Welcome to the LDV NNR ringing blog, this blog is designed to share the experiences, findings and tales from a group of dedicated ringers. We specialise in conservation orientated research projects, largely focusing on wildfowl, waders, owls and birds of conservation concern, in and around the Vale of York NNR's.

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Aug' 20

 Lower Derwent Valley NNR - August Sightings

The month opened with somewhat of a bang – in the form of two juvenile Black Kites photographed over Wheldrake Ings on the 2nd. If accepted by the relevant committees (which given the photographic evidence would seem likely), this will represent the second accepted record since one at Bubwith on the 9th June 1979, with another individual at Melbourne in 2001 considered unproven. Perhaps more expected, although only the third reserve record, a Cattle Egret was found feeding with riverside cattle at Ellerton on the 11th. One, possibly two Nightjars were reported via BirdGuides at Bank Island/Wheldrake Ings on the 24th, but no further details were provided of what would represent a notable, but now almost annual reserve record.

A Great White Egret present between the 2nd to the 6th was followed by a Common Crane calling on the 7th, whilst three singing Quail early in the month may well have represented further additional arrivals. Numbers of wildfowl started to build slowly late in the month whilst wader passage continued throughout, albeit at a rather steady pace - a Knot a Wheldrake in summer plumage being the most noteworthy. Other passage highlights included several Wheatear, Whinchat and another fall of Stonechats on 17th following last month’s record showing, with Redstarts at Seavy Carr, Spotted Flycatchers at Wheldrake Ings, and up to 70 roosting Yellow Wagtails noteworthy. A noticeable movement of Willow Warblers was logged on the 23rd (reflecting a wider movement across the county and along the Yorkshire Coast), whilst three records of Crossbill (nine birds in total) was also above average. 

Heavy and persistent rainfall towards the end of the month brought the first of the winter flooding on the 29th, and with it an increase in wildfowl and waders throughout the site. 

Many thanks as always to everyone who contributed records throughout the month, in particular to members of the YOC and regular valley birder and patch enthusiast Duncan Bye - thanks also to Duncan for the use of his images - credited DB.

 

BIRDS: 

Mute Swan – Numbers started to increase at month end, with four adults on the river at North Duffield Carrs likely to be the first returning birds from the summer moulting sites. Numbers had increased to 18 by the 31st.

Whooper Swan – The summering bird remained throughout the month, with two individuals at North Duffield Carrs on the 17th and a single on the river thereafter.

Greylag Goose – 33 were present on the riverbank at Thorganby on the 25th with 65 over Bank Island on the 27th. Flooding brought 300+ back onto the reserve on the 29th.

Egyptian Goose – Three were present on the small pond in East Cottingwith throughout the month.

Wigeon – The first returning bird at the Low Grounds on the 29th was followed by five at Elvington on the 30th and seven across the site on the 31st.

Teal – 19 were present on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 18th, with numbers then increasing to 37 by the 20th and 45 by the 24th. 50 were then counted on the 25th with numbers up to 70 by the 26th and 116 by the 28th.

Garganey – A single present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 1st was followed by two there on the 3rd. What was presumably a passage bird was then present there on the 25th.

Pintail – The first returning, and rather early bird, was present at Bank Island on the 31st.

Shoveler – Five at Wheldrake Ings on the 25th.

Gadwall – Three re-appeared at North Duffield Carrs on the 12th with six at Wheldrake on the 18th. 14 were present on the scrape at Wheldrake Ings on the 24th with 11 at North Duffield Carrs on the 25th.

Tufted Duck – The first returning bird appeared after flooding on the Low Grounds on the 29th.

Little Egret – Twelve were still present at the pool at Wheldrake on the 1st with eight on the 2nd and regular singles on the River Derwent between East Cottingwith and Bubwith from the 5th to the 14th. Five then flew into Wheldrake Ings at dusk on the 10th, with one or two birds then present around the site throughout the remainder of the month.

Little Egret - Wheldrake Ings - 01/08 - DB

Great White Egret – A single adult was present at Wheldrake at dawn on the 1st and North Duffield between the 2nd6th.  

Cattle Egret – A summer plumaged adult was found feeding amongst cattle on the river bank at Ellerton on the 11th. Not long after being reported it was disturbed by a low flying Buzzard, flying over the river towards ponds behind Thorganby Ings (CSR).

Grey Heron 22 were scattered throughout the site on the 31st.

Marsh Harrier – A pair of adults were still present in the area early in the month, with a newly fledged juvenile at North Duffield Ings on the 3rd. Two males (second and third years), were present at Wheldrake on the 8th with an adult male at Bank Island on the 12th. Two or three cream crowns were present throughout.

Marsh Harrier - Bank Island - 12/08 - DB

Peregrine – A single at Thorganby Ings on the 3rd with an immature observed chasing two Wood Pigeons at North Duffield Ings on the 12th. A single immature at East Cottingwith Ings on the 20th with another immature at Thornton Ellers on the 27th. An immature was then present at Wheldrake on the 30th and 31st.

Hobby – Daily sightings continued at Wheldrake and Bank Island early in the month, with one at Melbourne on the 1st, Loftsome Bridge on the 2nd, and Thorganby on 7th and 11th. A single was also present at North Duffield Carrs on the 17th with another at Ellerton Ings on the 20th.

Kestrel – Good numbers present throughout the month.

Red Kite – Almost daily sightings at Wheldrake and scattered sightings throughout the whole area during the month.

Black Kite – Two juveniles were photographed over the pool at Wheldrake on the morning of the 2nd before drifting off towards Thicket Priory (DB). 

Black Kite - Wheldrake Ings - 02/08 - DB

Water Rail – Up to four singing birds at Wheldrake and two calling at Bank Island.

Quail – One singing near Elvington on the 1st (AF) was followed by one at Wheldrake on the 5th and 6th, with two there on the 12th.

Common Crane – One heard calling from the NNR base at Bank Island on the 7th.

Oystercatcher – The last few autumn passage birds were present early in the month, with four on the 1st, two on the 8th and three west on the 12th.

Golden Plover – Autumn passage started with 12 over on the 5th, 32 on the 7th and 17 on the 9th. 14 over Wheldrake on the 15th were followed by five over North Duffield Carrs on the 18th. 20 were back in the usual wintering fields by Raker Lakes on the 22nd. 47 were present at Wheldrake on the 29th.

Lapwing – Small numbers that had lingered throughout the month declined to just five on the pool at Wheldrake on the 25th. 400 arrived with flooding to the north of Elvington Bridge on the 29th.

Curlew – Four were present at the Wheldrake roost on the 3rd with seven there on the 4th, five on the 5th and three on the 6th. Up to five were then present until the 11th with two thereafter to the 25th. Seven were present near Elvington on the 29th and 30th.

Whimbrel – Three flew south at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st.

Dunlin – An adult was present in a ditch on Swantail Ings, Wheldrake, on the 10th.

Ruff Nine were present in the Low Grounds/Storwood area following the flooding on the 29th, with six at Wheldrake on the 30th and three at Bank Island on the 31st - on this date two were also present at North Duffield Carrs.

Ruff - North Duffield Carrs - 31/08 - DB

Greenshank – Two were present at Wheldrake on the 20th with three there on the 23rd. A single was present on the river at North Duffield Carrs on the 24th with one at Storwood on the 29th and a flock of five at Bank Island on the 31st – on the same date three were also present at North Duffield Carrs.

Common Sandpiper – A single on the riverbank at North Duffield Carrs on the 17th and 18th was followed by a single on the lock by Church Bridge on the Pocklington Canal on the 23rd.

Green Sandpiper – Nine were present at Wheldrake on the 1st and 3rd, along with two at Melbourne on the 1st and three at Bank Island on the 3rd. Up to nine remained until the 14th. Smaller numbers were present thereafter with dwindling water levels, with up to four on the 20th, six on the 21st and five between the 22nd-25th. Nine were then present on the 26th with seven from the 27th to the 29th, and one at Elvington on the 31st.

Green Sandpiper - Wheldrake Ings - 26/08 - DB

Wood Sandpiper – A single dropped into Bank Island during heavy rain showers on the 25th.

Mediterranean Gull – An adult was found with Black-headed Gulls on the river at North Duffield Carrs on the 31st.

Common Tern Four adults and an immature remained on the 1st and 2nd, with singles at Bank Island and North Duffield Carrs on the 3rd. Two adults were at Wheldrake Ings on the 11th.

Nightjar – Two individuals were reported on the riverside track at Bank Island/Wheldrake on the 24th, before flying a short distance into nearby trees (per BirdGuides).

Green Woodpecker – One at Thorganby Ings on the 3rd, 10th and 11th.

Yellow Wagtail – 40+ roosted at Wheldrake Ings on the 4th with 30+ on the 9th and c60 on the 10th and 11th. 47 were counted on the 12th with 53 on the 18th - a further 17 were at North Duffield Carrs during the day. 70 were present at the Wheldrake roost on the 25th.

Spotted Flycatcher – One between Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 20th was presumably a migrant, with another at Bank Island on the 29th and two in the Wheldrake Ings car park on the 31st.  

Spotted Flycatcher - Bank Island - 20/08 - DB

Redstart – One in the car park lane at Wheldrake Ings on the 7th with a male at Seavy Carr on the 23rd and a pair there on the 26th.

Wheatear – A single was at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st with two at North Duffield Carrs on the 3rd. On the 9th a single at Wheldrake was followed by a single at North Duffield Carrs on the 11th-13th. A single was present on the riverbank at Bubwith on the 24th-25th and North Duffield Carrs on the 26th.  

Whinchat – At least three (two adults and an immature), were at North Duffield Carrs on the 3rd with another at Wheldrake on the 8th and 9th. Other reports came from North Duffield Carrs on the 21st, Wheldrake on the 20th-23rd and again on the 25th, with one at Seavy Carr on the 23rd. Eight were at Wheldrake on the 29th with three on the 30th and four at Bank Island on the 31st. Two were also present at North Duffield Carrs on the 31st.  

Stonechat – Six juveniles were still present at North Duffield Carrs on the 3rd. Twelve were also located there on the 17th with six remaining on the 31st.

Willow Tit – Up to six individuals were present in the Wheldrake Ings area during the month, with four at Melbourne and two at Seavy Carr on the 20th.

Nuthatch – Up to four were regularly heard in the car park lane at Wheldrake Ings and along the riverside track there.

Nuthatch - Wheldrake Ings - 16/08 - DB

Willow Warbler – A small arrival saw numbers increase to 20 at Wheldrake Ings on the 23rd (and 50+ throughout the site) – a day which saw marked passage along the Yorkshire Coast.

Crossbill – Three over Wheldrake on the 1st were followed by five on the 3rd and a single on the 20th.

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