Feb' 19

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - February Sightings

The beginning of the month saw further limited flooding, followed by temporary deeper floods towards the end of February, with un-seasonally high temperatures and spring like conditions. 100 Whooper Swans remained early in the month, but the mild conditions triggered an earlier than usual departure, or at least return legs on migration with 227 moving through the site by month end. Four Bewick’s Swans also moved through on the 25^th, resting at Bank Island for 30 minutes before continuing eastwards, whilst 1174 Pink-footed Geese headed north-west back to Lancashire. The conditions led to a rapid clear out of wintering Greylag Geese, with many resident birds back in pairs and holding territories by the 22^nd. Extensive flooding, combined with spring passage and returning breeding populations, resulted in an increase in diving ducks with 240 Tufted Duck and 81 Pochard. Little Grebes returned to their breeding sites on the Ings from the 23^rd when the first returning Great Crested Grebes also appeared. Following a poor winter so far, Coot numbers increased to 100+ by the 20^th. 

Despite the decrease in large gulls in the roost this winter, a single adult Kumlien’s Gull (possibly the recent returning bird) was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th, with upto 10,000 Black-headed and 3000 Common Gulls. Barn Owls continued to show well throughout the site, with daily sightings of two to three birds at Bank Island. A single Little Owl was noted from the Thorganby viewing platform, whilst the first drumming Great-spotted Woodpeckers were heard on Skipwith Common on the 22^nd. The NNR base feeders were busy with 50-60 Goldfinch, 40-50 Tree Sparrow and Chaffinch, with odd the Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting moving in during the latter part of the month in search of food. Bramblings remained scattered in low numbers whilst 60 Corn Buntings at the Melbourne roost on the 14^th declined quickly thereafter due to the mild conditions, with just 10 remaining by the 22^nd.

The warmer conditions resulted in an excepted increase in moth records, with a total of 11 species recorded including: Common Quaker, Satellite, Spring Usher, Dotted Border and Oak Beauty. The first Brimstone of the year was seen on Skipwith Common on the 22^nd when a single Buff-tailed Bumblebee was present at the NNR base. A large emergence of 7-spot Ladybirds was noted on the 25^th with the first Harlequin seen on the 26^th.

Many thanks as always to everyone who has contributed records throughout the month, in particular to members of the YOC, and to Duncan Bye for the use of his photographs (credited DB).

BIRDS: 

Mute Swan – Up to 90 were present throughout the month.

Whooper Swan – 23 north-west over Bank Island on the 18^th were followed by five there on the 19^th. Following nocturnal passage reported overnight on the 22^nd/23^rd, 70 flew north over Wheldrake Ings on the 23^rd, while another 32 passed over Melbourne on the 24^th. A total of 77 flew north over Wheldrake and Bank Island in small herds on the 25^th. 26 flew north over Wheldrake on the 26^th followed by 14 there on the 27^th and 20 on the 28^th.  

Bewick’s Swan – Four flew into Bank Island on the 25^th - after resting for 30 minutes the flock continued east up the River Derwent (CSR).

Greylag Goose – Numbers declined to c500 by mid-month, with many already in pairs by the 22^nd following un-seasonally mild temperatures of 16 degrees.

Pink-footed Goose – 54 flew north over Aughton on the 1^st followed by 202 over Bank Island on the 3^rd. 450 flew north west over Thorganby on the 12^th with 100 over North Duffield Carrs on the same date. 100+ flew in the same direction over Thorganby on the 14^th, followed by 100 over Bank Island on the 17^th and 90 on the 21^st, on the same date 30 flew over Elvington (total of 1174). 48 headed in the same direction over Wheldrake Ings on the 23^rd.

Canada Goose – 220 were present at East Cottingwith on the 3^rd with just 140 remaining at month end.

Egyptian Goose – One pair at East Cottingwith.

Shelduck – Up to 60 were present throughout the month.

Wigeon – 9200 were present throughout the reserve on the 17^th, including 4000+ at Wheldrake Ings.

Teal – Up to 5000 were present early in the month.

Mallard – 1400+ were present throughout the site on the 2^nd, with freezing conditions concentrating birds onto the last remaining open water areas in the valley. Many had split into pairs by month end.

Pintail – 200 were still present in the Wheldrake/Bank Island area on the 17^th with a total of 141 at Wheldrake on the 23^rd.

Gadwall – 150 were present on the remaining unfrozen water at Wheldrake on the 2^nd with 130 there on the 3^rd and 155 on the 17^th – on this date a total of 239 were present throughout the valley.

Gadwall - Wheldrake - 03/02 - DB

Shoveler –Wheldrake Ings held 137 on the 17^th and 134 on the 23^rd - smaller numbers were noted elsewhere. Monthly maximum of 198 on the 23^rd.

Tufted Duck – With the onset of deeper flooding 6 arrived at Bank Island on the 8^th, followed by 50 across Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 10^th. Numbers increased dramatically with 240 between Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 17^th, followed by 207 at Bank Island the following day. 199 were present between Wheldrake and Bank Island on the 23^rd.

Tufted Duck/Pochard - Wheldrake - 17/02 - DB

Pochard – Following the increase in flooding, a group of 19 (15 drakes) arrived at Wheldrake on the 10^th - soon increasing in numbers, with 81 present in the valley on the 17^th.  Numbers then fell with receding water levels, just four remained on the 23^rd.

Goldeneye – 15 were recorded on Wheldrake and Bank Island on the 17^th, with 11 there on the 23^rd. Displaying was noted from mid-month with a pair also seen copulating at Bank Island on the 22^nd.

Cormorant – Up to 30 were present at the Wheldrake roost.

Little Egret – Two were seen feeding in ditches by Skipwith Common NNR on the 2^nd, before flying over the Common. Two were present at Bank Island on the 13^th along with one at Wheldrake Ings on the 18^th. Two were present again at Bank Island on the 19^th and regularly thereafter, with a single at Breighton Meadows on the 28^th.

Little Grebe – Four had returned to their breeding site at Wheldrake Ings by the 23^rd.

Great Crested Grebe – The first four returning birds were recorded at Wheldrake on the 23^rd.  

Marsh Harrier – Up to four, an adult female and three immatures were present in the valley on the 3^rd, followed by an adult and two immatures at North Duffield Carrs on the 13^th. Daily sightings recorded throughout the month.

Peregrine - Up to four were present throughout the valley on the 3^rd and regular thereafter.

Red Kite – An increase in sightings as birds started to spread from the winter roosts. A single was present in the Storwood area on the 3^rd with two over Dunnington on the 10^th and a single over Skipwith Common on the 17^th. Another single was at Wheldrake Ings on the 23^rd.

Buzzard – Up to eight were present in the Storwood area from Wheldrake on the 3^rd with a further 17 recorded around the valley during the day.

Kestrel – 21 were counted around the valley on the 3^rd.

Grey Partridge – Two or three birds were heard calling after dark on several nights opposite the reserve base at Bank Island.

Water Rail – Up to three were present in the Church Bridge area of the Pocklington Canal during the month, with up to four at Wheldrake Ings and scattered individuals elsewhere.

Coot – A poor winter so far with just a single recorded in January. Numbers started to increase with 12 at Wheldrake on the 2^nd followed by 97 on the 17^th and five at Bank Island on the 18^th.                                              

Oystercatcher – Three present throughout the site on the 10^th were followed by two at North Duffield Carrs on the 13^th and three at Wheldrake on the 17^th.

Golden Plover – 500+ were back at Wheldrake on the 10^th with 800+ at East Cottingwith on 11^th - smaller numbers remained thereafter.

Lapwing – Following the 8000+ present throughout much of January, freezing conditions late in the month caused a large clear out with only a handful of birds remaining at the start of February. Following the thaw and re-flooding, 2000 re-appeared at Wheldrake on the 10^th with 2500 there on the 12^th. 4200 were present throughout the whole site on the 18^th.

Common Snipe – Birds were widely scattered throughout with an estimated wintering population of about 500. 150+ were counted on several dates at Wheldrake Ings. 

Common Snipe - Wheldrake - 24/02 - DB

Jack Snipe – A single was recorded from the Low Grounds on the 10^th.

Woodcock – Four were flushed on Skipwith Common on the 22^nd. Numbers feeding on the Ings grasslands after dark declined towards the end of the month, with three at Wheldrake after dark on the 27^th.

Dunlin – 50+ had returned to Ellerton Ings on the 11^th with 90 there on the 18^th and 50 on the Low Grounds on the 23^rd.

Ruff – Up to 50 were scattered throughout the valley on most dates, with higher concentrations of 20 on the Low Grounds on the 25^th and 43 at Bank Island on the 27^th.

Black-tailed Godwit – Numbers increased as the month progressed with 15 present on the 23^rd, with Wheldrake Ings being the usual stronghold for sightings.

Curlew – 62 were present between Wheldrake and Bank Island on the 23^rd, with an estimated 90+ present throughout the site by month end. 

Curlew - Wheldrake - 17/02 - DB

Redshank – Up to 30 remained throughout the month.

Mediterranean Gull – A single winter plumaged adult was present in the Wheldrake Ings roost on the 17^th (DB).

Black-headed Gull – A monthly maximum of 10,000 were at the Wheldrake roost on the 17^th.

Common Gull – 3000 were present at the Wheldrake roost on the 17^th.

Great Black-backed Gull – Up to 400 roosted in the valley during the month.

Lesser Black-backed Gull – Three at Bank Island pre-roost on the 26^th.

Kumlien’s Gull – An adult was present at the Wheldrake roost on the 9^th (JL), before being flushed by a Peregrine and flying south.

Herring Gull – Up to 1000 roosted in the valley early in the month.

Barn Owl – Freezing conditions in late January and early February resulted in a glut of sightings as birds were forced to hunt in daylight hours. 12 were recorded around the valley on the 1^st with six recorded on the 2^nd. Up to three showed daily at Bank Island. 

Barn Owl - Bank Island - 23/02 - DB

Little Owl – A single was present from the Thorganby viewing platform on the 10^th.

Great Spotted Woodpecker – The first drumming bird was present at Skipwith Common on the 22^nd.

Kingfisher – Birds were seen regularly around the Pocklington Canal near Melbourne during the month.

Stonechat – The pair at Wheldrake survived the freezing conditions early on, and were still present late in the month with another pair also remaining at North Duffield Carrs.

Raven – A single near Spaldington was seen flying towards Breighton Meadows on the 27^th (CG) - the fourth record this winter of this expanding species.

Woodlark – The first returning bird was at Skipwith Common on the 12^th with two there on the 22^nd and a single on the 26^th.

Skylark – Birds arrived back in large numbers with several pairs heard singing in warm weather late in the month.

Marsh Tit – A pair were present on Skipwith Common on the 22^nd.

Lesser Redpoll – 40 were present at Skipwith Common on the 17^th with 80 there on the 22^nd and 100+ on the 26^th. Up to 40 also frequented canal side Alders near Melbourne.

Common Redpoll – At least one was present with the Lesser Redpoll flock on Skipwith on the 26^th.

Tree Sparrow – 40 to 50 remained at the NNR base feeders throughout the month.

Brambling – One in Elvington on the 1^st, with four near Thornton Ellers on the 4^th and two caught and ringed near Thorganby on the 12^th. A single was present near Melbourne on the 13^th. Two were seen near Skipwith Common on the 26^th.

Yellowhammer – 35 were present with mixed finches near Thornton Ellers on the 4^th, whilst a single caught and ringed at the NNR base feeders at Bank Island on the 13^th was more unexpected, and rather surprisingly was followed by another on the 19^th.

Reed Bunting – Numbers at the Melbourne roost fell to around 40 by month end.

Corn Bunting – 40 were present near Thornton Ellers on the 4^th with 60 there on the 14^th.  Mild weather towards month end resulted in birds quickly moving on.

MAMMALS:

Brown Hare – 13 were present on a frozen and snow dusted North Duffield Carrs on the 2^nd.

Roe Deer – Common throughout the site with up to six daily at Bank Island.

Fallow Deer – 28 hinds were present near Thorganby village on the 14^th (SW).

Pipistrelle Bat – A single was seen in Wheldrake village on the 22^nd with two at the NNR base on the 27^th.

REPTILES/AMPHIBIANS:

Smooth Newt – Two in the NNR base pond on the 26^th.

Common Lizard – Three on Skipwith Common on the 26^th with another there on the 27^th. 

Common Lizard - Skipwith - 27/02

MOTHS:

Eleven species were recorded throughout the month including:  

Chestnut 
Clouded Drab
Common Quaker
Dotted Border
Grey Shoulder-knot
Hebrew Character
March Moth 
Oak Beauty
Pale Brindled Beauty
Satellite
Spring Usher

BUTTERFLIES:

Brimstone – A single at Skipwith Common on the 22^nd (first of the year), was followed by five there on the 26^th.

Comma – Five were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th with four at Skipwith Common on the 27^th.

Comma - Skipwith - 25/02

Small Tortoiseshell – One at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th with one at Skipwith Common on the 27^th.

Red Admiral – Three at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th.

OTHERS:

7-spot Ladybird – Up to 25 were recorded at Bank Island on the 25^th in the first large emergence of the year, with 70+ in a small patch of Gorse on Skipwith Common on the 27^th.

7-spot Ladybirds - Skipwith - 27/02

Gorse Shieldbug – Three at Skipwith Common on the 26^th with 10+ there the next day.