Aug' 24

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - August Sightings

August is typically a quieter month especially if water levels remain low (as was the case), at least allowing good conditions for site management to be carried out. Waterfowl numbers were unsurprisingly low with Cattle Egret (11^th), Great White Egret (several dates) and a single calling but unseen Common Crane (17^th) being the highlights. The dry conditions did produce sightings of Water Rails from several sites – at least six broods and a minimum of eleven young were noted. Raptors were well represented with another returning Osprey on the 25^th, the first of two local Hen Harriers (6^th) and the first returning Merlin (8^th). Good numbers of Red Kites and Marsh Harriers remained throughout, and three pairs of Hobbies were located to their nest site fledging ten young.

Wader passage continued with small numbers of Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin, whilst 12 Curlew remained for much of the month with one or two passage flocks of Whimbrel recorded on overnight movements. Four or five Greenshank were also noted with up to 26 Green Sandpipers scattered throughout the site (16 of which were using the pool at Wheldrake Ings). Gulls were also a feature during the month with small gatherings on arable following the harvest – including several Yellow-legged, Mediterranean (two) and a single Caspian.

Other passage movements included a Turtle Dove (11^th), six Tree Pipits, a showing of Whinchats and four Wheatears, whilst a fall of warblers on the 13^th included two Grasshopper Warblers caught and ringed at Wheldrake, where ringers also noted several young Cetti’s Warblers.

Many thanks to everyone who contributed records and counts throughout the month, in particular to members of York Birding and regular patch birder Duncan Bye - thanks also to Duncan for the use of his photographs below.

 

BIRDS:

Greylag Goose – Numbers started to increase early in the month with 181 at Bank Island on the 5^th and 212 on the 7^th.

Egyptian Goose – Single at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd and 22^nd.

Teal – Numbers increased to 25 on the pool at Wheldrake early in the month with 30 recorded throughout the site on the 4^th. Twenty-three were present at Bank Island on the 7^th increasing to 44 by the 11^th.

Mallard – 160 recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd were followed by 200 at Bank Island on the 3^rd and 180 at North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th and 9^th.

Common Scoter – Small flock (or perhaps a single) was recorded on noc-mig over Elvington on the 27^th.

Little Egret – Eleven were present throughout the site on the 4^th with 13 into roost at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th. Smaller numbers then remained to month end.

Little Egret - Wheldrake Ings - 13/08 - DB

Cattle Egret – One into roost at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th.

Grey Heron – Eighteen were at North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th with 31 recorded throughout the whole site on the same date.

Great White Egret – A single remained daily in the Wheldrake area between the 1^st-3^rd with one at Bank Island on the 8^th and 24^th.

Grey Partridge – Several were present during the month in the Bank Island area.

Common Crane – A single was heard calling from the Low Grounds on the 17^th.

Water Rail – Two or three juveniles were present and showed occasionally on the pool at Wheldrake Ings early in the month with several calling birds also present. Up to three juveniles (two broods) were regularly seen at Bank Island with one brood (three young) present at North Duffield Carrs on the 19^th. Three broods (five young) were on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th.

Osprey – A single flew west over Wheldrake village on the 25^th.

Red Kite – Nine were following hay making operations at North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th.

Marsh Harrier – Two cream-crowns and an immature were present across the site on the 4^th. Seven cream-crowns roosted at North Duffield Carrs on the 6^th with a sub-adult male at Wheldrake Ings on the 7^th. Six were present throughout the site on the 11^th with three at North Duffield Carrs and a single at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th.

Marsh Harrier - Wheldrake Ings - 13/08 - DB

Hen Harrier – The first returning juvenile was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 6^th with one on the Tilmire on the 12^th.

Kestrel – Large numbers were present throughout the site with a staggering 61 counted on hay bales on the meadows between Bubwith and Bank Island on the 2^nd.

Hobby – Three pairs were located to nest site fledging ten young by month end. Birds were regular in the Wheldrake, Bank Island and North Duffield Carrs areas with singles at Hayton on the 21^st and Melbourne on the 22^nd.

Merlin – The first returning juvenile was present at Bank Island on the 8^th.

Little Ringed Plover – An immature was on the pool at Wheldrake Ings between the 7^th-9^th.

Little Ringed Plover - Wheldrake Ings - 07/08 - DB

Ringed Plover – A small group were picked up over Elvington on noc-mig after dark on the 10^th which may have been the same four seen briefly at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th before being flushed by a Peregrine. Single on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on 18^th and 24^th.

Lapwing – Up to 350 post-breeding birds remained across the site early in the month scattered through the newly cut meadows.

Black-tailed Godwit – Eight were present at Bank Island on the 7^th.

Dunlin – Four flew through Wheldrake Ings on the 26^th.

Curlew – Seven were present daily on Wheldrake on the 1^st with eleven there on the 5^th. Seven were then present until the 7^th with five recorded thereafter until the 12^th. Twelve presumed passage birds were present on the 18^th followed by six on the 19^th with eight to roost on the 22^nd. Three flew over Bank Island on 30^th.

Curlew - Wheldrake Ings - 03/08 - DB

Whimbrel – Nocturnal passage was recorded on several nights early in the month with some overnight on the 10^th/11^th. A single flew south over Wheldrake village on the morning of the 13^th. Singles were recorded on noc-mig over Elvington on the 25^th, 27^th and 30^th.  

Greenshank – A single at Bank Island remained until the 3^rd. Four paused briefly in the rain at Wheldrake Ings on the 12^th before moving on quickly with another seen later in the day at Bank Island. Three were at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th with singles then present at Bank Island and Wheldrake between the 14^th-16^th, 18^th-22^nd and 25^th-26^th.

Redshank – A single arrived at Wheldrake Ings with four Greenshank on the 12^th and remained until the 16^th.

Green Sandpiper – Up to ten were present at Wheldrake Ings between the 1^st-4^th followed by seven on the 5^th and eight or nine between the 7^th-9^th. Eleven were recorded between Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th and 11^th. Fourteen were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 12^th with six at both Bank Island and Melbourne (potentially up to 26 throughout the whole site). Thirteen remained at Wheldrake daily until the 17^th with 16 recorded there on the 18^th – with six caught there overnight. Fourteen remained thereafter until the 22^nd with numbers increasing back to 16 on the 24^th and back to 14 on the 25^th-26^th. Up to twelve remained to month end despite the drying conditions.

Green Sandpipers - Wheldrake Ings - 03/08 - DB

Common Sandpiper – Single over Elvington on the 10^th and 11^th.  

Wood Sandpiper – One at Bank Island on the 2^nd was the first returning juvenile.

Mediterranean Gull – Two adults were following the plough by Raker Lakes near Wheldrake on the 22^nd.

Yellow-legged Gull – Seven were in fields between Stamford Bridge and Buttercrambe on the 17^th with three there on the 22^nd when four were also present near High Catton.

Caspian Gull – A juvenile was present in fields by High Catton on the 22^nd.

Turtle Dove – A single flew south at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th.

Stock Dove – Above average numbers of birds built up on the cut meadows and aftermath with 61 recorded throughout the site on the 2^nd. Over 60+ were still present throughout the site on the 18^th including 30 at North Duffield Carrs with over 40 still present there on the 25^th.

Mistle Thrush – Eight were present on the newly cut meadows on the 2^nd.

Tree Pipit – Singles flew over Wheldrake on the 8^th and 11^th, followed by one over Bank Island on the 13^th and 17^th and two on the 26^th. A single was recorded on noc-mig over Elvington on the 31^st.

Whinchat – Seven were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st with singles there and at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th followed by one at North Duffield Carrs again on the 6^th. Two were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th. One was on arable land adjacent to North Duffield Carrs on the 18^th with three at North Duffield Carrs on the 25^th. One was at Wheldrake Ings on 30^th and 31^st.

Stonechat – A family party of four (including two juveniles) was at North Duffield Carrs between the 4^th-19^th with two adults remaining there until the 25^th.

Wheatear – A single (first returning autumn passage individual), was at Aughton on the 18^th followed by two there on the 25^th. A single was at Thornton Ellers on the 26^th.

Wheatear - Aughton Ings - 25/08 - DB

Spotted Flycatcher – A family party of four were still at Skipwith Common NNR on the 7^th with two adults and two juveniles at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th (presumably passage birds), with two remaining there on the 16^th and 17^th. A single was in Wheldrake carpark on the 28^th and was followed by two at Bank Island on the 31^st.

Grasshopper Warbler – Two were caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th following a large overnight arrival of warblers.

Sedge Warbler – A large arrival took place with 30 caught and ringed on at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th. A single was at Bank Island on the 31^st Bank Island.

Sedge Warbler - Wheldrake Ings - 26/08 - DB

Reed Warbler – A large arrival took place on the 13^th with 17 birds caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings. A single was at Bank Island on the 31^st Bank Island.

Rook – Numbers built up early in the month with birds seen feeding amongst the newly cut hay and aftermath – 2,600 were recorded throughout the site on the 2^nd.

Nuthatch – One or two birds were regularly reported along the riverside track at Wheldrake Ings.

Cetti’s Warbler – Another newly fledged juvenile was caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd. Two were calling at Bank Island on the 7^th whilst another newly fledged individual (fifth of the year) was ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 12^th with yet two more following on the 15^th and 27^th.