarts, at least a dozen of which were trapped and ringed during the period. Elsewhere, up to three were at Blueberry Farm (Maidwell), the same number in the Brampton Valley and singles at Harrington AF, Lamport Hall and Yardley Chase, on and off, throughout the week.
Common Redstart, Stanford Res, 16th August 2025 (Chris Hubbard)
Whinchats were present at Blueberry Farm, Brampton Valley, Hollowell, Stanford and Thrapston with no more than two at any one site, while the week’s Northern Wheatears were limited to singles at Daventry CP on 16th, Lilbourne Meadows on 17th, Blueberry Farm on 21st, Pitsford on 22nd and two in Brampton Valley on the latter date.
Whinchat, Brampton Valley, 21st August 2025 (Alan Coles)
Crossbills were poorly represented during the period, with just one just scraping in over Cavendish Drive, Northampton on 17th and, once again, still proving difficult to catch up with, Corn Buntings popped unexpectedly at Ditchford GP, where two were present briefly on 19th.
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.
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.
Northants birds 