Lesser Scaup – Northants birds

Newsround 21st to 27th February 2026

Posted on February 28, 2026 by Mike Alibone

The week was marked by higher-than-average temperatures, driven by a persistent south-westerly airstream and a building anticipation of the arrival of the first summer visitors – the latter bolstered by, among others, Sand Martins having already reached North Yorkshire before the week was out. But it was not to be. We have yet to beat the earliest local Sand Martin arrival, which was on 26th February, way back in 1990. Despite this, there was still much out there to feed the appetite for the scarce and rare, including the county’s first Red-necked Grebe for a good while …

Still ensconced in their favoured locations, this winter’s geese were not for turning – but for how much longer? Thrapston GP’s lone Pink-footed Goose was still keeping company, on and off, with the local Greylags until at least 23rd, while two flew over Lilbourne Meadows NR on 24th. Last week’s Tundra Bean Goose remained settled in the vicinity of Ringstead GP/Denford throughout the period, alongside the area’s similarly settled twenty-three White-fronted Geese, higher numbers of which were still to be found in the region of Stanford Res/Stanford on Avon, peaking there at thirty-three on the last day of the week. Elsewhere, Warmington Mill produced twenty-one on 22nd and Stanwick GP held up to seven until at least 26th.

The county’s two currently much admir’d diving ducks both saw the week out in their respective locations in the Nene Valley – the Ringstead Ring-necked Duck grabbing more attention as a result of a certain grebe nearby, while the fine drake Lesser Scaup continued to pull the punters as it lingered on the widest part of the river alongside Clifford Hill GP, providing easyviewin’ for all comers.

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Ringstead GP, 23rd February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 25th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Also notching up another seven days at the aforementioned site, the dapper drake Smew was a bonus for visitors from outside the county.

Horrible hybrids? Oh, go on then … A female presumed Pochard x Red-crested Pochard spent 21st-22nd at Kislingbury GP and must surely be the same distinctive individual as that seen at Stanford on 1st February.

Following six in the county last year, including one as late as 27th December, the first Common Crane of 2026 was picked up in flight as it moved high north over Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 23rd. The wait goes on for one on the ground …

And when was the last time all three scarce grebes were present in the county during the same week, if ever? So, perhaps this constitutes a record-breaker. We start with the arrival of a Red-necked Grebe at Ringstead on 22nd, serving to put the site on the map once again as it chose to show nicely there on Kinewell Lake throughout the period.

Red-necked Grebe, Ringstead GP, 23rd February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Red-necked Grebe, Ringstead GP, 25th February 2026 (Phil West)

The above is the first officially accepted record since 2017 and its recent local status contrasts markedly with the way things were a couple of decades ago. In fact, there was also a run of records in the late 1980s and early 1990s in which pairs summered and displayed breeding behaviour, although breeding never actually took place.

After last week’s Slavonian Grebe visiting Daventry CP on 19th, before moving on to Ravensthorpe Res the following day, it, or another, was found, or reappeared, at the latter locality on 26th but was not seen the following day. The 25th saw two Black-necked Grebes turn up at Daventry but, in common with the above bird, they had moved on by the next day.

Black-necked Grebes, Daventry CP, 25th February 2026 (Gary Pullan)

The week’s waders were limited to eleven Black-tailed Godwits flying west over Clifford Hill on 21st, followed by two at Summer Leys LNR the next day, while Hollowell Res produced four Jack Snipes on 23rd and one on 26th.

A single Mediterranean Gull at Stanford on Avon on 24th headed the cast of the period’s larids, while five sites held Caspian Gulls, representing a clear upturn on last week’s numbers. A remarkable four were found at Hollowell on 26th, after two were present there on 23rd, and lower numbers elsewhere comprised single birds at Cottingham on 21st, Daventry on 21st and 26th, Clifford Hill on 22nd and 25th and at Summer Leys from 23rd to 26th.

Adult Caspian Gull, Summer Leys LNR, 24th February 2026 (Alan Coles)

Yellow-legged Gulls were restricted to an adult on floodwater at Harringworth on 21st, two at Pitsford Res on 23rd and a first-winter at Daventry on 25th.

Remaining throughout the week, the Red-throated Diver showed increasingly itchy feet, yo-yoing back and forth between Ravensthorpe and Hollowell, last being seen at the latter site at the end of the week.

Red-throated Diver, Hollowell Res, 21st February 2026 (Jon Cook)

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 21st February 2026 (Jon Cook)

The long-staying Glossy Ibis remained at Summer Leys LNR throughout.

Surprisingly, for the winter season, two Bitterns seen during the period were only the second and third of the year – one being at Summer Leys on 22nd, the other on an inaccessible pool at Yardley Chase on 26th. And scraping into most weekly reports with much diminished numbers of late, a Cattle Egret remained in the vicinity of Ringstead’s Kinewell Lake between 21st and 24th.

Reports of raptors were, as usual, dominated by the presence of Marsh Harriers at Summer Leys, now widely acknowledged as a key location for the species. With sightings throughout the week, three different birds were seen together on the reserve, including the first-year male ‘J4’, now having been present in the county since the middle of December last year. Other locations producing single birds were Titchmarsh on 21st and 25th and Stanwick on 22nd, 24th and 25th.

Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 25th February 2026 (Alan Coles)

And, for the second week running, Hen Harrier featured, with ‘ringtails’ seen in flight near Holcot on 21st and at Harrington AF – not a million miles away – on 25th. A male Merlin was also at Harrington on the same date.

On the passerine front, Daventry’s Siberian Chiffchaff further extended its stay until the end of the week and a Firecrest was reported from Lilbourne Meadows on 24th.

Stonechats amassed a whopping total of eighteen in the wider reaches of the Brampton Valley on 25th, while up to two were noted at Desborough AF, Earls Barton GP, Hollowell, Pitsford, Thrapston, Stortons GP and Warmington as the week drew to a close.

Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 21st February 2026 (Leslie Fox)

And Crossbills continued to be seen across four different localities with Harlestone Firs producing a maximum of nine on 21st followed by two there on 25th, while up to seven were at Wakerley Great Wood on 23rd-24th and singles were at Pitsford on 21st and Scotland Wood, Kelmarsh on 23rd.

Newsround 14th to 20th February 2026

Posted on February 21, 2026 by Mike Alibone

Another late winter week saw cold, mostly overcast and foggy conditions with temperatures barely breaking 5°C, although the final day marked the beginning of something warmer to come. But the selection of birds on offer was not weather dependent and the surprise appearance of a certain duck at the week’s end went some considerable way toward breaking the ice …

The beginning of the week, however, was still owned largely by wintering geese. Following last week’s three at Stanford Res, a lone Pink-footed Goose was found with local Greylags alongside Thrapston GP at Islip Water Meadows on 15th, remaining there until 18th.

Pink-footed Goose, Islip Water Meadows, 15th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

And Tundra Bean Goose was again on the week’s menu when two distinctly separate birds were present in the northern reaches of the Nene Valley. Based on its unique pattern of white at the base of the bill, the first was the same individual which has been kicking around in the Thrapston GP area since early January, although remaining under the radar for a significant amount of time. Keeping company with twenty-three White-fronted Geese, it appeared at Ringstead GP on 14th before settling in fields at nearby Denford from 16th until the end of the period. The second bird paid the briefest of visits to Islip Water Meadows with Greylags on 16th and was not seen subsequently.

Tundra Bean Goose and White-fronted Geese, Denford, 16th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Tundra Bean Goose and White-fronted Geese, Denford, 18th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Tundra Bean Goose, Denford, 18th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

In addition to the aforementioned twenty-three, Stanford’s White-fronted Goose numbers remained high with at least forty mobile around fields between Stanford on Avon and the reservoir, on 15th. Lower numbers elsewhere included eight at Thrapston from 14th to 17th, visiting fields north of nearby Thorpe Waterville on 15th, and four at Stanwick GP between 15th and 18th.

Now seemingly settled on the Rosewater Fishing Lake at Ringstead, the drake Ring-necked Duck remained there from 14th until at least 18th and a Greater Scaup was reported on adjacent Kinewell Lake on 16th.

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Ringstead GP, 15th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

But the period’s highlight was found on the last day of the week, when a dapper drake Lesser Scaup broke water on the River Nene alongside Clifford Hill GP. Had it been Northamptonshire’s first – and maybe it is the same individual from last autumn – it would have drawn a sizeable crowd, given the easily accessible location and prime viewing conditions. As it was, a trickle observers dropped in to soak up the good views on offer.

Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Drake Lesser Scaup and Tufted Duck, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 20th February 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Dramatically overshadowed by the above – at least in terms of rarity – was the drake Smew which saw out another week at the same location.

And hybrids? The drake Pochard x Tufted Duck remains also at Clifford Hill, as does the presumed female Pochard x Tufted Duck at Daventry CP.

Moving swiftly on … and following a recent uptick in records in the UK, another new bird for the year this week was a Slavonian Grebe. First seen at Daventry on 19th, it moved to Ravensthorpe Res on 20th, where it was still present at close of play. Hard evidence in the form of a unique, small dark stripe on the left side of its head identifies it as the same bird at both locations.

Slavonian Grebe, Daventry CP, 19th February 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Slavonian Grebe, Ravensthorpe Res, 20th February 2026 (Jon Cook)

Slavonian Grebe, Ravensthorpe Res, 20th February 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Two Jack Snipes at Hollowell Res on 16th sums up the week’s scarcer waders.

The week’s gulls once again comprised two adult Mediterranean Gulls – one at Daventry on 16th and the other in the roost at Stanford three days later, on 19th, with two adult Caspian Gulls at Hollowell on the same dates.

Adult Mediterranean Gull, Daventry CP, 16th February 2026 (Gary Pullan)

Hollowell also played second locality fiddle to the Red-throated Diver, which upped sticks from Ravensthorpe on 16th but returned to the latter site on 19th, still being in residence there at the week’s end. It attracted far less attention than in the previous week, the novelty likely having worn off …

Red-throated Diver, Ravensthorpe Res, 19th February 2026 (Jon Cook)

Also, considered part of the winter furniture, the Glossy Ibis remained at Summer Leys LNR throughout.

Once again, a Cattle Egret dropped into the flooded area at Wellingborough Embankment on 15th.

Also in the Nene Valley, Marsh Harriers continued their right to roam, Summer Leys producing sightings on 14th, 15th and 17th that included the first-year male ‘J4’. Elsewhere, singles were at both Ditchford GP and Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 14th. A ringtail Hen Harrier in the Brampton Valley/Blueberry Farm area on 17th was the third of the year so far, one having been seen there on 1st January, followed the next day by one near Laxton.

There was close to nothing new on the passerine front this week. Daventry’s Siberian Chiffchaff extended its stay until at least 19th, while a Firecrest was reported from Thrapston on 17th.

Stonechat numbers were down, with twos seen at Earls Barton GP on 14th and 17th, in the Brampton Valley on 15th, at Hollowell on 16th and at Stanwick on 18th.

Female Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 17th February 2026 (Leslie Fox)

Up to eight Crossbills were still present at Gamboro Plantation near Cottesbrooke throughout the week and singles were at Scotland Wood, Kelmarsh on 16th and 20th.

Two Corn Buntings reappeared briefly in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 16th.

Newsround 1st to 7th November 2025

Posted on November 8, 2025December 26, 2025 by Mike Alibone

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.

Newsround 20th to 26th September 2025

Posted on September 27, 2025September 27, 2025 by Mike Alibone

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.