Northants Birds – Northants birds

Newsround – 26th April to 2nd May 2025

Posted on May 3, 2025May 3, 2025 by Mike Alibone

Another dry week, weatherwise, saw a largely southerly airflow across the UK – indeed in the last few days all four nations of the UK experienced their hottest temperatures of 2025 so far. On the penultimate day, we saw the UK’s highest ever 1st May temperature of 29.3°C at Kew Gardens, London, while Northamptonshire mustered a decent 26°C – all of which facilitated the continued passage of spring migrants and the arrival of more summer visitors …

Two new summer visitors were logged during the week, with Whinchat and Spotted Flycatcher making it onto the clock before April was out.

As the number of wildfowl continued to wane, a female Smew found at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 2nd was likely the first May record for the county and only the fourth for the year. A single drake Garganey in the Brampton Valley between Brixworth and Spratton, on 26th, was only the third this year in what has turned out to be a rather lacklustre spring for the species so far. Lest we should forget, the drake Red-crested Pochard remained on the River Nene in the Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) area throughout the period.

Avocets notwithstanding, the week’s waders comprised five species that were readily accessible and yielded no surprises. Five Whimbrels flew low east over Earls Barton’s New Workings on 28th, followed by singles over Stanford Res on the same date, at Titchmarsh NR on 29th, over Stanwick GP on 30th, at Clifford Hill GP on 1st and at Summer Leys LNR on 2nd. The latter site also produced single Black-tailed Godwits on 27th and 29th, as well as a run of Ruffs, with four on 26th, one on 28th, six on 29th and two on 30th, on which there was also one at Lilbourne Meadows NR and a remarkable fifteen at Titchmarsh NR.

Ruffs, Summer Leys LNR, 29th April 2025 (Adrian Leybourne)

That just leaves the period’s Tringas to deal with – this week’s in the form of Greenshanks and Wood Sandpipers. In the first instance, Summer Leys was the standout site, producing a respectable five on 29th, singles on 28th and 30th and two on 1st. Elsewhere, two were at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows NR on 2nd and singles were at Earls Barton on 26th, 30th and 2nd and one lingered at Lilbourne Meadows from 30th until 2nd.

Greenshank, Summer Leys LNR, 30th April 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Summer Leys was also the prime site for Wood Sandpipers, holding two on 29th, three on 1st and two on 2nd while, way out west, one was present on floodwater by the canal at Braunston on 1st-2nd.

Wood Sandpiper, Summer Leys LNR, 1st May 2025 (Clive Bowley)

Wood Sandpiper, Summer Leys LNR, 1st May 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Wood Sandpiper, Summer Leys LNR, 2nd May 2025 (Alan Coles)

A minor resurgence of Little Gulls occurred mid-week, when a first-summer was mobile around Summer Leys and adjacent Mary’s Lake on 29th and 30th and three visited Clifford Hill on the first of these two dates.

First-summer Little Gull, Earls Barton GP, 29th April 2025 (Richard Hall)

And last week’s two adult Mediterranean Gulls managed another Nene Valley flypast when they cruised over Earls Barton GP’s New Workings before taking in the delights of Summer Leys and adjacent Mary’s Lake on 27th. Meanwhile, Yellow-legged Gulls were down to just the one at Ravensthorpe Res on 30th and three at Pitsford on the same day.

The week’s tern highlight was provided by two the Little Terns that stuck around at Earls Barton GP’s Hardwater Lake, putting on a decent show for most of the day on 29th, also commuting to, and from, Summer Leys Main Lake. One also paid a fleeting visit to Titchmarsh NR on the morning of the same date.

Little Terns, Earls Barton GP, 29th April 2025 (Alan Coles)

Little Terns, Earls Barton GP, 29th April 2025 (Bob Bullock)

The busy proceedings of the 29th also extended to include three Black Terns at Summer Leys, followed by six at Stanford Res one the following day.

Meanwhile, Pitsford’s long-staying Great Northern Diver enjoyed a resurgence in popularity as it was flagged up as still being present in its much favoured area of The Narrows on 29th, remaining there until at least 1st.

After two flying high north-east over Summer Leys on 21st, the second Spoonbill sighting of the year was, this time, one on the ground at Stanwick in the early morning of 2nd. Nothing good lasts for ever, though, and it was up, up and away to the south-west only 35 minutes after its discovery. What was presumably the same bird was seen heading west over Summer Leys some 90 minutes later.

Immature Spoonbill, Stanwick GP, 2nd May 2025 (Steve Fisher)

And while single Bitterns were again seen and heard around the Summer Leys/Earls Barton area during the period, they were undoubtedly totally overshadowed by a Purple Heron in flight over the reserve on 27th. It was believed likely to have landed in the vicinity and, adding credence to this, it was seen again briefly in flight before undeniably landing there on 1st. Interestingly, one was seen in flight over Pitsford during the intervening period, on 29th. This represent only the twenty-third Northamptonshire record, as well as being the third consecutive year that this scarce, slinky Ardea has been clocked in the county …

Purple Heron, Summer Leys LNR, 27th April 2025 (Andy Howell)

As far as raptors were concerned, Osprey was the sole representative of the tribe this week, with singles on 26th at Hollowell, Pitsford and Stanford Reservoirs, on 27th over Earls Barton and Glapthorn Cow Pasture, again at Pitsford on 29th and at both Hollowell and Ravensthorpe the following day.

Passerines were really rather thin on the ground during the period with the best being a female Ring Ouzel left over from last week at Harrington AF on 26th.

Female Ring Ouzel, Harrington AF, 26th April 2025 (Phil West)

The same site produced the year’s first Whinchat, two days later, on 28th, followed by further singles in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 29th, Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 1st and Hollowell on 2nd.

Male Whinchat, Hollowell Res, 2nd May 2025 (Jon Cook)

Male Whinchat, Hollowell Res, 2nd May 2025 (Bob Bullock)

And in line with the maturity of the spring, the number of Northern Wheatears tailed off, with Harrington producing up to two between 26th and 28th and Summer Leys one on 1st. The same also applies to White Wagtail, just one of which was found at Summer Leys on 2nd. Back at Harrington, a flyover Corn Bunting was only the second of the year of this sadly declining species.

Newsround – 12th to 18th April 2025

Posted on April 19, 2025 by Mike Alibone

A cooler week by far, despite a run of strong southwesterlies delivering a temperate airstream off the Atlantic and western Europe. With more inbound spring migrants there was plenty to play for but, once again, the cream of the crop was well out of reach for all but those in the right place at the right time …

Summer visitors added to the clock during the period all occurred in the Nene Valley, although there was a Reed Warbler at Stanford Res the previous week but it was, alas, on the Leicestershire side of the county line.

Pink-footed Geese were still very much in evidence this week and, as well as the long-stayer in the Earls Barton GP/Cogenhoe area being present throughout, the period’s quota included one again at Stanford Res on 13th and 14th and nine flying east over Lilbourne Meadows NR on the latter date. Last week’s Garganey duo remained throughout at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings, moving to the northern section on 18th, while the drake Red-crested Pochard was also keeping up appearances on the adjacent River Nene.

And, while we’re still in the same area, this site laid claim to the fourth occurrence of Common Crane for the county this year as one flew over, calling, on 12th.

Further up the valley, Clifford Hill GP notched up its – and the county’s – second record of Grey Plover this year as an eastbound flock of five flew through without stopping on 15th. Whimbrels were also on the move, with singles at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South), Lower Barnwell Lock (Oundle) and Summer Leys – all on 12th and another paid a brief visit to Clifford Hill GP on 17th.

Whimbrel, Clifford Hill GP, 17th April 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

Last week’s solitary Bar-tailed Godwit at Summer Leys made it into the week, still being present there on 12th, while the same site produced a Black-tailed Godwit on 12th, 15th, 17th and 18th and two were at Stanford Res at different points in time on 15th.

Black-tailed Godwit, Summer Leys LNR, 17th April 2025 (Alan Coles)

More Greenshanks moved through during the period in which singles visited Lower Barwell Lock on 12th and 15th, Summer Leys on 12th, Earls Barton GP on 14th and Stanford on 15th and a single Jack Snipe was still holding out at Hollowell Res on 14th.

Compared to last week, this week’s Little Gull passage had reduced to a mere drip comprising three at Earls Barton GP on 12th, while a Mediterranean Gull dropped into Stanford on 17th. Larger gulls included a first-summer apparent hybrid Caspian x Herring Gull at DIRFT 3 on 13th, where there was also a first-summer Yellow-legged Gull on the same date.

First-summer presumed Caspian Gull x Herring Gull hybrid, DIRFT 3, 13th April 2025 (Mike Alibone)

The only other Yellow-legged Gulls were single adults at Pitsford Res on 13th and 16th.

A Little Tern at Clifford Hill on 16th was much appreciated as well as equalling the earliest ever county record – the latter being at Earls Barton GP in 1996.

Little Tern, Clifford Hill GP, 16th April 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

And another week, another White Stork – this one visually tracked as it took its time in moving westward from Earls Barton/Whiston Lock toward Ecton. Surprisingly, there were no subsequent sightings in Northants but undoubtedly the same bird was logged later in the day over Napton Res in east Warwickshire, 37 km further west.

White Stork, Earls Barton GP, 13th April 2025 (Ant Hall)

Once again, the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis clocked up another week, the latter site also producing a showy Bittern on 16th and 18th.

Bittern, Summer Leys LNR, 18th April 2025 (Tony Stanford)

Four Cattle Egrets flying south-west over Stanwick GP on 17th once again represented a rather poor weekly showing for this species.

Not so for Marsh Harriers, though – that is, of course, for those in the right place at the right time. Favouring the reedbed, the immature male was again seen at Stanwick on 12th and 18th, Summer Leys produced two on 14th and one on 16th and one was nearby at Earls Barton GP’s Quarry Walk on the latter date.

Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 16th April 2025 (Alan Coles)

We’ve become increasingly aware of this spring’s invasion of Hoopoes into the southern reaches of the UK and their subsequent penetration further north. Given that this week saw just over a hundred in the country, prior to the astoundingly higher total of one hundred and eighty the week before, it would have been surprising if we’d not managed to secure one in our own good county. And we did. Two, to be precise. Unfortunately, they were both off limits and appeared to be short-stayers only. The first was in a garden in Hanging Houghton on 13th before flying off, giving rise to a local search that yielded no result. The following day, one was photographed on the windowsill of a farmhouse at Silverstone prior to making a similar rapid departure. The wait for one nailed down goes on …

Hoopoe, Silverstone, 14th April 2025 (Tom Howse)

Meanwhile, there were more Ring Ouzels, unsurprisingly comprising one at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 14th and another at Harrington AF the following day – both favoured localities that have history for the species.

Conversely, Summer Leys does not have history when it comes to producing Pied Flycatchers, a male of which was seen briefly from the car park on 18th.

A Black Redstart at Harrington did a bunk before any would-be observers were on the scene on 17th, as did one photographed on a roof in Easton on the Hill the previous day. These are the fourth and fifth for the year, none of which has had the decency to stay put.

Black Redstart, Easton on the Hill, 16th April 2025 (Jeff Davies)

Single male Common Redstarts were found at Harrington on 13th-14th, Blueberry Farm on 15th and at Lilbourne Meadows on 17th.

Male Common Redstart, Harrington AF, 14th April 2025 (David Arden)

There was a mini-surge in Northern Wheatears this week with, on 17th, Harrington producing nine, Hinton AF at least six, Clifford Hill four, and both Earls Barton and Mears Ashby one apiece.

Male Northern Wheatear, Earls Barton GP, 17th April 2025 (Leslie Fox)

On other dates, two were at Heathencote on 12th, three were at Harrington and two at Earls Barton on 14th, two were at Blueberry Farm and one below Great Doddington on 15th and one was at Borough Hill on 18th. A male Greenland Wheatear was at Clifford Hill on 17th.

Male Greenland Wheatear, Clifford Hill GP, 17th April 2025 (Tyler Atkinson)

With Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) rising in popularity and attracting more birders of late, it comes as no surprise that more interesting birds are being found there. One such individual – a ‘yellow’ wagtail – came under scrutiny on 15th when it exhibited some features inconsistent with the standard fare in the Yellow Wagtail group of races and may have been a hybrid (see here for a more detailed discussion).

Apparent ‘hybrid’ Yellow Wagtail showing some Citrine Wagtail-like characteristics, Earls Barton GP, 15th April 2025 (Mike Alibone)

No such queries were raised by this week’s White Wagtails, a maximum of at least five of which were at the latter site on 18th, while singles were logged at Lower Barnwell Lock on 12th, Clifford Hill on 15th and 17th, Pitsford on 16th and at Ditchford GP’s Rushden Lakes on 17th.

Newsround – 5th to 11th April 2025

Posted on April 12, 2025April 12, 2025 by Mike Alibone

Easterlies persisted until mid-week, after which a more northerly vector dominated, although temperatures managed to reach an unseasonally high 20°C by the end of the period. With the weather highly conducive to migration, it was unusually busy for the second week of April, which produced an uplift in migrants as well as some class birds, but getting to grips with the latter remained the preserve of the lucky few …

On the summer visitor front, new birds for the year appeared thick and fast this week with seven new species on the clock. One Common Sandpiper had already been logged, of course, although the latter was a rogue, overwintering individual at Earls Barton GP during February and March.

Wildfowl bounced back from last week, with the long-staying Pink-footed Goose still seeing the week out in the Earls Barton GP New Workings (South) area, where the year’s first Garganeys – a duck and drake – were found on the last day of the period.

Drake Garganey, Earls Barton GP, 11th April 2025 (Mike Alibone)

The above site also held on to its drake Red-crested Pochard, favouring the River Nene until at least 9th, while further up the Nene Valley, two Common Scoters made a stopover at Clifford Hill GP on 10th.

Common Scoters, Clifford Hill GP, 10th April 2025 (Mark Williams)

Two Avocets visited Summer Leys LNR on 7th but waders of the week and, at this juncture, of the year, were the two Dotterels that dropped in at Harrington AF the following day. Completing little more than a two-hour stay, they moved on without so much as a by your leave … This apparently constitutes the 15th county record and first since one at Hemington in April 2022, as well as appearing to be the earliest-ever in the county and generally very early for the UK as a whole. To put things in context, there were others in Dorset on 27th-28th March, Cumbria on 2nd April and in Ayrshire on 8th April.

Avocets, Summer Leys LNR, 7th April 2025 (Bob Bullock)

The number of other waders moving through ramped up appreciably and included the first, second and third records of Whimbrel this year, kicking off with one at Summer Leys LNR on 5th, followed by four at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 10th and one flying north over Ravensthorpe Res the following day.

Whimbrel, Titchmarsh NR, 10th April 2025 (Nick Parker)

The first Bar-tailed Godwit of the year dropped into Summer Leys on 10th and was still to be found there on 11th, while four Black-tailed Godwits left over from last week also remained there on 5th-6th, dropping to three on 7th and one on 9th. One also visited Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows NR on 7th.

Bar-tailed Godwit, Summer Leys LNR, 10th April 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Bar-tailed Godwit, Summer Leys LNR, 11th April 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Single Ruffs visited the flooded meadow by the River Nene at Oundle’s Lower Barnwell Lock on 5th and one was at Titchmarsh NR two days later, on 7th. The first of these two sites produced an early spring record of no less than three Spotted Redshanks together on 5th, dropping to just one straggler there on 6th-7th. It has been a good few years since a ‘flock’ of Spotted Redshanks last visited the county …

Spotted Redshank, Lower Barnwell Lock, Oundle, 7th April 2025 (Mike Alibone)

Two Greenshanks at Summer Leys on 5th represented only the second record for the year after an exceptionally early one over Earls Barton GP in February. Up to two Jack Snipes remained at Hollowell Res throughout the period.

Clearly associated with the continuing easterly airflow, there was no let up in the number of Little Gulls moving through. The Nene Valley undoubtedly enjoyed the lion’s share, with fourteen at Clifford Hill GP, ten at Stanwick GP, 2 at Summer Leys and one at Thrapston GP – all on 5th, while five were at Ravensthorpe Res and one at Pitsford Res on the same date. The following day’s stragglers comprised twos at both Pitsford and Thrapston.

Larger gulls on the scarcity spectrum were a second-summer Caspian Gull at Priors Hall Quarry Lake on 11th, where there was also a second-summer Yellow-legged Gull on the same date. Pitsford continued to hold up to two Yellow-legged Gulls throughout.

Second-summer Yellow-legged Gull, Priors Hall Quarry, 11th April 2025 (James Underwood)

An Arctic Tern at Summer Leys on 10th was new for the year.

Still to be had at Pitsford on 7th was the juvenile Great Northern Diver which has extended its winter occupancy well into spring.

Given its ongoing reintroduction project, perhaps only to be expected with increasing frequency in the county is White Stork, one of which flew over Warmington on 9th. Wild or not, a pulse-racer on a chance encounter.

Once again, the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis clocked up another week …

Cattle Egrets continued to maintain a low profile, with singles in the Nene Valley below Cogenhoe on 7th and at both Stanwick and Hollowell on 11th, the latter apparently a site first.

And so to raptors … and away from the Nene Valley it was, for Ospreys at least. Hollowell enjoyed a visit from the blue-ringed male, ‘3AY’ on 5th, which was the same individual that was photographed at Summer Leys last week. It originates from the Rutland project and was ringed as a pullus in 2019. So far, it remains unpaired. Up to two were also seen at Pitsford between 7th and 11th.

Male Osprey, Hollowell Res, 5th April 2025 (Jon Cook)

Back in the valley, though, Marsh Harriers were seen at Summer Leys on 5th, Stanwick on 5th and 11th and Titchmarsh NR on the latter date. Rather more upmarket, an adult male Hen Harrier was seen close to Everdon Stubbs on 5th.

The week’s passerines were not to be outdone, though, and a male Ring Ouzel at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 5th was considered to be a different individual to the bird present there last week. A splendid male Black Redstart in a private garden in Old was pretty much off limits for any would-be observers on 8th. It’s the third one this year, the previous two having also been inaccessible. There will be more …

Male Black Redstart, Old, 8th April 2025 (Krysten Newby)

Common Redstarts continued to trickle through, with one trapped and ringed at Stanford Res on 8th, followed the next day by single birds at Blueberry Farm and on farmland north of Ashby St Ledgers.

Female Common Redstart, Stanford Res, 8th April 2025 (Adam Homer)

Northern Wheatears were also low in numbers, this week’s birds being compressed into a small, localised region of north-central Northants that included Blueberry Farm, where there was one on 5th and three on 10th, Harrington AF, which held one on 6th-8th and in the Brampton Valley, where two were present on 10th.

A male Blue-headed Wagtail appeared at Clifford Hill on 7th, while Lower Barnwell Lock held a single White Wagtail on 5th, followed by two there on 7th.

Newsround – 15th to 21st February 2025

Posted on February 22, 2025February 23, 2025 by Mike Alibone

Temperatures had leapt up to a balmy 15°C by the week’s end – the result of a south to south-westerly airstream off the near continent and, with the UK’s first Northern Wheatear of the year appearing in Avon on 18th, it appears that we are well and truly on the cusp of spring.

While the aforementioned wheatear seems, and is, early, in 2023 we went one better in our own good county when one put in an appearance near Lyveden New Bield on 15th February, the earliest-ever county record. In the meantime, we’ll just have to be content with the usual array of winter birds as the wait goes on for the first summer visitor to arrive locally …

And that array includes what has become part of the furniture of late: grey geese. For another week the Earls Barton GP/Cogenhoe Greylags held on to the visiting Pink-footed Goose, along with the seven White-fronted Geese which allow easy viewing in the riverside fields in this small area of the Nene Valley. Following an absence of reports the previous week, the two long-staying White-fronted Geese were still to be found at and around Ravensthorpe Res until at least 18th.

White-fronted Geese, Earls Barton GP, 21st February 2025 (Leslie Fox)

White-fronted Goose, Earls Barton GP, 21st February 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Still in place this week was the female Red-crested Pochard at Daventry CP, remaining there throughout the period.

Female Red-crested Pochard, Daventry CP, 21st February 2025 (Gary Pullan)

With the trail for last week’s Ring-necked Duck now having gone cold, we were left with the first-winter female Greater Scaup at Blatherwycke Lake on 16th and the drake Smew at Clifford Hill GP throughout to keep the best of the wildfowl afloat.

And this week’s waders appeared in the same guise as last week’s, with two Black-tailed Godwits visiting Summer Leys LNR on 15th and Jack Snipes again at Hollowell Res, where there were two on 17th and three on 19th, while two were at Ditchford GP on 18th.

An adult Caspian Gull at Hollowell Res on 17th was the only one of its kind during the period, while Yellow-legged Gulls were present at Summer Leys, where there were singles on 15th and 21st, Earls Barton GP with an adult on 18th, Pitsford Res where there were two adults on 20th and Daventry CP, where there was a third-winter on 21st.

The juvenile Great Northern Diver continued its stay at Pitsford until at least 17th.

And what more can we say about the Glossy Ibis, other than it saw out another week at Summer Leys.

New in during the period, though, was a couple of Bitterns – one at Summer Leys on 17th and the other at Daventry CP, showing well for one day only, on 19th. The latter has the prestigious honour of being the first record for the site.

Bittern, Daventry CP, 19th February 2025 (Gary Pullan)

Bittern, Daventry CP, 19th February 2025 (Bob Bullock)

The Blatherwycke Lake Cattle Egret remained until at least 16th, constituting the sole representative of its tribe this week.

Raptors fared a little better with at least two Marsh Harriers on show – one still roaming Titchmarsh NR and the wider environs of Thrapston GP until 19th, the other at Summer Leys on 18th, with likely the same individual close by at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 20th.

Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 18th February 2025 (Clive Bowley)

A ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell before flying toward nearby Cottesbrooke on 19th and the week’s only Short-eared Owl was seen at one of the species’ favoured localities, Harrington AF, on the same date.

On the passerine front, new in this week was Siberian Chiffchaff, found where else but at the famous ‘Bridge of Sibes’ – more formally known as bridge K121 – which runs over the processed sewage outflow from Ecton SF into the River Nene. Two were present on 16th with at least one remaining from 17th to 19th.

Siberian Chiffchaff, Ecton SF, 16th February 2025 (Bob Bullock)

Siberian Chiffchaff, Ecton SF, 19th February 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Adding further spice to the passerine mix, a male Black Redstart found on farm buildings near Creaton on 20th was the second of the year and, like the first, was at a location with no public access. This week’s Stonechats were to be found at Barnes Meadow NR, Borough Hill, Cogenhoe, Ditchford, Earls Barton, Hollowell and Stanford Res, with a maximum of five at Borough Hill on 15th.

Male Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 18th February 2025 (Leslie Fox)

Newsround – 26th October to 1st November 2024

Posted on November 2, 2024 by Mike Alibone

The week’s weather, being somewhat bland, appeared to have little influence on the birds turning up during the period but that’s not to say it was uneventful. Quite the contrary, in fact, with the first Red-throated Diver for sixteen years stealing the show, one or two more Yellow-browed Warblers – now seemingly attracting scant attention – and a trickle of Hawfinches beginning to elicit interest as a national ‘invasion’ appears to be well underway …

There was little new on the wildfowl front, however, with the Pink-footed Goose continuing to visit Stanford Res, where it was seen on 26th-27th and again on 30th. Last week’s adult Whooper Swan also remained there, visiting surrounding farmland, until 30th, while two more dropped in briefly on 27th. Pitsford Res also got in on the act, producing a single bird north of the causeway on 28th, followed by four flying north on 1st.

Adult Whooper Swan, Stanford Res 26th October 2024 (Chris Hubbard)

The Ruddy Shelduck also reappeared at Stanford on 26th before moving back to Winwick Pools on 28th-29th.

Female Ruddy Shelduck, Winwick Pools, 28th October 2024 (James Urwin)

Stanford continued to produce the largest share of the period’s Red-crested Pochards, the week opening with seven and closing on six, while the first-winter drake remained at Boddington Res until at least 31st and two were found at Pitsford the next day, on 1st.

In the absence of any notable waders, numbers of the scarcer gulls were about par for the course, with an adult Mediterranean Gull in the roost at Boddington on 31st and a first-winter joining the Stanford roost on 1st. Caspian Gulls widened their reach to four reservoirs, the roost at Boddington holding an adult on 31st and two adults the following evening. Two adults were again at Hollowell on 31st, while single adults were found at both Pitsford and Stanford on 1st. Once again, Boddington produced the week’s highest numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls in its roost, seven on 31st rising to nine the following evening. Elsewhere, singles visited Clifford Hill GP and Summer Leys LNR on 26th and 27th, respectively, two were found at Winwick Pools on 29th, one was at Pitsford on 31st-1st and Stanford held one on 31st and two on 1st.

And just to prove that autumn is far from running out of steam, a smart juvenile Red-throated Diver surfaced at Boddington on the last day of October. It remained for barely five hours following its discovery, having upped sticks and left well before the afternoon was out. Being the first one in Northamptonshire for sixteen years, this species is now verging on mega status in the county, following a short-term run of records in 2002, 2005, 2006-07 and 2008.

Juvenile Red-throated Diver, Boddington Res, 31st October 2024 (Gary Pullan)

Juvenile Red-throated Diver, Boddington Res, 31st October 2024 (Bob Bullock)

Juvenile Red-throated Diver, Boddington Res, 31st October 2024 (Mike Alibone)

Looking like it’s in for the long haul and continuing to offer interest and delight, the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis had notched up six full weeks by the end of the period.

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 27th October 2024 (Bob Bullock)

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 29th October 2024 (Mike Alibone)

Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR produced the week’s only Bittern on 26th and Stanwick GP the only Cattle Egrets, with eight there on 1st.

While single Marsh Harriers continued to be seen in the Nene Valley – at Titchmarsh LNR on 26th and at Earls Barton GP’s New Workings (South) on 30th, it was the latter locality that delivered a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier, seemingly having taken a liking to the area, being seen there on the afternoons of 28th, 30th and 1st. An adult male Hen Harrier was present briefly in the Brampton Valley, between Brixworth and Cottesbrooke, before flying north-west on 1st.

A Short-eared Owl was found at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 30th.

And records continue to be broken as far as Yellow-browed Warblers are concerned, with one reported again at Stanford Res on 26th, while another was found in an area of willows along the Grand Union Canal, between Grafton Regis and Bozenham Mill, on 30th-31st. Perhaps we will be in line for more wintering birds over the next few months …

With no more than two at any one location, Stonechats continued to be seen across the county at Clifford Hill GP, Earls Barton GP, Grafton Regis, Pitsford, Stanford and Thrapston GP.

Stonechat, Deenethorpe AF, 28th October 2024 (James Underwood)

Stonechat, Earls Barton GP, 1st November 2024 (Leslie Fox)

And as we leave October behind and thoughts turn to what the last month of autumn and the forthcoming winter may bring, it has been widely recognised that we are now well into an invasion of Hawfinches at a national level. Events now unfolding show a marked similarity to the historic influx of 2017-18, with records during the last half of October coming from nudging two hundred sites across England. Following one at Dallington Cemetery, Northampton on 5th October, the week just gone saw a trickle of birds with one flying over Byfield on 30th and, on 1st, five over Harrington AF, three in Thenford churchyard and two or three at Cottesbrooke. These last two sites proved reliable for connecting with long-stayers during the last influx.

Hawfinch, Cottesbrooke, 1st November 2024 (Jon Cook)

So, when will the trickle develop into a torrent? Checking out a churchyard or two could prove fruitful if, as they so often are, planted with Yew trees, a favoured food source. As a heads up, here’s a list of locations they were seen at during the last autumn/winter invasion in 2017-18.

Not quite falling into the same iconic category as the above, but a smart finch, nonetheless, is Crossbill – some twenty of which flew over Brackmills Industrial Estate, Northampton on 30th, while three briefly visited Cottesbrooke churchyard on 1st.

A Corn Bunting – only the second of the year, following one in the Brampton Valley in August – was seen between Grafton Regis and Bozenham Mill on 30th.

Newsround – 19th to 25th October 2024

Posted on October 26, 2024 by Mike Alibone

The week kicked off with Storm Ashley, of which we were on the periphery and, while hopes were high for a wrecked seabird or two, there was no such luck, with the short term occurrence of a Shag the day after seemingly coincidental. Otherwise, it was down to another Yellow-browed Warbler – amongst other fare – to keep the autumn pot bubbling …

Stanford Res was the locality for producing the majority of this week’s wildfowl with, once again, what was presumably the same bird as last week’s Pink-footed Goose dropping in on 19th-20th. A new adult Whooper Swan also appeared there on 21st remaining until 25th, although it was not seen on 23rd.

Adult Whooper Swan, Stanford Res, 22nd October 2024 (Chris Hubbard)

Following its absence from Stanford, where it was last seen on 9th September, the female Ruddy Shelduck was relocated at its recently favoured winter haunt, Winwick Pools on 24th, after having visited Ravensthorpe Res on 15th and 22nd September.

Female Ruddy Shelduck, Winwick Pools, 24th October 2024 (James Urwin)

Aside from the first-winter drake at Boddington Res, where it remained until at least 24th and a drake at Pitsford Res on 21st, the period’s Red-crested Pochards had peaked at no more than five at Stanford by the week’s end.

After some absence, waders were back on the menu – albeit on a very short term basis – with a Black-tailed Godwit at Elton GP and a fleetingly late Wood Sandpiper at Summer Leys LNR, both on 23rd. Prime wader habitat remains at a premium, however.

More Mediterranean Gulls appeared on the scene during the period, doubling last week’s total (which wasn’t difficult). Boddington’s first-winter continued to appear there in the roost intermittently until 22nd, with an adult gracing the Stanford roost on the latter date, while Summer Leys delivered a second-winter on 23rd and a first-winter on 25th.

First-winter Mediterranean Gull, Summer Leys LNR, 25th October 2024 (Julie Roe)

Numbers of Caspian Gulls were limited to an adult and a first-winter in the Boddington roost on 22nd-23rd and two adults at Hollowell Res on 24th. Yellow-legged Gulls fared better, pushing into double figures at Boddington where the roost produced up to twelve on 22nd-23rd. Elsewhere, three were at Summer Leys on 23rd, followed by two there on 25th, while single adults were seen at Pitsford Res on 21st and Clifford Hill GP on 24th.

Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Pitsford Res, 21st October 2024 (Mike Alibone)

Often turning up in remarkably calm conditions, so unlikely to be weather-related, new in for 2024 was a juvenile Shag at Ravensthorpe on 21st. Unfortunately, it failed to stick and show, being subjected to disturbance by fishing boats shortly after its discovery. Shag is a near-annual visitor having been recorded in fourteen out of the last twenty years.

The same cannot be said with regard to Glossy Ibis, for which the opposite applies in both instances. It’s still a local and national rarity but in the current circumstances the Summer Leys bird has further extended its stay by another seven days to five weeks, frequently showing well to all comers.

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 24th October 2024 (Alan Coles)

This week it was the turn of Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR to produce the period’s Bittern sightings, with one on 21st and 23rd and two on 24th. A cattle field adjacent to nearby Ringstead GP continued to prove attractive to Cattle Egrets, the week starting with two there on 19th, increasing to six on 20th and finishing with two again on 25th. Three were also found in a field west of Chacombe in south-west Northants on 19th.

Back at Titchmarsh, one of the week’s two Marsh Harriers was seen on 21st, Summer Leys enjoying one on the same date, while last week’s Hen Harrier at Stanford also made it into this week on 19th.

Juvenile female Hen Harrier, Stanford Res, 19th October 2024 (Chris Hubbard)

It’s been quiet at Harrington AF for some time now but, following the autumn’s first Short-eared Owl there on 3rd, another – or perhaps the same – was present this week on 19th. October is a prime month for the movement of this species through the UK.

Short-eared Owl, Harrington AF, 19th October 2024 (Steve Pugh)

And as for passerines? Stanford, ever effervescent as Northamptonshire’s premier ringing site – and thank the gods it’s on our side of the county boundary – did it again this week with another Yellow-browed Warbler out of the nets on 23rd, quickly followed by a Firecrest the next day. What else might be in the offing there before the autumn’s out?

Yellow-browed Warbler, Stanford Res, 23rd October 2024 (Chris Hubbard)

Male Firecrest, Stanford Res, 24th October 2024 (Chris Hubbard)

Stonechats continued to be seen across the county at Boddington, Earls Barton GP, Elton, Hollowell, Orlingbury, Stanford and Warmington with a maximum of four at Hollowell on 24th.

Newsround – 31st August to 6th September 2024

Posted on September 8, 2024September 8, 2024 by Mike Alibone

As we crossed the line into meteorological autumn, a humid week kicked off with a strong southerly airstream from the continent, swiftly being replaced by sustained north-easterlies out of Scandinavia. The weather’s influence on the birds occurring may have been difficult to gauge and while Stanford Res scored its, and the county’s, second Ferruginous Duck of the year, there was plenty afoot to keep local birders on their toes.

And in terms of locale, that’s precisely where we start, with the female Ruddy Shelduck keeping up appearances as the week duly unfolded. The only other dabbling duck to make it into the Newsround was Garganey, with up to three extending their stay, and still mobile, around Summer Leys LNR throughout.

But the wildfowl of the week occurred when Stanford laid claim to its second Ferruginous Duck of the year – this time a female. Found during the morning of 3rd, it proved itself a slippery customer, evading further observation until putting in a brief reappearance during the evening. It was not seen subsequently …

Female Ferruginous Duck, Stanford Res, 3rd September 2024 (Chris Hubbard)

More usually associated with spring rather than autumn, Common Scoters were making news on the last day of the period when Stanford again delivered, producing two drakes, while a drake was also found at Clifford Hill GP. These formed part of a wider inland movement through Central England, from West Yorkshire to Surrey, with records from nineteen localities during the latter half of the week.

Drake Common Scoter, Clifford Hill GP, 6th September 2024 (Mike Alibone)

Also at Clifford Hill, the now long-staying Black-necked Grebe chalked up another week in residence, attracting a steady procession of observers – some apparently making a special trip from as far away as Luton …

Adult Black-necked Grebe, Clifford Hill GP, 6th September 2024 (Bob Bullock)

Adult Black-necked Grebe, Clifford Hill GP, 6th September 2024 (Mike Alibone)

And as for waders it was down to just four species to keep the wheels turning, top of which was a single, short-staying Whimbrel on the dam at Pitsford Res on 2nd. With the peak passage period for Black-tailed Godwits long gone, this week’s stragglers were made up of three at Summer Leys on 31st, followed by one there on 6th, the latter date also seeing one at Wicksteed Park Lake, Kettering. Summer Leys also held on to last week’s juvenile Ruff throughout the period, while five were present there briefly on 1st. A juvenile female also visited Daventry CP on 3rd.

Juvenile Ruff, Summer Leys LNR, 3rd September 2024 (Alan Coles)

Also at Summer Leys, a Greenshank remained throughout and another was found at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh LNR on 5th.

Greenshank, Summer Leys LNR, 3rd September 2024 (Alan Coles)

The autumn’s first Little Gull – a first-winter – dropped in at Stanford on 5th.

First-winter Little Gull, Stanford Res, 5th September 2024 (Chris Hubbard)

Two more Mediterranean Gulls hopefully laid the ground for more to come – a juvenile at Ravensthorpe Res on 1st, followed by a first-winter at Boddington Res over the three days of 4th, 5th and 6th.

First-winter Mediterranean Gull, Boddington Res, 5th September 2024 (Gary Pullan)

Boddington also produced three out of this period’s four Caspian Gulls with a juvenile on 2nd and two different second-year birds on 5th and 6th, while another juvenile was found at Daventry CP on 5th.

Juvenile Caspian Gull, Daventry CP, 5th September 2024 (Gary Pullan)

With reports from seven localities the number of Yellow-legged Gulls climbed this week, Pitsford producing the highest day total of seven on 1st. Three were present there on 3rd and four on 5th and 6th. The second highest total came from Boddington, where there were six on 5th, two on 2nd and three on 6th. Elsewhere, four were found at Ravensthorpe on 1st with the same number also at Wicksteed Park Lake the following day, the latter site again producing two on 4th. Single birds were also present at Hollowell Res on 2nd, Daventry on 3rd and Titchmarsh on 4th.

There were further appearances this week in the shape of Sandwich Terns, the surprising autumn run of which is clearly far from over, the last two days of the period delivering birds to three different sites. Single fly-overs were clocked at Stanford on 5th and 6th, the latter date also seeing another over Daventry and a respectable six at Summer Leys. Unlike last week’s obliging three at Clifford Hill, none saw fit to stick around. In common with the aforementioned scoters, these formed part of a wider inland movement through Central England, from South Yorkshire to Surrey, with records from at least twenty-five localities during the last two days of the week.

Sandwich Tern, Stanford Res, 6th September 2024 (Chris Hubbard)

Not to be sniffed at, a notable supporting cast comprised three juvenile Arctic Terns at Stanford on 2nd-3rd and single Black Terns at Pitsford on 1st and Boddington on 2nd.

Following one on Summer Leys Scrape last week, a Bittern was seen at Titchmarsh on 4th. Long gone are the days when this was the standout site for this species during the winter months.

In stark contrast to last week, Cattle Egret numbers took a tumble to just seven at Ditchford GP’s Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows LNR on 31st, one between Earls Barton and Ecton on 1st and at least one at Stanwick GP on 6th.

And for those in need of a showy raptor fix, Summer Leys again proved its worth –firstly for Ospreys, two of which were present on 3rd, one straying to adjacent Mary’s Lake at Earls Barton GP. Two were also reported from Titchmarsh on 2nd, followed by one there on 3rd and 6th, while singles visited Pitsford on 31st, 1st and 4th, Stanford on 1st and 5th and Hollowell on 4th.

Juvenile Osprey, Summer Leys LNR, 3rd September 2024 (Aamir Aziz Mughal)

And secondly, with multiple daily sightings, Summer Leys simply oozed Marsh Harriers, three different birds having visited the reserve this week. Four other localities also produced singles, including the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 1st and 6th, Boddington on 2nd, Harrington AF on 1st-2nd and Stanford on 1st.

Marsh Harrier (probably 2nd calendar year), Summer Leys LNR, 1st September 2024 (Aamir Aziz Mughal)

Juvenile Marsh Harrier, Summer Leys LNR, 6th September 2024 (Aamir Aziz Mughal)

Set against a backcloth of increasing numbers of common migrants, the week’s passerines saw the movement of Common Redstarts begin to fall. Three were trapped and ringed at Stanford on 31st and the same number was seen at Harrington on 2nd, followed by one there the next day. Elsewhere, singles were found at both Clifford Hill and Lamport on 1st and at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 2nd.

Male Common Redstart, Stanford Res, 31st August 2024 (Josh Sollitt)

While Common Redstarts were on the wane, Whinchats were on the up, with birds seen daily across a collective eight localities. The highest numbers were six at both Stanford on 1st and Clifford Hill GP on 6th. Other site maxima were four in the Brampton Valley on 4th-6th, three at Hollowell on 31st, two at Harrington on 2nd and singles at Orlingbury on 4th and at both Boddington and Brackley on 6th.

Whinchat, Clifford Hill GP, 2nd September 2024 (Tyler Atkinson)

Juvenile Whinchat, Boddington Res, 6th September 2024 (Gary Pullan)

A Stonechat remained at Hollowell on 1st-3rd and one was present at Harrington on 2nd, while Northern Wheatears again remained low in numbers with just singles at Harrington on 2nd-3rd, in the Brampton Valley on 3rd-5th, at Hollowell on 3rd and at both Clifford Hill and Pitsford on 4th.

Northern Wheatear, Pitsford Res, 4th September 2024 (Tony Stanford)

Newsround – 20th to 26th July 2024

Posted on July 27, 2024 by Mike Alibone

As July races by, more migrants are on the fly but it’s still early days and there’s much to play for …

Knocking around the reservoirs of Ravensthorpe and Stanford this week, the female Ruddy Shelduck was at the former site on 23rd-24th and the latter on 22nd and 26th, while the only other wildfowl were 3 Garganeys at Daventry CP on 20th, at least two remaining until 22nd.

Garganey, Daventry CP, 20th July 2024 (Gary Pullan)

Meanwhile, down in the Nene Valley, an ill-defined photo was the legacy left by what may have been a Red-necked Grebe at Summer Leys LNR on the morning 20th, although there were no reliable reports later in the day … or subsequently.

Sought-after waders were low in numbers and squeezing the cloth produced a mere trickle of Black-tailed Godwits, with one at Stanwick GP on 20th and two at Summer Leys on 23rd. A Wood Sandpiper was also reported from the latter site on 20th.

Post-breeding and non-breeding gull numbers have now begun to build and where better to look than DIRFT 3? If not to your taste then simply skip the next paragraph and related photos … The aforementioned site is in a state of constant flux and we’ve now seen the last nail go into the coffin as far as the formerly highly productive A5 pools are concerned. Bulldozed, flattened and now bone dry, it’s now a level playing field for loafing gulls, amid which, on 23rd, was an adult showing (controversial) mixed features of Caspian Gull and Yellow-legged Gull – see here for the ID discussion. A third-summer Caspian was present there on 26th.

Adult possible Caspian Gull x Yellow-legged Gull hybrid, DIRFT 3, 23rd July 2024 (Mike Alibone)

No such debate ensued over the identity of the ‘textbook’ Caspian that was found and photographed at Earls Barton GP on 24th. Handily wearing a yellow ring inscribed P:W37, it was traceable to its origins in Mietków Dolnośląskie, Poland, where it was ringed as a pullus on 31st May 2018 – and it has been visiting the UK annually ever since. The majority of sightings have come from the landfill at Shawell, Leicestershire but this bird was also seen in both Buckinghamshire and Somerset in 2019 and in Warwickshire in 2023.

Polish-ringed adult Caspian Gull, Earls Barton GP, 24th July 2024 (Leslie Fox)

Ringing data map for Polish-ringed adult Caspian Gull at Earls Barton GP, 24th July 2024

There were more Yellow-legged Gulls this week, with DIRFT 3 hosting the highest counts of eighteen on 26th and seven on 23rd. Elsewhere, singles were at Pitsford Res on 21st, Ravensthorpe Res and Stanwick GP on 24th and at Daventry CP and Thrapston GP on 25th.

Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Ravensthorpe Res, 24th July 2024 (Jim Urwin)

Perhaps overshadowed by gulls, a second-summer Arctic Tern paid a brief morning visit to Daventry CP on 25th.

A Bittern was an unusual visitor to Stanford Res on 26th and Cattle Egrets seen at Stanwick GP included three on 20th, two on 23rd and six on 26th.

On the raptor front, Ospreys featured daily with one at Hollowell Res on 20th, up to two at Ravensthorpe Res between 21st and 23rd, one at Stanford on 20th, 24th, 25th and 26th and one at Pitsford on 26th.

Male Osprey, Hollowell Res, 20th July 2024 (Jon Cook)

Marsh Harriers, too, featured singles at Barnwel on 20th, Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) and Stanford on 22nd and Stanwick on 24th.

And at the passerine end of the spectrum, Common Redstarts remained the dominant species, appearing at eight localities which included up to two at Blueberry Farm between 21st and 26th, two between Old and Pitsford Res on 23rd, up to two at Lilbourne Meadows NR between 23rd and 26th and singles at both Clifford Hill GP and Honey Hill on 21st and at Lamport, Harrington AF and in the Brampton Valley on 23rd.

Juvenile Common Redstart, Honey Hill, 21st July 2024 (Jon Cook)

Male Common Redstart, Lilbourne Meadows NR, 26th July 2024 (Mike Alibone)

Two more Whinchats appeared this week with singles at Hollowell Res between 20th and 26th and in the Brampton Valley between 21st and 23rd.

Male Whinchat, Hollowell Res, 20th July 2024 (Jon Cook)

And the first Crossbills for some time comprised two in flight over Blueberry Farm on 22nd.

Newsround – 31st July to 6th August 2021

Posted on August 7, 2021August 7, 2021 by Mike Alibone

With temperatures a touch below average, the week shaped up to be rather unsettled, with low pressure systems feeding cooler Atlantic air into the UK. Migrants continued to trickle through in small numbers but the period was otherwise uneventful.

The sole wildfowl representative of the week can be summed up in a single word: Garganey. One was on show at Stanwick GP from 31st until at least 5th and last week’s Daventry CP bird was still present on 1st.

Just one Cattle Egret was present at Stanwick GP on 2nd-3rd, while Pitsford Res produced a Great Egret on 31st plus two there on 4th and singles also visited Summer Leys LNR on 1st and Blatherwycke Lake on 5th.

After no reports at all last week, Ospreys made a bit of a comeback, with single birds at Stanford Res on 2nd, over Cottesbrooke on 3rd, Pitsford on 4th and at both Deene Lake and Hollowell Res on 5th.

*Juvenile Osprey, Hollowell Res, 5th August 2021 (Jon Cook)*

Hollowell also produced an early morning Marsh Harrier on 3rd – they are rarely recorded from this site – and further individuals were seen briefly at Stanford on 2nd and Thrapston GP on 4th.

*Juvenile Marsh Harrier, Hollowell Res, 3rd August 2021 (Jon Cook)*

Last week’s Harris Hawk remained in Duston, Northampton on 1st, local intel revealing that it has escaped from a Daventry-based falconer and has been on the loose for the last twelve months!

On the wader front, Black-tailed Godwits dominated the week’s proceedings, with eight at Clifford Hill GP on 31st followed there by four on 6th. Elsewhere, six flew over Stanford on 31st and one was at Daventry CP on 1st. Curlews away from breeding sites were limited to two at DIRFT 3 A5 Pools on 31st and 3rd and a Ruff was also present there on 4th. Greenshank numbers were again surprisingly low, with just one at Stanford on 4th.

As we head into autumn proper, gull numbers are visibly on the up and, among them, the first juvenile Mediterranean Gull of the season appeared at Stanwick on 2nd. A count of thirty-two Yellow-legged Gulls at the latter site on 5th was considered to be conservative as prolific late summer vegetation on site considerably hampered viewing of some four to five hundred large gulls there at the time. Smaller numbers elsewhere throughout the period included up to eleven at DIRFT 3, up to three at Pitsford and one at Daventry. This week’s Caspian Gulls were equally divided between DIRFT 3 and Stanwick, the first of these two sites providing two different adults on 1st and 3rd – the latter bearing a German ring. Stanwick’s two consisted of a third- or fourth-summer from 3rd to 5th, joined by an adult there on the latter date.

*Adult Caspian Gull, DIRFT 3, 1st August 2021 (Mike Alibone)*

*German-ringed adult Caspian Gull, DIRFT 3, 3rd August 2021 (Mike Alibone)*

To passerines … and four sites produced Common Redstarts this week, starting off with the long-staying female remaining at Lilbourne Meadows LNR until at least 4th. Elsewhere, up to three were seen at Blueberry Farm throughout the period, as was the same number at Harrington AF, where three were trapped and ringed on 2nd, and two were at Lamport on 5th. Other passerines reported were two Whinchats in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, between 2nd and 4th and one at nearby Blueberry Farm on 5th and, hot on the heels of last week’s first, came more Northern Wheatears.