Feb' 25

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - February Sightings

Highlights during the month included the reappearance of the two drake American Wigeon on the 24^th and a drake Green-winged Teal (discovered on the same date), whilst a Ruddy Shelduck appeared at Bank Island on the 25^th. Otherwise the return spring passage of Whooper Swans and Pink-footed Geese started during the month and an early Common Scoter was present (8^th-9^th) prior to the first nocturnal passage flock of the year recorded after dark on the 24^th. An impressive 1,092 Pintail were recorded on the 15^th (second highest count on record – and in line with increasing numbers over the last few years), with 1,032 remaining on the 23^rd. Shoveler (378), Gadwall (233) and Tufted Duck (275) all increased with spring passage and the arrival of breeding populations.

Wader wise, 160+ Curlew had returned by mid-month with the first three singing males heard on the 15^th. The Black-tailed Godwit flock at Wheldrake Ings had reached 211 by the 16^th whilst a Grey Plover flew through the site on the 22^nd - the same date two Green Sandpipers appeared at Wheldrake Ings. The Wheldrake gull roost rapidly declined and many birds once again departed the site early, with a single Mediterranean Gull and Caspian Gull the highlights in an otherwise quiet gull month. Two Woodlarks had returned to Skipwith Common by the 13^th with four heard singing by the 22^nd. Ravens were logged on four dates during the month and the first singing Chiffchaff (presumably overwintering) was seen at Skipwith on the 22^nd. 100+ Corn Buntings remained at the Melbourne roost to at least mid-month.

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 Duncan Bye and Trevor Walton for the use of their images below.

 

BIRDS:

Mute Swan – The first pairs were seen copulating from mid-month with some early nest building activity recorded at North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th and 22^nd.

Whooper Swan – 141 were present at Derwent Farm on the 7^th. The first spring passage herds then started to move on the 13^th with 31 northwest in three herds whilst seven dropped into Bank Island. Twelve flew north over Bank Island on the 14^th and the resident herd had increased to 166 on the 15^th. Seven were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 15^th and 16^th with 160 at North Duffield on the 19^th followed by 151 on the 22^nd. Six passage birds were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 23^rd.

Whooper Swans - 15/02 - Ellerton - DB

Greylag Goose – Numbers decreased early in the month as usual with 597 remaining on the 15^th, by which time several pairs were scattered throughout the site and starting to claim territories.

Canada Goose – 98 were present throughout the site on the 15^th.

Pink-footed Goose – Between 800 and 1,000 were logged daily in the wider East Cottingwith area during the first week of the month. Numbers then decreased to c400 by the 11^th with this flock departing the site on the 13^th, when a further skein flew northwest over Bank Island. A flock of c200 followed on the 14^th, with other flocks of 36 on the 15^th and 120 on the 16^th also recorded. 500 were present in the Ellerton area on the 21^st.

White-fronted Goose – Three adults were present with Pink-footed Geese at East Cottingwith on the 5^th and presumably it was the same three that flew over Bank Island the next day. Four were then present again at Wheldrake Ings and East Cottingwith on the 16^th with three seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th.

White-fronted Goose - 16/02 - Wheldrake - DB

Egyptian Goose – Seventeen flew over Bank Island at dusk on the 6^th with the two regular breeding pairs recorded at Elvington and East Cottingwith throughout the month.

Shelduck – 140+ were present early in the month with 96 remaining on the 15^th and 107 on the 23^rd.

Ruddy Shelduck – A single was present at Bank Island on between the 25^th and 28^th.

Teal – A total of 6,277 were recorded throughout the site on the 15^th followed by 6,559 on the 23^rd.

Teal - Wheldrake Ings - 16/02 - DB

Green-winged Teal – A single was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 23^rd.

Wigeon – A total of 10,720 were present throughout the site on the monthly WeBS count on the 15^th with 10,120 recorded on the 23^rd.

American Wigeon – Two drakes were present at Bubwith Ings on the 23^rd.

Mallard – Numbers decreased during the month no doubt reflecting the dispersal of local breeding birds, with 809 recorded on the 15^th.

Pintail – Numbers started to increase again with 466 recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th, followed by 300+ at North Duffield Carrs and a total of 1,092 throughout the whole site on the 15^th during the monthly WeBS count. This represents the second highest count on record (set in 2024) and follows the recent trend of increasing and internationally important numbers in spring. A total of 321 were at North Duffield Carrs on the 22^nd with 1,032 remaining throughout the site on the 23^rd.

Shoveler – Numbers as expected started to increase with the return of spring passage and incoming breeding birds. 117 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th followed by 163 there on the 15^th, amongst the 261 present throughout the site on that date. 135 were at North Duffield Carrs on the 22^nd, with a total of 378 recorded throughout the site on the 23^rd.

Gadwall – Spring passage and the presumed return of local breeders saw numbers increase early in the month with 120 at Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th and 148 throughout the site on the 15^th – increasing to 233 on the 23^rd.

Tufted Duck – Numbers continued to increase with the build up of spring passage with 160 recorded between Wheldrake Ings and Bank Island on the 6^th. 145 remained throughout the site on the 15^th. 92 were at North Duffield Carrs on the 22^nd with 160 at Wheldrake Ings on the 23^rd when 275 were present throughout the whole site.

Pochard – Scarce throughout the month with just two recorded on the 15^th. Three were at Wheldrake Ings on the 22^nd followed by a single there on the 23^rd.

Common Scoter – A single remained at Wheldrake Ings between the 8^th and 9^th with the first flock picked up on nocturnal passage after dark on the 24^th.

Goldeneye – Numbers increased with spring passage with 34 recorded on the 15^th and 28 remaining on the 23^rd.

Goldeneye - Wheldrake Ings - 19/02 - TW

Goosander – One was seen over Bank Island on the 9^th and five roosted at Wheldrake Ings later in the day. Six roosted at Wheldrake Ings from the 10^th onwards with a drake later seen on the canal at Melbourne on the 14^th. Ten were recorded throughout the site on the 15^th.

Little Egret – Sightings became more regular during the first week of the month as birds started to return to the reserve.

Great White Egret – A single lingered in the Wheldrake/Storwood area throughout the month with either it or another regularly seen in the Melbourne area. Two were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 16^th with one recorded on the Low Grounds on the 21^st. Two were present on the 23^rd, with at least one remaining to month end.

Coot – Numbers had increased to 60+ at Wheldrake Ings by the 6^th with 45 present throughout the site on the 15^th and 75 at Wheldrake on the 23^rd.

Moorhen – The first predated egg was found at Skipwith Common NNR on the 19^th.

Marsh Harrier – There was a decrease in wintering individuals with just four or five remaining by mid-month.

Marsh Harrier - Wheldrake Ings - 19/02 - TW

Peregrine – At least three wintering individuals were present throughout the month.

Merlin – A single was reported from North Duffield Carrs on the 8^th, 11^th and 21^st.

Oystercatcher – A pair had returned to a breeding territory at East Cottingwith by the 4^th with three later seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 8^th. Eight were then present throughout the site on the 15^th followed by 12 on the 22^nd.

Golden Plover – 300 had returned to Wheldrake Ings by the 9^th increasing to 800+ by the 15^th. 200 were recorded at North Duffield Carrs on the 22^nd and 1,382 were present throughout the whole site on the 23^rd.

Grey Plover – A single flew south over Bank Island, calling, on the 22^nd.

Lapwing –  Up to 2,000 remained at Wheldrake Ings and the Low Grounds early in the month with a total of 4,899 recorded on the 15^th followed by 7,576 on the 23^rd.

Dunlin – c500 remained early in the month with 528 recorded throughout the site on the 15^th followed by 497 on the 23^rd.

Curlew – 40+ had returned to Wheldrake Ings by the 8^th with 58 recorded throughout the site on the 15^th including the first three singing males amongst several territorial pairs. 90+ were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st, by which time a regularly returning colour-ringed individual took up its usual territory infront of Tower Hide. 160+ were recorded throughout the site on the 22^nd.

Curlew - Wheldrake Ings - 23/02 - DB

Black-tailed Godwit – Numbers increased to 156 by the 6^th and 166 by the 8^th, with 152 remaining on the 15^th. 211 were then present there on the 16^th and remained on the 23^rd. Some nocturnal passage was noted on the 28^th.

Jack Snipe – Up to 12 remained in a small area of Skipwith Common NNR during the first week of the month, with up to ten at Elvington Airfield and four at North Duffield Ings on the 5^th. One flew out of the swantail reedbed at Wheldrake Ings on the 23^rd.

Woodcock – Fields surrounding Skipwith Common NNR held nine on the 5^th, with ten at Wheldrake Ings and 11 at Elvington Airfield on the 8^th.

Redshank – A total of 16 were present throughout the site on the 15^th.

Green Sandpiper – Two were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 22^nd.

Herring Gull – 350 roosted at Wheldrake Ings on the 15^th.

Mediterranean Gull – A single adult was recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th.

Black-headed Gull – Numbers decreased quickly much as they did last spring, with just 300 at the Wheldrake roost on the 15^th.

Common Gull – Just 100 remained at the Wheldrake roost on the 15^th following an early departure.

Capsian Gull – An adult was reported from the Wheldrake Ings gull pre-roost on the 5^th.

Short-eared Owl – A single was present at dusk at North Duffield Carrs on the 22^nd.

Woodlark – The first returning two birds were noted with some limited sub-song in cold temperatures on the 13^th, with four then present on the 22^nd followed by six on the 28^th.

Raven – A single flew over Wheldrake village on the 2^nd with either it or another over Melbourne on the 3^rd. One was seen over Bank Island on the 14^th, 16^th, 27^th and 28^th.

Willow Tit – There was a slight increase in singing activity from mid-month with two pairs at both Melbourne and Wheldrake, and single pairs at North Duffield Carrs and Bank Island.

Willow Tit - Wheldrake Ings - 16/02 - DB

Chiffchaff – Singles were heard singing at Skipwith Common NNR on the 22^nd and the Water Treatment Works at Bank Island on the 28^th.

Nuthatch – One was in the car park lane at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st and was regularly seen thereafter during the month.

Siskin – c200 were in the Melbourne and Thornton Ings area on the 1^st.

Linnet – c90 roosted at Bank Island regularly during the month with 80+ at Aughton on the 15^th. 100+ were at Bank Island on the 22^nd.

Corn Bunting – 88 were still present at the Melbourne roost on the 5^th with 100+ there on the 15^th.