Against a largely south-westerly airstream, migration continued apace, going on to deliver some more quality birds of which, so far this year, have been in short supply.
Excluded from the latter category, though, was the itinerant female Ruddy Shelduck, which ditched Hollowell Res for the more modest confines of Naseby Res, where it stayed until the week’s end. Conversely, Garganey, a duck we’ve not had the pleasure of easily connecting with this year, was found at Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR on 27th, subsequently followed by another at Summer Leys LNR on 29th. These are only the fourth and fifth records of the year, following a rather lacklustre spring for this species in the county. Back on the agenda this week, three drake Red-crested Pochards appeared at Stanford Res on 28th, quickly followed by a female at Summer Leys the next day.
For once seen and not heard, a Quail in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 29th was only the third one for the year, following singing males at nearby Blueberry Farm in mid-July and at Stanford for three days in early June.
The period enjoyed another good run of waders with the 26th seeing a passage of Whimbrels at the select locations of Stanford Res – where a total of fifteen (twelve, two and one) flew south-west within a two-hour period – Clifford Hill GP, where two circled before moving on, and at Naseby, where a solitary individual flew south.
A single Curlew flew south over Boddington Res on 24th. Black-tailed Godwits were still on the move, trickling through in small numbers with last week’s three remaining at Titchmarsh NR until 26th, two at Pitsford Res on 23rd and singles at Clifford Hill GP on 25th and 29th.
Following the year’s one and only Knot at Clifford Hill on 19th May, three more appeared there on 25th, after which two remained until 28th.
And it was another decent week for Ruffs, the run of which continued with five remaining at Pitsford Res until 25th, with three thereafter until 28th and one on 29th. Last week’s two at Boddington Res remained on site until 28th and singles were present at Titchmarsh NR on 23rd and 28th, Summer Leys from 24th to 29th, Clifford Hill from 25th to 28th, Hollowell Res on 25th and Daventry CP from 27th to 29th.
Pitsford and Summer Leys carved up the week’s Wood Sandpipers between them, singles of which were at the former site from 23rd until 25th and at the latter from 25th to 27th.
Following up to three at Barnwell Lock, Oundle between 5th and 7th April, the second and third Spotted Redshanks for the year were found at both Clifford Hill and Summer Leys on 25th, the latter individual seeing the day out.
Meanwhile, Greenshanks continued to proliferate, being present throughout at Boddington, Ditchford GP, Earls Barton GP, Hollowell, Naseby, Pitsford and Summer Leys, the peak count of seven coming from Pitsford on 24th.
Taking the prime slots for the week’s larids were Caspian Gulls, the German-ringed adult male seeing another week out at Naseby, while Daventry produced a third-summer on 27th and a juvenile on 28th. Pitsford delivered the week’s highest count of six Yellow-legged Gulls on 25th, two were at Earls Barton on 27th and single adults were at Cransley Res and Stanford on 28th and 29th, respectively.
The week also saw small numbers of the county’s scarer terns, with a juvenile Arctic Tern flying west through Summer Leys on 27th, while single Black Terns visited both Stanford and Hollowell on 25th, two were at the latter site the following day and two were at Pitsford on 27th, followed by one there on 28th-29th.
It’s been a while since the long staying Glossy Ibis departed Summer Leys, with the last confirmed report there on 14th May, followed by what was presumably the same bird at Stanwick from 14th to 16th May. This week, both sites saw a return to form, with one flying south-west over Stanwick on 28th before being relocated at Summer Leys later in the day, set to hang out there over the coming days, no doubt.
This week’s two Bitterns were both seen in flight at Stanford on 23rd and at Stanwick on 29th and a more respectable showing of Cattle Egrets than of late included ten flying low north-west over Boddington on 27th, constituting only the third record for the site. Elsewhere, six were in a field adjoining Ringstead GP on 24th, five visited Stanwick GP on 27th and one was at Titchmarsh on 23rd and 25th.
We’ve being used to it for a while now and, throughout the period, the usual raptors abounded – Brampton Valley, Hollowell, Pitsford and Thrapston all providing this week’s locational mix for Osprey numbers of between one and two.
Marsh Harriers followed suit, with singles reported from Blueberry Farm (Maidwell), Harrington AF, Hollowell, Pitsford, Stanford, Stanwick and Wellingborough. A Goshawk flew over the Brampton Valley, between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, on 23rd.
And, once more from the nets of Stanford, another smart catch in the shape of a Pied Flycatcher on 25th – a great bird but rather sublime in comparison to last week’s top-notch rarities served up there. Much more elusive, though, was a male found the previous day at Gamboro Plantation in the Brampton Valley, north-east of Cottesbrooke. It was also present on 25th, remaining under the radar until the end of the week … and showy it wasn’t.
Present at seven sites, Common Redstarts retained their prominence, being seen with some regularity, with up to three at Blueberry Farm and Harrington and three being trapped and ringed at Stanford on 24th. Ones and twos were also seen in the Brampton Valley and at Lamport, Old and Yardley Chase throughout the period.
Whinchat numbers were on the up, reaching double figures, with ten in the week’s most popular locality of the Brampton Valley on 28th. Top site totals elsewhere were twos at both Blueberry Farm on 25th and Harrington on 25th-27th and singles at Thrapston on 23rd and Earls Barton on 29th.
The third Stonechat of the autumn was a juvenile at Hollowell Res on 28th, while numbers of Northern Wheatears were up slightly on last week’s with the top total being four at Harrington AF on 27th, when three were also at Spanhoe AF. Elsewhere, singles were at Blueberry Farm on 23rd and 25th, Stanford on 23rd and 27th and in the Brampton Valley on 23rd and 28th-29th.
And after none last week, Tree Pipits put in a further appearance when two flew south over Pitsford on 24th while, also still on the move, Crossbills numbered five at Gamboro Plantation on 25th with four there on 28th and six flew over Blueberry Farm on 25th.
Northants birds 