Dec' 25

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - December Sightings

A busy month with some great winter birding and stand out birds. Top of the highlights was the juvenile White-tailed Eagle that was present (26^th onwards) - favouring the floodbanks between Aughton and Thorganby. It was un-ringed and without a tracker and assumed to be of continental origin. Many locals and visiting birders took advantage of trying to fit in a visit to see this majestic bird with, along with a showy Glossy Ibis at Bank Island (from the 28^th). A Slavonian Grebe (7^th), drake Smew (24^th/25^th), two Common Cranes, 4 Great White Egrets, three Caspian Gulls, a long-staying Spotted Redshank and two Scaup completed the ‘best of the rest’.

Towards to the end of the month the reserve was just completely full of birds with 202 Whooper Swans, 3210 Greylag Geese, 1030 Pink-footed Geese, 9 Tundra Beans, up to 54 White-fronted Geese and a lone Barnacle. Almost 10,000 Teal and Wigeon were present, with 853 Pintail, 269 Tufted Ducks and 245 Pochard attracted by the deep flooding. Wader-wise counts included 7600 Lapwing, 1000 Golden Plover, 250 Dunlin and an early buildup of 46 Black-tailed Godwits, 17 Ruff, 23 Redshank and the first singing Curlew (from the 27^th). As well as the White-tailed Eagle, other raptors included a single male Hen Harrier, 6 Marsh Harriers and four or five Peregrines, whilst a pair of Ravens were present in the Wheldrake area. Other notable sightings included a single Waxwing, up to five wintering Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs and a large mixed finch flock of over 700 birds at East Cottingwith. 

Winter floods - 02/12 - David Salisbury 

Many thanks to everyone who contributed records and counts throughout the month, in particular to members of York Birding and regular patch birder Duncan Bye. Thanks also to James Byatt, Duncan Bye, Stephen Hinde and Tony Jenkins for the use of their images below.

 

BIRDS:

Mute Swan – Numbers increased early in the month with 84 present by the 6^th with 81 remaining on the 27^th.

Whooper Swan – 160 were still present across the site on the 6^th including 36 juveniles, with a total of 186 recorded on the 14^th. Numbers increased further to 202 on the 27^th.

Whooper Swans - Thorganby Ings - 14/12 - DB

Greylag Goose – Numbers increased following the winter flooding with a total of 2,240 counted on the WeBS count on the 6^th, which included 1,478 on Melbourne Ings. Numbers increased further with 2,940 present by the 27^th increasing to 3,210 by the 29^th.

Tundra Bean Goose – Two were present at Thornton Ellers on the 27^th with four in fields by Hemingbrough Brick Pits to month end. Three were at Thorganby on the 29^th with five near Hemingbrough on the 30^th.   

European White-fronted Goose – Five were recorded at Ellerton as part of a national influx on the 26^th with up to 19 recorded across the site on the 27^th followed by 11 on the 28^th. Ten remained at North Duffield Carrs on the 29^th when 16 were present near Hemingbrough, with perhaps as many as 35 in the wider area at this time. Fifty-four were then present across the area on the 30^th.

European White-fronted Geese - North Duffield Carrs - 29/12 - DB

Pink-footed Goose – Up to 200 were noted almost daily making any separation of local wintering birds and passage flocks difficult. A flock of 180 high over Skipwith heading north-west appeared to be on the move, but several smaller groups on the 6^th totalled 361 present around the site. Up to 1,000 roosted at the southern end of the valley on the 11^th and were still present until month end, whilst 90 flew high over Wheldrake Ings on the 29^th which were possibly migrants on the move.

Canada Goose – A total of 313 were recorded across the site on the 6^th followed by counts of 310 on the 27^th and 346 on the 29^th.

Barnacle Goose – A single was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 27^th.

Egyptian Goose – Two or three birds were present at several sites around the reserve during the month.

Shelduck – 118 were present throughout the site on the 27^th with the largest concentrations as usual in the Thorganby area. It was nice to receive a Boxing Day sighting of an adult male (ringed at Bank Island last March) from Thurstaston Shore on the Dee Estuary - yet another movement between the reserve and the wider north-west area

Shelduck - Thurstaston Shore -26/12 - SH

Mallard – Birds were well spread across the site with 1,202 counted on the 6^th followed by 1,593 on the 29^th.

Pintail – Numbers continued to increase during the month with counts of 372 on the 6^th, 679 on the 24^th and 853 on the 27^th.

Teal – A good count of 7,418 was had on the 6^th followed by 8,112 on the 14^th.

Wigeon – A total of 9,870 were present throughout the site on the 6^th increasing to 9,566 by the 29^th.

Wigeon - North Duffield Carrs - 10/12 - TJ

Shoveler – Numbers increased to 78 by the 6^th and 178 by month end.

Gadwall – Seventy-one were present throughout the site on the 6^th with numbers increasing to 131 by month end.

Tufted Duck – Numbers increased to 34 by the 6^th with counts of 82 on the 19^th, 249 on the 24^th and 269 on the 27^th.  

Scaup – A single first-winter drake was present at Bubwith Ings on the 14^th when an adult female was also at North Duffield Carrs. Both birds were still present with a flock of Tufted Ducks at East Cottingwith Ings on the 23^rd - remaining thereafter until the 29^th.

Pochard – A total of nine were present around the site on the 6^th including six drakes and three ducks. Fifty were also recorded on the deeper water of Hemingbrough Brick Pits on the same date with numbers increasing to 70 there on the 10^th. Seventy-three were present at Bubwith Ings on the 12^th with 104 recorded throughout the reserve on the 14^th. 124 were at Bubwith Ings on the 23^rd with five at East Cottingwith and 21 at Wheldrake Ings – total of 150 throughout the site. A total of 217 (including 29 females) were counted throughout the site on the 24^th followed by 245 on the 27^th.

Goldeneye – Two ducks and a drake were present on the 6^th with six (four drakes including one displaying) seen on the 11^th. Ten were recorded throughout the site on the 14^th followed by 11 on the 24^th and 19 on the 27^th.

Smew – A drake flew south down the valley and onto Ellerton Ings on the 24^th and was reported the following day.

Goosander – Four were present at Wheldrake Ings at dawn on the 28^th with a single drake there on the 29^th.

Goosander - Wheldrake Ings - 29/12 - DB

Grey Heron – Thirty-four were present on the 6^th with one later seen catching and eating a presumably flooded out mole at North Duffield Ings on the 21^st.

Glossy Ibis – A single was present at Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th and 29^th.

Glossy Ibis - Bank Island - 28/12 - DB

Little Egret – Four were at Melbourne and Thornton Ings on the 6^th and up to five were regularly seen feeding on flooded farmland at Dunnington during the month. Five were present across the site on the 30^th.

Great White Egret – Up to four were still present around the site during the first week of the month with two recorded on the monthly WeBS count on the 6^th. Three remained thereafter until the 24^th with four again on the 27^th. Numbers increased to nine on the 30^th and included five feeding in a game cover/clover mix at Bubwith, three on Melbourne and Thornton Ings and a single at Wheldrake.

Great White Egret - Bubwith Bridge - 16/12 - TJ

Common Crane – Two were reported at Storwood on the 26^th.

Water Rail – Five were present by the Pocklington Canal at East Cottingwith Ings on the 6^th with five seen in the car park at Wheldrake Ings on the same day. Other birds were noted early in the month with four in the Melbourne area, three at North Duffield Carrs and two at Bank Island.

Coot – Two returning birds were back at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th.

Slavonian Grebe – A single was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 7^th.

Great Crested Grebe – A single at North Duffield Carrs on the 21^st was the second winter record of the year.

White-tailed Eagle – An un-ringed juvenile was discovered in the Aughton area on the 26^th, much to the delight of local and visiting birders, where it subsequently remained frequenting the floodbanks between Aughton and Thorganby until month end.  

White-tailed Eagle - Thorganby - 27/12 - JB

Marsh Harrier – Up to six or seven were wintering on the reserve and five birds were noted hunting voles displaced by the floodwater along the floodbanks at North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th. Birds were also regularly recorded on Skipwith Common NNR with one observed flushing Teal on there on the 11^th. Six birds were present throughout the site on the 27^th with two different males seen on the 28^th, whilst three were recorded at Thornton Ellers on the 30^th – total of up to eight or nine present throughout the site.

Hen Harrier – A male flew north along the River Derwent at Bank Island on the 22^nd.

Peregrine – Up to four or five birds were present throughout the site with three seen sparring together over North Duffield Ings on the 29^th.

Red Kite – Regular throughout the month with up to three reported daily at Bank Island.

Golden Plover – 540 were present throughout the site on the 6^th. 110 were recorded at North Duffield Ings on the 10^th as the floodwaters reduced available grassland and concentrated birds. 1,000+ were then present at North Duffield Ings until the 20^th with 500+ recorded between the 21^st-28^th until the 30^th when numbers were up to 1,000+ again.

Lapwing – A good total of 7,624 were present throughout the site on the monthly WeBS count on the 6^th. Large numbers remained thereafter albeit with decreasing dry land. 2,000+ were present at North Duffield Ings on the 21^st and an estimated 5,000+ were seen between East Cottingwith and North Duffield Ings on the 23^rd. 7,110 remained on the 27^th.

Dunlin – Up to 200 remained around the reserve early in the month with 70 seen on the last bit of suitable feeding area at North Duffield Ings on the 21^st. 250 were then present on the 27^th.

Ruff – Up to nine were seen around the site early in the month with ten at North Duffield Carrs between the 8^th-12^th, followed by 16 at Bubwith Bridge on the 21^st and 17 on the 27^th.

Black-tailed Godwit – Two at Bubwith Ings on the 23^rd were followed by eight there on the 24^th increasing to 46 by the 27^th.

Snipe – Numbers remained low as the flooding reduced potential feeding and roosting areas. 250+ present on Heslington Tilmire on the 2^nd and 50+ at Skipwith Common NNR on the 11^th were probably displaced by the floods on the Ings. 250+ were present after dark on the floodbank at North Duffield Ings on the 29^th.

Jack Snipe – Two were present on the Tilmire on the 3^rd and 7^th with three seen at Skipwith Common NNR on the 11^th. Four were at Elvington Airfield on the 22^nd and one was found at North Duffield Ings after dark on the 29^th.

Redshank – Numbers increased slowly with 12 on the 6^th and 20+ at Bubwith Bridge on the 20^th. Twenty-three were then present on the 28^th in the same area.

Spotted Redshank – A single bird was seen feeding with Ruff at North Duffield Ings on the 21^st and was present again until the 24^th.

Curlew – Six were recorded on the 6^th. By the 27^th 21 had returned to the Ings when the first four pairs were heard in sub-song.

Green Sandpiper – A single was present at Thorganby Ings on the 6^th with another seen there on the 10^th. Singles were at Bank Island and North Duffield Carrs on the 29^th.

Black-headed Gull – Numbers at the Wheldrake roost had increased to 10,000+ by the 6^th with counts following of 1,000 on the 24^th, 16,000 on the 27^th and 21,000 on the 29^th.

Gull roost - Wheldrake Ings - 29/12 - DB

Common Gull – 3,500 were recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th, followed by 6,000+ on the 27^th and 8,000+ on the 29^th.

Herring Gull – 400+ were recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th and 27^th.

Greater Black-backed Gull – Fifty were at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th.

Caspian Gull – Two first-winter birds were present on the 27^th with a different bird seen there on the 29^th and one remained on the 30^th.

Caspian Gull - Wheldrake Ings - 29/12 - DB

Lesser Black-backed Gull – Three adults were in the Wheldrake roost on the 27^th with five recorded there on the 28^th and three on the 29^th.

Green Woodpecker – Present on Skipwith Common NNR throughout the month.

Little Owl – A single was seen near Thorganby village hall on the 26^th.

Grey Wagtail – Two or three individuals were present throughout the month at Bank Island. 

Grey Wagtail - Bank Island - 07/12 - DB

Stonechat – 20+ wintering birds remained around the reserve during the month.

Raven – A pair was seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th with one over Melbourne Ings on the 30^th.

Waxwing – One was present with Starlings at Yapham near Fangfoss on the 5^th.

Fieldfare – Good numbers remained throughout the first week of the month with local birds feeding around the site, and up to 2,000 birds were estimated to be present throughout the reserve. 200-300 were in the Bank Island area, with other counts of 400 at Storwood, 200 at North Duffield Carrs, 300 at Melbourne and scattered flocks elsewhere.

Fieldfare - Bank Island - 13/12 - DB

Blackcap – A pair remained from November and were present in an Elvington garden throughout the month. A single female was caught and ringed at Bank Island on the 7^th with one seen near Cliffe on the 10^th and Hemingbrough on the 11^th. A single was at Bank Island on the 29^th.

Chiffchaff – One was present in the Bank Island Water Treatment Works on the 1^st and the Wheldrake car park scrub on the 7^th. On the 8^th one was caught and ringed at Bank Island and two were present at Wheldrake on the 27^th.

Linnet – 400 were estimated to be present in a mixed finch flock at East Cottingwith on the 6^th with numbers up to 600 by the 27^th. Up to 1,000 were present around the reserve on the 30^th.

Greenfinch – Thirty were present at East Cottingwith on the 6^th when 25 were also seen at ‘New Meadow’ at North Duffield Carrs. 50+ were recorded at East Cottingwith on the 27^th with several ringed at the NNR Base during the month. 80+ were in the East Cottingwith area in two flocks on the 30^th.

Greenfinch - North Duffield Carrs - 10/12 - TJ

Chaffinch – 50+ were at East Cottingwith on the 27^th.

Brambling – A single male was seen at East Cottingwith on the 3^rd and 30^th.

Crossbill – Six were at Sands Lane at Skipwith Common NNR on the 29^th.

Hawfinch – A single flew over the viewing platform at Thorganby Ings on the 29^th.