Lower Derwent Valley NNR Sightings - March 2015
March is typically a month of changing seasons when
incoming summer migrants overlap with our departing wintering visitors, and
with the added thrill of passage birds moving through the site - some
unexpected and some in large numbers. Some species were also well underway with
breeding and others were showing signs of the forthcoming breeding season, such
as the local Mute Swans at North Duffield Carrs which had completed their nest
by the 22nd. Grey Herons also breed early and had a high presence in
the valley with 37 throughout the site including up to 27
daily at Wheldrake Ings. The ‘resident wintering herd’ of Whooper Swans
decreased in numbers as expected and the now ‘usual’ spring staging movement took
place at the beginning of the month with 761 birds moving through the valley, including
a staggering herd of 362 on the flood water at Wheldrake Ings. Although
waterfowl numbers were generally low with the limited and declining floodwaters,
spring passage numbers of Pintail reached 242 while breeding numbers
increased as birds returned to the valley bringing higher counts of 231 Gadwall,
201 Shoveler, and 322 Coot. The first Little Egret of the
year arrived on the 13th with the first returning Garganey on
the 20th.
Grey Heron - North Duffield Carrs - 04/03
Raptors continued to feature strongly during the
month with up to four Peregrines and three Marsh Harriers daily. Red
Kites showed well with six present in the
area. The long staying juvenile female Hen Harrier remained on Skipwith
Common throughout the month and a pair of Goshawk were seen displaying
(un-disclosed site). Breeding wader numbers increased with Curlew
reaching 170+, and over 300 Common Snipe which included the first ‘chipping’
birds on the 21st. Passage birds included 2 Jack Snipe, 24 Black-tailed
Godwits and a Greenshank on the 22nd, with 31 Ruff
lingering and lekking towards the end of the month.
Barn Owl - Bank Island - 30/03
Other notable sightings included the usual overland
spring passage of Common Scoter and Kittiwake which brought birds
into the valley on the 20th/21st, and the second record
of a Raven in the area for the year – surely reflecting the spread of
this species. It was a rather poor month for incoming migrants (in contrast
with 2014), a single Wheatear
arrived on the 6th, Sand Martins on the 6th and 12th,
and following a presumed wintering Chiffchaff on the 9th a
small arrival took place on the 13th/14th but
were slow to build up further until the 25th.
The warmer days during the month accounted for the
appearance of Grass Snake, Adder and Common Lizard at
Skipwith Common NNR, while a scattering of butterflies and bees in the second
half of the month reflected the relatively slow start to the year. Gorse
Shield Bugs seemed a bit hardier with over 30+ present at Skipwith
Common on the 25th.
Common Lizard - Skipwith Common - 30/03
As always, many thanks to all concerned for the
records throughout the month, in particular to the YOC members and the regular
valley birders. Thanks also to all the visiting birders who continue to the
leave their sightings in the hide log books.
BIRDS:
Mute Swan
– The first nest building pair were seen moving
nesting material at North Duffield Carrs on the 4th and had
completed their nest by the 22nd, on which date 79 were present throughout
the site - including a non-breeding herd of 32 at
Wheldrake Ings. 10 non breeding birds had built up on the Pocklington Canal
near Melbourne by 27th.
Mute Swan - North Duffield Carrs - 04/03
Whooper
Swan – The wintering herd at North Duffield Carrs began
to decrease quickly during the month with 20 remaining on the 14th, ten on the 15th with just three lingering to the 21st. In line with this rather early departure, a herd of 62 passage birds paused in
the refuge area at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st, with a further
22 north through the valley on the 6th and 12 on the 8th.
60+ flew north in the early hours on the 11th whilst an
incredible 362 arrived at Wheldrake Ings later that morning, remaining
throughout the day and departing prior to dusk. A further 200+ flew north-west
over Elvington on the 12th. An amazing 718 passage birds
moved through or over the site during the month, including a big clear out of
birds from the Ouse Washes on the 11th and 12th.
Further passage birds included eight at North Duffield Carrs on the 14th
and 35 at Wheldrake Ings on the 21st, with a single lingering
there from the 22nd to month end, bringing the passage total
for the month to 761.
Pink-footed Goose – 35 flew north-west over North
Duffield Carrs on the morning of the 4th
with 2000+ moving over in the first two hours after dawn on the 5th. 350+ flew over
Melbourne on the 9th with
200+ over on the 10th.
Greylag Goose – Birds were back on territory and
scattered throughout the reserve by the third week of the month.
Canada Goose – Similar to the Greylags, birds were back on territory and scattered
throughout the reserve by the third week of the month.
Shelduck – The largest concentrations
were at North Duffield Carrs where 62 were present on the 4th. Birds
then became more widespread and pairs started to reoccupy breeding territories
with 67 present throughout the valley on the 22nd.
Teal – 5000+ early in the month
started to decrease thereafter as water levels dropped and mild conditions saw
an early departure from the valley. 3000+ remained on the 20th, no doubt
a mixture of wintering birds and return spring passage from sites further south
and west.
Wigeon – 7500+ early in the month decreased to around 4500+ by the 20th/21st further dropping to
1700 by the 27th.
Pintail –
134 were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st
with 242 there on the 22nd - the total valley count for the
day.
Garganey
– The first returning birds were a pair at Wheldrake
Ings on the 20th with a male calling at Wheldrake Ings on the
22nd (CSR).
Mallard –
Up to 1000+ remained throughout the month with many
pairs looking for breeding sites during the month.
Gadwall – 121
were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st with 198 there on the
22nd, when 231 were present throughout the reserve.
Shoveler – 110 at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st had increased to 166 by the
22nd, when a total valley
count of 201 was made.
Tufted Duck – 41 were at Wheldrake Ings on the
22nd when 65 were present
throughout the site.
Pochard – 30 were present at Wheldrake
Ings on the 3rd with
numbers decreasing to just six by the 26th.
Goldeneye – Three remained at Wheldrake
Ings on the 1st-3rd
with four still present at Wheldrake Ings on the 17th. Two drakes and three females on the pool at
Wheldrake Ings on the 27th
was the peak count.
Goosander – A pair and a single red head were
present at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st
with another red head there on the 3rd.
A drake flew north up the River Derwent at Bank Island on the 16th with possibly the same
drake at North Duffield Carrs on the 17th.
Common Scoter – A single drake was at
Wheldrake Ings on the 20th.
Water
Rail – Up to five were present around the pool at
Wheldrake Ings during the month, with singles at Thornton Ellers on the 8th,
North Duffield Carrs on the 10th and Melbourne on the 13th.
Three were recorded from the Melbourne
area during the month along with three at Thornton Ellers, giving a minimum population
of 12 wintering birds – although no doubt a huge underestimate as ever.
Little
Grebe – Three were present on the River Derwent at North
Duffield Carrs from the 4th. Two were back on breeding
territory at Wheldrake Ings on the 25th with up to eight
birds wintering on the Pocklington Canal during the month.
Cormorant – 17
were on the pool at Wheldrake on the 3rd. Seven flew over
Melbourne on the 15th and a total of 39 were present at the Wheldrake Ings
roost on several dates during the month.
Grey Heron – A
good spring showing - eight were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 11th
with 21 there on the 13th. 27 were present at Wheldrake Ings
on the 22nd when 37 were counted throughout the valley. 12 were
at Wheldrake Ings on the 25th with 14 there on the 27th. A total of 25 active nests were counted in the heronry
on the 30th, with nine egg shells found.
Newly hatched heron eggs - Thorganby - 30/03
Little
Egret – A single at Bank Island on the 13th
(CSR) was the first of the year with the same or another at Wheldrake Ings on the
22nd (DB). A single was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 29th
(EB).
Red Kite – A
single was at Thornton Ellers on the 9th - starting a good
run of records with another at Bank Island on the 10th, and
another or the same seen at both North Duffield and Thorganby on the 12th.
Two were present at Thornton Ings on the 13th with singles at
Thorganby on the 14th, 15th and 16th
and four over Wheldrake also on the 16th. A single was
present at Wheldrake Ings on the 20th with four thereafter
until month end, with others at Melbourne on the 16th and 21st
along with two on the 20th and singles on 23rd
and 25th.
Marsh
Harrier – At
least three cream crowns remained in the valley throughout the month.
Hen Harrier – The wintering ringtail at
Skipwith Common was still present until at least the 22nd.
Goshawk – A single male was seen displaying
on an undisclosed site on the 17th
with a pair nearby on several dates.
Peregrine – Present daily throughout the
month – an adult male was at Hagg Bridge on the 4th with an immature male at North Duffield Carrs the
following day. A pair were hunting over Wheldrake Ings on the 8th when the female took a Starling
– no doubt a small ‘snack’ for a large female. Present throughout the month
with at least four individuals present during the month.
Merlin – Another good showing with a
single female was at North Duffield Carrs on the 16th (EB) and again on the 18th, with a male at Wheldrake Ings on the 20th and a single at
Melbourne on the 27th.
Kestrel – High numbers were present
throughout the area, with the good winter showing continuing throughout the
month.
Kestrel - North Duffield - 25/03
Common Crane – A pair were heard calling
after dark from North Duffield Carrs on the 19th (AW) and were present again there the next morning
(CSR).
Grey Partridge – Two were calling at Bank Island
on the 16th with two seen
there on the 22nd. Two
were present at Thornton Ellers on the 30th.
Coot – Numbers increased during the
month with 301 at Wheldrake Ings by the 22nd,
on which date 322 were present throughout the reserve.
Oystercatcher – 13 were present at Wheldrake
Ings on the 1st when a
single was present at North Duffield Carrs. Nine were on the pool at Wheldrake
on the 3rd followed by two
at Thorganby Ings on the 4th.
Lapwing – 1800 were present early in the
month with numbers falling quickly thereafter. 1020 remained on the 20th with 700+ on the 25th, by which time many
local birds were displaying on territory.
Golden Plover – 1500 were present throughout
the valley on the 1st with
1045 on the 4th and 400+
remaining on the 11th. Birds
then quickly departed the site with just occasional passage flocks noted during
the second half of the month including 120+ over Wheldrake Ings on the 26th.
Curlew – 55 were at Wheldrake Ings on
the 1st when 22 were also
seen at North Duffield Carrs. Birds were back on breeding sites throughout the
valley from early in the month with two pairs displaying at Bank Island on the 3rd. 20+ were present on
Melbourne Ings on the 9th
with 100+ present throughout the valley. 109 were present at
Wheldrake Ings on the 22nd
when 170+ were present throughout the whole valley.
Jack Snipe – A single was flushed from
Melbourne and Thornton Ings on the 20th
and 23rd (NC), along with
one at North Duffield Carrs on the 25th
(LM, CSR).
Common Snipe – 60+ were at Wheldrake Ings on the
20th followed by 250+ at
North Duffield Carrs on the 22nd.
The first ‘chipping’ birds were heard there on the 21st with 30+ at Seavy
Carr on the 23rd.
Woodcock – A single was at Breighton
Meadows on the 12th.
Dunlin – A group of eight were at Wheldrake Ings on
the 1st with 50+ there on
the 8th. 80+ were still
present at North Duffield Carrs on the 20th
with 38 there on the 26th.
Ruff – 17 were at Wheldrake Ings on the
1st with 48 there on the 3rd. 12 still remained at
Wheldrake on the 22nd
with 35 birds lekking there on the 27th
(including 27 males).
Black-tailed Godwit – Eight were present at
Wheldrake Ings on the 1st – 5th.
A flock of 24 then arrived there on the 13th
(TD), with 12 remaining on the 16th
and 13 on the 29th.
Redshank – Small numbers continued to be
present throughout the site. A single caught at North Duffield Carrs on the 28th had been originally ringed at Aughton Ings on the 15th August 2004 (please report any
colour-ringed birds seen on the reserve via the hide log books).
Redshank - North Duffield - 04/03
Greenshank – A single flew south calling
over Wheldrake Ings on the 22nd.
Iceland Gull – An adult was at North Duffield
Carrs on the 12th.
Glaucous Gull – Two first winter birds were
present at the Wheldrake roost on the 5th.
Kittiwake – A single adult was at
Wheldrake Ings on the the 20th
(CSR), with two adults and a first winter there briefly on the 21st.
Barn Owl – Birds continued to show well
during the month, and throughout the whole area with up to three at Bank Island and
four at Wheldrake Ings on the 22nd.
Barn Owl - North Duffield - 25/03
Little Owl – A single was at North Duffield
Carrs again on the 11th.
Green Woodpecker – A single was on Skipwith Common on
the 3rd, with four calling
there on the 15th and
three on the 17th. A
single was calling at Bank Island on the 18th.
Skylark – Birds were widespread
throughout the reserve and vocal from early in the month.
Woodlark – Five singing males were
present on Skipwith Common on the 5th,
with singing birds present thereafter and a total of six singing males on the 18th to month end.
Woodlark - Skipwith Common - 17/03
Grey Wagtail – A pair remained in the Bank Island
area during the month at the water treatment works next to the NNR Base.
Kingfisher – A single flew under the Bailey
Bridge at Wheldrake Ings on the 11th, followed by a single at Melbourne on the Pocklington Canal on the 13th and 15th. Two males were chasing
a female at Melbourne Ings on the 20th
(NC) with singles at Wheldrake Ings on the 20th
and 21st.
Wheatear – A single was seen briefly at
Bank Island on the 6th
(FM).
Sand Martin – A rather early bird was at
Bank Island on the 8th
(CSR) followed by another single there on the 12th.
Fieldfare – A large passage took place
through the area from the 14th/15th
with as many as 2500 birds recorded in the valley on these dates. 70 went over
North Duffield on the 17th, small parties continued to pass over on an almost daily basis until the end
of the month. 30+ were near Wheldrake on the 30th.
Redwing – As with the previous species, birds
were recorded moving through the area from the 14th/15th,
albeit in smaller numbers. 21 were at Bank Island on the 27th.
Raven – A single over Hagg Bridge on the
5th represented the
second record of the year (CSR).
Jay – A single at Bank Island on the
5th was the first there
for some time, along with a single at North Duffield Carrs on the same date.
Two were at the latter site on the 8th
when a single was present near Thorganby. A single was at North Duffield Carrs
on the 11th followed by
two at Breighton Meadows on the 18th
and a single at Bank Island on the 19th.
A single was seen at Bank Island on the 31st.
One or two were reported regularly from Skipwith Common NNR during the month.
Chiffchaff – A single (non-singing) bird
was seen in the NNR Base Garden on the 9th (CSR, LM, FM) -
presumably an over-wintering bird, and possibly the bird seen there in early January. A
single was singing at Wheldrake Ings on the 13th (CSR) when three also arrived in the Melbourne area
(NC). A single bird was caught and ringed at the Bank Island feeding station on
the 14th (MFJ). Singles
were at Wheldrake Ings and Bank Island on the 16th with one at North Duffield Carrs on the 22nd. A single was heard at
Wheldrake on the 25th.
Stonechat – A pair were still present at
North Duffield Carrs on the 7th
(reported carrying nesting material), with four there the following day and a
single female at Skipwith Common on the 16th
to month end.
Lesser Redpoll – Two were near Melbourne on the
15th with a male singing
on the 17th with two
singing males on 25th.
Linnet – 74 were present in Melbourne
on the 13th.
Reed Bunting – Up to 70 were present in a
game cover crop near Melbourne on the 9th.
Corn
Bunting – 45 were present at the Melbourne roost on the 1st
decreasing quickly thereafter with 10+ present on the 8th.
MAMMALS:
Roe Deer – Five
were at Bank Island on the 2nd with three there on the 3rd.
Three were at Wheldrake Ings on the 4th with seven at North
Duffield Ings on the 5th and two at Sutton Ings. Three were at Bank Island on the 6th, followed by two at North Duffield Carrs on the 8th and two at Sutton Ings on the
9th. Three were present at North Duffield Carrs, Wheldrake
Ings and Bank Island from the 10th to month end, with two at
Thornton Ellers on the 11th and 13th. Five
were at Bank Island on the 19th. Seven were at Wheldrake Ings
on the 21st with five again at Bank Island on the 22nd.
Three were at Skipwith Common on the 22nd, followed by three
at Wheldrake on the 25th.
Roe Deer - Wheldrake Ings - 04/03
Fallow
Deer – Up to 26 were reported from Wheldrake Woods and
fields behind Wheldrake village, with 26 photographed there on the 30th.
Fallow Deer - Wheldrake - 30/03
Stoat – A
single was at Wheldrake on the 4th, with other singles at
Thorganby on the 10th, Bank Island on the 11th
and Wheldrake on the 20th. One was at Thornton Ellers on the 31st.
Weasel – A
single was at Wheldrake Ings on the 13th.
Red Fox –
One was at Thornton Ellers on the 10th.
Otter – A
single was seen well and photographed as it fished on the river at North
Duffield Carrs on the 4th.
Otter - North Duffield Carrs - 04/03
Bank Vole – A
single was caught during small mammal trapping at the NNR Base at Bank Island
on the 3rd, with four caught there on the 9th
and five on the 17th.
Bank Vole - Bank Island - 17/03
Field Vole – A single,
and the first sighting of the year, was seen running through the NNR Base
Garden on the 31st.
Wood Mouse – Two
were caught at the NNR Base at Bank Island on the 3rd with
six caught there on the 9th, seven on the 17th
and five on the 19th.
Wood Mouse - Bank Island - 17/03
Common
Shrew – A single was seen on Skipwith Common on the 17th
followed by one in the NNR Base Garden on the 19th.
Brown Hare – One
was at Wheldrake on the 4th, with a single at North Duffield
on the 11th followed by three there on the 12th,
and up to four on the 13th. Singles were seen on the 25th
at North Duffield Carrs and Wheldrake Ings.
Brown Hare - Bank Island - 30/03
Hedgehog – The
first of the year was present at Thorganby on the 19th.
AMPHIBIANS/REPTILES:
Common
Frog – The first frogspawn of the year appeared in a garden
pond in North Duffield village on the 22nd (EB) with spawn noted
at Bank Island and North Duffield Carrs on the 30th.
Common
Lizard – Two were at Skipwith Common on the 6th
with another on the 8th and a single on the 20th.
Four were present on the 25th with one of last year’s young found underneath a log on the 30th.
Grass
Snake – The first of the year was reported from Skipwith
Common on the 10th, followed by another there on the 11th
and the same individual there on the 17th. A single
(different individual) was present on the 25th.
Grass Snake - Skipwith Common - 11/03
Adder – Three
(two males and a female) were present on Skipwith Common on the 25th
– the first for the year (LM, CSR), followed by a male found basking on the 30th.
Adder - Skipwith Common - 25/03
BUTTERFLIES:
Peacock – A
single in the NNR Base Garden on the 10th (FM) was the first
butterfly for the year and was followed by another at Wheldrake Ings on the 27th.
Small
Tortoiseshell – Singles were seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 25th,
North Duffield on the 26th and Thornton Ellers on the 30th.
Comma – A single
was seen on Skipwith Common on the 26th.
Brimstone
– One was reported from the village at North
Duffield on the 21st.
MOTHS:
March
Moth – Two were seen at first light at the NNR Base on the 9th.
Orange
Underwing – Two of this day flying species were present at
Skipwith Common NNR on the 17th followed by a single there on
the 25th.
Hebrew
Character – A single was attracted to light at the NNR Base
on the 26th.
OTHER
INVERTS:
Honey Bee
– Two were seen at Skipwith Common NNR on the 17th.
White-tailed
Bumblebee – The first of the year was present at Skipwith Common
on the 17th with another there on the 25th.
Red-tailed
Bumblebee – A single was at Melbourne on the 22nd
followed by one at the NNR Base on the 26th.
Gorse
Shield Bug – Seven individuals were seen on the Gorse at Skipwith Common on the 17th
followed by 30+ on the 25th.
Gorse Shield Bug - Skipwith Common - 25/03
Minotaur
Beetle – One was present on the heath at Skipwith Common on the
17th.
Minotaur Beetle - Skipwith Common - 17/03
7-spot
Ladybird – Recorded from mid-month on Skipwith Common.
NOTABLE
PLANTS:
Lesser
Celandine – Seen in flower from the 15th at North Duffield Carrs –
much later than last year.
Wild
Onion – New shoots could be seen in the meadows at Wheldrake
on the 25th.
Wild
Garlic – Fresh leaves were seen alongside the track down to
Wheldrake on the 25th.
Lords
& Ladies – New leaves were present on the 25th at
Bank Island.
Common
Dog-violet – Seen flowering at Bank Island on the 25th.
No comments:
Post a Comment