Dec' 19

Lower Derwent Valley NNR Sightings - December

The most unexpected record of the month was a first-winter Shag picked up in a garden in Sutton-upon-Derwent on the 17^th. After a night in care with Jean, it was ringed and released at the coast the following morning – the 6^th record for the reserve and the first since 2010. Four Common Cranes, Great White Egret, Raven and three wintering Cetti’s Warblers provided ongoing interest throughout the month, whilst two Short-eared Owls at month end were noteworthy. A large roost and murmuration of 50,000+ Starlings from North Duffield Carrs and Aughton Church took some beating as spectacle of the month, and proved popular with local birders and non-birders alike. 

Up to 188 Whooper Swans were present throughout, with two Bewick’s Swans also recorded towards month end – a scarce bird in the valley these days. Large numbers of up to 2500 Greylag Geese attracted smaller, but notable numbers of 160 grounded Pink-footed Geese, up to 15 European White-fronts and a single Brent on the 10^th. Other notable waterfowl counts included up to 11,000 Wigeon, 500 Teal, 503 Pintail, 204 Gadwall, 186 Shoveler, 187 Pochard, 33 Goldeneye and several Scaup. 

The wet autumn which has prevented much agricultural activity and resulted in above average remaining stubbles, produced notable flocks of farmland birds, with Linnets, Corn Buntings, an impressive flock of 234 Stock Doves and 50 Grey Partridge – with several other small coveys in the area. Although numbers of large gulls remained low following the closure of local landfill sites, numbers of Black-headed and Common Gulls remained high – with 25,000 and 8000 respectively. With 30,000+ gulls, 30,000+ waterfowl and 50,000+ Starlings late in the month it was impressive to notch up 110,000+ birds in the valley at this time.

Many thanks as always to everyone who has submitted records throughout the month, in particular to members of the YOC and regular valley birder Duncan Bye – thanks also to Duncan and Stuart for the use of their photographs.

BIRDS: 

Whooper Swan – Numbers remained stable, with 140+ present on the 1^st and 127 counted throughout the site on the 4^th including 100+ roosting at Ellerton. On the 11^th, 61 were at North Duffield Carrs, as well as 49 at Ellerton, 31 at Thornton and 11 scattered birds elsewhere producing a total of 152. 149 were counted on the WeBS on the 14^th, including 87 at Bubwith Ings. 154 roosted at Thorganby on the 18^th when 34 also roosted at Thornton – a total of 188 present throughout. 153 were present in the North Duffield Carrs/Bubwith area on the 27^th including 43 immatures. 

Whooper Swans - Bubwith - 22/12 - DB

Bewick’s Swan – Two adults were observed at Ellerton on the 28^th (JL et al), before flying south and joining the Whooper Swan herd at Bubwith Ings - the pair were present again the following morning before appearing at Aughton on the 31^st. 

Mute Swan – 92 were present throughout the site on the 1^st with 88 counted on the 14^th. 

Pink-footed Goose –70 flew south over Thorganby on the 1^st with 45 also present in the Melbourne area. 14 were recorded in a flock of Greylags at Hagg Bridge on the 8^th, whilst up to 10 were present until the 14^th in the Bank Island/Wheldrake/Low Grounds area. 117 were counted in the Melbourne/Thornton area on the 16^th whilst 80 flew over Church Bridge Melbourne at dusk on the 21^st. 21 were present at Bank Island on the 24^th with a flock of 70 flying north on the same date. A total of 93 were counted around the site on the 28^th. Flocks of 90 at Thornton, 32 at Hagg Bridge and 42 at East Cottingwith were observed feeding in fields on the 29^th, with 26 remaining at Hagg Bridge on the 31^st. 

European White-fronted Goose – Seven adults remained at Melbourne on the 1^st when a family party of two adults and five juveniles were present at Thorganby, and a single adult at Bank Island (15 birds present). The family party remained at Thorganby on the 2^nd-5^th with six there on the 7^th. The same party was at Bank Island on the 9^th and the Low Grounds on the 10^th, when 14 were also present at Ellerton. Up to eight remained in the Bank Island area until at least the 15^th, later reappearing on the 22^nd-28^th before moving to Thorganby on the 29^th and Wheldrake on the 31^st. 

European White-fronted Goose - Thorganby - 02/12 - SC

Egyptian Goose – A single adult and three immatures remained at East Cottingwith early in the month, with an adult and single immature present there on the 14^th to month end. 

Greylag Goose – 2470 remained early in the month. Counts on the 8^th included 200 at Bank Island, 350 at Wheldrake, 650 at Hagg Bridge, 1058 at Thornton and 239 scattered elsewhere – a total of 2497. 1780 remained on the 14^th with 1600+ on the 28^th.  

Canada Goose – 377 were recorded on the WeBS count on the 14^th. 

Brent Goose – A single dark-bellied individual was present on the Low Grounds on the 10^th. 

Shelduck – 57 were present throughout the site on the 4^th, increasing to 131 by the 14^th, which included 74 in the Thorganby/Ellerton area. 

Ruddy Shelduck – Last month’s six birds re-appeared at Thorganby Ings on the 31^st. 

Teal – A total of 4438 were present on the 14^th with 5000+ recorded on the 31^st. 

Wigeon – 1500+ were recorded on Wheldrake on the 5^th, with numbers upto 3000 on the 14^th due to falling water levels revealing more feeding opportunities. A total of 8713 counted on the 14^th were followed by 10,200 on the 28^th and 11,300 on the 31^st. 

Pintail – 120 recorded at Wheldrake on the 5^th were followed by 276 on the 8^th and 198 on the 14^th, when a total of 417 were present throughout the site. 274 were counted at Wheldrake on the 17^th, followed by 260 on the 28^th and 352 on the 31^st. A total of 503 were present throughout the whole site on the 29^th. 

Gadwall – 56 were recorded at Thornton Ings on the 13^th, with 165 counted throughout the site the following day. Numbers had reached 204 by the 29^th. 

Mallard – Up to 1200 were recorded throughout the month. 

Mallard - Bank Island - 29/12

Shoveler – Monthly maximum of 186 on the 29^th. 

Tufted Duck – 273 were present throughout the site on the 1^st. 

Scaup – A first winter drake lingered at Wheldrake on the 1^st and was still present there, with two females, on the 7^th when a second first year drake was at Aughton. A first winter drake was still present at Bubwith on the 14^th and again on the 21^st/22^nd. Three drakes were recorded at North Duffield Carrs on the 27^th followed by two at Aughton on the 28^th-31^st. Atleast seven individuals were logged during the month. 

Pochard – 117 were present throughout the site on the 1^st with 70 at Wheldrake on the 6^th. 63 were at Bubwith on the 11^th when 41 were observed at Ellerton and 83 at Wheldrake – a total of 187. 75 remained on the 14^th with 118 on the 16^th. 98 recorded on Bubwith Ings on the 22^nd were followed by 130 on the 27^th and 165 on the 30^th - on this date a total of 193 were present throughout the site.  

Goldeneye – Numbers continued to increase, with 17 throughout the site on the 1^st followed by 27 on the 28^th and 33 on the 29^th. 21 were observed at Aughton on the 31^st. 

Little Egret – Singles at Bank Island on the 6^th and 7^th, Wheldrake on the 8^th and Bank Island on the 9^th, 10^th and 14^th. One was then recorded at Hagg Bridge on the 15^th, followed by two at Melbourne on the 16^th and 18^th with one near Stamford Bridge on the 20^th. Between one to three were present thereafter in the Melbourne area until month end. 

Great White Egret – A single at Bank Island on the 19^th. 

Marsh Harrier – Up to three were observed in the Aughton/North Duffield Carrs area throughout the month, with two at Thornton Ings on the 11^th a more unusual record. Four cream crowns were present across the site on the 14^th, with three at Aughton on the 22^nd. 

Peregrine – Up to three were recorded throughout the month. 

Red Kite – Singles at South Duffield on the 12^th and Skipwith on the 18^th. 

Grey Partridge – Up to 50 (in large coveys) were present in the North Duffield/Menthorpe area during the first week of the month, with 30+ still remaining in the area on the 22^nd/23^rd. Six were recorded near Hagg Bridge on the 29^th with 10 between Skipwith and South Duffield on the 31^st. 

Grey Partridge - South Duffield - 31/12

Water Rail – Up to four were recorded in the Wheldrake Ings area with a total of 14 present throughout the site. 

Coot – Four at Wheldrake Ings on the 14^th were followed by eight on the 27^th and 21 throughout the site by the 29^th. 27 were at Thornton Ings on the 30^th. 

Common Crane – Four flew over Church Bridge at Melbourne, calling towards dusk, on the 21^st. 

Great Crested Grebe – A single at Bubwith on the 22^nd. 

Cormorant – Up to 20 remained throughout the month. 

Shag – A single first winter bird was picked up in a garden at Sutton-upon-Derwent on the 17^th - after a night in care and a good feed, it was ringed and released at the coast the following morning - the first reserve record since 2010. 

Golden Plover – 1000+ were present on North Duffield Ings on the 1^st with 700 there on the 4^th and 1970 throughout the site on the 8^th. 

Lapwing – 800 were observed at Wheldrake on the 5^th and 1080 at Thornton Ellers on the 6^th, with a total of 3240 throughout the site. On the 8^th 1000+ remained in the Thornton Ings area, along with 1200 at Ellerton, 2000 at Aughton and scattered smaller flocks elsewhere – a total of 4760 throughout the site. 1000 were still at Thornton Ellers on the 11^th with 3240 recorded on the WeBS on the 14^th. 

Snipe – Up to 150 were present throughout the month at Melbourne and Thornton Ings – presumably having been concentrated there due to the extensive flooding elsewhere.

Jack Snipe – Four were recorded on Skipwith Common NNR on the 6^th. 

Woodcock – A single was flushed at East Cottingwith on the 1^st, with six at Skipwith Common on the 13^th. 

Curlew – 11 at North Duffield Carrs on the 5^th. 

Ruff – 32 at North Duffield Ings on the 1^st. 

Dunlin – 18 at North Duffield Ings on the 1^st with 32 along the river at Aughton at dawn on the 10^th. 

Redshank – Up to 20 were recorded throughout the month. 

Green Sandpiper – A single a North Duffield Carrs on the 19^th. 

Common Gull – Up to 10,000 were present at the Wheldrake roost during the month. 

Black-headed Gull – Up to 35,000 were present towards month end. 

Gull roost - Wheldrake - 28/12 - DB

Mediterranean Gull – A single adult at North Duffield Carrs on the 19^th (AW) was followed by two adults at the Wheldrake roost on the 29^th (CG, JL) and a single there on the 30^th (DB). 

Great Black-backed Gull – Much smaller numbers are now present without the local active landfill site at Rufforth Tip, with 140+ at the Wheldrake roost on the 8^th and 100 on the 28^th.  311 roosted at North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th. 

Lesser Black-backed Gull – A single adult at North Duffield Carrs on the 14^th and Wheldrake on the 29^th. An immature headed over Bank Island on the 31^st. 

Herring Gull – Up to 300 roosted at North Duffield Carrs on several dates during the month, with 627 feeding in fields surrounding the nearby Derwent Farm on the 23^rd. Numbers at the Wheldrake roost remained low with 150 there on the 28^th. 

Short-eared Owl – Two were observed between North Duffield and Menthorpe on the 31^st. 

Little Owl – One was present on the 1^st and regularly thereafter behind the Thorganby village hall during the month, with one behind Thorganby village on the 2^nd. 

Stock Dove – 234 were feeding on stubble with Starlings, Linnets and Herring Gulls on Derwent Farm (North Duffield), on the 23^rd. 

Skylark – 90 at Hagg Lane, East Cottingwith on the 30^th. 

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

Stonechat – Up to nine remained at North Duffield Carrs early in the month, with a regular pair present at Bank Island. 

Stonechat - North Duffield - 31/12

Starling – Good numbers were observed at the Aughton roost early in the month, with between 5-10,000 present each evening - increasing to an impressive c30,000 on the 17^th. Numbers were estimated to be between 35-40,000 by the 20^th, rising to 40,000 on the 22^nd and reaching 50,000+ on the 31^st. 1000 were also roosting in conifers at Thorganby early in the month with 500 in the Melbourne/Thornton area on several dates. 

Redwing – Following good numbers at the end of November, a further influx took place on the 4^th, with up to 4000 in the Melbourne area, 800 at Bank Island and 500 at North Duffield Carrs. 3200 were recorded throughout the site on the 7^th when 101 were caught and ringed at Church Bridge Melbourne. Smaller numbers present thereafter. 

Redwing - Bank Island - 04/12

Fieldfare – Similar to Redwing, a noticeable influx occurred overnight on the 3^rd/4^th with 1000 at Melbourne, 600 at Bank Island and 900 at North Duffield Carrs. 1700 were present around the site on the 7^th but numbers declined thereafter. 

Raven – A single between North Duffield Carrs and Skipwith Common NNR on the 5^th. 

Nuthatch – One was present on feeders at the NNR base at Bank Island on the 13^th and Wheldrake on the 14^th. 

Willow Tit – Singles were present at Church Bridge, Melbourne on the 1^st, Skipwith Common on the 2^nd and North Duffield Carrs on the 3^rd/4^th. 

Chiffchaff – Two in the NNR base garden on the 29^th with three there on the 30^th and two (one ringed and one un-ringed) on the 31^st.  

Cetti’s Warbler – A single was still present and presumed wintering in canal side scrub at East Cottingwith on the 1^st, 7^th ,14^th and 27^th, with the other wintering bird still present at Melbourne on the 6^th, 13^th and 21^st. A new wintering bird was discovered near Coates Lock, Beilby, on the 29^th. 

Common Redpoll – A single was recorded near Church Bride, Melbourne on the 26^th (NC). 

Siskin – Up to 130 were present in the Melbourne/Thornton Ellers area throughout the month.

Brambling – A single was present with Chaffinch by the feeding station at North Duffield Carrs on the 29^th.

Linnet – Up to 400 were present on stubble along Menthorpe Lane on the 27^th to month end. 

Corn Bunting – 32 were present at the Melbourne Church Bridge reed bed roost on the 1^st. 47 were recorded at Thornton on the 6^th with 80 at the Melbourne roost on the 21^st. 40+ were present along Hagg Lane at East Cottingwith on the 30^th with 26 at South Duffield on the same date. 

Corn Bunting - Hagg Lane - 30/12 - DB