A sustained southerly airstream rendered the first week of November considerably mild, weatherwise, and arguably, the same could be said regarding the period’s birds – certainly from a new arrivals perspective. However, there was still plenty to see in terms of hangers-on, including the Lesser Scaup – now seemingly settled at Ditchford – continuing as the main attraction, proving popular with locals and visitors alike.
Yes, bold as brass on Ditchford GP’s ‘Big Lake’, little more than a hop, skip and a jump from the busy Rushden Lakes Shopping Centre car park, the drake Lesser Scaup remained throughout the week, currently looking like it could be set to see the winter out. In the world of birds, though, unpredictability reigns supreme, so only time will tell …
There were surprisingly few wildfowl in this week’s supporting cast, though, with four Whooper Swans appearing momentarily at Clifford Hill GP on the morning of 3rd and a small number of reservoir-based Red-crested Pochards, comprising four at Stanford on 2nd, with two there from 3rd to 5th, and one at Ravensthorpe on the last of these two dates.
With migration pretty much flatlining in the wader camp, the lingering Black-tailed Godwit saw another week out at Daventry CP and a Jack Snipe still showed occasionally at Summer Leys LNR, while two of the latter were at Ditchford on 7th. A single Dunlin at Clifford Hill GP on 6th is perhaps scraping the barrel these days but serves as a stark reminder that, back in the day, it was a regular occurrence for a flock exceeding two hundred to spend late autumn and winter at a water-depleted Pitsford Res. How times have changed …
On par for the course, though, a second-winter Mediterranean Gull was present at Earls Barton GP’s Mary’s Lake on 7th, this site now regularly pulling in respectable numbers of larger gulls with two recent individuals showing some signs of hybridisation displaying a Caspian Gull influence. However, examples of the real McCoy were to be found in the gull roost at Stanford on 1st and 3rd, a third-winter visited Daventry CP on 3rd and 6th, a first-winter was at Summer Leys on 4th and two adults and a first-winter were at Hollowell Res on 5th. The week’s Yellow-legged Gull quota included one at Clifford Hill GP from 1st to 6th, an adult at Mary’s Lake on 5th, a first-winter at Daventry on 5th followed by an adult there on 6th and three at Pitsford on 7th.
The three Glossy Ibises held out at Summer Leys throughout the week.
Summer Leys also produced single Marsh Harriers on 2nd-3rd and again on 7th, while two were at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 2nd.
Marsh Harriers, Titchmarsh NR, 2nd November 2025 (Kev Jeffries)And heading the cast of the week’s passerines was a Black Redstart on 5th at Harrington AF, a site which has become increasingly steeped in disquiet of late as a result of dubious and illicit activities, including hare coursing, shooting and wanton damage to a parked vehicle. All perhaps enough to discourage birders from going to look for it … as there were no further reports.
Stonechats were found at Clifford Hill, Ditchford, Earls Barton, Harrington, Hollowell, Pitsford and Summer Leys, with Earls Barton and Pitsford producing the highest counts of five apiece.
Apparently in no hurry to move on, last week’s late-showing Northern Wheatear remained at Clifford Hill until at least 6th.
And the period’s Crossbills were made up of ten at Salcey Forest on 1st, one in Kettering on 4th and five at Ravensthorpe Res the following day.
Northants birds 