The week kicked off with Storm Bert, which effectively put paid to any local birding for two days, as well as failing to deliver any much anticipated wrecked seabirds. But with the appearance of a showy Great Northern Diver and the first – and likely last – Bewick’s Swan of the year, the week certainly did not fall flat.
Pink-footed Geese continued to feature, too, with single birds accompanying local Greylags at Wicksteed Park Lake on 25th and at Pitsford Res on 27th-29th.
With no Whooper Swans for the first time in a while, the slot was filled with the welcome sight of a Bewick’s Swan at Stanford Res on the afternoon of 28th. Located only an hour before darkness fell, it provided little opportunity to connect with, having departed by the following morning.
The majority of last week’s Red-crested Pochards appeared to have melted away, leaving just two at Stanford Res on 26th.
And the highlight of the week’s waders was a locally unseasonal Bar-tailed Godwit that paid a brief visit to Summer Leys LNR on 29th, while two Jack Snipes at Daventry CP on 26th were the only ones of their kind during the period.
Gulls formed another group significantly down in numbers, with just one Mediterranean Gull – a first-winter – in the Stanford roost on 27th. Caspian Gulls consisted of an adult at Hollowell Res on 25th, a first-winter at Daventry on 26th and an adult in the gull roost at Pitsford, along with the regular adult Yellow-legged Gull, on 28th.
Following one at Clifford Hill GP, present on the Main Barrage Lake only in the early mornings of 25th and 26th before flying off, a Great Northern Diver was found on the latter date at Pitsford. Considered to be a different bird, it remained to see the week out, providing all comers with some splendidly rewarding views. November has proven to be a classic month for arrivals and these are only the second and third of the year, the first also having been at Pitsford between November 2023 and January 2024.
Slipping well down from its once headline-making position, the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis saw out another week on the reserve, having now chalked up 70 days on site. Summer Leys also produced a Cattle Egret on 28th, while up to three remained on the farm immediately north-east of Ringstead GP at the week’s end.
And raptors? A ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier in flight over Gleneagles, Wellingborough on 29th was all the period could muster, unfortunately.
But things looked a little better as far as Short-eared Owls were concerned with, up on last week’s total, two near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 26th and one there on 27th, followed by singles in the Brampton Valley on the latter date and at Harrington AF on 29th.
The female Bearded Tit remained at Stanwick GP and was still present on 29th.
Stonechats were present Duston, Earls Barton GP, Harrington, Hollowell, Pitsford, Summer Leys and Upton CP with no more than two at any one site.
And Hawfinches continued to be seen at last week’s two key localities of Blatherwycke and Cottesbrooke, with the first of these holding four on 26th and one on 28th and the latter with three on 26th and two on 29th.
Northants birds 