Aug' 25

Lower Derwent Valley - August Sightings

The highlight of the month was the presence of two adult Pectoral Sandpipers at Wheldrake Ings, although both were just brief one day visitors (10^th and 22^nd). A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Seavy Carr on the 9^th was arguably more noteworthy and the first for several years.

The ongoing drought impacted waterfowl numbers but the first returning Wigeon was noted on the 16^th, with several Teal and 300 Greylag Geese returning by month end. Two Great White Egrets were present early in the month with a Bittern recorded (12^th) and Common Crane (21^st). The last calling Quail of a good season was noted on the 2^nd whilst raptors included up to seven Marsh Harriers (and yet another wing-tagged individual dispersing from Norfolk) and the first fledged Hobbies. Despite the low water levels wader passage featured strongly with (in addition to the forementioned Pectoral Sandpiper), the first 14 returning Golden Plover on the 17^th, a small ongoing passage of Curlew with two lone Whimbrel, a handful of Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits and a maximum count of eleven Green Sandpipers on the restricted open water and mud on the pool at Wheldrake.

Other passage movements included several Wheatear, Whinchat and Redstarts, with good numbers of Yellow Wagtails and Spotted Flycatchers during the second half of the month. The first incoming wintering Stonechats were at North Duffield Carrs with four Ravens seen over Barmby on the Marsh.

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 Bye and Jeremy Pierson for the use of their images below.

BIRDS:

Greylag Goose – Numbers increased to 300 across the site by month end.

Egyptian Goose – Several individuals remained throughout the area during the month.

Teal – Seven were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 18^th and 24^th/25^th.

Wigeon – The first returning bird was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 16^th with another seen on the Low Grounds on the 25^th.

Little Egret – Three at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd increased to six on the 24^th.

Great White Egret – Two were present on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd.

Great White Egret - Wheldrake Ings - 03/08 - DB

Bittern – A single was present between Melbourne and Hagg Bridge on the Pocklington Canal on the 12^th.

Common Crane – One flew south calling at East Cottingwith on the 21^st.

Water Rail – Up to five adults and at least one large immature were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with one immature and six adults seen there on the 3^rd.

Quail – A single was heard at Thornton Ellers on the 2^nd.

Marsh Harrier – Up to three juveniles, a cream crown and a second-year male remained early in the month with a yellow wing-tagged (HV) juvenile seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th and 10^th. Seven were present across the site by the 24^th including an adult male.

Marsh Harrier - Wheldrake Ings - 31/08 - DB

Hobby – Birds were seen regularly throughout the site during the month with the first two fledged juveniles present at Thornton Ings on the 12^th – regular sightings of other birds then followed from Bank Island, Wheldrake and Thornton throughout the month. Two were at North Duffield Carrs on the 25^th.

Golden Plover – Fourteen flew north at Wheldrake Ings on the 17^th (first of the autumn) with one over Wheldrake Ings at dusk on the 22^nd.

Lapwing – Up to 100 remained on the pool at Wheldrake Ings throughout the month.

Curlew – At least ten birds remained into early August with occasional migrant parties of one to three birds recorded heading west on the 2^nd and 4^th. Six headed west at Bank Island on the 8^th and were followed by four on the 9^th, three on the 10^th and 11^th and a single on the 12^th. Two or three were recorded daily until the 26^th.

Whimbrel – A single was seen heading over Bank Island on the 1^st with one at Hemingbrough on the 23^rd.

Ruff – Nine juveniles (6 males and 3 females) were present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 20^th and 22^nd with five remaining between the 23^rd - 26^th.

Ruff - Wheldrake Ings - 23/08 - DB

Black-tailed Godwit – Four were seen on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd with three there on the 11^th and just one between the 19^th - 21^st.

Pectoral Sandpiper – An adult was present on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th but departed overnight – this was likely to have been the same bird reported the previous day at Swillington Ings RSPB reserve and represents the twelfth reserve record – what may have been the same moulting adult then reappeared at Wheldrake and joined eight Ruff on the pool on the 22^nd.

Pectoral Sandpiper - Wheldrake Ings - 10/08 - DB

Snipe – Up to 12 remained on the pool at Wheldrake Ings early in the month.

Redshank – The last remaining birds were an adult and juvenile at North Duffield Carrs on the 9^th.

Greenshank – One was heard calling over the Low Grounds at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st followed by another over Bank Island on the 9^th.

Green Sandpiper – Up to six birds remained on the pool at Wheldrake Ings from the 1^st and increased to seven on the 3^rd, eight on the 5^th and nine on the 9^th. Eleven were later present on the 15^th and 16^th followed by nine on the 17^th with numbers down to seven between the 18^th - 26^th.

Green Sandpipers - Wheldrake Ings - 09/08 - DB

Common Tern – A single was on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st, 3^rd, 8^th and 10^th.

Cuckoo – A juvenile was recorded at Melbourne on the 11^th.

Green Woodpecker – A single was seen at Melbourne Ings on the 7^th.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker – A juvenile was found on Seavy Carr on the 9^th.

Wheatear – The first returning autumn migrant was at North Duffield Carrs on the 10^th and soon followed by one at Aughton Ings on the 14^th. Three were at Thornton Ings on the 15^th with further singles at Aughton and North Duffield Ings.  

Yellow Wagtail – Nine were at Wheldrake Ings on the 15^th with four there on the 16^th and six on the 17^th. Four were at Bank Island on the 19^th followed by five at Thornton on the 20^th. Twenty plus roosted at Wheldrake Ings on the 22^nd with seven there on the 23^rd and six on the 25^th.

Swallow – 1,000+ roosted at Wheldrake Ings on the 14^th with 500+ recorded there on the 16^th.

Swallows/Martins - Wheldrake Ings - 18/08 - JP

Redstart – A single male at Thornton Ellers on the 1^st and 2^nd was followed by one at Dunnington on the 3^rd. An immature was seen at Thornton Ellers on the 25^th.

Whinchat – Four were still present at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st and were seen regularly thereafter with three remaining on the 10^th and two on the 14^th. A single was at Wheldrake Ings between the 16^th - 26^th. A small arrival also brought six to North Duffield Carrs on the 24^th, with them all remaining the next day.

Whinchat - North Duffield Carrs - 24/08 - DB

Stonechat – Six (family party including four juveniles) was present at North Duffield Carrs from 24^th.

Raven – Four flew west at Barmby on the Marsh on the 10^th.

Spotted Flycatcher – The family party of four remained at Thornton throughout the first half of the month, with three still present in the area on the 18^th. Three were also noted at Wheldrake Ings on the 22^nd with a single in the car park there on the 23^rd. A single was found with a small ‘fall’ of chats at North Duffield Carrs on the 24^th when a single was also at Wheldrake Ings. Birds were present at Thornton, Bank Island, North Duffield Carrs and Wheldrake Ings (four) on the 25^th – a notable movement through the area.

Spotted Flycatcher - North Duffield Carrs - 24/08 - DB

Grasshopper Warbler – Three passage birds were caught and ringed in the reedbed at Wheldrake Ings on the 16^th.

Crossbill – Four flew over Elvington on the 24^th.