Dec

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - December 2015 

Unseasonable mild temperatures continued whilst water levels increased as the month progressed, before heavy and prolonged rainfall brought extensive flooding throughout the valley just after Christmas, nearly reaching record levels.

Wintering waterfowl continued to build up in numbers despite the relatively mild weather conditions both here and across Europe. At least 101 Whooper Swans were still present during the month whilst, as with last month, the geese stole the show. Amongst the impressive count of 2150 Greylag Geese (which must surely include some ‘wild’ Icelandic birds) were two European White-fronted Geese and a single Barnacle Goose (perhaps having overshot the Solway Coast). The now resident flock of Pink-footed Geese at Wheldrake Ings reached 161 by the 20^th. The highlight of the month was the discovery of a fine drake Green-winged Teal at Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th; perhaps last winter’s returning bird – and found again by the same observer (JL), although with 6000+ Eurasian Teal present in the valley at this time it unsurprisingly wasn’t seen again. 8000+ Wigeon were also present whilst other notable counts included 267 Pintail, 38 Pochard and 21 Goldeneye – the latter two species no doubt attracted by the deeper flooding towards month end. A single Little Egret lingered from the 1^st to 13^th (at least). Wader counts early in the month were notable with a fine count of 3500+ Lapwing and 3000+ Golden Plover, along with 100 Dunlin and 26 Ruff. Deep and extensive flooding no doubt lead to a mass clear out of waders after the the 28^th. Raptors were well represented with the now ever present Marsh Harriers all month, plus three Merlins, four Peregrines and a Short-eared Owl.

Increasing numbers of gulls started to use the flood waters for roosting after feeding on the Rufforth Harewood Whin landfill site during the day. Two Iceland Gulls, an adult and third winter, flew into roost over Bank Island on the 30^th. At least one, if not two Cetti’s Warblers remained in the reed bed at Wheldrake Ings all month, along with a Chiffchaff there on the 20^th and another (or the same) at Bank Island on the 30^th. A Stonechat reappeared at North Duffield Carrs on the 28^th whilst Kingfishers showed well at various sites throughout the month, and the Corn Bunting roost at Melbourne built up - 41 by the 29^th.

The most unusual mammal sighting of the month concerned an unfortunate mole seen swimming past the hide at North Duffield Carrs on the 28^th… The mild conditions (and internal artificial heating systems), no doubt helped the mid-winter emergence of Peacock butterflies at Wheldrake and Bank Island late in the month.

Many thanks to all those who have contributed records throughout the month, particularly the regular valley birders and the YOC, along with all the visiting birders who have left records in the hide log books.

BIRDS: 

Mute Swan – Numbers built up during the month with 89 present by the 30^th with a single herd of 34 at Thorganby Ings on the 31^st. 

Whooper Swan - Following an impressive count of 109 in late November, good numbers remained throughout December with 101 present between North Duffield Carrs and Ellerton on the 20^th.

Canada Goose – Numbers continued to increase during the month with up to 490 present throughout the valley on the 20^th, with most birds being spilt between Wheldrake Ings and North Duffield Carrs. 

Greylag Goose – An estimated 1700+ were present throughout the site and adjacent area early in the month, with 2150 at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th the highest count. Birds became widely distributed following extensive flooding from the 20^th to month end. 

Pink-footed Goose – Up to 80 birds remained in the Wheldrake Ings area from late November increasing to 100+ by 13^th and 161 on 20^th to month end. 

European White-fronted Goose – Two adults which were first present amongst the numerous Greylags at Wheldrake Ings on the 17^th and 28^th November, reappeared there this month with the Pink-footed Geese on the 20^th (JL). 

Barnacle Goose – A single was present amongst the goose flocks at Wheldrake Ings throughout the month having arrived in late November. 26 were then present at North Duffield Carrs on the 30^th (AK). 

Shelduck – Numbers increased with 50+ present by mid-month. 

Wigeon – Numbers increased from 6500 in late November to 8000+ by month end when extreme flooding made access to the whole site difficult to count. 

Teal – 4600 were present early in the month following good numbers in late November. Numbers then grew with increased flooding late in the month, 3500+ were at Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th when 1500+ were present at North Duffield Carrs. An estimated total of 6000+ were present throughout the valley. 

Green-winged Teal – A single drake was found at Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th amongst the vast numbers on European Teal (JL). Not reported thereafter but presumably present out there somewhere… 

Pintail – 80+ were present early in the month with increasing numbers thereafter. 91 were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 24^th with 96 at North Duffield Carrs on the 28^th. A total of 267 were present throughout the site on the 30^th. 

Mallard – 1340 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th, followed by 1400 there on 20^th and 1000+ at North Duffield Carrs on the 23^rd (largest counts) – an estimated 2000+ were present throughout the valley during the month. 

Gadwall – A monthly peak of 43 was recorded on the 30^th. 

Tufted Duck – Extensive flooding late in the month saw the expected influx into the valley with numbers building up to 144 by the 30^th. 

Scaup – A single female was present amongst the Tufted Ducks at North Duffield Carrs on the 31^st (DB). 

Pochard – Nine at Bank Island on the 4^th increased with 25 there on the 6^th and a monthly maximum of 38 on the 20^th. 

Goldeneye – Although birds were scarce early in the month they increased quickly with the onset of deeper flooding. Six were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th with 13 there by the 20^th and 21 throughout the site on the 30^th. 

Goosander – A single drake was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 30^th and 31^st. 

Shoveler – The largest count of the month was that of 81 throughout the site on the 30^th. 

Coot – Three at Bank Island on the 3^rd were the first returning birds, increasing to nine at Wheldrake Ings on the 30^th following widespread flooding. 

Cormorant – Regular throughout the month at Wheldrake Ings, up to 22 roosted there whilst regular sightings were had elsewhere in the valley. 

Grey Heron – Small numbers remained throughout the site early in the month but decreased with extensive flooding towards month end. 

Little Egret – A single was present at North Duffield Carrs from the 1^st to 7^th before being seen again at Thorganby Ings on the 13^th. 

Marsh Harrier – Two were present early in the month and were still being seen at Wheldrake Ings towards the end of the month. 

Peregrine – Up to four birds were present throughout the month, enjoying the increasing numbers of waterfowl that built up with additional flooding. 

Merlin – A single was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 6^th, Thorganby on the 13^th and Bank Island on the 21^st. 

Water Rail – Up to four were regularly reported in the reed bed at Swantail Hide, Wheldrake Ings throughout the month until flooding presumably forced them off the site from the 26^th. A single was present in front of the Geoff Smith Hide at North Duffield Carrs on the 28^th, with up to three at Church Bridge near Melbourne. 

Golden Plover – 1500 at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd and 2300 on the 11^th were the largest counts made during the month. 

Lapwing – Large numbers were present early in the month with 3300 at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd and 4200 on the 11^th – fewer than 1000 remained by month end as feeding opportunities became limited by flooding. 

Common Snipe – Always difficult to achieve full counts but 200+ were present early in the month with up to 50 also scattered over Skipwith Common. 

Dunlin – Four were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 22^nd with 46 at Thorganby Ings on the 24^th, building up to 100+ by the 30^th. 

Ruff – The first returning birds were 14 at Thorganby Ings on the 24^th. 

Curlew – Numbers in the Wheldrake area increased to 20+ by mid-month. 

Redshank – The first two returning wintering birds present at Wheldrake Ings on the 22^nd were presumably the same two seen at Thorganby on the 24^th. 

Iceland Gull – A single adult and third winter came into roost over Bank Island on the 30^th. 

Short-eared Owl – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th. 

Grey Wagtail – Birds were still present in the favoured locations of Bank Island and by Church Bridge, Melbourne during the month. 

Kingfisher – A single was seen at Bank Island on the 3^rd and 4^th, followed by sightings at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th, 13^th and 24^th. Birds also showed well in front of the hide at North Duffield Carrs with records of singles on the 12^th, 24^th, 28^th and 29^th. Extensive deep flooding throughout the site presumably made birds head further up the local catchments and onto nearby ponds to find better feeding conditions late in the month. 

Stonechat – A single was reported from in front of the hide at North Duffield Carrs on the 29^th. 

Cetti’s Warbler – At least one remained on its winter territory in the Wheldrake reed bed by Swantail Hide throughout the month, with reports on the 2^nd, 7^th, 13^th, 20^th and 23^rd. 

Chiffchaff – A single overwintering bird was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th (JL) and at Wheldrake Ings on the 30^th (CSR). 

Lesser Redpoll – The recent extended autumn passage finally came to an end early in the month although small numbers of wintering birds were present throughout the site. Up to 26 were present at Wheldrake Ings during the month, along with up to 60 birds in the Melbourne, Church Bridge area. A small flock of six were seen by the Geoff Smith Hide at North Duffield Carrs from the 18^th to month end. 

Tree Sparrow – Up to 100 were present at the Bank Island feeding station during the month. 

Corn Bunting – The roost at Melbourne reed bed had increased to 23 on the 13^th and 41 by the 29^th.

MAMMALS: 

Roe Deer – Widespread throughout the month although seven at North Duffield Carrs on the 24^th was a notable count. Flooding presumably forced them all off the Ings and into surrounding farmland thereafter. 

Brown Hare – Up to four were recorded from the meadows at Wheldrake Ings until the 20^th when rising water levels forced them off the site and onto higher surrounding farmland. Three were present on the last small section of floodbank at North Duffield Carrs on the 24^th however that too had disappeared under water by the 29^th. 

Mole – A single swam past the Geoff Smith Hide at North Duffield Carrs on the 28^th – an unusual sighting but probably one of necessity.

BUTTERFLIES: 

Small Tortoiseshell – A single was present on the wing in Wheldrake church on the 24^th followed by a single at the NNR base on the 29^th – the un-seasonally mild weather no doubt bringing them out of hibernation temporarily.