Although we’re only just over two weeks away from winter, the autumn fires are still burning with the back end of the season continuing to deliver some class birds. Found mid-period, one such individual was the first of its kind in the county for nine years and, proving itself a crowd-puller, behaved impeccably for observers during its stay through to the week’s end …
Aside from the Cackling Goose, back again at Stanford Res on the first day of the week and ostensibly kicked into the long grass, the last day of the period saw the discovery of five Tundra Bean Geese – seemingly a family party of two adults and three first-winters – at Stanwick GP. A great find and normally something to attract significant attention but, after last winter’s unusual influx, it may be argued that we’ve had our fill this year, or that we’ve certainly been spoiled, so they elicited far less interest than may otherwise have been expected.
Meanwhile, the good run of autumn White-fronted Geese continued with twenty-two flying south-west over Blueberry Farm, Maidwell on 7th, the same date seeing four at Stanford Res, remaining there until 10th, after which there were 2 on 11th and three on 12th. Elsewhere, five flew high south-east over Daventry CP on 11th, when one was also at Islip Water Meadows, presumably the same individual being seen at adjacent Thrapston GP the following day.
Six Red-crested Pochards appeared at Stanford on 8th, four of which were still present on 10th, while the 9th and 11th saw a female at Ravensthorpe Res, followed by a drake and female there on 12th and three (one drake) on 13th. A single drake was present at Pitsford Res on 10th-11th.
Two female-type Greater Scaups were again at Thrapston on 7th-8th, one of which was still present on 11th, while a first-winter drake was found at Daventry on 9th, where it remained until the week’s end.
Yet another Grey Plover headed the cast of this week’s waders as it flew over Summer Leys LNR on 13th, while Clifford Hill GP produced the best of the rest, comprising single Black-tailed Godwits on 8th, 12th and 13th with two flying south-east on 11th, plus a late Common Sandpiper there on 9th and a Jack Snipe on 13th. Another Jack Snipe was also found at Pitsford on 7th.
In start contrast to last week, just one Mediterranean Gull was found – a first-winter at Daventry on 13th.
Single adult Caspian Gulls were present in the roost at Stanford, nightly, on 7th-10th, while the German-ringed (XLVH) adult male – normally associated with Naseby Res – was found there on 13th. An adult also visited Ravensthorpe on 11th.
Aside from singles at Clifford Hill on 9th, 12th and 13th, Pitsford remained the most reliable locality for catching up with Yellow-legged Gulls, with four on 9th and two and 10th, 11th and 12th.
Just one report of Glossy Ibis came from Summer Leys on 8th, while two Bitterns were on show there on 13th.
There was little deviation from last week as to where Marsh Harriers were found, with Thrapston GP’s Titchmarsh NR producing one on 7th followed by two there the next day, and Summer Leys delivering single birds almost daily, with two there on 9th and 13th. Stanwick also got in on the action, with one on the latter date.
‘Ringtail’ Hen Harriers included last week’s Brampton Valley individual which was seen near Lamport Crossing on 11th and at Blueberry Farm on 13th, while another was found between Newton Bromswold and Rushden on 8th.
The Brampton Valley also held on to its Short-eared Owl, being seen on 7th, 10th, 11th and 13th, while another emerged from the fog at Clifford Hill on 9th.
Late news emerged this week of a Hoopoe seen well and photographed at Thrapston on 31st October.
For those in the right place at the right time, two Merlins were on show, albeit briefly, this week – one at Stanford on 9th and 10th and the other in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton on 10th, 11th and 12th.
On the passerine front, a Siberian Chiffchaff was reported along the Grand Union Canal at Banbury Lane, Northampton on 12th.
And continuing the 2026 trend for melting away immediately after having been found were two more Black Redstarts. One was in the Sailing Club grounds at Pitsford on 9th, while the other – a cracking adult male – turned up on the 12th in a busy retail area in Daventry, where it was understandably subjected to constant disturbance by shoppers. Both quickly moved on.
Seven sites produced the week’s Stonechats. The Brampton Valley, Clifford Hill, Earls Barton GP, Pitsford, Thrapston and Wellingborough all held between one and three, while four – the week’s maximum site count – were present at Lilbourne Meadows on 9th.
But it was the turn of the Brampton Valley to drop this week’s bombshell – or, at least, one of them. Discovered on the morning of the 10th, feeding out in the open and highly approachable, was the first Snow Bunting to be found in Northants for some considerable time. While a number of locals quick off the mark had caught up with it before the afternoon was out, it was, apparently, not seen the following day. Another day later and it was back again. It then continued to attract a steady stream of admirers until the week’s end, its stay likely prolonged by some generous seed scattering. Apparently unfazed and approachable to within a mere two metres, it provided easytoggin’ for participants who were so inclined.
But that’s not the end of the story. Some 12 km to the east – as the Snow Bunting flies – another female-type was found on private land near Orlingbury on the 12th. This one, however, was not for staying and it flew off shortly after its discovery and wasn’t seen subsequently.
These are the first records in Northants for 9 years, the last being at Pitsford in December 2017. A look back over the last 50 years reveals that 53% of Snow Bunting records are in November and they are far less regular in the county these days than they once were, with gap years increasing and the occurrence trendline on a significant downward slope …
