Lesser Scaup – Northants birds

A sustained southerly airstream rendered the first week of November considerably mild, weatherwise, and arguably, the same could be said regarding the period’s birds – certainly from a new arrivals perspective. However, there was still plenty to see in terms of hangers-on, including the Lesser Scaup – now seemingly settled at Ditchford – continuing as the main attraction, proving popular with locals and visitors alike.

Yes, bold as brass on Ditchford GP’s ‘Big Lake’, little more than a hop, skip and a jump from the busy Rushden Lakes Shopping Centre car park, the drake Lesser Scaup remained throughout the week, currently looking like it could be set to see the winter out. In the world of birds, though, unpredictability reigns supreme, so only time will tell …

Drake Lesser Scaup, Ditchford GP, 5th November 2025 (Mike Alibone)

There were surprisingly few wildfowl in this week’s supporting cast, though, with four Whooper Swans appearing momentarily at Clifford Hill GP on the morning of 3rd and a small number of reservoir-based Red-crested Pochards, comprising four at Stanford on 2nd, with two there from 3rd to 5th, and one at Ravensthorpe on the last of these two dates.

With migration pretty much flatlining in the wader camp, the lingering Black-tailed Godwit saw another week out at Daventry CP and a Jack Snipe still showed occasionally at Summer Leys LNR, while two of the latter were at Ditchford on 7th. A single Dunlin at Clifford Hill GP on 6th is perhaps scraping the barrel these days but serves as a stark reminder that, back in the day, it was a regular occurrence for a flock exceeding two hundred to spend late autumn and winter at a water-depleted Pitsford Res. How times have changed …

On par for the course, though, a second-winter Mediterranean Gull was present at Earls Barton GP’s Mary’s Lake on 7th, this site now regularly pulling in respectable numbers of larger gulls with two recent individuals showing some signs of hybridisation displaying a Caspian Gull influence. However, examples of the real McCoy were to be found in the gull roost at Stanford on 1st and 3rd, a third-winter visited Daventry CP on 3rd and 6th, a first-winter was at Summer Leys on 4th and two adults and a first-winter were at Hollowell Res on 5th. The week’s Yellow-legged Gull quota included one at Clifford Hill GP from 1st to 6th, an adult at Mary’s Lake on 5th, a first-winter at Daventry on 5th followed by an adult there on 6th and three at Pitsford on 7th.

The three Glossy Ibises held out at Summer Leys throughout the week.

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 5th November 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Summer Leys also produced single Marsh Harriers on 2nd-3rd and again on 7th, while two were at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 2nd.

Marsh Harriers, Titchmarsh NR, 2nd November 2025 (Kev Jeffries)

And heading the cast of the week’s passerines was a Black Redstart on 5th at Harrington AF, a site which has become increasingly steeped in disquiet of late as a result of dubious and illicit activities, including hare coursing, shooting and wanton damage to a parked vehicle. All perhaps enough to discourage birders from going to look for it … as there were no further reports.

Stonechats were found at Clifford Hill, Ditchford, Earls Barton, Harrington, Hollowell, Pitsford and Summer Leys, with Earls Barton and Pitsford producing the highest counts of five apiece.

Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 6th November 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Apparently in no hurry to move on, last week’s late-showing Northern Wheatear remained at Clifford Hill until at least 6th.

Northern Wheatear, Clifford Hill GP, 3rd November 2025 (Mike Alibone)

And the period’s Crossbills were made up of ten at Salcey Forest on 1st, one in Kettering on 4th and five at Ravensthorpe Res the following day.

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 (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, 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.