Oct

Lower Derwent Valley NNR Sightings - October 2015 

October is usually an interesting month with lots of migration and passage going on (if sometimes only overhead), with birds coming from and heading to all sorts of different directions depending upon local and more distant weather systems. This month was no exception and in addition to the usual incoming and outgoing migrants there were some signs of more unusual movements to keep the interest during the month.

The highlights came from two different continents – a Yellow-browed Warbler at Bank Island on the 1^st (and another reported from nearby Escrick on the 29^th) were part of an influx noted on the East Coast and elsewhere in the UK during the month – these represent the third and fourth wider area LDV records of the species which is more normally found in northern Siberia eastwards and wintering in India and south-east Asia. The second highlight was a Pectoral Sandpiper which flew through Bank Island with a Dunlin on the 7^th, this bird was on the wrong side of the Atlantic and should have been much further west, breeding in North America before heading south for the winter. Other (and more expected highlights), were the first returning winter visitors and the usual build-up of wintering waterfowl which is hard to beat. The first Whooper Swans arrived on the 17^th with 100 moving through the site during the month, especially from the 26^th which left just 12 resident wintering birds at month end. Similarly many skeins of Pink-footed Geese headed south during the month with over 700 between the 27^th -31^st. The first returning Goldeneye was at North Duffield Carrs on the 15^th followed by a Goosander at Wheldrake on the 28^th, by which time numbers had reached c1000 Greylag Geese, 1000 Mallard, 800 Teal and 600 Wigeon.

An Osprey passed through Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st, whilst following last year’s wintering bird on Skipwith Common NNR it was great to see another ringtail Hen Harrier appear at Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings from the 28^th, joining the now ever present Marsh Harriers and returning Peregrines - no doubt attracted back to the reserve by the build-up of prey. In addition to the ducks and geese, peaks of up to 425 Golden Plover, 750 Lapwing and 250 Common Snipe were scattered throughout the site. An increase in gull movements between the landfill site at Rufforth/Harewood Whin and the reserve produced a Caspian Gull at North Duffield on the 4^th along with several Yellow-legged Gulls. A Short-eared Owl appeared in the Wheldrake/Bank Island area from the 30^th (and into November), and could be the first of a good winter hopefully, following large numbers arriving on the East Coast. The first Redwings appeared from the 7^th/8^th followed by Fieldfares from the 17^th, both species later arrived in big numbers from the 27^th onwards. Chiffchaffs were widespread early in the month with a single lingering (or perhaps newly arrived) at Bank Island on the 31^st, along with a single Brambling on the 30^th and 31^st. A single Cetti’s Warbler betrayed its presence (as they often do) at Wheldrake by appearing in a mist-net, whilst one of the main features of the month was an incredible movement of Lesser Redpoll. Over 800 birds were caught and ringed on passage at Wheldrake Ings where it was often possible to catch 100 a day heading over the site. Many thousands are likely to have been involved but only a single Common/Mealy Redpoll was caught amongst them on the 2^nd.

As always many thanks to the local birders, the YOC and all the visitors who have either left records in the hide logbooks throughout the month, or e-mailed us directly. Lastly - apologies for the lack of photos this month!

BIRDS: 

Mute Swan – In addition to the several family parties present, increasing numbers of returning birds were noted with a peak count of 41 at Thorganby on the 27^th when a total of 64 were present throughout the area. 

Whooper Swan- The first seven of the autumn flew south at Wheldrake Ings on the 17^th (DB) followed by five over Bank Island on the 19^th (FM). 15 flew south over East Cottingwith on the 26^th with 41 south over Thorganby on the 27^th and 32 over Bank Island on the 28^th. 12 were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 29^th - the first of our ‘resident’ herd. 

Canada Goose – Numbers increased during the month with 350+ present throughout the area by month end. 

Greylag Goose – Up to 700 were present at Bank Island early in the month, followed by c1020 throughout the valley and surrounding area on the 15^th. Large numbers were present, but mobile, thereafter. 

Pink-footed Goose – A single juvenile arrived on the pool on the 3^rd, remaining the following day. 120 flew south over Bank Island on the 11^th. Another movement late in the month saw several skeins heading over the valley - 135 on the 27^th and 89 on the 28^th. 300+ flew south over Melbourne at dusk on the 29^th with 200+ over Wheldrake Ings on the 31^st. 

Shelduck – Four were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th followed by a single there on the 18^th. 

Wigeon – 100+ were present on the 1^st, which had increased to 210 by the 7^th. 90+ were at North Duffield Carrs on the 12^th, with 300 there on the 16^th and 400 throughout the valley on the 18^th. Numbers remained similar until the 31^st when 600 were noted at Thorganby Ings. 

Teal – 600 remained from late September with birds being mobile throughout the site – 800+ were present by month end. 

Pintail – A single female was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 17^th and 18^th, with the same or another at Bank Island on the 31^st. 

Mallard – Numbers were swelled by, presumably locally released birds moving throughout the area rather than any numbers of wild incoming migrants. Up to 100 were present throughout the reserve and wider area. 

Gadwall – 15 were at North Duffield Carrs on the 16^th, with up to 26 present throughout the valley by month end. 

Tufted Duck – Two were present on the top pond at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st – the first returning birds. 

Goldeneye – The first returning ‘redhead’ was at North Duffield Carrs top pond on the 15^th but remained the only record during the month – presumably reflecting mild conditions and rather low water levels. 

Goosander – A single female at Wheldrake on the 28^th was the first of the autumn. 

Shoveler – Up to five were present daily on the pool at Wheldrake from the 1^st, increasing to 15 by the 11^th. On the 18^th 15 were seen at Bank Island when a total of 21 were present throughout the site. 

Grey Heron – Up to 10 were present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 1^st followed by eight on the 4^th. 19 were present across the site on the 9^th. 

Little Egret – Four flew north up the valley on the 3^rd whilst three were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th. A single was present there on the 18^th. 

Little Grebe – Up to 10 were scattered throughout the valley, at a number of sites – the Pocklington Canal, River Derwent and North Duffield Carrs. 

Red Kite – A single was seen over canal head on the 15^th and again on the 19^th. 

Goshawk – A single juvenile male was seen over Bank Island on the 18^th. 

Marsh Harrier – A sub-adult male remained in the valley throughout the early part of the month but was mobile – being seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st and 3^rd and North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th, this bird was later joined by an adult female at Bank Island on the 9^th. The male was present again on Bubwith Ings on the 11^th whilst the female was at Wheldrake Ings, the male lingered until at least the 18^th and the female thereafter to month end. 

Hen Harrier – A single ringtail was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th and was present at Bank Island on the morning of the 29^th. 

Osprey – A single flew over the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st (CSR, MFJ). 

Peregrine – Singles were reported regularly during the month from the Wheldrake Ings/Bank Island area, and with increasing regularity towards the end of the month with two adults present there on the 31^st. 

Water Rail – Up to three birds were reported regularly from the pool at Wheldrake Ings during the month. 

Golden Plover – Five flew over Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st, with 150+ in fields by Raker Lakes the next day on the 2^nd. 11 flew over Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd followed by 30+ on the 4^th, whilst 15 were at Bank Island – possibly off-shoots of this flock. 230 were present over Bank Island on the 9^th with 425 near Raker Lakes on the 10^th. Small flocks were regularly seen flying over the valley for the remainder of the month with 120 at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th and 200+ at Bank Island on the 31^st. 

Lapwing – Up to 500 were present throughout the valley on the 5^th with 750 at Bank Island on the 27^th. 

Common Snipe – Numbers increased during the month with an estimated 250 present throughout the site – although birds were scattered throughout several areas. 

Dunlin – A single flew over Bank Island on the 7^th. 

Pectoral Sandpiper – A single was present at Bank Island on the 7^th in company with a Dunlin, before flying over towards Wheldrake Ings. 

Curlew – A single bird flew over Wheldrake Ings calling on the morning of the 10^th. Seven were at Bank Island on the 11^th which were then seen there regularly thereafter. 

Greenshank – One at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th. 

Green Sandpiper – Small numbers lingered into the month with three on the 1^st and two from the 2^nd until the 4^th, followed  by singles on the 14^th, 21^st and 22^nd. 

Caspian Gull – A single first winter was in fields near North Duffield on the 4^th (AW). 

Yellow-legged Gull – Two or possibly three birds were present in fields by North Duffield on the 2^nd-4^th. 

Great Black-backed Gull – A leucistic individual (now returning to the valley for its third winter) was at North Duffield on the 5^th (this bird was ringed in the nest in Norway in 2013). 

Green Woodpecker – Still present throughout the month on Skipwith Common, with one ‘yaffling’ from Thicket Priory near Wheldrake on the 10^th. 

Barn Owl – Increasing numbers were present throughout the area towards dusk during the month. 

Short-eared Owl – Following an early individual last month a single was reported at Wheldrake Ings on the 30^th and 31^st – given the large numbers arriving on the coast this autumn it will be interesting to see if we have a good autumn/winter in the valley. 

Grey Wagtail – Two at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with three there on the 3^rd. Up to three birds were still present in the Bank Island area throughout the month, whilst up to three were roosting at the Melbourne, Church Bridge lock from mid-month onwards. 

Kingfisher – Single birds continued to be reported from Wheldrake Ings throughout the month with singles at Bank Island on the 14^th, 26^th and 31^st. 

Swallow – 80 went south at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st, with four there on the 9^th and a single south on the 10^th and 12^th. Three went south on the 18^th with a single over Bank Island on the 20^th. 

House Martin – A single south at Bank Island on the 15^th was the last of the year. 

Sand Martin – Three at Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th were the last of the year. 

Stonechat – A single was present at Swantail Ings from the 1^st to the 4^th with another male taking up a winter residence at North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th. 

Song Thrush – A small arrival brought 12 to Wheldrake Ings car park and lane on the morning of the 8^th, while seven at Bank Island and three at Wheldrake on the 10^th were also a notable influx. 

Redwing – A small nocturnal passage was noted overnight of the 7^th/8^th with 30 at Bank Island at dawn on the 8^th – the first of the autumn. Eight were at Bank Island on the 10^th with 12 to roost at Wheldrake on the 12^th. A total of 300+ arrived on the 15^th with daily sightings of small numbers thereafter, including 103 on the 17^th at Bank Island. Larger numbers arrived later in the month with 150+ on the 27^th, 500+ on the 28^th and 400+ on the 29^th. 

Fieldfare – Following an early single in September, 57 were present at Bank Island on the 17^th and 47 at Wheldrake Ings on the 18^th. A more significant arrival took place later in the month with 56 on the 27^th, 150 on the 28^th and 300+ on the 29^th. 

Jay – Two at Wheldrake on the 2^nd with up to four regularly thereafter. Singles were also reported from Bank Island on the 11^th, 19^th and 26^th but no large movements noted as in previous years. 

Cetti’s Warbler – A single betrayed its presence yet again by flying into a mist net at Wheldrake Ings in pool side willow scrub (MFJ) – this follows the last record of a single caught there in the same place in 2014. 

Sedge Warbler – A late bird was at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st. 

Chiffchaff – Good numbers remained early in the month with 37 trapped and ringed at Wheldrake Ings between the 1^st-3^rd giving a good indication of the numbers involved (MFJ).  Three were still present at Bank Island on the 10^th. Four were at Skipwith Common on the 14^th with another at Bank Island on the 31^st. 

Yellow-browed Warbler – A single was calling at Bank Island on the 1^st (third reserve record in the LDV/Skipwith Common area in as many years). Another was reported from Escrick on the 29^th (per birdguides). 

Blackcap – A single bird was still present at Bank Island on the 10^th. 

Nuthatch – A single was calling from the Thicket Priory woodland on the 4^th with up to three at Thornton Ellers on the 7^th and 12^th. 

Treecreeper – Three at Bank Island on the 1^st. 

Willow Tit – Three were at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th and regularly thereafter. 

Brambling – The first reported bird was present near Elvington on the 18^th with singles over Bank Island on the 30^th and 31^st. 

Lesser Redpoll – The record breaking movement that took place in the last few days of September continued, albeit in smaller numbers, with 55 caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st and 65 on the 2^nd (MFJ). 139 were then caught on the 3^rd – in total 560 birds were caught and ringed between the 29^th September and 3^rd October (MFJ), and clearly numbers passing over were much higher and possibly involved thousands of birds at this time. Birds continued to move thereafter but it was difficult to monitor numbers without ringing, although 30+ were present at dawn on the 10^th. 100+ were still present near Melbourne on the 9^th with 21 on Skipwith Common on the 13^th and 40+ at Wheldrake Ings on the 16^th. Smaller numbers were reported daily thereafter while 120 were again caught and ringed on the 26^th with 50 ringed on the 28^th (MFJ) – a total of nearly 800 birds have been caught and ringed since the start of the passage in mid-September but actual numbers involved are likely to be in the many thousands.  

Common Redpoll – A single was caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd – caught up as part of a large movement of Lesser Redpoll (MFJ). 

Goldfinch – Up to 220 were present at North Duffield Carrs from the 11^th to the 21^st feeding on the seed heads of Autumnal Hawkbit. Smaller flocks were scattered throughout.

MAMMALS: 

Brown Hare – Four at Thornton Ellers on the 1^st included a single young leveret, followed by three at Wheldrake on the 2^nd. 

Roe Deer – Two were in the car park lane at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd. 

Fallow Deer – A single yearling was rescued and released from fencing at Skipwith Common on the 3^rd where six were seen on the 21^st followed by three on the 30^th. 

Otter – Three were seen in the River Derwent from the bridge at Wheldrake Ings on the 26^th.

BUTTERFLIES: 

Brimstone – A single male at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st was followed by a female at Skipwith Common on the 3^rd. 

Speckled Wood – Up to six were still on the wing at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with three on the 4^th and one on the 9^th. 

Red Admiral – Three were at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st when two were also present at the NNR base garden at Bank Island, followed by two there on the 2^nd and 3^rd. A single was still on the wing at Wheldrake Ings on the 17^th and again on the 21^st. 

Peacock – Present on the wing on most sunny days during the month, with a single still at the NNR base garden on the 27^th. 

Comma – A single at Bank Island on the 1^st with two there on the 9^th, on the same date a single was also present at Wheldrake Ings, with another there on the 21^st.

DRAGONFLIES: 

Common Darter – Present on the wing throughout the month with six near Melbourne on the 26^th and two at Bank Island on the 29^th. 

Migrant Hawker – Four were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st when three were also present at Wheldrake Ings.