Aug' 26

 Lower Derwent Valley – August Sightings

The ongoing dry conditions limited birding opportunities across the site, with wader passage being rather poor, and returning waterfowl numbers largely supressed and concentrated into a handful of sites with remaining water. A Wryneck at Thornton Ellers on the 15^th represented only the sixth record in the area, but unfortunately it wasn’t relocated after the initial sighting. A small movement of Whinchat, Wheatear and Redstart were recorded during passage, and Tree Pipit and Spotted Flycatcher were also noted, although once again it was the ongoing recording breaking Quail numbers that were the standout records during the month with good numbers remaining in the Thornton area during the first half of the month, favouring barley fields next to the floodplain.

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 images below. 

Little Egrets - Wheldrake Ings - 01/08 - DB

BIRDS:

Greylag Goose – 250 were present at Bank Island on the 27^th.

Mallard – Up to 300 were using the Top Pond at North Duffield Carrs during the month.

Teal – Only a handful were present throughout the month, with up to 40 returning to the Top Pond at North Duffield Carrs by the 26^th.

Wigeon – The first returning birds were six at Hemingbrough Brick Pits on the 27^th, followed by five at North Duffield Carrs on the 28^th and a small number on the Low Grounds on the 30^th.

Pintail – The first returning individual was on the Low Grounds on the 30^th.

Gadwall – Five unfledged broods (20 ducklings) remained at the Top Pond at North Duffield Carrs during the first half of the month. Small numbers lingered on adjacent pools with  at least 20 at North Duffield Carrs by the 28^th.

Great White Egret – Singles were at Bubwith Ings on the 2^nd, Bank Island on the 9^th, and North Duffield Carrs on the 19^th and 23^rd.

Cattle Egret – One was present (again with cattle) at Bubwith Ings on the 1^st and 3^rd.

Water Rail – Present throughout the site during the month with one or two adults visible on the pool and Swantail scrape at Wheldrake Ings, with at least two juveniles (from different broods) also present there. Calling birds were also heard by the Geoff Smith Hide and Top Pond at North Duffield Carrs during the month.

Water Rail chick - Wheldrake - 06/08  DB

Common Crane – Single at Wheldrake Ings on the 17^th.

Grey Partridge – A good breeding season was had with coveys of 12 at Thornton Ellers, 11 at North Duffield Carrs, six at Wheldrake Ings and scattered family parties elsewhere. Up to four were also seen regularly in the NNR Base garden at Bank Island throughout the month.

Grey Partridge - Bank Island - 09/09 - DB

Quail – Up to 11 remained in the Thornton Ings area, although largely confined to barley fields outside of the floodplain. Numbers concentrated and reduced as the harvest proceeded, with seven still remaining in the area on the 10^th, four on the 13^th and two in a wild bird mix until the 17^th. A total of 92 have now been recorded across the season with a record 20 individuals caught and ringed.

Marsh Harrier – At least four juveniles lingered early in the month with two adult males noted and two cream-crowns present during the first half of the month. Five roosted at Wheldrake Ings from mid-month, whilst two were at North Duffield Carrs on the 26^th and 11 were at Bank Island on the 27^th in the usual autumn build-up.

Marsh Harrier - Wheldrake - 31/08 - DB

Hobby – Widespread throughout the site, although as usual secretive when breeding. Five pairs were located and were thought to have bred, with the first fledged brood seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th followed by another near Thornton on the 16^th. Other birds were reported regularly throughout the area.

Oystercatcher – Small numbers continued to move through the site on nocturnal passage during the first half of the month. Five were at Bank Island on the 13^th.

Golden Plover – A single was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th with several returning to the local feeding fields by Wheldrake village thereafter. Two were heard calling over Thornton Ellers on the 16^th.

Lapwing – Post-breeding numbers at Wheldrake Ings peaked at 213 on the 2^nd with 79 remaining by the 9^th and just small numbers thereafter, with scattered small flocks passing over elsewhere.

Dunlin – Singles at North Duffield Carrs on the 25^th and 26^th and Wheldrake Ings on the 31^st.

Ruff – Two were on a flooded turf field by Sutton upon Derwent on the 31^st.

Redshank – One flew calling over Melbourne Ings on the 7^th.

Spotted Redshank – Single on a flooded turf field by Sutton upon Derwent on the 31^st.

Greenshank – Two flew high calling over Bank Island on the 17^th.

Green Sandpiper – Seven were present in the Wheldrake Ings area from the 1^st but reduced to four on the 10^th as water levels continued to drain and the pool dried up. Two or three were seen regularly at the Top Pond at North Duffield Carrs with scattered singles elsewhere on the few remaining pools of water. A single was at Skipwith Common on the 17^th and up to two were at North Duffield from the 19^th to month end. Three were at Wheldrake Ings on the 31^st and one was in a flooded turf field near Sutton upon Derwent.

Green Sandpiper - Wheldrake Ings - 01/08 - DB

Common Sandpiper – A single was on Melbourne and Thornton Ings on the 12^th.

Curlew – The post-breeding flock remained at Wheldrake Ings early in the month with 27 seen on the 1^st, followed by 20 on the 9^th, 35 on the 12^th, 23 on the 13^th and 14 on the 16^th. A single was seen at Foggathorpe on the 30^th and just one remained at Wheldrake Ings on the 31^st.

Curlew - Wheldrake Ings - 09/08 - DB

Whimbrel – One appeared at Wheldrake Ings with the Curlew flock on the 9^th.

Caspian Gull – A juvenile flew over Canal Head on the 27^th.

Cuckoo – A fledged juvenile was at Seavy Carr on the 15^th.

Tree Pipit – One flew south over Wheldrake on the 30^th.

Wryneck – A single was seen well, briefly landing on a gate post at Thornton Ellers, before flying into a nearby hedge on the 15^th, but despite much searching it could not be relocated.

Redstart – Singles were at Thornton Ellers on the 4^th, Seavy Carr on the 5^th, Sutton upon Derwent on the 16^th and North Duffield Carrs on the 21^st and 23^rd.

Whinchat – An adult remained at North Duffield Carrs between the 1^st-10^th, with one at Thornton on the 2^nd and Bank Island on the 16^th, whilst two were at Wheldrake Ings on the same day. Four were present at North Duffield Carrs between the 25^th-27^th and one remained until month end.

Stonechat – An adult male at North Duffield Carrs remained between the 1^st-19^th and a pair were at Thornton Ings on the 15^th. Two were at North Duffield Carrs from the 25^th to month end.

Stonechat - North Duffield Carrs - 31/08 - DB

Wheatear – A single was at Wheldrake Ings on the 16^th and 23^rd, with another at North Duffield Carrs on the 30^th.

Spotted Flycatcher – Four were present near Thornton between the 1^st-7^th with seven there on the 10^th and five on the 13^th. Single at Wheldrake Ings on the 16^th.

Spotted Flycatcher - Bank Island - 16/08 - DB

Raven – Birds started to reappear around the reserve following a mid-summer lull in sightings, with records at Wheldrake on the 3^rd, Bank Island on the 7^th, Thornton on the 12^th and Dunnington on the 19^th.

Willow Warbler – Good passage was recorded from early in the month with 13 counted along the riverside path on the 16^th.

Whitethroat – Passage started early in the month with above average numbers recorded (increase in recent years). Eleven were at Bank Island on the 16^th.

Lesser Whitethroat – One or two were recorded daily at Wheldrake Ings with two at Bank Island on the 16^th.

Cetti’s Warbler – Juveniles were caught at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd and 17^th.