Oct' 19

Lower Derwent Valley NNR Sightings - October

Early flooding saw a rapid build-up in wintering waterfowl in a month that certainly delivered plenty for the local birders. 181 Whooper Swans moved through the site in addition to the build-up of 70 resident wintering birds, whilst nearly 6000 Pink-footed Geese moved over during the course of the month, presumably linked to the record numbers present on the Humber. A large build-up of 1800 Greylags attracted other species including 13 Barnacle Geese and 17 Egyptian Geese (including a late brood of three). Wigeon and Teal numbers exceeded over 3000, with deep water also attracting an early high count of 173 Tufted Duck and 43 Pochard, along with 154 Gadwall, 130 Shoveler and 111 Pintail. Highlights included an all too brief Ring-necked Duck (10^th), Scaup (13^th-15^th and 23^rd) and the earliest ever Smew, a redhead from the 16^th-27^th. Two records of Little Egrets were far out-numbered by their larger cousins, with up to five Great White Egrets lingering in the second half of the month – a new reserve record.

Raptor watchers were spoilt with up to eight Marsh Harriers roosting in the valley, with a juvenile Hen Harrier present at Wheldrake (10^th-19^th) and another in the wider area (28^th). The last Hobbies (11^th) overlapped the first returning Merlin (9^th) whilst 16 Kestrels and 34+ Buzzards were counted during the monthly WeBS on the 12^th.

Wintering wader numbers also increased with 2450 Lapwing and 2100 Golden Plover recorded. Up to 325 Snipe were counted as well as up to 16 Jack Snipe, which included a noteworthy total of 10 that were caught and ringed. Up to 52 Ruff had returned late in the month, with a single Black-tailed Godwit (20^th) and Spotted Redshank (27^th) appearing with the first returning Redshank. A lingering Greenshank was present until the 17^th with two Green Sandpipers recorded until the 20^th.

Outgoing migrants included the last Reed Warbler and Whitethroat (2^nd and 3^rd respectively), Chiffchaff (15^th), Blackcap (16^th) and the last two Swallows (27^th). These were increasingly replaced by up to 16 wintering Stonechat, the first Redwing and Fieldfare on the 2^nd and 3^rd (large arrivals of 2000+ on the 20^th), with seven Bearded Tits (5^th), three Cetti’s Warblers and two lingering Ravens also being notable.

Many thanks as always to everyone who contributed records throughout the month, in particular to members of the YOC, and thanks also to Duncan Bye, Gerry Capelin, Matt Gowney and Jono Leadley for the use of their photographs.

BIRDS: 

Whooper Swan – 15 flew south late in the day over Wheldrake on the 5^th. Four adults were present in pairs at Aughton and Bubwith on the 12^th, followed by six adults at Aughton on the 15^th when 15 also headed over Thorganby. 17 flew south-west over Melbourne on the 18^th with nine at Wheldrake and ten at Aughton on the 20^th. The following day on the 21^st a total of 63 were present in the valley including a flock of 41 at North Duffield Carrs in the usual wintering fields. Several passage herds totalling 83 passed through the valley on the 25^th with 70+ scattered throughout the site from the 26^th to month end. 181 went through on passage in addition to the build-up of the wintering herd.

Mute Swan – 61 were recorded on the monthly WeBS count on the 12^th followed by a record of 79 on the 20^th.

Pink-footed Goose – 92 flew south over the valley on the 1^st, followed by 155 on the 2^nd and 476 on the 3^rd. 423 flew south on the 12^th before 300 were seen over Skipwith and a total of 470 were recorded over the valley on the 14^th. A total of 840 were logged in or over the valley on the 15^th, including 550 feeding in a stubble field near North Duffield. 200 passed south over Thorganby Ings on the 16^th when 120 also went south over Skipwith. 75 flew south over Melbourne on the 18^th with 320 over Thorganby on the 19^th. 419 passed over Melbourne on the 23^rd, followed by 200+ over Wheldrake on the 24^th, 300 at Melbourne on the 25^th and 350 over Bank Island on the 27^th. 13 were also present at Wheldrake on the 27^th with 125 over Bank Island on the 28^th. 220 flew south east over Thorganby on the 28^th. 600+ flew west over Melbourne towards dusk on the 29^th with 200 again the following morning going east and 230 over Thorganby daily to month end.

A total of 6000+ recorded during the month, with one or two lingering during the month with the Greylag flocks.

Bean Goose – A single flew over Bank Island calling on the 31^st (CSR, NC).

Barnacle Goose – 12 were present with 727 Greylags at Aughton on the 12^th followed by 13 there on the 20^th and 25^th.

Egyptian Goose – Seven flew west from Bank Island on the 5^th followed by four at Wheldrake on the 11^th. A record count of 17 were recorded in the valley on the 12^th – including a flock of 12 on the Low Grounds and a pair with three half-grown young at East Cottingwith (caught and ringed), present to month end. A report of nine over Bank Island on the 19^th were followed 10 at Thornton on the 25^th. 

Egyptian Geese - East Cottingwith - 23/10

Greylag Goose – Numbers increased with flooding early in the month with 700+ throughout the site on the 5^th and a full valley count of 1417 on the 12^th. 1100 roosted on the Low Grounds on the 14^th with 800 in the Ellerton/Aughton area on the 15^th. 650 roosted on the Low Grounds on the 18^th whilst 850 were at Thornton Ings and 250 at Wheldrake Ings on the 23^rd. A total of 1800+ present by month end.

Canada Goose – 183 were present in the valley on the 12^th with 243 recorded on the 23^rd.

Teal – Up to 700 were present from the 1^st with over 1100 by the 10^th, 2478 by the 12^th and 3200 by the 21^st.

Wigeon – Up to 200 were recorded from the 1^st, increasing to 1868 by the 12^th and 3400 by the 21^st.  

Pintail – The first four returning birds were at Bank Island on the 5^th whilst 34 were counted throughout the valley on the 12^th. A total of 111 were present throughout the site by the 21^st.

Gadwall – 27 were recorded at Bank Island on the 2^nd, increasing to 64 across the whole site by the 11^th and 154 by the 20^th.

Mallard – Numbers increased to 1000+ by month end.

Shoveler – Numbers increased quickly with returning flood water, with 12 at Bank Island on the 4^th and 54 throughout the whole site on the 11^th. 63 were at Bank Island on the 17^th, with a total of 87 across the whole site, followed by 130+ present throughout on the 20^th.

Tufted Duck – Seven had returned to Bank Island by the 3^rd, followed by five there on the 5^th. 51 were recorded at Bubwith Ings on the 11^th with 40 remaining the next day. A total of 62 were present at Bank Island on the 22^nd, followed by 72 on the 23^rd and 90 on the 27^th (when a total of 173 were present throughout the whole site).

Scaup – An adult drake was seen at Bank Island on the 13^th-15^th with an immature there on the 23^rd.

Pochard – 43 were newly arrived on a flooded Bubwith Ings on the 10^th although only 14 remained the following day, with 22 there on the 12^th. 39 were recorded at Aughton on the 27^th.

Ring-necked Duck – A drake was present with the Pochard flock at Bubwith Ings on the 10^th (CSR).

Smew – A single red-head was found at Bank Island on the 16^th (AF), and remained until the 27^th – this is the earliest returning bird to have been reported, with most arriving after the New Year.  

Smew - Bank Island - 26/10 - JL

Goosander – A single red-head south over Bank Island on the 19^th was followed by one at Wheldrake on the 20^th.

Little Egret – A single reappeared on the River Derwent at Aughton on the 4^th, whilst four were seen in flooded arable fields near Crockey Hill on the 10^th.

Great White Egret – Amazingly out-numbered Little Egrets during the month - one re-appeared at Wheldrake on the 2^nd where it was seen catching and eating a vole (JC). A single was then located on the riverbank at North Duffield on the 4^th before relocating to North Duffield Carrs, whilst another two were present on Bubwith Ings. A single remained at North Duffield Carrs on the 5^th with one at Ellerton landing on the 8^th, East Cottingwith Ings on the 10^th and incredibly a new reserve record count of four was made on the 12^th (DB, CSR), with two at Thornton Ellers and singles at Aughton and Thorganby. Two were then present at Thorganby Ings on the 15^th (AF) when two were still present in the Melbourne area (GJ), with singles at Thorganby and North Duffield Carrs on the 16^th until a flock of five were present in a presumed roost at Ellerton Landing on the 18^th. Singles were at Melbourne and Aughton on the 20^th with at least two reported regularly in the North Duffield/Aughton/Ellerton and Thorganby areas thereafter to month end. 

Grey Heron – 22 were present throughout the valley on the 12^th followed by 17 at Thornton Ellers on the 25^th when a total of 31 were recorded throughout the whole site. 

Grey Heron - Wheldrake Ings - 12/10 - MG

Marsh Harrier – Up to five continued to linger in the valley during the first week with at least four cream crowns recorded on the 12^th. Four (an adult pair and two juveniles ) were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 16^th with two juveniles also at Bank Island on the same date. Three juveniles were seen at Bank Island on the 17^th with two at Thorganby on the 20^th. Seven cream crowns roosted at Wheldrake on the 23^rd.

Hen Harrier – A single first-winter male ringtail was present at Wheldrake before flying towards Bank Island on the 10^th (TJ). It was present again there on the 11^th where it went to roost and showed again between the 12-19^th. It was also seen flying north at Thorganby Ings on the 16^th and may well have been the same ringtail reported thereafter at the roost at Blacktoft Sands RSPB reserve. Another ringtail, a female, was present in the Elvington Airfield/Heslington Tilmire area on the 28^th. 

Hen Harrier - Wheldrake Ings - 12/10 - GC

Peregrine – Singles were present at Bubwith Ings on the 10^th and 11^th followed by two birds at Ellerton and Wheldrake on the 12^th. An adult female was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 21^st with another there on the 27^th.

Red Kite – Daily singles were seen over Thorganby early in the month, along with one over Bank Island on the 4^th, and Wheldrake on the 5^th and 10^th with three there on the 11^th/12^th. Singles were reported from Wheldrake and Thorganby Ings on the 18^th, 23^rd and 27^th.

Hobby – One at Wheldrake on the 2^nd with two seen there, over Tower Hide at dusk, on the 11^th (CSR).

Merlin – The first returning bird was at North Duffield Carrs on the 9^th with another at Bank Island on the 10^th and North Duffield Carrs on the 16^th.

Kestrel – 16 were counted around the valley on the 12^th as part of the monthly WeBS count.

Buzzard – Good numbers were present throughout with 34+ recorded around the valley on the 12^th (CSR, DB). 14 were counted between Thorganby and Wheldrake on the 17^th followed by 6 at Ellerton on the 27^th.

Water Rail – Up to four remained at Wheldrake early in the month with six in the Swantail reedbed on the 23^rd. Birds also returned to wintering sites along the Pocklington Canal during the month.

Common Crane – A single was present at Thorganby Ings on the 31^st (SW, TH).

Little Grebe – Three immatures lingered on the scrape at Swantail, Wheldrake from the 1^st to the 13^th. Three immatures were present on the farm pond at East Cottingwith with eight along the Pocklington Canal on the 18^th. A single arrived at Bank Island on the 19^th with two there on the 20^th and four on the 27^th. 

Little Grebe - Bank Island - 19/10 

Cormorant – Numbers increased to 17 by the 20^th and 22 by the 27^th.

Golden Plover – Up to 200 were present in the Bank Island/Wheldrake area throughout the month, building to 323 by Raker Lakes on the 21^st when a further 2000+ were present in the Bubwith area. Up to 2100 were on site by the 27^th.

Lapwing – 1221 were present throughout the valley on the 12^th with 2100 at North Duffield Ings on the 15^th. 1250 were recorded at Thorganby Ings on the 19^th with 2450 present throughout the valley on the 21^st. 450 were also in the Thornton area on the 23^rd.

Snipe – A flock of 23 flew into Bank Island on the 7^th. Up to 50 were present at North Duffield Carrs between the 9^th - 11^th, with 184 on Skipwith Common on the 11^th when 24 were also present at Wheldrake. 52 were recorded at Thornton Ellers on the 12^th when 31 were also present at Seavy Carr – a total of 315 throughout the area. 17 were at Hagg Bridge on the 20^th.

Jack Snipe – Seven were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 7^th – the first of the autumn, with four at Bank Island on the 8^th. Five were still at North Duffield on the 9^th when three were caught and ringed. Another two were seen and ringed there on the 10^th with five on the 11^th when six were also present on Skipwith Common. Four were seen at Seavy Carr on the 12^th when at least 16 birds were scattered throughout the reserve with two more caught and ringed at North Duffield on the 13^th. Singles were still present there, and at Ellerton Ings on the 15^th followed by one at Hagg Bridge on the 20^th and one at North Duffield on the 24^th – the last before extensive flooding forced birds out of the area. 

Jack Snipe - North Duffield - 13/10 - DB

Black-tailed Godwit – A single at Wheldrake on the 20^th.

Curlew – Two at Thorganby Ings on the 6^th and 9^th and Wheldrake Ings on 11^th/12^th. Three at Ellerton Ings on the 20^th.

Ruff – The first 13 wintering birds had returned to the valley with flooding by the 12^th with 18 at Wheldrake and 33 at Ellerton by the 20^th. A total of 52 were present throughout the site on the 27^th.

Dunlin – The returning wintering bird was a single present at Ellerton on the 20^th with ten at North Duffield Carrs by the 29^th.  

Redshank – The first two returning wintering birds were at Ellerton Ings on the 20^th, remaining to month end.

Spotted Redshank – A single was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 27^th.

Greenshank – One remained at Wheldrake on the 1^st and 2^nd with another at Thorganby Ings on the 17^th.

Green Sandpiper – Following rising floodwaters numbers increased with three at Bank Island on the 2^nd/3^rd along with six along the riverbank at North Duffield Carrs on the same date. Two were present at Bank Island on the 6^th with one over the NNR base and car park on the 8^th. Two were seen at Bank Island on the 11^th with another at Wheldrake. Three were still present in the valley on the 12^th with four at Bank Island on the 15^th and 19^th, and two on the 20^th. Single at Thornton Ellers on the 29^th.

Common Gull – Extensive flooding at month end saw the usual build-up of the winter roost with 4000+ flying into the Wheldrake roost on the 30^th.

Black-headed Gull – Up to 7500 roosted at Wheldrake on the 30^th.

Green Woodpecker – A single was present at Bank Island on the 31^st.

Little Owl – A single was seen from the Thorganby viewing platform on the 20^th.

Kingfisher – Birds remained active in the Bank Island and Wheldrake area throughout the month – often seen and heard along the river but also sitting on the perches in front of Pool Hide and showing well.

Swallow – A flock of 22 were at Bank Island on the 2^nd followed by 31 on the 3^rd. Six flew south at Bank Island on the 5^th followed by eleven on the 6^th, four on the 7^th and three on the 8^th. Three flew west over North Duffield Carrs on the 9^th with three over Bank Island on the 10^th. Nine south at Wheldrake on the 11^th were followed by six on the 12^th and eight on the 13^th when a single was still in North Duffield village. Seven flew through Bank Island on the 15^th. Singles were present at Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 23^rd (CSR) with two at Thorganby on the 27^th (JL).

House Martin – Present daily at the breeding colony in Thorganby with ten on the 9^th and five on the 10^th – 12^th. Elsewhere, four over Bank Island on the 4^th were followed by two on the 8^th whilst two flew south over Thorganby Ings on the 15^th.  

Sand Martin – A late bird at Wheldrake on the 23^rd.

Grey Wagtail – Regular in the Bank Island area throughout the month with one or two birds at the adjacent Water Treatment Works.

Stonechat – Two at Wheldrake on the 2^nd were followed by two at Bank Island on the 5^th. Three were present at Bank Island on the 6^th with two seen in the NNR base garden on the 7^th. Two at North Duffield Carrs on the 9^th were followed by two at Wheldrake on the 11^th, with pairs also seen at Bank Island, Wheldrake, Hagg Bridge, Hagg Lane East Cottingwith and North Duffield Carrs on the 12^th, with three at Wheldrake on the 13^th. A pair were still at North Duffield Carrs on the 15^th, with one at Thorganby on the 17^th, three at North Duffield on the 18^th and a single at Ellerton on the 20^th. A pair were present at Seavy Carr on the 24^th with three at North Duffield Carrs on the 26^th - perhaps up to 16 wintering individuals present in the valley during the month.

Song Thrush – Five were at Melbourne in an influx of thrushes on the 4^th, with 14 present at Bank Island at dawn on the 5^th including a group of six heading west.

Blackbird – 26 were counted in the Melbourne area on the 4^th – a noticeable increase. A further arrival took place with an increase at Bank Island on the 19^th.

Redwing – Two flew into roost in pool side willows at Wheldrake at dusk on the 2^nd with 35 south there on the 3^rd when 60 were recorded in Thorganby. Nine were at Melbourne on the 4^th while 133 flew west over Bank Island on the 5^th. Only single figures were recorded thereafter until 320 arrived early morning at Bank Island on the 15^th. 500+ arrived in the valley on the 15^th with 200+ at Bank Island on the 19^th. 2200 arrived in the valley on the 20^th including 1600 over Wheldrake Ings.

Fieldfare – A single was present at Thorganby on the 3^rd with another, or the same, present nearby on the 8^th. 40+ arrived on the 15^th, with c50 present in the Thorganby area on the 16^th. c2900 were recorded in the valley on the 20^th following 2000 over Wheldrake Ings.

Mistle Thrush – Seven passed over Thorganby on the 2^nd when three were present near Melbourne, followed by four at Thorganby on the 3^rd.

Jay – 12 were recorded on Skipwith Common NNR on the 11^th when six flew into roost in pool side willows at Wheldrake. Three were present at Wheldrake on the 12^th when two were also seen at Aughton and four at Thornton Ellers. Six were present at the Blackwood Corner of Skipwith Common on the 14^th. One went east over Thorganby Ings exceedingly high on the 16^th (DW).

Raven – A pair were present on Skipwith Common NNR between the 22^nd – 25^th.

Magpie – 12 flew south in a loose flock at Bank Island on the 3^rd.

Bearded Tit – At least seven were present at Wheldrake on the 5^th.

Nuthatch – Three were calling in the car park scrub at Wheldrake on the 10^th.

Cetti’s Warbler – A single vocal bird was present in the reedbed at Church Bridge Melbourne on the 14^th (NC), with another first winter caught and ringed at Bank Island on the 15^th (CSR). A single called at Wheldrake at dusk on the 23^rd.

Chiffchaff – Small numbers lingered into the month with two at Bank Island on the 5^th and several still in the car park area at Wheldrake on the 10^th. Three were reported at North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th with two still present in the NNR base garden on the 15^th.

Blackcap – Three were still present at the NNR base (caught and ringed) on the 3^rd with another two there on the 5^th and a female on the 16^th.  

Common Whitethroat – A single was still present at Bank Island on the 2^nd and 3^rd.

Reed Warbler – A single was present at Wheldrake on the 1^st and 2^nd.

Brambling – The first two returning birds flew over Bank Island on the 15^th with three there on the 23^rd.

Reed Bunting – 112 were counted into the Wheldrake roost at Swantail reed bed on the 23^rd.