Northamptonshire Birds – Northants birds

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 24th to 30th January 2026

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Mike Alibone

Sandwiched between low pressure systems driven in off the Atlantic by the jet stream and an area of high pressure stationed over Scandinavia, the UK was, by and large, under the influence of a south-easterly airstream that delivered a mixed bag of predominantly wet weather throughout the week. What effect this may have had on local birds has yet to be seen, although this last full week of January was largely quiet in terms of new arrivals.

Geese still featured prominently, though, kicking off with two Pink-footed Geese at Stanford Res on 26th-27th, followed the next day by a noteworthy skein of fifty-four flying north-east over Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR.

Pink-footed Geese, Stanford Res, 27th January 2026 (Chris Hubbard)

White-fronted Geese continued to feature reasonably strongly, with Stanford continuing to lead the way in terms of numbers. Fifty-eight were still there as the week opened and at least fifty remained on 28th. The latter date saw a respectable forty flying north-east over Stanwick GP, followed by four on the ground there on 30th, while nine were again present in fields at Warmington Mill on 24th, when last week’s seven were still to be seen at Summer Leys LNR.

Ducks of note were limited to three species. Five Red-crested Pochards on 26th comprised a drake and a female at Billing GP and two drakes and a female at Deene Lake, while a drake and female Greater Scaup were found on separate lakes at Stanwick on 28th. We can’t rule out the possibility that the latter are the displaced duo from Thrapston, the same site having been previously vacated by the drake American Wigeon, which subsequently relocated downriver to Peterborough’s Ferry Meadows CP, where it was showing down to a ridiculously close 20 metres during its stay there between 24th and 27th.

Very much a shining light in the dreary winter gloom, as well as being an easy ‘drive-up-and-see’, a drake Smew found at Ravensthorpe Res on 25th subsequently proved a popular pull throughout the following day but it was nowhere to be seen thereafter. This was not the case with the drake at Clifford Hill GP which, last seen on 5th Jan, was back there again and on view daily from 24th throughout the period.

Drake Smew, Ravensthorpe Res, 26th January 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Drake Smew, Ravensthorpe Res, 26th January 2026 (Bob Bullock)

A dearth of waders saw just a Jack Snipe in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 28th, the same day producing a wintering Common Sandpiper again at Pitsford Res.

There was a slight improvement on the gull front, however, with single adult Mediterranean Gulls in the reservoir roosts of Pitsford on 26th and Stanford on 28th and 30th. Summer Leys’ adult Caspian Gull remained into this week, being seen intermittently between 25th and 30th, while another adult visited the roost at Stanford on 26th and a first-winter was found at Stanwick on 28th.

Adult Caspian Gull, Summer Leys LNR, 25th January 2026 (Clive Bowley)

Yellow-legged Gulls were again at a low ebb and a single adult at Pitsford on 26th and 28th was all the week could muster.

Just the one Glossy Ibis remained prominent at its preferred site of Wellingborough Embankment this week, being seen there on 24th and on 26th-29th, having visited Summer Leys on 25th.

Glossy Ibis, Wellingborough Embankment, 28th January 2026 (Bob Bullock)

The latter locality was again prime for Marsh Harriers, the 24th seeing the immature male ‘J4’ on site there ahead of single birds on 25th, 28th and 29th. In the wider complex of Earls Barton GP singles were seen in the New Workings area on 24th and 30th, while Stanwick also produced one on 24th. Just how many are kicking around in the Nene Valley is difficult to assess.

Marsh Harrier, Earls Barton GP, 24th January 2026 (Leslie Fox)

Headlining the cast of the week’s passerines was a Siberian Chiffchaff at Daventry CP on 30th and likely to be the same one as previously seen there on 21st November and 22nd December last year.

And continuing as an integral part of the weekly billing so far this year, a Firecrest was on site at Ravensthorpe on 26th.

Meanwhile, Stonechats were to be found at six localities, four at Pitsford on 28th being the highest single site total, while two were present in the Brampton Valley between 25th and 28th, two were at Barnes Meadow NR on 24th and 30th and singles were to be found at Earls Barton GP on 24th and 30th, Clifford Hill on 28th and Thrapston on 29th.

Female Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 28th January 2026 (Leslie Fox)

Which just leaves Crossbills, which have maintained quite a high profile over the past ten months. This week saw a minimum of twenty at Wakerley Great Wood, between twelve and sixteen at Gamboro Plantation near Cottesbrooke and at least seven at Harlestone Heath. Breeding must surely be on the cards this year …

Male Crossbill, Wakerley Great Wood, 28th January 2026 (James Underwood)

Male Crossbill, Wakerley Great Wood, 28th January 2026 (Paul Young)

Newsround 20th to 26th December 2025

Posted on December 27, 2025 by Mike Alibone

With temperatures dropping to well below zero in eastern Europe there’s a lot to be said for taking advantage of this week’s easterly airflow and heading west to make the most of less inclement conditions. And with many birds doing just that, things lined up nicely, with some startling results to boot …

So it came to pass as Christmas Eve unfolded, a veritable Goose fest began to take shape, with a significant influx of Tundra Bean and White-fronted Geese into the UK. The week, it seems, belonged to wildfowl … and we weren’t left out.

It’s been a good while since Northamptonshire has been blessed with the presence of a Tundra Bean Goose – almost seventeen years in fact, when one joined the local Greylags at Ditchford GP for one day only, on 19th January 2009. Fast forward to the present day and Pitsford Res did the honours, delivering at least four on 24th which became part of a line up of four grey goose species north of the causeway there in the early afternoon. They didn’t stay long though, departing to the south less than two hours after being found. But they were not alone, the 26th producing another, single individual at Blatherwycke Lake during the afternoon of that date.

Tundra Bean Goose, Blatherwycke Lake, 26th December 2025 (James Underwood)

Taking a back seat in terms of comparative rarity, but not to be sniffed at, White-fronted Geese made their presence strongly felt, beginning with the arrival of an awesome flock of fifty-six at Stanford Res on 24th. This was followed by a total of thirty-one flying north-east over Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows NR in small groups during a fifteen-minute period on the same date, on which a dozen appeared at Blatherwycke and seven were also found at Pitsford, at least four of which remained on 25th. More were to come on the latter date, Clifford Hill GP producing eleven, while Stanford retained its fifty-six through to the 26th and the final day of the period also saw twenty-one at Ringstead GP, fourteen at Blatherwycke, at least six at Clifford Hill and two at Hollowell Res.

White-fronted Geese, Stanford Res, 24th December 2025 (Chris Hubbard)

White-fronted Geese, Irthlingborough Lake & Meadows NR, 24th December 2025 (Tony Vials)

White-fronted Geese, Stanford Res, 25th December 2025 (Chris Hubbard)

Considered pretty much standard fare these days and completely outnumbered, Pink-footed Geese mustered three at Pitsford on 24th and at least one at Summer Leys LNR on the same date.

More birds in from the east constituting a pleasant surprise were four Bewick’s Swans found at Ringstead on 26th. Unsurprisingly, these were the first of their kind in the county for 2025, the numbers visiting Britain having tumbled in recent years following a significant population decline between 1995 and 2020, along with many now choosing to winter in mainland Europe.

Adult Bewick’s Swans, Ringstead GP, 26th December 2025 (Bob Bullock)

And it’s been almost seven weeks without a local Red-crested Pochard, their absence being broken by two at Kislingbury GP on 23rd. More desirable ducks were on offer during the period, though, with the first-winter drake and female Greater Scaups remaining at Thrapston GP until at least 24th, while three new females were discovered at Stanford on the latter date.

Female Greater Scaups, Stanford Res, 24th December 2025 (Chris Hubbard)

Better still, a drake Smew appeared at Clifford Hill on 22nd, being seen again there on 26th. Single drake Red-breasted Mergansers – another much sought-after sawbill, locally – paid the briefest of visits to Clifford Hill also on 22nd and to Ravensthorpe Res the following day.

Drake Red-breasted Merganser, Ravensthorpe Res, 23rd December 2025 (Jon Cook)

With no consistent reports of the Pitsford Black-necked Grebe since 15th December, it seems likely that its visit there has come to an end. Step forward Blatherwycke, where one was located on 21st and was still to be found there at the week’s end.

This week also proved good for Mediterranean Gulls, with 22nd producing an adult at Daventry CP, followed the next day by an adult at Pitsford and two first-winters at Stanford and then by an adult at Clifford Hill on 26th.

Adult Mediterranean Gull, Daventry CP, 22nd December 2025 (Gary Pullan)

The period’s Caspian Gull quota comprised a first-winter in the roost at Stanford on 22nd, followed by an adult there the next evening and single adults at both Daventry and Naseby Res, also on 22nd. The same two days accounted for the week’s Yellow-legged Gulls, with two adults in the Stanford roost on 22nd and one on 23rd, the latter date producing a first-winter at Clifford Hill and two adults at Pitsford.

As for Glossy Ibises … Notching up another week, the Wellingborough Embankment duo extended their stay, while one continued to be a regular visitor to the settling pond at Stanford throughout the period.

Glossy Ibis, Stanford Res, 21st December 2025 (Barry Silverman)

A Cattle Egret was reported in a flooded field at Little Irchester on 21st.

And as we continue to enjoy the presence of wintering Marsh Harriers in the county, another wing-tagged individual made it to the Nene Valley this week. Enter yellow ‘FL’ photographed at Titchmarsh NR on 20th. Research by the photographer, below, reveals it to be a first-year female, ringed and tagged on 13th June 2025 near Carlton Marshes, Suffolk, a bird which has subsequently been seen at the following locations in Norfolk: Salthouse on 7th October, Cley NWT on 15th and 25th October and Titchwell RSPB on 4th November.

First-year female Marsh Harrier ‘FL’, Titchmarsh NR, 20th December 2025 (Julie Roe)

Last week’s orange-tagged ‘J4’ was again present at Summer Leys, also on 20th, while sightings of individuals presumably without tags included singles at both Titchmarsh and Ditchford GP on 24th and at Summer Leys on 25th.

The Brampton Valley ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier was again seen in the area between Cottesbrooke, Hanging Houghton and Blueberry Farm on 20th, as was a Short-eared Owl on 20th and 22nd, with another west of the A14, near Kettering Golf Course on 23rd.

The period’s passerines of note kicked off with a Siberian Chiffchaff at Daventry CP on 22nd – possibly the same individual as that seen there on 21st November.

There were fewer Stonechats on offer, this week’s birds consisting of one at Clifford Hill on 22nd-23rd, two in the Brampton Valley on 22nd and two at Neville’s Lodge, Finedon on 26th.

And is Cottesbrooke now on the radar for Hawfinches in non-invasion years? One was present there on 22nd. Crossbills, too, were to be found not far away from the latter site, with two or three at Gamboro Plantation on 20th, while seven were mobile around Harlestone Firs on 21st.

Last week’s hefty total of fifteen Corn Buntings between Deanshanger and Wicken couldn’t be matched. Just two were to be found in the same locality on 21st.

Corn Bunting, Wicken, 21st December 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Newsround 6th to 12th September 2025

Posted on September 13, 2025September 13, 2025 by Mike Alibone

A low pressure system centred to the north of the UK was the driving force for much of the week’s weather, initially delivering a short spell of south-easterlies, during which another first for the year made landfall in the west of the county.

Continuing to do the rounds, though, the female Ruddy Shelduck, was still to be found at Stanford Res on 6th-7th, aside from which a mini-arrival of Red-crested Pochards saw two eclipse drakes at Daventry CP on 7th-8th and six at Pitsford Res on the last day of the period.

Eclipse drake Red-crested Pochards, Daventry CP, 7th September 2025 (Gary Pullan)

In the meantime, it’s September and waders were still out there to be had. Single Curlews visited Stanford on 7th and Lilbourne Meadows NR two days later, on 9th, while three Black-tailed Godwits were hangers on from last week at Pitsford until 8th, after which one remained into the latter part of the week. One was also present at Naseby Res on 9th and 12th.

Curlew, Lilbourne Meadows NR, 9th September 2025 (Phil West)

Juvenile Black-tailed Godwit, Pitsford Res, 6th September 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Ruffs, too, were present at four localities with numbers at Pitsford all week increasing from three to six on 11th. Elsewhere, Clifford Hill GP produced two on 11th following one there on 9th and singles were found at Summer Leys LNR on 6th, 9th and 11th and at Naseby on 8th and 12th. Wader of the week – and a first for the year in the county – was Curlew Sandpiper, two juveniles of which dropped in at Daventry on 7th but, alas, failed to stick around and had departed by the following morning.

Juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, Daventry CP, 7th September 2025 (Gary Pullan)

Juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, Daventry CP, 7th September 2025 (Bob Bullock)

And while Wood Sandpiper was back on the menu, with one at Naseby Res on 12th, Greenshanks hit their highest single site total in recent years when numbers rose to fifteen at Pitsford on 7th, dropping down to a mere three there by the end of the week. Smaller numbers elsewhere included five at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 10th, three flying east over Oundle on 7th and singles at Boddington Res on 8th and at Naseby on 8th-9th and 12th.

Greenshank, Earls Barton GP, 10th September 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Naseby also held on to its near-resident German-ringed adult Caspian Gull throughout the period, while a juvenile visited Hollowell and Ravensthorpe on 8th and 9th, respectively, and a second-winter was found at Wicksteed Park Lakes, Kettering on 12th. Single Yellow-legged Gulls were duly logged at both Pitsford and Stanford on 6th, also at both Boddington and Priors Hall Quarry Lake, Corby on 7th and at Thrapston GP on 10th.

Daventry continued its decent run of autumn migrants this week with a juvenile Arctic Tern, briefly, on 10th, plus a Black Tern on the same date. More were to follow with, out east, two at Thrapston on the latter date and one at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows NR on 12th, while Ravensthorpe laid claim to four on 11th, the latter moving across to nearby Hollowell the following day.

Adult Black Tern, Daventry CP, 10th September 2025 (Gary Pullan)

And, given the record-breaking influx currently under way, enter stage left, another Glossy Ibis – this time a juvenile –found on day one of the period at Pitsford where it was still in residence at the week’s end. Meanwhile, the Summer Leys bird remained settled there throughout the week. With numbers estimated to be in excess of six hundred across the UK, including a jaw-dropping ninety-two at one site in Cornwall on 8th, it seems likely we could be in for a few more in our own fair county …

Juvenile Glossy Ibis, Pitsford Res, 6th September 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Causing less of a stir, a Bittern was seen again at Summer Leys on 11th and a Cattle Egret spent a short time at Boddington Res before moving off north on 7th.

On the raptor front, up to two Ospreys were present throughout the week at Pitsford and singles elsewhere included one flying west over Northampton’s Abington Park on 6th, at Stanford Res on 7th, Boddington on 8th, Hollowell on 8th and 12th and at both Earls Barton and Summer Leys on 11th.

Osprey, Earls Barton GP, 11th September 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Taking a bit of a slide, though, Marsh Harrier numbers were down a little on last week with one at Pitsford seen on 9th, 11th and 12th, one in the Blueberry Farm/Brampton Valley area on 9th and 11th and one at Summer Leys on 11th doubling to two there the following day. Last week’s ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier remained in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton until at least 9th.

A Merlin provided an unusually striking sight in suburbia when one flew over Abington Park on 8th.

Juvenile Merlin, Abington Park, Northampton, 8th September 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

And then there were passerines. The continual run of Common Redstarts we have become used to took a tumble this week with numbers down to just single birds at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 9th and in the Brampton Valley on 10th. The same could not be said for Whinchats, with the increasingly popular locality of the Brampton Valley holding good and producing small numbers daily, peaking at five there from 8th to 11th. Nearby Blueberry Farm also held up to three between 6th and 9th and singles were found at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 6th-7th and at Hollowell Res on 9th.

Moving further into autumn, Stonechats are beginning to creep in with two in the Brampton Valley on 9th and one at Boddington on 10th.

Stonechat, Boddington Res, 10th September 2025 (Gary Pullan)

There were fewer Northern Wheatears reported during the period – just one at Hollowell on 8th, two at Blueberry Farm on 9th and two in the Brampton Valley on 10th-11th.

And Crossbill movements have also continued to slow to a trickle with Wakerley Great Wood producing at least two on 6th, while four were at Gamboro Plantation in the Brampton Valley on 9th.

Newsround 24th to 30th May 2025

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Mike Alibone

The period’s weather was dominated by a slow-moving low pressure system to the north of the UK, delivering west to south-westerly winds and showers throughout, resulting in a somewhat tepid week, birdwise. While it’s commonplace for migration to take a dive as spring fizzles out, the last week of May has, over the years, been known to produce the stuff of legend in the county. Etched into the memories of those of us of a certain age will be the hallowed 29th, which has delivered Bridled Tern, Sooty Tern and Buff-breasted Sandpiper – rarities of the highest eminence, the likes of which may never be seen locally again …

However, the week’s best birds were rather more down to earth, exemplified by the idling drake Red-crested Pochard still present throughout the period at Earls Barton GP.

Avocets were again well represented with nine at the above locality on 30th and twos at Lilbourne Meadows NR from 24th to 27th and at Clifford Hill GP on 27th-28th.

Avocets, Lilbourne Meadows NR, 25th May 2025 (Mike Alibone)

A Grey Pover spent the afternoon and evening at Summer Leys LNR on 29th, the same site having produced a Sanderling on 25th, when one also visited Lilbourne Meadows.

Grey Plover, Summer Leys LNR, 29th May 2025 (Aamir Aziz Mughal)

Grey Plover, Summer Leys LNR, 29th May 2025 (Alan Coles)

Lilbourne Meadows also held on to a Tundra Ringed Plover until 27th, while a Greenshank at Pitsford Res on 24th is likely to be the last one for the spring which has seen an unusually good run of them throughout.

The same cannot be said for Kittiwake, an adult – and the first for 2025 – putting in a brief appearance at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 28th before heading off south. This year is fast shaping up to become possibly the worst in recent history for the species … A couple of late Caspian Gulls included one at Pitsford on 24th and a first-summer on floodwater at Braunston on 29th, while Pitsford produced the week’s Yellow-legged Gulls, with two there on 27th and one on 28th.

Bitterns continued to be seen at Summer Leys, where there were two on 25th and single birds on 26th and 30th. With Cattle Egrets up and down of late, five were at the highly favoured North Lake of Stanwick GP on 25th and one dropped in at Clifford Hill on 28th.

Bittern, Summer Leys LNR, 25th May 2025 (Ricky Sinfield)

Bittern, Summer Leys LNR, 30th May 2025 (Tony Stanford)

Rounding off this week’s raptors and all, single Ospreys graced the skies over Earls Barton on 24th and Pitsford on 28th-29th.

Newsround – 1st to 7th February 2025

Posted on February 8, 2025 by Mike Alibone

A moist and mild, westerly airstream had flipped to a cold easterly by the week’s end but it was the early part of the week that produced the goods, in the shape of a fine drake Ring-necked Duck …

This was, of course, in addition to the ongoing supporting cast of wildfowl we have become familiar with and grown accustomed to seeing since the turn of the year. There was little change in this respect, with the mobile Pink-footed Goose now seemingly more settled in the Cogenhoe Mill/Earls Barton GP area, where the adult White-fronted Goose also saw another week out with the local Greylags. The two long-staying Whitefronts at Ravensthorpe Res also put in another seven days on site.

Pink-footed Goose, Earls Barton GP, 6th February 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Adult White-fronted Goose, Cogenhoe, 2nd February 2025 (Leslie Fox)

White-fronted Geese, Ravensthorpe Res, 2nd February 2025 (Phil West)

Adult White-fronted Goose, Earls Barton GP, 6th February 2025 (Leslie Fox)

White-fronted Geese, Ravensthorpe Res, 7th February 2025 (Jon Cook)

Likewise, the female Ruddy Shelduck did another week at Winwick Pools, as did the female Red-crested Pochard at Daventry CP.

Ruddy Shelduck, Winwick Pools, 2nd February 2025 (Phill West)

Female Red-crested Pochard, Daventry CP, 3rd February 2025 (Gary Pullan)

Thrapston GP’s reputation for delivering Ring-necked Ducks was upheld and brought into sharp focus this week, though, with the discovery of a splendid drake showing nicely there on 3rd. Bizarrely, despite a thorough search, it was nowhere to be seen the following day but it reappeared on 5th, favouring Heronry Lake until the end of the period.

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Thrapston GP, 3rd February 2025 (Nick Parker)

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Thrapston GP, 3rd February 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Thrapston GP, 5th February 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Allowing for highly mobile individuals – particularly along the chain of Nene Valley wetlands – this bird would appear to be the 14th county record, Thrapston laying claim to at least four, if not five, of these, including a run of four consecutive years between 2021 and 2024. With some forty individuals currently present across Britain and Ireland, this species has shed its former rarity status, now having been replaced by Lesser Scaup – seen as the ‘new Ring-necked Duck’ – the first of which is eagerly awaited in Northants …

Not as rare but a whole lot smarter, drake Smews were available for the second week running, although with a pronounced tendency to be mobile they were not easy to catch up with. Ravensthorpe again produced one on 1st and one was at Clifford Hill GP on 2nd and 7th. Conceivably, only one bird may have accounted for all three sightings.

Drake Smew, Ravensthorpe Res, 1st February 2025 (Jon Cook)

Drake Smew, Clifford Hill GP, 2nd February 2025 (Phil West)

And things were looking up for waders this week with the pick of them coming from Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South), where a Black-tailed Godwit and an unseasonal Common Sandpiper were photographed on 1st and a Greenshank was heard calling in flight on 2nd. As ever, Jack Snipes were also to be found during the period, including one at Stanford Res on 2nd, while twos were at Hollowell Res on 3rd and 6th, at Stanwick GP on 4th and Barnes Meadow NR (Northampton) on 7th.

Numbers of the scarcer gulls were also up, with an adult Caspian Gull at Ravensthorpe, briefly, on 4th, one at Boddington Res the next day and a first-winter at Daventry CP on 7th. Meanwhile, the Yellow-legged Gull collective comprised an adult at Hardingstone GP on 4th, two at Pitsford Res on 5th and a single adult there on 6th-7th.

Pitsford also retained its wintering juvenile Great Northern Diver throughout, interestingly being joined by another, with both birds seen together in Catwalk Bay on 5th.

Juvenile Great Northern Diver, Pitsford Res, 5th February 2025 (Phil West)

Northamptonshire’s longest ever staying Glossy Ibis remained at and around Summer Leys LNR until at least 5th.

The period’s Cattle Egrets were restricted to the one remaining from last week at Blatherwycke Lake on 2nd and two at Stanwick on the same date, followed by three there on 3rd.

And a ‘new’ Marsh Harrier was seemingly taking up temporary residence at Thrapston, where it was present between 4th and 7th, while the one floating around the Summer Leys/Earls Barton area was again seen on the latter date.

Those Short-eared Owls whose whereabouts were disclosed this week included the two on private land near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell between 1st and 5th and one at Harrington AF on 6th – the latter believed to be one of the Blueberry birds, this being based upon a plumage anomaly visible in one of its wings.

With passerines few and far between, Stonechats were seen at Earls Barton, Hollowell, Pitsford and Towcester, with a maximum of four present at the first of these localities on 2nd, while Hawfinches were down to the bare minimum of one, at Cottesbrooke on 5th.

Female Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 5th February 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Newsround – 11th to 17th January 2025

Posted on January 18, 2025 by Mike Alibone

A freezing start to the week saw many bodies of water become icebound with limited resources for birds associated with wetland habitats. Fortunately, this was short-lived, temperatures having risen somewhat by the end of the period. And yes, a couple of new birds showed up to tease, if not to entertain …

After its short visit to Cogenhoe last week, the Pink-footed Goose was back with the mobile Greylag flock in its favoured locality of Clifford Hill GP from 13th to 16th.

Pink-footed Goose, Clifford Hill GP, 16th January 2025 (Leslie Fox)

The White-fronted Goose also remained in the Nene Valley, being seen in flight with Greylags over Earls Barton GP on 11th and again on the ground there on 17th, while the two at Ravensthorpe Res continued their stay until at least 12th.

Meanwhile, also on 12th, mobile Whooper Swans included one flying east over Summer Leys LNR and two north-west over Deene Lake.

Whooper Swans, Deene Lake, 12th January 2025 (James Underwood)

Daventry CP had the monopoly on Red-crested Pochards this week, its female still present until at least 16th and being joined by a drake on 12th-13th.

While we’re still in January the chances of stumbling across a first for the year remain suitably high and that was indeed the case at Ravensthorpe Res on 12th, when a drake Smew was discovered in the ice hole there. However, it turned out to be a disappointment for those who hotfooted it over to see it, having quickly vanished before their arrival. So far, it has not resurfaced elsewhere.

Single Jack Snipes were found at Pitsford Res on 11th and at Deene Lake the following day.

Whether you enjoy or endure them, scarce gulls were low in numbers this week, with what was presumably the same adult Caspian Gull in the roost at Stanford Res on 13th, 14th and 17th, out on the ice and displaying a yellow ring with the customary four black characters indicating a German origin on the middle of these three dates.

German-ringed adult Caspian Gull, Stanford Res, 14th January 2025 (Chris Hubbard)

Three Yellow-legged Gulls were in the roost at Pitsford on 13th and an adult was present at Clifford Hill on the same date.

Pitsford again held on to its wintering juvenile Great Northern Diver, which remained there throughout the period, having now chalked up just shy of eight weeks on site.

Shunning Summer Leys for who knows where when the freezing conditions kicked in at the beginning of the week, the long-staying Glossy Ibis initially seemed to have vanished but it was back again in the nick of time to be included in the weekly round-up, reappearing there on the last day of the period. Cattle Egrets, too, remained elusive with just singles in the Nene Valley between Cogenhoe and Billing GP on 11th and at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows NR two days later, on 13th.

Cattle Egret, Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows NR, 13th January 2025 (Tony Vials)

And after an absence of sightings for seven weeks, Marsh Harrier made it back into the news when one was seen at Ecton SF on 11th.

Two Short-eared Owls remained in the vicinity of Blueberry Farm on 11th, with at least one still present on 13th, while one was seen not too far away at Harrington AF on 11th-12th.

In the same part of the county, one or two Merlins were present in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, daily between 13th and 15th.

The second ‘first’ for the year this week materialised in the form of a Black Redstart, found on the roof of the sizeable industrial complex that is Cummins Engine Plant in Daventry, on 13th. The location is not readily accessible and views from its periphery are limited, to say the least. It was not seen subsequently. While indeed an uncommon sight in January, it’s by no means the first to be seen in the winter months. Of those occurring most recently one was present at Borough Hill in December 2021, remaining there until 5th February 2022 and, later in that year, one was taken by a cat at Sywell CP on 7th December and another was discovered trapped inside Northampton General Hospital before being released on 12th December.

Not quite on the same level as the above species, Stonechats were to be found at Borough Hill, Deene Lake, Earls Barton GP, Ecton SF, Lilbourne Meadows NR, Pitsford and Stanford – the first of these producing the week’s maximum of four on 17th.

Newsround – 4th to 10th January 2025

Posted on January 11, 2025 by Mike Alibone

The week kicked off with a messy mix of precipitation – snow, quickly followed by rain and gloomy conditions – before a sinking Arctic airmass brought below-average temperatures to the country as a whole. And with it came a few new birds …

Geese were very much in evidence this week with the occurrence of a Barnacle Goose on floodwater at Oundle on 9th and the reappearance on 4th and 7th of the Pink-footed Goose at Clifford Hill GP, following its initial discovery there last year on 16th December. What was clearly the same individual subsequently appeared within spitting distance accompanying the sizeable Greylag flock further down the Nene Valley, at Cogenhoe Mill, on 9th.

Pink-footed Goose, Clifford Hill GP, 4th January 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

Pink-footed Goose, Clifford Hill GP, 7th January 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Pink-footed Goose, Cogenhoe Mill, 9th January 2025 (Mike Alibone)

The long staying adult and first-winter White-fronted Geese saw another week out at Ravensthorpe Res but their exclusivity came to an end with the discovery on 9th of a new bird – an adult – again with the Greylags at Cogenhoe, where it was still present the following day.

Adult White-fronted Goose, Cogenhoe Mill, 9th January 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Adult White-fronted Goose, Cogenhoe Mill, 10th January 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Stanford Reservoir’s run of Whooper Swans continued this week when two adults dropped in on 9th.

Whooper Swans, Stanford Res, 9th January 2025 (Barry Silverman)

After a week with no reports, the female Ruddy Shelduck was seen daily at Winwick Pools until 9th, after which it moved to Hollowell Res following the freezing over of its highly favoured site.

Female Ruddy Shelduck, Winwick Pools, 9th January 2025 (Phil West)

Diving ducks were in short supply with the female Red-crested Pochard seeing out another week at Daventry CP, while a ‘new’ drake was found at Barnwell CP on 5th.

Scarce waders hit rock bottom with a Jack Snipe at Stortons GP on 4th.

The gull roost at Stanford continued to attract a first-winter Mediterranean Gull, which was also present briefly on the reservoir’s partly frozen surface first thing in the morning on 10th. The roost there also produced a first-winter Caspian Gull on 4th, while single adult Caspians were present at Hollowell on the same date and at Summer Leys LNR and Earls Barton GP on 10th. Two Yellow-legged Gulls were at Pitsford Res on 5th, followed by one there on 9th and one was present at Daventry CP on 6th.

Pitsford also held on to its wintering juvenile Great Northern Diver, which remained there throughout the period.

Copy that for the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis, although it seems to have become a little more flighty since the colder weather kicked in. With just the one reported at Stanwick GP on 4th, Cattle Egret numbers now appear to be at a low ebb.

It’s been a while – exactly seven weeks, in fact – since we’ve seen a local Marsh Harrier and that situation remains unchanged, but single ‘ringtail’ Hen Harriers at Summer Leys on 4th and at Harrington AF on 4th and 10th represented rather more typical winter fare.

Two Short-eared Owls on private land near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell were present throughout the week, while single Merlins were seen nearby in the Brampton Valley on 5th and at Irthlingborough on 8th.

The week’s passerines were limited to just two species. In ones and twos, Stonechats were to be found at Borough Hill, Cogenhoe, Catesby, Deene Lake, Oundle, Stanford, Summer Leys, Towcester and Upton CP, while four were seen at both Earls Barton and Hollowell.

Female Stonechat, Summer Leys LNR, 4th January 2025 (James Underwood)

Hawfinches remained on the weekly birding agenda, the largely reliable locality of the churchyard at Blatherwycke delivering four on 4th ahead of singles found at both Greens Norton and St Lawrence Churchyard, Towcester on 7th.

Newsround – 28th December 2024 to 3rd January 2025

Posted on January 4, 2025 by Mike Alibone

With an unpleasantly wet and windy start to the New Year, the transition to 2025 was anything but smooth. Catching up with last year’s lingering leftovers was a priority for some, while the incentive to get out there and find something new was given a boost by the continuing discovery of rare and scarce birds at a national level.

Back on the radar this week were Pink-footed Geese, a fifteen-strong skein of which flew south-east over Hanging Houghton on 3rd. Meanwhile, the two White-fronted Geese chalked up a month’s stay at Ravensthorpe Res and were still present at the end of the period and the same site also produced two Whooper Swans, for one day only, on 29th.

Adult White-fronted Goose, Ravensthorpe Res, 3rd January 2025 (Phil West)

Whooper Swans, Ravensthorpe Res, 29th December 2024 (Jon Cook)

The only Red-crested Pochard in the week’s proceedings was a female remaining at Daventry CP until at least 2nd, while the first-winter female Greater Scaup also extended its stay Blatherwycke Lake until at least 2nd.

Blatherwycke also produced an apparent Slavonian Grebe on 29th and another was reported from the River Nene at Perio Mill, Fotheringhay on 28th-29th, although neither could be found during subsequent searches.

The run of Black-tailed Godwits continued into the New Year with up to two at Summer Leys LNR throughout the period and one on floodwater at Braunston on 2nd, while Jack Snipes were still to be found in the same two localities as last week – namely Hollowell Res, where there was one on 30th, and Barnes Meadow NR, Northampton, where two were present on 2nd.

Black-tailed Godwit, Summer Leys LNR, 2nd January 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Black-tailed Godwit, Summer Leys LNR, 3rd January 2025 (Alan Coles)

Scarcer gulls fared rather better than last week with a first-winter Mediterranean Gull in the roost at Stanford Res on 28th, 30th and 1st and a daytime adult in a field between Pitsford Res and Old on the latter date. The aforementioned roost also produced at least three Caspian Gulls – an adult on 30th, a near-adult on 31st and two adults on 1st while, further to the south, diurnal sightings at Hollowell included two adults on 30th plus an adult and a third-winter on 2nd. Yellow-legged Gulls appeared in the form of single adults at Summer Leys on 29th and Stanford on 1st, followed by three in the roost at Pitsford on 2nd. We’re currently thigh-deep into winter but, given the apparent nose-dive in numbers wintering in the UK, along with the closure two years back of Northamptonshire’s last remaining landfill, the prospect of coming across any Arctic ‘white-wingers’ now seems further off than ever …

Pitsford continued to retain its juvenile Great Northern Diver into the New Year, remaining there throughout the period.

The Summer Leys Glossy Ibis similarly stayed put, while the only Cattle Egret to be reported was last week’s singleton in a field immediately north of Barnwell CP, Oundle, where it was still to be found on 1st.

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 2nd January 2025 (Clive Bowley)

Cattle Egret, Oundle, 29th December 2024 (James Underwood)

A Merlin was again reported between Gayton and Tiffield on 2nd, when there was also one in the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton.

On the passerine front, a Bearded Tit was again reported from Stanwick GP on 28th, although no precise location details were forthcoming. Stonechats over the period appeared to be limited to Hollowell, Towcester and Stanford, with a peak of five at the latter locality on 2nd and twos at the other two sites on a range of different dates.

Hawfinches enjoyed a resurgence in popularity as we entered the New Year, the highly favoured, easyviewin’ localities of Blatherwycke and Cottesbrooke delivering as required, with peak counts of five at the first of these on 3rd and two at the latter between 28th and 2nd.

Hawfinch, Cottesbrooke, 30th December 2024 (Jon Cook)

Hawfinch, Blatherwycke, 3rd January 2024 (Bob Bullock)

And who would ever have thought that they’d be rushing to see a Corn Bunting in Northants? The national decline – in excess of 86% since the late 1960s – has seen this species disappear from the county in recent years, so one in the Brampton Valley on 2nd marks a good start to 2025 and is likely to become a popular draw if it is seen again.

Newsround – 21st to 27th December 2024

Posted on December 29, 2024December 29, 2024 by Mike Alibone

Dreary, low cloud and what can only be described as ‘festive fog’ marred the week just gone, although birdless it certainly wasn’t. While most of the long-stayers remained, there were still a few new kids on the block.

At Ravensthorpe Res the two White-fronted Geese stayed on, and around, the site until at least 24th, while the nearest thing we got to a white Christmas was the Whooper Swan which flew east over Summer Leys LNR on 25th.

Adult White-fronted Goose, Ravensthorpe Res, 22nd December 2024 (Mike Alibone)

With the two Red-crested Pochards still at Daventry CP on 27th and two first-winter female Greater Scaups at Blatherwycke Lake on 21st – one remaining on 27th – diving ducks were anything but in abundance.

First-winter female Greater Scaup, Blatherwycke Lake, 21st December 2024 (James Underwood)

An unusual winter sprinkling of Black-tailed Godwits occurred throughout the week, with Summer Leys claiming the lion’s share of one on 21st, seven on 23rd and three on 25th, while Earls Barton GP and Clifford Hill GP produced singles on 23rd and 27th, respectively. Solitary Jack Snipes were at Hollowell Res on 21st and at Barnes Meadow LNR, Northampton on 23rd and 27th.

Jack Snipe, Barnes Meadow LNR, 27th December 2024 (Tyler Atkinson)

Gull numbers were down to two adult Caspian Gulls at Hollowell on 23rd, the evening of the same day producing a bird showing some characteristics of an adult Azores Gull in the roost at Stanford Res, although it remains unproven at this stage. Two Mediterranean Gulls – an adult and a first-winter – were also present in the Stanford roost on the same date.

Adult gull showing characteristics of Azores Gull, Stanford Res, 23rd December 2023 (Chris Hubbard)

Pitsford continued to hold on to its juvenile Great Northern Diver, present until at least 24th.

The Summer Leys Glossy Ibis remained throughout the period, while five Cattle Egrets were still at Ringstead GP on 21st, four visited Stanwick GP on 23rd and one was found in a field immediately north of Barnwell CP on 26th.

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 27th December 2024 (Leslie Fox)

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 27th December 2024 (Tony Stanford)

The 22nd saw a Short-eared Owl at Harrington AF, single ‘ringtail’ Hen Harriers reported at Wicken Wood and between Gayton and Tiffield, where there was also a Merlin, the latter being seen again in the same area the following day. Another Merlin was seen at Pitsford Res, also on 22nd.

Four Stonechats at Lilbourne Meadows NR on 24th was the highest single site total during the period, otherwise Earls Barton, Hollowell and Pitsford all held two apiece.

And Hawfinches showed in better numbers this week – Blatherwycke churchyard holding eight on 27th, Cottesbrooke hanging on to at least two between 21st and 26th and the churchyard at Deene still accommodating one on 21st.