Sep'

September saw the continued build-up of wintering waterfowl, with Teal being present in good numbers throughout the month, reaching 1000+ by the end of the month. By which time 200 Wigeon had also returned to Skipwith Common NNR. Both Greylag and Canada Geese numbers also started to increase with the concentration of local breeding birds. A skein of returning Pink-footed Geese flew south over Bank Island on the 21^st, no doubt en-route to the north Norfolk coast. Otherwise it was fairly quiet for wildfowl during the month, presumably reflecting the relatively dry conditions throughout most of the valley.

Wader passage was at best steady early in the month but was largely over by the 20^th with just a late juvenile Greenshank and lone Green Sandpipers thereafter. Wetter conditions along the Pocklington Canal corridor of Melbourne and Thornton Ings provided attractive for Common Snipe with 150+ there on the 1^st, whilst Wheldrake Ings also held 50+ on the 3^rd and 4^th and more interesting, Skipwith had 25 on the 3^rd.

Green Sandpiper - Wheldrake Ings - D.Bye 

Several Marsh Harriers were involved in a series of records throughout the site, including a wing-tagged bird from Norfolk - giving an indication of where some of our late summer birds are coming from. A single Red Kite was seen well at Thornton on the 11^th and a male Hen Harrier flew south through the valley on the 21^st. Three Peregrine Falcons were logged during the month and two or possibly three Hobbies showed well at times, particularly at Wheldrake Ings. Barn Owls continued to fair well with second broods, with another six chicks ringed on the 11^th.

Barn Owl chick - Bubwith - 11/09 

Kingfishers have obviously had a successful breeding season with a good number of records received during the month, perhaps relating to 13 individuals, with up to three showing well at both Melbourne Arm and Wheldrake Ings. Jays were also obvious during the month as they started to roam from wood to wood in search of food, and perhaps as birds from other areas also started to move through the area. Other migrants passing through the valley during the month included a Tree Pipit over Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st, whilst three late Whinchats were still at North Duffield Carrs on the 20^th. 

Kingfisher - Wheldrake Ings - D.Bye

Good numbers of warblers were present throughout the month with several late Reed Warblers presents towards month end, and 11 Chiffchaff caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th (MFJ) were probably just a fraction of the total present on site that day. The highlight of the month was undoubtedly the appearance of a flock of 14 erupting Bearded Tits at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th – the first in the LDV for three years and the joint largest flock on record.

Butterflies, dragonflies and other invertebrates continued to be recorded throughout the month (see below for full species write ups), with a pleasing number of new species found, in particular eight new spiders and a number new beetles were added to the 2014 'pan'. Shield Bugs continued to be found in good numbers across the site, with Skipwith Common being a particular hot-spot.

 Four-spot Orb Weaver - Skipwith Common - 25/09

Bronze Shield Bug nymph - Skipwith Common - 25/09

Many thanks as always to those who've contributed records throughout the month, and to the staff and volunteers for collecting records and taking photographs whilst working on site.


BIRDS:

Mute Swan – The family parties remained throughout the month with some cygnets starting their first flights late in the month. 

Egyptian Goose – A single adult flew east over Bank Island on the 23^rd. 

Pink-footed Goose – The first of the autumn, a skein of 120 flew south over Bank Island on the 21^st. 

Greylag Goose – 600+ flew over Sutton-upon-Derwent on the 1^st when 300 were present at Melbourne. 

Canada Goose – Numbers started to build up slowly from the leftover summering flock of 11 at Wheldrake on the 1^st and 2^nd, to 35 at Thornton Ings on the 14^th and 78 by the 26^th. 

Teal – The month opened with 230+ at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st, 350 on the 2^nd, 380 on the 4^th and 450+ on the 5^th. 550+ were present at Wheldrake on the 9^th with 530 there on the 21^st, on the same date 200+ were also present on Skipwith Common, with 1000+ in the valley by the 24^th. 

Wigeon – Numbers at Wheldrake Ings increased to 10 on the 1^st with scattered small numbers thereafter including 12 on the 21^st. Larger numbers were present on the nearby Skipwith Common NNR with 200 there on the 19^th. 

Gadwall – 10 at Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th with 28 throughout the valley on the 22^nd. 

Shoveler – Four at Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th with 12 there on 26^th. 

Tufted Duck – Two on the Top Pond at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st.   

Tufted Duck - T.Weston

Coot – Up to 20 remained at Wheldrake Ings early in the month with just five remaining at month end. 

Water Rail – Three were at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st and 4^th with five there on the 11^th and one or two regularly thereafter. Numbers and sightings increased late in the month with three there on 25^th and six on the 28^th. 

Little Grebe – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st-4^th. 

Grey Heron – Ten at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th with 11 on the 14^th and up to eight regularly thereafter, whilst small numbers were scattered throughout the month elsewhere. Monthly maximum of 21 on the 14^th. 

Little Egret – A rather quiet month with a single at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th. 

Red Kite – A single seen well at Thornton Ellers on the 11^th (LM, CSR, FM). 

Red Kite - Thornton Ellers - 11/09

Hen Harrier – A single adult male flew south east over Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st (CSR). 

Marsh Harrier – Single cream crowns were at Thornton Ellers and Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st, with two at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd. An adult male was at North Duffield Ings on the 5^th along with a single cream crown at North Duffield Carrs and two at Wheldrake Ings. A juvenile was at Bank Island on the 9^th and 11^th, with a single at Wheldrake Ings on the latter date. A single adult female still lingered at Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th with three birds (including a single green wing-tagged bird there on the 21st – 28th). This tagged bird had originally been ringed in the nest at Cantley, near Norwich on the 1^st July 2014 and had been re-sighted at Fairburn Ings RSPB reserve in late August. Four were at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th. 

Buzzard – Good numbers present throughout the month and throughout the area following a good breeding season. Ten were present in the air at once at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th (DB), when 19 were counted in total across the valley. Jean Thorpe received a phone call about an injured Buzzard near Escrick, which was presumed to have been hit by a motorist. Jean gave it the once over, and luckily it was just a bit stunned, the following day it was ready to head off back into the wild, released where it was found.

Buzzard - NNR Base - 08/09

Hobby – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st, 3^rd and 4^th with a single at Thornton Ellers on the 3^rd. Two were at Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th with a single on the 11^th and 14^th, and two there again on the 18^th. A single at Melbourne on the 7^th and 16^th. Singles were still present at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th and 28^th. 

Peregrine Falcon – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 7^th, 13^th and 21^st (DB). 

Barn Owl - Several adults were seen throughout the month, along with pairs still present at nesting sites. On the 11^th another six chicks were ringed near Bubwith.

 Barn Owl - Bubwith - 11/09

Golden Plover – 300 at Bank Island on the 3^rd and 26 near Raker Lakes, Wheldrake on the 21^st. 

Whimbrel – A single over Bank Island on the 19^th. 

Curlew – Four over Bank Island on the 2^nd with single overheard on the 19^th and 21^st. 

Redshank – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd and 4^th. 

Greenshank – Three at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st and 2^nd with two there on the 3^rd and 4^th. A juvenile on the pool there on the 21^st with another there on 27^th and 28^th. 

Dunlin – The month opened with a single at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st-4^th. 

Ruff – Three at Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th. 

Common Snipe – 150+ were present on Melbourne Ings on the 1^st with 50+ on Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd and 4^th. 25 were present at Skipwith Common on the 3^rd with 50+ at Melbourne Ings on the 16^th. 

Green Sandpiper – Wheldrake Ings was (as usual) the favoured site with three there on the 1^st, increasing to five on the 3^rd and 4^th. Three remained until the 20^th with a single then present to month end. 

Green Sandpiper - Wheldrake Ings - D.Bye

Common Sandpiper – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th, 7^th, 10^th and 11^th. 

Green Woodpecker – One at the NNR Base at Bank Island on the 2^nd when three were present on Skipwith Common. A single at Skipwith Common on the 11^th. 

Great Spotted Woodpecker – A single at the Bank Island feeders on the 1^st and 2^nd with three at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th. Singles reported regularly at Wheldrake Ings during the rest of the month. 

Kingfisher – One at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with two there on the 2^nd and 4^th, and two at Bank Island on the 3^rd. Three near Melbourne on the 1^st, with two there on the 2^nd and a single through the Bank Island car park on the 11^th – a more unusual location. A single near Canal Head, Pocklington on the 11^th with up to three reported at Wheldrake Ings during the remainder of the month. A single at Sutton-upon-Derwent on the 21^st. 

 

Kingfisher - Wheldrake Ings - D.Bye

Woodlark – At least one singing bird remained at Skipwith Common on the 2^nd with one there on the 11^th. 

Tree Pipit – A single at Skipwith Common on the 11^th with a passage bird south over Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st. 

Meadow Pipit – Autumn passage started with 50+ south at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th, followed by 60 at North Duffield Carrs on the 9^th and 20+ at Skipwith Common on the 11^th. Small numbers moved south thereafter. 

Grey Wagtail – A single pair lingered at the Water Treatment Works at Bank Island during the month with another at Elvington on the 22^nd. 

Yellow Wagtail – Two flew south over Bank Island on the 2^nd with two over Skipwith Common on the 3^rd and five over Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th. 10+ flew over Thornton Ellers on the 10^th. Four at Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st with three there on the 27^th and two at Ellerton on the 28^th. 

Yellow Wagtail - T.Weston

Whinchat – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with another at Bank Island on the 3^rd – 5^th. Three rather late passage birds at North Duffield Carrs on the 20^th. 

Jay – Two at Melbourne on the 1^st with a single there the next day. Two at Skipwith Common on the 2^nd with five there on the 3^rd and three on the 5^th. Three at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th with three at Storwood on the 9^th when two were also present at Bank Island. Two were present at Skipwith Common on the 11^th with one at Thorganby on the same date. Two at Wheldrake Ings on the 14^th with three there on the 29^th. 

Chiffchaff – Increasing numbers of passage birds were reported during the month, many singing throughout. 11 were caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th (MFJ), up to six were reported daily at this site thereafter with 11 on the 28^th. 

Common Whitethroat – A single at Bank Island on the 4^th with three in the Wheldrake car park lane on the 5^th and a single at Melbourne on the 16^th. 

Spotted Flycatcher – A single juvenile was caught and ringed at Skipwith Common on the 1^st (DT) with a single at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th. Two at Skipwith Common on the 5^th. 

Reed Warbler – A single adult was still feeding two juveniles at Melbourne on the 8^th with five still at Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th and four caught and ringed there on the 23^rd with another on the 25^th (MFJ). Singles were still present there on the 27^th and 28^th. 

Sedge Warbler – A late bird remained at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th and 28^th (DB). 

Nuthatch – Two calling birds at Skipwith Common on the 4^th when a single was present at Wheldrake Ings, and again on the 27^th. 

Nuthatch - T.Weston

Goldcrest – Three at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th were the first of the autumn. 

Willow Tit – Four at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with two there on the 14^th and up to five regularly thereafter. 

Bearded Tit – A flock of 14 were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th (DB). 

Tree Sparrow – Up to 45 built up at the feeding station at Bank Island during the month. 

Linnet – 40 at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th.  

Bullfinch – 14 at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th. 

Reed Bunting – A large increase in numbers was noted from the 20^th when 100+ were present at Wheldrake Ings and 50+ were at North Duffield Carrs with smaller numbers scattered throughout the site. Ongoing ringing work at both Skipwith and the Lower Derwent Valley also picked up a noticeable increase in numbers with c250 ringed in the final week of the month (MFJ, DT).


MAMMALS: 

Otter – A male was seen well at Wheldrake Ings between Pool and Swantail Hide on the 10^th. 

Weasel – A single at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st. 

Brown Hare – Seven at Thornton Ellers on the 1^st included four leverets, with four there on the 3^rd, two on the 4^th and two on the 18^th.

Roe Deer – Singles at Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd, two at Wheldrake Ings and Skipwith Common on the 4^th and a single on the Common on the 5^th. Two at North Duffield Ings on the 20^th. 

Red Fox – A single on the pool at Wheldrake Ings after dark on the 3^rd. 

Wood Mouse – A female in a nest with five young at Skipwith Common on the 5^th and again on the 11^th and 25^th.

Wood Mouse - Skipwith Common - 11/09

Field Vole – Five at Thornton Ellers on the 1^st with 30+ on the 3^rd and four on the 4^th. 

Bank Vole – A single at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st. 

Pygmy Shrew - One was found whilst log turning on Skipwith Common on the 25^th.

Whiskered Bat – 12+ at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd. 

Noctule Bat – Three at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd and two there on the 4^th and four on the 5^th.


REPTILES/AMPHIBIANS: 

Common Lizard – Three at Skipwith Common on the 1^st, four on the 2^nd, two on the 4^th,  two on the 6^th, four on the 11^th and three on the 25^th. 

Grass Snake – A single at Skipwith Common on the 1^st and 25^th. 

Grass Snake - Skipwith Common

Adder – A single on Skipwith Common on the 1^st and 2^nd. 

Common Frog – Four were seen at the Top Pond, North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st, a single on Skipwith Common on the 2^nd, and at least 20 in the meadow at Thornton Ellers on the 3^rd followed by a single there on the 8^th. On the 25^th a single was found on the Common whilst log turning. 

Common Frog - Skipwith Common - 02/09

Common Toad – A single was found whilst log turning on Skipwith Common on the 25^th.


BUTTERFLIES: 

Small Copper – Just a single record for the month with one seen on Skipwith Common on the 2^nd. 

Comma – Three sightings throughout the course of the month, with a single in the NNR Base Garden on the 3^rd, Thornton Ellers on the 11^th and Skipwith on the 25^th. 

Comma - Thornton Ellers - 11/09

Peacock – Recorded early on during the month between the 1^st-4^th, on Skipwith Common, Wheldrake Ings and the NNR Base Garden. No records were had then until the 25^th when a warm sunny day brought out two individuals, a single on Skipwith and a single in the NNR Base Garden. 

Red Admiral – A good month for this species, with a total of 23 records collected, the sightings were well spread throughout the month, coming from a number of sites – the scabious meadow at Thornton Ellers producing the most records, with a count of 4 seen together there on the 4^th. 

Small Tortoiseshell – The third most recorded species throughout the month (37 records in total), with the highest day count coming on the 11^th from the meadow at Thornton Ellers when six were seen feeding on the scabious.   

Brimstone - A single was in the meadow at Thornton Ellers on the 11^th .

Brimstone - Thornton Ellers - 11/09

Green-veined White – After a fairly quiet end to August, September brought a flurry of records with a handful recorded throughout the first few days, from the NNR Base Garden and Bank Island. No records were obtained then until the middle of the month (20^th), when three joint highest counts were had – 11 on the 20^th at Wheldrake Ings, followed by 11 on the 21^st and 24^th at Bank Island. 

Small White - A handful (10) of scattered records throughout the month, largely singles other than four on the 20^th at North Duffield Carrs. 

Large White – Four were seen in the NNR Base Garden on the 3^rd, followed by singles at Thornton Ellers on the 18^th and Wheldrake on the 28^th – making it six records for the month. 

Speckled Wood – The most recorded species throughout the month, with a total of 72 individuals seen. The track which runs alongside the hedgerow at Thornton Ellers produced the most records, with a high count of 10 there on the 11^th. Skipwith Common saw the highest day total, with 11 there on the 21^st.

 Speckled Wood - Thornton Ellers - 11/09

DRAGONFLIES: 

Southern Hawker – Recorded throughout the month, with the last record coming on the 28^th from Wheldrake Ings when two were seen near the pool side vegetation. Individuals continued to be seen at Thornton Ellers, with a high count of five there on the 11^th. 

Migrant Hawker – The most recorded hawker throughout September, with a total of 22 records collected. A number of individuals were seen during the first week of the month at Thornton Ellers, with a lull then until the last two weeks of the month when records came from Wheldrake Ings and North Duffield Carrs. 

Brown Hawker – Recorded throughout the whole of the month, with the all the records being singles, bar seven that were seen together hawking over the Top Pond at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st. 

Black Darter – Present throughout September, and recorded on three days from Skipwith Common, one on the 2^nd, three on the 11^th and two on the 25^th. 

Ruddy Darter – The second most recorded species throughout the month with a total of 36 records collected, largely coming from Thornton Ellers and Skipwith Common. The last record for the month came on the 18^th with a single at Thornton Ellers. 

Ruddy Darter - Skipwith Common - 02/09

Common Darter – As expected the most recorded species throughout the month, with a total of 58 seen, which involved three high day counts – 16 on the Common on the 2^nd, 9 there on the 11^th and 12 there on the 25^th. 

Emerald – Recorded on just four days, three on Skipwith Common the 2^nd and six at Bank Island on the 3^rd, followed by two on the Common on the 11^th and two on the 25^th. 

Emerald - Skipwith Common - 02/09

Common Blue Damselfly – Five were seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st. 

Azure Damselfly – A single was seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st. 

Blue-tailed Damselfly – A single was seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st.


MOTHS: 

Due to a busy month on the work front, staff holidays and working elsewhere on the site, the moth trap was only run on two occasions from the NNR Base. A total of 97 moths were caught including 27 species, 9 of which were new for the year – Beaded Chestnut, Brown-spot Pinion, Brown-veined Wainscot, Sallow, Autumnal Rustic, Bulrush Wainscot, Centre-barred Sallow, Dark Sword Grass and Green Brindled Crescent.

On Skipwith Common a new caterpillar was also found and added to the moth species list - Grey Dagger.

Grey Dagger - Skipwith Common - 11/09

A Humming-bird Hawk-moth was found in the NNR Base Garden on the 5^th, the second reserve record following one in 2012 - particularly pleasing as the garden was designed as a nectar rich demonstration butterfly and bee garden.  

Humming-bird Hawk-moth - NNR Base Garden - 05/09

OTHER INVERTS: 

Throughout the month several days were spent on Skipwith Common, where a number of new species were added to the invertebrate list. The Common is a really good place to look for spiders, particularly amongst the Juncus in the wetter areas, here species such as the Four-spot Orb Weaver Araneus quadratus, Furrow Spider Larinioides cornutus, Invisible Spider Drapetisca socialis, Lesser Garden Spider Metellina segmentata, Marbled Orb Weaver Araneus marmoreus and Walnut Orb Weaver Nuctenea umbratica were found.

Four-spot Orb Weaver - Skipwith Common - 02/09

Furrow Spider - Skipwith Common - 02/09

Also new for the year from the Common were: Ground Beetle Carabus arvensis, Marsh Damselbug Nabis limbatus, Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata and a Staphylinid Beetle Platydracus latebricola, a 14-spot Ladybird Propylea 14-punctata was also found on Wheldrake Ings. The first adult Green Shield Bug was found on Skipwith Common, a pleasing find after seeing numerous nymphs across the site over the last few weeks.

Orange Ladybird - Skipwith Common - 25/09

Ground Beetle Carabus arvensis - Skipwith Common - 25/09

Green Shield Bug - Skipwith - 25/09

PLANTS: 

Skipwith Common produced the goods on the plant front as well, with 26 new species of wildflowers and grasses/sedges/rushes found. Some were completely new to us such as Oval Sedge and Long-stalked Yellow Sedge.

Common Yellow Sedge - Skipwith - 02/09

Some of the other new species for the year were, Pill Sedge, Common Yellow Sedge, Purple Moor-grass, Wood-small Reed, Narrow-leaved Buckler Fern, Jointed Rush and Early Hair Grass. Three types of the Polytrichum moss were seen: P.formosum, P.commune, P.juniperinum, along with three types of Sphagnum: S.fimbriatum, S.squarrosum, S.palustre.


FUNGI: 

During September several visits were had to Skipwith Common (the local fungi hotspot in the area), where a number of new species for the year were seen. Species such as Common Earthball, Common Puffball, Spiny Puffball, Tawny Grissette, Ochre Brittlegill and Fly Agaric are just a few that have been found recently. Fly Agaric is probably the best known mushroom species due to its distinctive look and bright red colours, making it instantly recognisable.

 Common Puffball - Skipwith Common - 02/09

 Fly Agaric - Skipwith Common - 02/09