Latest Reports of Birds in Northamptonshire

Welcome to the bird news page of the Northamptonshire Bird Club. This page aims to provide up to date news of all interesting birds as, and when, they occur in Northamptonshire. For further information on the Northamptonshire Bird Club visit the home page here or to keep in touch with county birding join the BirdingNorthants e-group here http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/birdingnorthants/

We will endeavour to update this news page regularly but cannot necessarily commit to any specified update frequency. News and information may be received from a variety of sources and it is published in good faith. The Northamptonshire Bird Club will not in any way be held responsible for incorrect or inaccurate information which may appear here or for any inconvenience caused as a result.

All reports remain unauthenticated until acceptance by the Northamptonshire Bird Report (Northants Birds) Records Committee. Records are added in chronological order so be sure to scroll down the whole table for the full detail.

Any observers are welcome to email their sightings, corrections or updates to northantsbirds@ntlworld.com and are encouraged to supply as much information as possible (directions to site, time of observation, grid reference, etc). For the more uncommon species, observers may also like to ‘cc’ their email reports to the national Birdguides information service at sightings@birdguides.com and to Rare Bird Alert at admin@rarebirdalert.co.uk.

Please seek landowners' permission to enter private land and respect the interests of both the bird and the landowners' property.

Symbols used within the news table:

E Presumed escape L Negative news U Unconfirmed report

Last update: Saturday 21 November 2009 12.55

Date

Species

Location details

Time

21 Nov	Caspian Gull	Daventry CP – a second-winter this morning, also first-winter Yellow-legged Gull and Green Sandpiper there	AM
21 Nov	Red-throated Diver L	Pitsford Res – no sign this morning but redhead Smew and 3 Red-crested Pochards in Wagrave Bay, 5 Pintail, Peregrine and Redshank there	AM
20 Nov	Red-throated Diver L	Pitsford Res – no sign late afternoon	late-PM
20 Nov	Red-throated Diver	Pitsford Res – one near Pintail Bay early afternoon	early-PM
19 Nov	Short-eared Owl	Maidwell – one at Blueberry Farm this afternoon; at nearby Pitsford Res – adult Caspian Gull in the gull roost plus Little Egret	PM
18 Nov	Hen Harrier	Brampton Valley – one just to the south of the track down from Hanging Houghton, at SP742732 mid-afternoon before heading off north-east toward Blueberry Lodge	15.00
17 Nov	Water Pipit	Stanwick GP – one around the new pit by the visitor centre, also 3 Yellow-legged Gulls, 3 Lesser Redpolls and 2 Siskins there	PM
16 Nov	Merlin	Bozenham Mill – male hunting over fields late afternoon	late-PM
15 Nov	Caspian Gull	Pitsford Res – an adult in the gull roost, also a ‘redhead’ Smew, 3 Little Egrets and a Redshank all from the feeding station north of the causeway	late-PM
14 Nov	Caspian Gull	Stanwick GP – an adult this evening, also adult Mediterranean Gull and 3 Yellow-legged Gulls there	late-PM
14 Nov	Ring-necked Parakeet	Little Billing – one west over Fishponds Road late afternoon	15.40
14 Nov	Little Gull	Ditchford GP – a first-winter west of Ditchford Lane this afternoon, also Little Egret	PM
13 Nov	Caspian Gull	Stanford Res – an adult in Blowers Lodge Bay briefly this morning, also 3 drake Red-crested Pochards, 26 Goldeneye and 15 Lesser Redpolls there	late-AM
13 Nov	Ring-necked Parakeet	Northampton – one over Abington Park main lake	09.00
11 Nov	Green-winged Teal L	Daventry CP – no sign today, but 3 Pintail, Goldeneye, adult Mediterranean Gull and probable first-winter Baltic Gull there
10 Nov	Green-winged Teal	Daventry CP – juvenile or eclipse drake still present, also 2 Pintail, 4 Dunlin, 4 Green Sandpipers and adult Yellow-legged Gull there
10 Nov	Kittiwake	Boddington Res – a first-winter this afternoon, also Green Sandpiper there	15.10
09 Nov	Glaucous Gull	Ditchford GP – a second-year west of Ditchford Lane, also 1-2 Water Pipits there
09 Nov	Bearded Tit	Stortons GP – male still present this morning	10.00
08 Nov	Marsh Harrier	Stanwick GP – a female this afternoon, also 5 Little Egrets and a count of 3000+ Starlings roosting in the reedbed	late-PM
08 Nov	Caspian Gull	Pitsford Res – an adult in the gull roost this evening	late-PM
08 Nov	Green-winged Teal	Daventry CP – juvenile or eclipse drake still present on the western side before flying to the southern end, also 5 adult Whooper Swans arrived at 14.45, 2 Lesser Redpolls there but no sign of the probable Baltic Gull	15.35
08 Nov	Green-winged Teal	Daventry CP – juvenile or eclipse drake in north-east corner by the dam this morning, also probable Baltic Gull still present but no sign of the Slavonian Grebe L	11.50
08 Nov	Bearded Tit	Stortons GP – a male again calling and showing well in reeds 70 metres from the entrance gate opposite the Hanson plant on the north side this morning; also 2 Cetti's Warblers there and, at nearby Pineham, Little Egret, Jack Snipe and Green Sandpiper	AM
08 Nov	Black Redstart	Daventry – one on rooftops on Timken Estate this morning	11.30
08 Nov	Snow Bunting L	Daventry – no sign this morning	11.00
07 Nov	Baltic Gull ?	Daventry CP – first-winter again this afternoon before flying off west	16.30
07 Nov	Snow Bunting	Daventry – female still on the track to Foxhill Farm off the A361 just south of the town	12.00
07 Nov	Blackcap	Ditchford GP – male and female at Broadholme SWT this morning	AM
07 Nov	Scaup	Kislingbury GP – a female this morning; nearby Little Egret and Jack Snipe at Pineham	AM
07 Nov	Baltic Gull ?	Daventry CP – first-winter still this morning, also Slavonian Grebe there	AM
07 Nov	Snow Bunting	Daventry – female still on the track to Foxhill Farm off the A361 just south of the town and showing well this morning	07.25
06 Nov	Scaup	Pitsford Res – a drake south of the causeway, also 14 Pintail, 4 Red-crested Pochards, 2 Little Egrets, Peregrine, 2 Redshank, 4 Dunlin and Stonechat there
06 Nov	Blackcap	Astcote – a first-year male trapped and ringed today
06 Nov	Snow Bunting	Daventry – a female on the track to Foxhill Farm off the A361 just south of the town; it frequents the gateway approximately 50 m from the road and, although subject to disturbance by traffic, when flushed it returns to the gateway	PM
06 Nov	Baltic Gull ?	Daventry CP – a first-winter appearing to show the full suite of characters of this form there this morning. This individual has been visiting the park over an extended period prior to today and appears regularly at the site after 09.00 hours; it is best viewed from the site of the old ‘Carvell Hide’ on the western side. Also Rock Pipit over	AM
06 Nov	harrier sp.	Maidwell – a ‘ringtail’ over the Blueberry complex this morning	AM
05 Nov	Hen Harrier	Maidwell – a male north of Blueberry Lodge this afternoon, flew toward Haselbech mobbed by corvids	16.00
05 Nov	Caspian Gull	Billing GP – adult on island opposite entrance to Billing Garden Centre this morning	11.00
03 Nov	Ruff	Earls Barton GP – one on Summer Leys reserve plus drake Red-crested Pochard and Little Egret mid-afternoon	mid-PM
03 Nov	Egyptian Goose	Hollowell Res – one present, also Pintail and Dunlin there	PM
02 Nov	Caspian Gull	Pitsford Res – an adult in the gull roost, also adult Mediterranean Gull there	late-PM
02 Nov	Nordic Jackdaw	Boddington Res – one present late afternoon, also 2 Green Sandpipers there	late-PM
02 Nov	Scaup	Earls Barton GP – immature female plus drake Red-crested Pochard on Summer Leys mid-afternoon	mid-PM
02 Nov	Bearded Tit	Stortons GP – one calling mid-afternoon	14.45
01 Nov	Garganey	Clifford Hill GP – a female on the main barrage lake	PM
01 Nov	Caspian Gull	Pitsford Res – an adult in the gull roost, also Little Egret and 3 Dunlin there	late-PM
31 Oct	Red-crested Pochard	Kislingbury GP – four (2 pairs) this afternoon	PM
31 Oct	Water Pipit	Pitsford Res – two today, also Scaup (Scaldwell Bay), 2 Red-crested Pochards (Walgrave Bay), 30 Pintail, Little Egret, 3 Dunlin, 3 Curlews over south and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls
31 Oct	Bearded Tit	Stortons GP – male still present early afternoon, also Little Egret, Cetti’s Warbler and Stonechat there	12.15
31 Oct	Bearded Tit	Stortons GP – a male calling and showing well in reeds 70 metres from the entrance gate opposite the Hanson plant on the north side this morning	09.55
29 Oct	Firecrest	Northampton – one with a tit flock in deciduous trees around the car park of Northampton Casuals Rugby Club, Rushmills, Bedford Road this afternoon	12.30
29 Oct	Bearded Tit	Earls Barton GP – two briefly on Summer Leys viewable from Double Decker Hide late morning but not since	11.00
28 Oct	Red-crested Pochard	Pitsford Res – five in Scaldwell Bay this morning, also 14+ Pintail and 3 Little Egrets there	AM
27 Oct	Little Gull	Pitsford Res – a first-winter by the dam	PM
27 Oct	Spotted Redshank	Hollowell Res – one in Guilsborough Bay this afternoon	13.45
27 Oct	Merlin	Hanging Houghton – female this morning	AM
27 Oct	Crossbill	Sulgrave – three over, south, this morning	AM
26 Oct	Rock Pipit	Daventry CP – one by the outlet, also 3 Pintail, 4 Green Sandpipers and 260 Golden Plovers there	AM
25 Oct	Bittern	Earls Barton GP – again present on Summer Leys, viewable from Pioneer Hide in reeds on left-hand side of scrape, also 3 Pintail there	10.17
25 Oct	Common Swift	Stanwick GP – one, a very pale individual (but not Pallid Swift) briefly this morning	08.30
24 Oct	Garganey	Daventry CP – the drake still today, also 2 Pintail and 2 Green Sandpipers there
22 Oct	Red-crested Pochard	Pitsford Res – nine in Scaldwell Bay, also 13+ Pintail, 6 Goldeneye and a Little Egret there	PM
22 Oct	Garganey	Daventry CP – a drake this morning, also 2 Pintail, 5 Green Sandpiper, 2 Lesser Redpolls and 12 Siskins there	AM
21 Oct	Great White Egret !	Boddington Res – present from 7.20 for ten minutes only before flying south and not relocated	07.30
20 Oct	Great White Egret !	Boddington Res – one flew in this evening and then roosted in fields behind Byfield Pool	late-PM
20 Oct	Rock Pipit	Pitsford Res – one on the causeway late afternoon	PM
20 Oct	Merlin	Harrington AF – a female and a Short-eared Owl	AM
19 Oct	Firecrest	Hellidon – one photographed in a private garden
19 Oct	Great Grey Shrike L	Ditchford GP – no further sign by early afternoon; first-winter Caspian Gull and Water Pipit west of Ditchford Lane on Viaduct Pit	early-PM
19 Oct	Rock Pipit	Pitsford Res – two on the causeway and a first-winter Little Gull off the dam	12.25
19 Oct	Hen Harrier	Earls Barton GP – a ‘ringtail’ over, also Bittern again present on Summer Leys viewable from Rotary Hide on left-hand side of scrape by willows	12.10
19 Oct	Great Grey Shrike	Ditchford GP – one flew toward Ditchford Lane from near Broadholme Sewage Works area late morning	10.40
18 Oct	Egyptian Goose	Boddington Res – five present
18 Oct	Red-crested Pochard	Pitsford Res – nine in Scaldwell Bay, also 6 Pintail and 3 Goldeneye there	AM
17 Oct	Ring-necked Parakeet	Northampton – three flew west over Fishponds Road late afternoon	PM
17 Oct	Caspian Gull	Clifford Hill GP – adult this morning, also Little Egret, Peregrine over, adult Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Golden Plover, Dunlin and Stonechat there	AM
16 Oct	Bittern	Earls Barton GP – one present on Summer Leys viewable from Pioneer Hide on left-hand side of scrape by willows	14.45
16 Oct	Black Redstart	Shutlanger – one on red tiled roof at junction of Showsley Road and Twitch Hill from 13.30 to at least 13.55	13.55
15 Oct	Ring-necked Parakeet	Northampton – one briefly at Cherry Lodge	18.00
15 Oct	Ring-necked Parakeet	Northampton – one near the aviaries in Abington Park
11 Oct	Ring-necked Parakeet	Little Billing – one over, calling	18.00
10 Oct	Rock Pipit	Hollowell Res – feeding on the slipway in front of the sailing club, also 2 Ringed Plovers, Green Sandpiper, 3 Stonechats and 2 Siskins there	10.45
08 Oct	Arctic Tern	Boddington Res – two (adult and juvenile) still present, also 2 Little Egrets flew north at 1500hrs, 2 Green Sandpipers, Oystercatcher, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and 5 Ravens there
06 Oct	Arctic Tern	Boddington Res – two (adult and juvenile) still present, also 2 Willow Tits, Siskin and Raven there
06 Oct	Gannet	Weston Mill – an immature over, appeared to be going down at Clifford Hill GP but no sign there subsequently	11.00
05 Oct	Arctic Tern	Boddington Res – two (adult and juvenile) plus 4 Green Sandpipers; at nearby Hellidon a Wheatear and 35 Ravens
04 Oct	Crossbill	Hollowell Res – twelve in larches behind sailing club bay, also Green Sandpiper, adult Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Stonechats, 3+ Siskins and escaped Puna Teal there	11.00
03 Oct	Ring-necked Parakeet	Daventry Res – female (present for ten days), also Pintail, 4 Green Sandpipers and first-winter Yellow-legged Gull there
03 Oct	Red-crested Pochard	Pitsford Res – ten in Walgrave Bay, also 15 Pintail and 3 Little Egrets in Scaldwell Bay
01 Oct	Red-crested Pochard	Stanford Res – one present, also Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Cetti’s Warbler (trapped) and 2 Ravens there