Acts of Randomness

Acts of Random Birdwatching

One of my childhood loves was birdwatching. As is the case for many people, this interest disappeared but I have refound it in mid-life. One of my happiest things is to sit and watch birds, or listen to them. Every year I keep a list of the birds I have seen. For the last two years I have seen 91 different species without making a lot of effort. In 2025 I am aiming for 92! I am also going to try recording on BirdTrak (will see how this goes) and learn to identify some more birds by sound. This page will be a log of what I see each month and a list of the bird species I see for the year, along with some random notes.

Current Number of Bird Species for 2026

92

August 2026 - Number of birds 92

Another lifetime first, and another maybe lifetime first. Lots of reports of a Spotted Redshank at the local country park. I had to give in and was amazed to find it there, along with a Dunlin. I was a bit concerned I wouldn't recognise it, but it had very bright orange legs and beak that was much longer than for a standard Redshank. Another new bird for the year with a family of Shelducks at the Country Park. I only saw them through my bins, but I can't think of anything else that would match with that much white on them, especially the juveniles. Another twitch at the Country Park and another lifetime first. This time it was a Pectoral Sandpiper that appeared on the local bird news site. I would never have spotted it on my own, but it was there and is a rare visitor to the UK, and certainly a first for the country park. I also spotted a juvenile Ringed Plover flying in just as I was having a last sweep of the mud and saw an Oystercatcher having a snooze.

Notable Birds 2026

Double figure numbers of Pochards have been nice and more regualr sightings of Great White Egrets are always a positive. I both heard and saw my first skylark singing on the 7th February on a dreary day - I think this is possibly the earliest I have seen one. Chiffchaffs calling on the 2nd March were also early. My second Oystercatcher in Daventry was a bit of a highlight for May (although not as much as the return of the Swifts) as was a very loud and close Cetti's Warbler on a lunchtime walk. For the first time in years I saw two owls, both in July on a trip home - a Barn Owl and a Tawny Owl. Seeing Black-tailed Godwits on my local patch was a huge bonus and almost made up for not finding the Black-necked Grebe. But, I found it the next day with my telescope - I think that is a lifetime first for me. It's been a lot of years since that happened. Then, in the same 7 day period a Spotted Redshank at the Country Park, and a Dunlin. Another first for me - how amazing to have seen them less than 15 minutes walk from home. Ok, ditto, another first with the Pectoral Sandpipe at the country park - after seeing nothing new for me for years, suddenly I had a few in a few weeks.

Shiny new birds for me this year:

July 2026 - Number of birds 87

A big highlight - two owls in the space of one very late night trip home from visiting my in-laws. A Barn Owl flew across the road just as we were starting out, and a Tawny Owl swooped out of the trees and back again when we were nearly home. Looking for a Black-necked Grebe that was spotted all week at the Country Park I found a pair of Black-tailed Godwits, as well as some Green Sandpipers. I went back with my scope and found the Black-necked Grebe a couple of days later. A small flock of Ring-necked Parakeets flying past when I was walking to work from the car park brought my total up to 87 for the month. Not bad for July really, which is often a poor birdwatching month.

June 2026 - Number of birds 80

My trip to Wicken Fen took me to 80 birds with the Marsh Harrier and the Cuckoo being birds I am not likely to see locally. I did also add a Reed Warbler and a Yellowhammer this month which were late for me this year. I though I saw a Hobby at Wicken Fen, but was not sure enough in the end.

May 2026 - Number of birds 76

The month started in belting fashion with a Cetti's Warbler blasting it's call out from the shrubs next to me when I went for a walk along the River Nene on the 1st during my lunch break. I heard one nearby a couple of years ago for the first time, but didn't hear any at all last year. The Swifts are back - I've only seen a couple, but that's enough. And, on the same day I spotted an Oystercatcher having a snooze on a boardwalk (very unexpected) and recognised the song of a Garden Warbler before I checked Merlin and before I found it singing in a tree. An unexpected Common Sandpiper flitting about the dam at the Country Park was also a bonus.

April 2026 - Number of birds 71

They are back - the House Martins are here and chattering away. My first Willow Warbler and Sedge Warbler have been singing as well. I have also found my first Swallows and Whitethroat and I was overjoyed to have the terns back at the Country Park fishing along the dam and squabbling loudly.

March 2026 - Number of birds 65

March is the time I start listening for chiffchaffs. This year I heard my first one calling on the 2nd March - I think this is the earliest - at least a week earlier than I would have expected. I also spotted a Peregrine zooming over Northampton as I was rushing off to a meeting. I was very surprised to see a flock of Redpolls on the last day of the month, a bird I don't always see, and usually only in the winter months. I also spotted my first Little Egret of the year, and then a couple more. I assume they head off elsewhere for the winter, then head back when the herons have started nesting - which they have already. I wondered about this, as the trees are still mostly bare, but then what is going to predate a heron's nest?

February 2026 - Number of birds 58

I always expect a slow down, but a walk brought an unexpected skylark singing in the gloom on the 7th February. Lengthening days and leaving work on time allowed me to spot a couple of kestrels at the side of the dual carriageway. I also had a lovely male Blackcap in the garden, which I just happened to see when I glanced up from the washing up. Siberian Chiffchaffs had been spotted at the country park, I may have seen them, or maybe not because I didn't have my telescope and I am not sure whether I know the difference or not.

January 2026 - Number of birds 53

The first month of a new year is a joyous affair when bird listing as nearly every day brings new birds. The first three days took me to 26 after a run and a walk. I was surprised to see and hear Ravens in the first few days of the year, as it took until July last year. A walk along the canal upped the number of birds, but the biggest surprise was seeing a Great White Egret perched in some trees with a Grey Heron as I walked home along the Old Railway Track. I have also been happily surprised seeing quite a few Pochards at the Country Park as well, even into double figures. All male as I believe males and females winter separately. I always used to see them in Winter there, but they are a bit hit and miss these days. It took until 24th January to reach 50 birds this year, a week later than last year, but I am not in a hurry.