In a common theme throughout the year, from April at least,
we are once again completely flooded out in the Lower Derwent Valley. Whilst the
River Derwent hit the news in late November with the flooding in Malton and
Norton, the Lower Derwent Valley once again served its ecosystem services
function in acting as a huge water storage area and floodplain, no doubt
preventing many other areas from being flooded. This is one, if not ‘the’
biggest flood we’ve seen in recent decades, surpassing the biggest flood on
record during 2000. Every last bit of dry land including the floodbanks disappeared,
and even Garganey Hide at North Duffield Carrs vanished under the water with only
the roof showing - and is now being used by loafing ducks!
27th November - North Duffield floodbank
27th November - Water pouring over the floodbank
30th November - The floodbank is no more
30th November - Garganey Hide submerged
Obviously access to the reserve isn’t possible at this
moment in time and even the local roads became submerged in places, making
access around the site difficult and rather long.
30th November - Bubwith bridge - no access!
It’s obviously put paid to most of our ringing activities in
the valley for a while but it’s also had a big impact on some of our local bird
populations as well as other wildlife. The Bittern which had been performing well in front of the Geoff Smith Hide
at North Duffield Carrs (more details and photos can be seen on Andy Walkers
blog) has been forced to move on, along with the roosting Marsh and Hen Harriers,
and the feeding opportunities for the five Barn Owls that had been present recently are rather more limited and they have presumably been forced
elsewhere. Wildfowl have been highly dispersed and waders have all but vacated
the area.
On getting to Bubwith bridge which had been cut off due to
flooding over both sides of the road, we also found that many small mammals had
taken refuge on this last remaining bit of dry land - 5 Bank Voles, 2 Wood Mice,
Pygmy Shrew and 2 Moles! Whilst it
provides some easy feeding for Barn Owls and Kestrels one
wonders how many more small mammals have not been so lucky in finding safe
areas of dry land and what the impact might be on our resident owl populations next year??
Bank Vole - Bubwith bridge
It does however give us some opportunities whilst flooded
out of the valley to get on and get some new boxes up and carry out some maintenance
on the existing sites (and checking on who’s at home!). This adult female (initially ringed as a breeding female during the summer) was caught roosting with her partner, but unfortunately he was far too quick for us - nice to know they are still about and doing well.
Barn Owl - adult female
So totals have once again been rather low during the
month due to limited opportunities, largely a result of water levels. However,
one site did continue to produce the goods with another 4 Jack Snipe and 3 Common
Snipe, plus a new bird for the area in the shape of a Short-eared Owl which
appeared to have been hunting the above and followed them into the mist nets!
The month’s
highlights:
Short-eared Owl - 1
Kestrel - 1
Tawny Owl - 1
Stonechat - 1
Waxwing - 12
Mistle Thrush - 1
Common Snipe - 4 (96 for the year)
Jack Snipe - 4 (16 for the year)
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