Red-throated Diver – Northants birds

Newsround 28th February to 6th March 2026

Posted on March 8, 2026 by Mike Alibone

We crossed the line into meteorological spring this week and to mark it came the first summer visitors of the year, aided and abetted by the continuing southerly airstream. Two additional firsts for the year also made their way to the county and with winter now firmly in recession, it’s time to reflect on some quality birds while at same time looking forward to what’s on the immediate horizon.

Yes, the summer visitor clock has again started ticking, spring is beginning to unfold …and not a moment too soon.

First up, predictably, was Sand Martin, with the initial arrival of three at Thrapston GP on 1st, quickly followed by one at Priors Hall, Corby on 3rd, two at Pitsford Res on 5th and, on 6th, three near Oundle and sixteen at Thrapston. But no sooner had this initial rush began than we saw a record-breaker in the shape of two Little Ringed Plovers at Clifford Hill GP on 4th, beating the county’s previous earliest, on 7th March in 2021, by a clear three days.

However, we’re not done with winter just yet – and what a winter it’s been. Class wildfowl continue to dominate with the Tundra Bean Goose seeing out another week in company with twenty-three White-fronted Geese in the Denford/Ringstead area.

Tundra Bean Goose, Denford, 28th February 2026 (James Underwood)

Tundra Bean Goose, Denford, 28th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

Other White-fronted Geese also remained settled in certain favoured localities, the largest concentration being up to thirty-eight at Stanford on Avon throughout the period. Eighteen lingered by the River Nene at Warmington Mill until at least 1st and seven extended their stay by another week at Stanwick GP.

White-fronted Geese, Stanford on Avon, 2nd March 2026 (Mike Alibone)

White-fronted Geese, Stanford on Avon, 4th March 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Appearing on and off across a range of sites in northwestern Northants, the annually wintering female Ruddy Shelduck dropped into Lilbourne Meadows NR on 4th, remaining there until the end of the week.

The drake Ring-necked Duck continued to attract interest at Ringstead GP, where it was showing until at least 5th.

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Ringstead GP, 28th February 2026 (James Underwood)

Drake Ring-necked Duck, Ringstead GP, 28th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

Likewise, the drake Lesser Scaup held out on the River Nene at Clifford Hill GP until the same date, while the long-staying drake Smew also enjoyed another week on the lakes there.

Drake Lesser Scaup, Clifford Hill GP, 3rd March 2026 (Bob Bullock)

Having spent a full seven days at Ringstead, last week’s Red-necked Grebe was nowhere to be seen after the 28th until, that is, it resurfaced on 4th a mere 8 km up the river valley at Ditchford GP, where it was still present at the week’s end.

Red-necked Grebe, Ringstead GP, 28th February 2026 (James Underwood)

Red-necked Grebe, Ringstead GP, 28th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

And the previous week’s Slavonian Grebe was still present at Ravensthorpe Res on the first day of the period, remaining there throughout the week. Despite appearing to have gone missing for the five days, 21st-25th February, it has proven itself a skulker, hiding in overhanging vegetation, where it can easily be overlooked.

Slavonian Grebe, Ravensthorpe Res, 2nd March 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Although not a summer visitor, further representing waders as another first for the year were two Avocets at Earls Barton GP on 3rd, alongside other inland sightings in the UK during the week.

Avocets, Earls Barton GP, 3rd March 2026 (Leslie Fox)

Other waders were on offer, even if thin on the ground, including a Black-tailed Godwit at Summer Leys LNR on 2nd, the same date also producing three Jack Snipes at Daventry CP and two at Hollowell. Classed as a summer visitor, although odd birds appear locally in winter, a Common Sandpiper at Pitsford on 5th was no doubt the wintering individual seen sporadically there during past weeks.

And another new bird for the year this week was an adult Kittiwake which spent a short period of time at Summer Leys on 28th. More to come, no doubt.

Adult Kittiwake, Summer Leys LNR, 28th February 2026 (Tyler Atkinson)

Sticking with larids, March begins to see spring movements of Mediterranean Gulls taking place, the 4th giving rise to two adults in the roost at Stanford Res and two – also adults – at Summer Leys. One of the latter two carried a metal ring on its right leg and was back on site, alone, on 6th.

Adult Mediterranean Gull, Summer Leys LNR, 6th March 2026 (Mike Alibone)

Caspian Gulls were present at Earls Barton GP, where there was a first-winter on 28th, down the road at Summer Leys, where the settled adult remained between 28th and 5th, and at Hollowell, where there was an adult on 2nd and two adults on 5th. A single adult Yellow-legged Gull was still to be found at Pitsford on 2nd.

The Red-throated Diver, now in its fourth week, remained throughout the period, being seen at both Hollowell and Ravensthorpe, although apparently having now developed a preference for the first of these two sites.

Back in the Nene Valley, Summer Leys continued to retain its showy Glossy Ibis, while a Bittern was caught on a trail camera at Ditchford GP’s Rushden Lakes and four Cattle Egrets visited Thrapston/Titchmarsh NR on 4th.

Glossy Ibis, Summer Leys LNR, 28th February 2026 (James Underwood)

The recent flurry of Marsh Harriers calmed somewhat with singles at Summer Leys on 28th, 1st, 3rd and 6th and one at Stanwick on the last of these dates.

And propped up by the Daventry Siberian Chiffchaff on 2nd and 5th, the week’s passerines were at a low ebb with just four Stonechats at Ringstead GP on 1st and singles at Lilbourne Meadows on 1st and at Hollowell on 5th. Compared to recent weeks, the number of Crossbills dwindled to singles over Ravensthorpe Res on 3rd and at Scotland Wood, Kelmarsh on 5th.

Newsround 21st to 27th February 2026

Posted on February 28, 2026 by Mike Alibone

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Newsround 14th to 20th February 2026

Posted on February 21, 2026 by Mike Alibone

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Newsround – 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.