In December 1860, the fourth Baron Lilford found seven White-fronted Geese in his meadows at Aldwincle in the Nene Valley near his home of Lilford Hall. In his book, Notes on the Birds of Northamptonshire and Neighbourhood Vol 1 (1895), Lilford describes the species as visiting Northamptonshire occasionally ‘in small numbers, generally in the depth of winter or in the very early spring‘ and over 150 years later we could probably use similar words. That’s what I was thinking when I was watching a group of these geese the other day between Whiston Lock and White Mills Lock on the south side of the River Nene.
These were my first Northants White-fronts (although I don’t get out much) in 33 years of living in the county.
Lilford, one of the most distinguished Victorian ornithologists, was aiming to get a shot at his geese but I wasn’t. That’s one change in ornithology over the last 150 years. Another is that, as best we know, Lilford found his own geese whereas I knew they were supposed to be there because I could see the records on this website and also by following the hashtag #northantsbirds on Twitter. Without the tipoffs I would have driven past those geese, at a distance of less than a mile, on several occasions in the midwinter break and been oblivious to their presence.
This is an appropriate post in which to wish all Northants birders seasonal greetings and best wishes for 2017. And also to thank Mike Alibone for his efforts on the Northants bird sightings website (which I look at more than daily). Mike is stepping down as Northants County Bird Recorder after a decade of service and if anyone would like to take on the task please get in touch with him.
[registration_form]
Seasonal Greetings to you too. Sadly Mike is leaving some rather big boots to fill and I’m personally sad to see him step down.
Your comments about driving less then a mile past the location oblivious to their presence kind of made me chuckle. I sadly believe this particular area is often ignored by many birders in the county. Unless something interesting turns up of course. Shame whilst there you didn’t drop into quarry walk a Natural England site started by Pastures Farm and accessible via the public footpath next to the quarry, go in the spring you’ll live it.
Douglas – thanks. I did see a covey of Grey Partridges in that area which was a bit of a treat these days.
Thanks, Mark, for mentioning Lilford. I’ve passed him by all these years. This short biography helps lift the haze on him. Here’re two outstanding facts among many:
He introduced the Little Owl to England. He pioneered Spanish Ornithology.
I wonder if John Clare ever mentions these geese. At another level, does Lilford ever mention this famous Northampton poet and naturalist.
http://www.lilfordhall.com/4th-Baron-Lilford.asp