Jun

Lower Derwent Valley NNR Sightings - June 2015

Whilst June is largely considered to be outside of the main migration period it can still turn up a few surprises. This June was no exception with a flurry of interest around the 12^th-16^th, which started with a Common Crane roosting at Bank Island on the 12^th. Coverage of Bank Island throughout the 13^th as part of our Barn Owl events weekend no doubt resulted in the discovery (albeit briefly) of an adult Whiskered Tern, which completed a couple of circuits of the site before flying off high to the north around mid-morning. Whilst not on the same level an adult Hobby hawking mayflies over the NNR base in the evening, and the appearance of the first returning Green Sandpiper made it a rather noteworthy day. Two firsts were logged at North Duffield Carrs on the morning of the 16^th with a singing Quail and Grasshopper Warbler – a local birder searching for these two in the evening also hit the jackpot with a fine adult male Montagu’s Harrier flying south through the site, a couple of additional records were logged thereafter.

On the waterfowl front a moulting male Mandarin appeared on Wheldrake Ings for its third year running, whilst a single pair of Garganey lingered as did small numbers of Wigeon and Teal. Amongst the usual breeding birds, there was also confirmed breeding of Little Egrets – two pairs bred in the south of the valley and fledged four young, whilst two pairs were also present in the local heronry near Wheldrake. 

Three pairs of Spotted Flycatchers in and around Skipwith Common, and another near Melbourne were welcome sightings for a species which appears to have struggled during the last few years. A side from the birds we've also been busy recording mammals, reptiles and plants, along with new invertebrates for the year, with many butterflies, moths, dragonflies, ladybirds and shield bugs found across the site. Many thanks as always to all the local birders, the YOC and visitors who have either left records in the hide logbooks or submitted them directly to us.

Bronze Shield Bug - Skipwith Common

BIRDS: 

Mute Swan – In addition to the local breeding birds which included at least five pairs with 27 young, up to 21 non-breeding sub-adults birds were present throughout the month. 

Egyptian Goose – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th and 14^th. 

Greylag Goose – A large crèche of 20 adults and 60+ Goslings were present at Wheldrake Ings early in the month. A total of 32 goslings and three adults were caught and ringed on the 9^th as part of the annual round-up, with a further nine caught the following day in a case of right place right time. 

 

 

Greylag gosling - Wheldrake Ings - 10/06

Canada Goose – A single pair appeared at Wheldrake Ings with four goslings on the 2^nd, whilst several other broods on local ponds and gravel pits were present throughout the area. 

Teal – Four pairs were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st. 

Wigeon – A single pair remained at Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th - present until month end. 

Mandarin – A single eclipse plumage drake was seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th, 15^th and 30^th. 

Garganey – A female was at Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th (DB), followed by a drake there on the 12^th and 15^th and a female again on the 24^th. 

Mallard – Two pairs were found incubating clutches of 8 and 11 at Melbourne and Thornton Ings on the 8^th. Up to five broods were at Bank Island on the 21^st (with 29 young), whilst scattered broods were present elsewhere throughout the site.

 

 

Mallard duckling - NNR Base - 18/06 

Gadwall – A small crèche of 12 ducklings (3 broods) were on Wheldrake Ings on the 24^th. 

Shoveler – At least one brood were present at Wheldrake Ings during the second half of the month. 

Tufted Duck – The first four young appeared at Wheldrake Ings on the 24^th – a typical date for this later nesting species. 

Grey Heron – Numbers increased as birds began to leave the heronry with 15 at Wheldrake Ings on the 30^th. 

Little Egret – Singles were reported daily from Wheldrake Ings and Bank Island early in the month, with two at Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th and singles at Bank Island on the 12^th and 13^th. A single was feeding along the Pocklington Canal on the 16^th when another was at North Duffield Carrs, followed by two at Wheldrake Ings on the 17^th. Up to four were present daily towards month end.

Two pairs are known to have bred just to the south of the valley, with one pair fledging four young which were colour-ringed – another pair are thought to have bred near Wheldrake Ings. 

Red Kite – Singles flew over Melbourne village on the 3^rd, Thornton Ings on the 14^th and 17^th, and North Duffield Carrs on the 28^th and 30^th. 

Marsh Harrier – A single female was present at East Cottingwith on the 12^th, whilst a pair were present at North Duffield Carrs throughout the day on the 15^th- 18^th. A single was again present at East Cottingwith Ings on the 24^th/25^th followed by a male at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th. 

Montagu’s Harrier – An adult male flew south through North Duffield Carrs on the evening of the 16^th (AW). Reports also suggest that it was present again at North Duffield on the 18^th and later at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th (CSR). 

Peregrine – A single adult male was present at Bank Island on the 14^th with a sub-adult over Ellerton on the 21^st and Bank Island on the 25^th. 

Hobby – One was seen at Skipwith Common on the 1^st and 4^th, while another was hawking dragonflies and mayflies over the NNR base and Bank Island on the 13^th. What was possibly the same bird flew over the base giving excellent views on the 24^th. 

Kestrel – Just two pairs were found to be breeding in the area, like Barn Owls, Kestrels also seem to be struggling to breed this year with the presumption that they are struggling to find enough food. Pictured here are newly fledged birds from a pair in the wider LDV area, where the kind landowner gave them a helping hand by supplementary feeding them. A pair were also regularly present on Adder Heath, Skipwith Common leading us to believe that they were nesting nearby.

 

 

Newly fledged Kestrel brood - TW 

Sparrowhawk – A single female flew through the NNR base garden on the 23^rd. 

Common Crane – A single landed at Bank Island on the 12^th and was again present early on the 13^th. 

Little Ringed Plover – An immature was seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 30^th. 

Lapwing – A single chick was ringed near Skipwith Common on the 10^th when a single juvenile was also present at Wheldrake Ings. 

 

Lapwing chick - Skipwith - 10/06

Curlew – Two chicks were present in the refuge at Wheldrake Ings on 10^th, whilst two pairs with young were also seen in the main meadow along with two broods on the Low Grounds on the same date. 

Common Snipe – Two chicks were present near Melbourne on the 5^th whilst another adult was distracting elsewhere at Melbourne Ings on the 6^th. A newly hatched brood was present at Ellerton on the 23^rd with a single chick ringed on that date. Good numbers were present throughout the rest of the site with an estimated 35-40 drumming. 10+ were still displaying at North Duffield Carrs on the 30^th. 

Snipe chick - Ellerton - 23/06

Ruff – A single summer plumage male was at Bank Island on the 12^th. 

Redshank – Up to 25 remained at Wheldrake Ings on the 30^th including three unfledged broods. 

Spotted Redshank – A single summer plumage bird flew east calling over North Duffield Carrs on the 30^th (TJ). 

Green Sandpiper – The first returning bird was at Bank Island on the 13^th and was present again on the 14^th, remaining there until the 16^th. A single was at Wheldrake Ings on the 29^th and 30^th with another at North Duffield Carrs on the later date. 

Black-headed Gull – A single pair bred and raised a single chick at Wheldrake Ings on the tern raft on the pool during the month. 

Common Tern – A single was fishing on the river at North Duffield Carrs on the 12^th. 

Whiskered Tern – A single flew round Bank Island for a couple of minutes on the 13^th before flying off north-east – the second reserve record following a single at Wheldrake Ings in May 1995. 

Barn Owl – A single adult was seen hunting during the day across Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th. 

Little Owl - Throughout the month, Jean had three youngsters in her care from the surrounding area, the individual below was picked up from the side of the road, sitting beside its dead mother - presumably the casualty from a motorist. Jean knew of a Little Owl site in Thixendale, so this little chap was added to the brood. Thanks to kind landowner who allowed this to happen, and with the nest monitored by cameras we know that new addition was accepted immediately.

 

Little Owl - NNR Base - 13/06 - PT

Green Woodpecker – A calling bird was present near Melbourne on the 10^th, whilst a single was seen in Elvington on the 15^th where birds are thought to have bred. Also present during the month were two pairs at Crockey Hill and Kexby. Reported regularly from Skipwith Common throughout the month where two fledged juveniles were seen on the 29^th. 

Great Spotted Woodpecker – Several pairs bred throughout the valley, whilst a single well watched pair bred on Skipwith Common and fledged young from the nest hole on the 9^th. Three were present there on the 29^th. 

Turtle Dove – A single was heard ‘purring’ near Elvington on the 12^th and Foggathorpe on the 28^th. 

Nightjar – A single churring male was present at Skipwith Common NNR from at least the 21^st. 

Woodlark – Up to eight singing males were present at Skipwith Common throughout the month. Two pairs were present along Sands Lane and showed well on the path there most days, whilst a pair with three fledged young were seen on Adder Heath on the 23^rd. Four juveniles were reported from Bomb Bay heath on the 25^th. 

 

 

Woodlark - Skipwith Common - 23/06 

Tree Pipit – Four pairs were present in the Sands Lane part of the Common on the 4^th with up to 12 singing males recorded during the month. 

Yellow Wagtail – An estimated 15 pairs were present along Melbourne and Thornton Ings during the month. 

Kingfisher – The best area of the valley for sightings during the month was the Pocklington Canal and associated ditches around Melbourne – three birds were present on the 6^th with two also seen in the area on the 8^th. A single was present at Bank Island on the 3^rd and 8^th with three young seen near Canal Head on the 10^th. Two pairs were present near Melbourne on the 12^th. A single adult male was caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th (MFJ). 

Swift – c300 over Bank Island on the 30^th were the first signs of the usual late summer movements. 

Jay – Singles were seen and heard calling on Skipwith Common on the 10^th, 15^th and 23^rd. 

Cuckoo – Up to three males and two females were present in the Melbourne area during the month. A male and female were also present on Skipwith Common between the 3^rd - 5^th. A second male was present in the Kexby area on the 16^th when one was still calling at the NNR base at Bank Island. A rufous phase female was at Melbourne on the 17^th whilst another was calling at East Cottingwith on the same date, followed by one at Skipwith Common searching for nests in the reedbed on the 18^th. A single adult was still present at the reedbed at Melbourne on the 26^th. 

Mistle Thrush – Two were seen feeding in fields adjacent to Skipwith Common on the 15^th. 

Redstart – A single female was present at Skipwith Common on the 1^st. 

Lesser Whitethroat – A single was caught and ringed in the NNR base garden on the 3^rd (MFJ). 

Spotted Flycatcher – A pair were present again at Sands Lane on Skipwith Common on the 4^th, when two pairs were also present in the gardens on Skipwith Hall. Present thereafter with three pairs to month end. Another pair were seen near Melbourne on the Pocklington Canal on the 12^th. A single bird was seen fly catching near the Bomb Bay loop on the 18^th. 

Willow Tit – A family party were present in the car park area at Wheldrake Ings on the 17^th. 

Blue Tit – A pair nested in the sightings box on Skipwith Common, successfully fledging nine young. 

 

Blue Tit chick - Skipwith - 10/06

MAMMALS: 

Roe Deer – A single was seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th, followed by a pair at Bank Island on the 10^th and one at Skipwith Common on the 11^th. A single fawn was found at North Duffield Carrs on the 16^th, whilst a single female was seen with two fawns at Thornton on the 22^nd. One was at Skipwith Common on the 27^th. 

Brown Hare – Present across the Ings throughout the month, with Thornton Ellers also being a ‘hot-spot’. 

Hedgehog – Two were reported from Skipwith Common on the 12^th - the first sightings of the year.


REPTILES: 

Common Lizard – Up to nine were recorded at several sites on Skipwith Common on the 4^th, with one or two reported from most sites around the Common thereafter. 

Adder – Several shed skins were found on ‘Adder Heath’ on Skipwith Common on the 4^th when a single male was also seen crossing Sands Lane – well out of the usual range on the Common. Two individuals were reported on the 7^th and 21^st. Sightings of a single female on Adder Heath were had on the 11^th, 15^th, 18^th, 23^rd and 29^th. 

 

Adder - Skipwith Common - 18/06  

Grass Snake – A shed skin was found on Skipwith Common on the 4^th with an adult seen on the 29^th – the first sighting since they first emerged in the spring.

BUTTERFLIES: 

Small Copper – Three were seen at East Cottingwith Ings on the 10^th, followed by two there on the 15^th when a single was also present on Skipwith Common. Four were at East Cottingwith on the 25^th. 

Comma – Three at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th. 

Painted Lady – A single at the NNR base, Bank Island on the 10^th was the first of the year, followed by another there on the 16^th. Three very worn individuals were present at East Cottingwith on the 25^th with another there on the 27^th. 

Peacock – A single was seen on the Common on the 10^th. 

Red Admiral – Three were seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th and 29^th, followed by one at Skipwith Common on the 30^th. 

Brimstone – A single was at Skipwith Common on the 4^th, no records were had then until the end of the month when one was seen in the NNR base garden on the 23^rd, followed by two at Skipwith Common on the 29^th and three on the 30^th. 

Small Heath – The first of the year was seen in the meadows at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd. 

Meadow Brown – The first of the year was seen at East Cottingwith on the 15^th followed by a single at North Duffield Carrs on the 16^th. 12 were present at East Cottingwith on the 24^th followed by four at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th. Over 100 were then present at East Cottingwith on the 25^th. 100+ were then present at both the Low Grounds and Wheldrake Ings on the 30^th when 13 were present at Skipwith Common. 

Ringlet – The first of the year was seen at Skipwith Common at the end of the month on the 29^th, shortly followed by two at Ellerton Ings and Skipwith Common on the 30^th. 

Speckled Wood – Two were seen around the Bomb Bay loop on the Common on the 15^th. 

Small Skipper – Singles at Wheldrake Ings and Skipwith on the 10^th were the first for the year, followed by another at Skipwith on the 11^th and 15^th. One was seen at the NNR base at Bank Island on the 29^th. 

Large Skipper – The first of the year was present at East Cottingwith on the 15^th along with a single at Skipwith Common on the same date, followed by four there on the 18^th. Five were present at East Cottingwith on the 25^th with 15 at Skipwith Common on the 29^th and 30^th.

 

 

Large Skipper - Skipwith Common - 18/06

DRAGONFLIES: 

 

Large Red Damselfly – 12 individuals were counted on the path adjacent to ‘Adder Heath’ on the 10^th, followed by 10 on the 11^th and 15+ on the 15^th. 

Emerald Damselfly - The first for the year was seen at East Cottingwith on the 9^th. 

Four-spotted Chaser – Up to 40 were present on Skipwith Common on the 4^th, followed by 20+ on the 10^th, 10+ on the 11^th and 15+ on the 15^th. Four were present in the meadows at East Cottingwith on the 25^th. 

 

Four-spotted Chaser - Skipwith Common - 11/06 

Broad-bodied Chaser – The first of the year was seen at Skipwith Common on the 10^th. 

Black-tailed Skimmer – A single male was seen hawking over the pools at Skipwith Common on the 30^th. 

Banded Demoiselle – Five were present along the river bank at Wheldrake Ings/Bank Island on the 3^rd. 20+ were later seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th, followed by 50+ on the 30^th. 

Common Darter – A single seen at Skipwith Common on the 4^th was the first of the year. 

Brown Hawker – The first of the year were two individuals at Wheldrake Ings on the 16^th, with none seen then until the 30^th when a single was hawking over the reedbed.


MOTHS: 

As expected the number of moths increased in the traps as the month progressed as more and more species appeared on the wing. One of the highlights however came from a daytime search of Skipwith Common where two Red-necked Footman were found – a new species for the reserve – and one which has been extending its range across the UK.

Red-necked Footman - Skipwith Common - 15/06

The meadows and wetlands of the LDV have always been a stronghold of the Oblique Carpet but this year has seen huge numbers present so far – both recorded in the traps but also disturbed from the meadows whilst ragwort pulling. It will be interesting to see if other sites have also recorded this species during the year as a result of this population explosion. Another species for which the LDV which is something of a stronghold is Cream-boarded Green Pea, and once again two individuals appeared in the traps at Bank Island. Clouded Silvers also seem to be having an above average year with large numbers recorded, along with Straw Dots present in their hundreds in seemingly every meadow.

A side from running the moth trap at various sites throughout the month, a number of other species were also seen throughout the daytime including: 

Bloodvein – One at Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th. 
Brown Silver Lines – One at Skipwith Common on the 10^th followed by four there on the 11^th. 
Chimney Sweeper – The first of the year was seen at the NNR base on the 16^th. 
Ghost Moth – The first of the year was at the NNR base on the 16^th. 
Large Emerald – A single was found resting on vegetation on Skipwith Common on the 23^rd. 
Red-necked Footman – A single was seen and photographed at Skipwith Common NNR on the 15^th and 18^th. 
Silver Y – First recorded in the meadows from the 10^th and commonly encountered thereafter.


OTHER INVERTS: 

14-spot Ladybird – Singles were noted at Skipwith Common on the 4^th, 15^th and 23^rd, whilst one was also found in the NNR base garden on the 23^rd. 

10–spot Ladybird – A single was found at Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th (first record for the site), followed by another at Skipwith Common on the 10^th. 

 

 

10-spot Ladybird - Skipwith Common - 10/06

Harlequin Ladybird – Two were found on the Gorse at Skipwith Common on the 4^th, followed by another there on the 22^nd. 

Kidney Spot Ladybird – A single, and first for the year, was found on Silver Birch at Skipwith Common on the 10^th. 

Bronze Shield Bug – Two nymphs were seen on Silver Birch at Skipwith on the 10^th and again on the 11^th. 

 

Bronze Shield Bug - Skipwith Common - 10/06

Green Shield Bug – A single was seen on the Common on the 11^th followed by two there on the 15^th. 

Tortoise Bug – Two were present on Common Knapweed in the NNR base on the 13^th. 

Hornet – A single was seen in Skipwith village on the 4^th when a further four were also seen on the Common. Three were at East Cottingwith on the 25^th.


NOTABLE PLANTS: 

Many new plant species were seen throughout June, including Water Violet, Tubular Water-dropwort, Fine-leaved Water-dropwort, Narrow-leaved Water-dropwort, Bog Pimpernel, Common Bistort, Thyme-leaved Speedwell and Cat’s-ear.

New grasses, sedges and rushes were also noted on Skipwith Common throughout the month, such as: Early Hair Grass, Heath Wood-rush, Brown Bent, Common Sedge, Fine-leaved Sheep’s Fescue, Sharp-flowered Rush, Pill Sedge, Jointed Rush and Common Yellow Sedge.

 

Common Bistort - East Cottingwith - 15/06