Welcome to the LDV NNR ringing blog, this blog is designed to share the experiences, findings and tales from a group of dedicated ringers. We specialise in conservation orientated research projects, largely focusing on wildfowl, waders, owls and birds of conservation concern, in and around the Vale of York NNR's.

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Jul' 18

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - July Sightings


It was largely 'as you were’ in terms of highlights, with the pool at Wheldrake Ings attracting large numbers of Grey Herons and Little Egrets, as well as yet another Great White Egret and Common Crane. Three calling Corncrakes remained vocal during the first half of the month including a regular calling bird on Bubwith Ings. Other breeding season news concerned a single brood of five Pintail which reappeared during the month, whilst a single newly fledged Black-necked Grebe at North Duffield Carrs confirmed a successful outcome for that pair. Duck broods (notably Gadwall and Shoveler), continued to appear throughout the month, whilst Water Rails appeared to have had a bumper breeding season and showed well - a minimum of ten young were seen (along with a few adults), from at least five broods at Wheldrake. An eclipse drake Garganey showed well on the pool during the second half of the month whilst a female Mandarin added a touch of the exotic on the 28th. Three Sandwich Terns over Wheldrake on the same date represented the second record of the year for the species. 

 
Heron 'fest' - Wheldrake - 14/07 - DB


An Osprey passed over on the 4th whilst two or three Marsh Harriers, four pairs of Red Kites, two juvenile Peregrines and several Hobbies continued to be reported. Much attention focused on the start of the autumn wader passage with Little Ringed Plover and the first returning Golden Plover on the 12th, followed by two or three Ruff and a trickle of Black-tailed Godwits (max 25 on the 26th), ten Green Sandpipers, four Common Sandpipers, two Wood Sandpipers (8th and 28th onwards) and the first returning Greenshank. Large flocks of Lapwing contained good numbers of juveniles with the last local birds fledging around the 12th. Following a good breeding season for Curlew, several unfledged broods were still present on the 12th with a couple of small family parties remaining on the 26th

 
Curlew - North Duffield - 12/07


Both pairs of breeding Common Terns raised three young during the month and attracted other passing adults and fledged young. Cuckoos were still present early on in higher than usual numbers, whilst Kingfishers showed well throughout the site, and particularly well around the pool which attracted several fledged young. A single Grasshopper Warbler reeled there from the 12th – 15th, whilst a recently fledged Cetti’s Warbler represents the first confirmed breeding for the valley following calling birds nearby earlier in the summer. Four juvenile Willow Tits were ringed in the Wheldrake poolside willows whilst several Corn Bunting were heard singing across the Ings meadows. 

The hot weather conditions resulted in a surge of butterfly records with large numbers recorded, including Comma and Brimstone, and the first Essex Skipper for the area was notable record - coming from the old Escrick Mine site in Wheldrake Parish, the same site also hosted a small colony of Marbled Whites. A single Brown Argus was recorded from the base garden at Bank Island with yet another Dark Green Fritillary (now almost annual in the valley) at Wheldrake Ings, and likewise, a Humming-bird Hawk-moth in a Thorganby garden during much of the month. 


 Brown Argus - NNR base - 31/07

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


BIRDS:

Whooper Swan – Two remained at North Duffield Carrs early in the month, with one unfortunately found dead there on the 12th.

Mute Swan – Up to 12 pairs remained with broods throughout the month, with most other non-breeding birds moving away to moulting sites elsewhere, the incredibly dry conditions no doubt also helped see them on their way. Up to 12 non-breeders were present and moulting on the river and various ditches.

Greylag Goose – 100+ were present on a farm pond at East Cottingwith on the 12th. Only small numbers present thereafter as local breeders dispersed.

Canada Goose – A single pair with four young were present on the pool at Wheldrake.

Egyptian Goose – A single pair remained at East Cottingwith with another pair at Foggathorpe. Up to four non-breeding birds roamed the wider area.

Wigeon – Up to five drakes and four females remained in the valley, largely on the extensive ditch network.

Teal – Three were present at Wheldrake early in the month. A single adult female was caught and ringed at Wheldrake on the 9th, with numbers increasing to 12 on the 18th. Up to 10 were recorded until the 28th with 13 on the 29th and 20 on the 31st.

Pintail – A pair with five well grown ducklings were found at Wheldrake on the 10th, following a period of not being able to locate the pair – the drake was later caught and ringed. The male roosted on the pool towards dusk on the 12th and was present occasionally thereafter, with a second, eclipse drake also present there on the 23rd

 
Pintail - Wheldrake - 12/07


Garganey – A single drake was present at Bank Island on the 3rd with a female there on the 6th. An eclipse drake was present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 16th and remained to month end.  

Mandarin – A single appeared on the pool at Wheldrake on the 28th (DB et al).

Gadwall – A brood of five recently hatched ducklings appeared at Wheldrake on the 12th with several unfledged broods still present at month end.

Shoveler – Several newly hatched ducklings continued to appear early in the month with several unfledged broods remaining at month end. 

 
Shoveler - North Duffield - 05/07


Grey Heron – Large numbers were present early on, especially on the pool at Wheldrake which held 24 on the 1st, 29 on the 2nd and 31 on the 3rd6th, when a further 13 were present at Bank Island. Up to 63 were counted throughout the site at this time. 23 were present at Wheldrake on the 12th with 29 there on the 14th. Numbers on the pool declined thereafter as water levels receded and fish stocks became depleted. 17 were roosting on Swantail Ings, Wheldrake during the day on the 25th.

Little Egret – Large and increasing numbers were present early in the month as further local juveniles fledged from the heronry. 34 were present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 4th with 50+ present throughout the whole site on the 5th. 20 were still present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 12th when six were at North Duffield Carrs and five at Aughton Ings. 17 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 14th. Similar to Grey Herons numbers declined thereafter, with up to 10 in the wider Wheldrake area to month end and scattered birds elsewhere throughout the valley.

 
Little Egrets - Wheldrake - 05/07


Great White Egret – A single reappeared at the pool at Wheldrake on the 14th (DB).

 
GWE - Wheldrake - 14/07 - DB



Black-necked Grebe – A single fledged juvenile was present on the top pond at North Duffield Carrs on the 9th (CSR, FM).

Great Crested Grebe – A single pair bred on a lake near Melbourne Hall with two large juveniles there on the 12th. Further pairs bred at the Oaks Golf Course near Aughton, and Pool Bridge Farm at Crockey Hill as well as in the Allerthorpe area.

Common Crane – A single lingered on the pool at Wheldrake on the 1st and 2nd.

Osprey – A single circled the pool at Wheldrake on the 4th (CSR).

Red Kite – Up to four pairs were present throughout the area with an increasing number of sightings during the month, including the first fledged young appearing on the Ings.

Marsh Harrier – At least two untagged cream crowns remained to month end. 

 
Marsh Harrier - Bank Island - 30/07 - DB


Peregrine – A single immature male was present at Bank Island on the 6th with a single over Wheldrake on the 24th.

Hobby – A single was present over a Thorganby garden on the 6th (and then regularly thereafter), with regular sightings from Wheldrake throughout the month, and singles at Melbourne on the 19th and North Duffield on the 24th.  

Water Rail – A fledged juvenile was present at Wheldrake on the 4th with two there with two adults on the 7th and 8th. Two juveniles (different broods) were present on the pool on the 12th with two adults seen and heard calling. Three juveniles (from probably three separate broods) and two adults were present on the 16th with six juveniles (four broods) on the 17th.  From the 22nd onwards, a pair were also seen with three newly hatched young, presumably a second brood. Five were seen on the 25th (including two fledged immatures and a single juvenile). A further juvenile, from a different brood was seen on the 30th. In total – at least six broods were recorded on Wheldrake with a minimum of 11 young present, and although only three or four individual adults could be accounted for, presumably others were present in the area. 

 
Water Rail - Wheldrake - 16/07


Corncrake – A single calling male was still present and vocal at Bubwith Ings until the 15th, with two there on the 12th and a single again on the 21st. A single was calling at Bank Island on the 13th.  

Oystercatcher – Two at Wheldrake on the 1st – 5th with one at Bank Island on the 8th. Ones and twos were regularly seen passing over head thereafter on passage, with four on the pool at Wheldrake on the 25th and three on the 28th.

Little Ringed Plover – A single was present on the pool at Wheldrake on 12th with another or the same on the 17th, 28th and 29th.

Golden Plover – The first returning bird of the autumn was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 12th followed by 12 south at Bank Island on the 27th between heavy thunderstorms.

Lapwing – Two unfledged broods (four young) remained at North Duffield Carrs on the 5th.  Small post breeding flocks built up and frequented the cut meadows with 100 at Aughton on the 4th, followed by 130 at Wheldrake and 40 at Melbourne on the 5th, and 40 at North Duffield on the 6th - all holding good numbers of juveniles. 150 were present at Wheldrake on the 8th. Several newly fledged broods were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 12th with 25 at Thornton Ellers on the same date. 200+ were on the pool at Wheldrake on the 18th and regularly thereafter, declining towards month end, with 100 by the 24th and 70 on the 25th – presumably as the site dried up and birds dispersed further afield.  

 
Lapwing - North Duffield - 05/07


Dunlin – A single at Wheldrake on the 23rd.

Ruff – Two were present at Wheldrake on the 3rd followed by a single on the 14th and 28th.

Common Snipe – Following the breeding season small numbers were present throughout the site with up to 10 on the pool at Wheldrake.

Black-tailed Godwit – A single summer plumaged bird was present on the 7th and remained until the 9th, with seven flying into roost there on the 12th followed by a single on the 13th. Nine were present at dawn on the 17th with two remaining that evening including a single colour-ringed bird. Two unringed birds were there the following morning, suggesting turn over may be greater than would first appear, before nine were recorded on the 19th-20th. 25 staged on the pool briefly on the 26th.

Curlew – Several unfledged broods remained early in the month, with late unfledged broods one (young) at North Duffield Ings and two (young) at North Duffield Carrs ringed on the 9th. Wheldrake Ings held small post breeding flocks of 21 on the 2nd, 17 on the 3rd and nine on the 6th, with ones and two noted heading west over the valley most days early in the month. Another unfledged youngster was found at East Cottingwith on the 12th. The last five unfledged young were noted at North Duffield Carrs on the 19th. One flew west over Bank Island on the 17th, with another there on the 23rd and seven (presumably the last of the late fledged family parties) on the 26th.


Redshank – Up to 15 pairs were located with young throughout the site during the month. Four were present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 7th with a single remaining the following day, whilst two juveniles lingered until the 9th. Three adults were still present with young at North Duffield Carrs on the 12th, whilst a single immature was seen on the pool at Wheldrake on the 17th with three there on the 22nd

 
Redshank - North Duffield - 03/07


Greenshank – The first of the autumn was at Wheldrake Ings on the 26th – 29th.

Green Sandpiper – Two at Wheldrake on the 1st increased to three there on the 4th – 8th with a further single at Bank Island on the later date. Four were at Wheldrake on the 9th increasing to five on the 12th. Five remained thereafter until the 16th with two additional birds at Bank Island on the 14th. Eight were at Wheldrake at dawn on the 17th with the same number into roost there on the 25th, increasing to 10 on the 28th to month end.

Common Sandpiper – Two were present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 9th, the first of the autumn. A single was seen there on the 15th – 26th followed by four on the 28th-31st.

Wood Sandpiper – A single early returning adult present at the pool at Wheldrake on the 8th (DB et al) was the first returning individual. Another was at the same site from the 28th-31st with a second bird at Bank Island on the later date.  

 
Wood Sandpiper - Wheldrake - 29/07 - DB


Black-headed Gull – 43 juveniles were recorded at Wheldrake on the 3rd.

Common Tern – The Wheldrake pair were still incubating three eggs early in the month  with a single chick hatching on the 13th with all three there by the 16th. Two additional adults paused at this site on the 22nd whilst two dispersing fledged immatures were recorded on the 25th. The first of the North Duffield Carrs brood fledged on the 12th with all three departing by the 23rd.
In addition, three adults appeared on the pool at Wheldrake to the frustration of the breeding pair on the 4th, whilst two were fishing at Raker Lakes near Wheldrake village on the 15th. An adult and three fledged young passed over Thorganby village on the 21st. Two immatures passed through the pool at Wheldrake on the 29th with another adult joining the breeding pair on the 31st before being chased away.  

 
Common Tern chicks - Wheldrake - 16/07


Sandwich Tern – Three flew south from Tower Hide on the 28th (IG) – the second record of the year following a lingering bird in spring.

Cuckoo – Two males were still present in the Melbourne area until at least the 6th. Two males were recorded at Wheldrake on the 9th, with one fledged immature at Wheldrake on the 4th and 15th.

Jay – A  pair were present in the pool side scrub at Wheldrake regularly during the month, and presumably either bred there or across the river at the nearby Thickey Priory.

Kingfisher – Two pairs were present on the River Derwent at Wheldrake during the month, with regular sightings there of several birds and with several showing well on the rails in front of the hides. Four birds were around the pool at Wheldrake on the 12th with three there on the 18th when the third of the year was ringed in the poolside willows (MFJ).

 
Kingfisher - Wheldrake - 01/07 - DB


Swallow – The first ‘roost’ of the autumn involved 80 birds at Wheldrake on the 12th with 120+ on 17th.

Reed Warbler – Good numbers (50+) were ringed during the month at Wheldrake Ings (MFJ).

Sedge Warbler – A french ringed individual was caught at Wheldrake Ings on the 25th (MFJ).

Grasshopper Warbler – Scarce this year with one ‘reeling’ at Wheldrake on the 12th – 15th a welcome find.

Cetti’s Warbler – A single newly fledged juvenile (unable of travelling far) was present on the ‘top pond’ at North Duffield Carrs on the 3rd.

Willow Tit – The first juvenile of the summer was caught and ringed in the willows around the pool at Wheldrake on the 2nd with two more there on 5th (MFJ). The fourth juvenile of the month was caught and ringed there on the 16th (MFJ), whilst an unringed adult was seen in the reserve base garden on the 31st.

Starling – Numbers present on the newly cut meadows at Wheldrake increased from 100 to 300+ by the 9th, with 160+ roosting in the reed bed there on the 17th and 300+ on the 25th.

Spotted Flycatcher – Two pairs bred near Skipwith Common NNR, whilst pairs were also recorded along the Pocklington Canal at Melbourne. A single pair also bred on the riverside track at Wheldrake Ings.

Corn Bunting – Several singing males still remained on the Ings throughout the month, with three at Bubwith on the 12th when a single was also present at Aughton along with two at Ellerton.

 
Corn Bunting - East Cottingwith - 12/07



MAMMALS:

Roe Deer – An adult and juvenile were seen at Bank Island on the 1st and Wheldrake on the 7th. Two at Bank Island on the 14th followed by singles at Wheldrake on the 25th, 29th, 30th and 31st

 
Roe Deer - Bank Island - 11/07


Brown Hare – Single at North Duffield Carrs on the 3rd and Wheldrake on the 19th and 21st.

Red Fox – Single at Wheldrake on the 7th and 24th.


BUTTERFLIES:

Red Admiral – Two at Wheldrake on the 21st, one at Bank Island on the 22nd and three at Wheldrake on the same date. Three were recorded during the transect at Wheldrake on the 24th.

Small Tortoiseshell – Numbers finally increased with six at Bank Island on the 1st and four at Wheldrake on the same day. On the 4th five were recorded at Wheldrake along with four at Bank Island. By the 6th numbers in the base garden had reached at least 10 individuals.

Painted Lady – Single at Bank Island on the 3rd. Two at Wheldrake on the 21st, one at Bank Island on the 22nd and three at Wheldrake on the same date.

Comma – Up to four or five were present daily around the pool at Wheldrake Ings during the first week of the month, with two at the reserve base during this period. Three were recorded at Bank Island on the 1st, 8th and 10th followed by a single at East Cottingwith on the 12th. Two were noted at Wheldrake on the 16th followed by six there on the 19th and 21st. Totals reached nine at Wheldrake on the 22nd followed by three seen there during the transect on the 24th. Single at Skipwith on the 25th along with two in the NNR base garden and four at Wheldrake on the same date.

 
Comma - Wheldrake - 25/07


Peacock – Single at Wheldrake on the 16th and the base garden on the 17th. 34 were recorded at Wheldrake on the 21st followed by 15 at Bank Island on the 22nd and 83 at Wheldrake on the same day. 40 were counted during the transect at Wheldrake on the 24th, followed by a single at Skipwith Common on the 26th.

Small Copper – One during the the transect at Wheldrake on the 24th.

Speckled Wood – Single on the butterfly transect at Bank Island on the 10th and Wheldrake on the 16th. Three were recored during the the transect at Wheldrake on the 24th followed by eight at Skipwith on the 25th and 26th.

Meadow Brown – Five at Bank Island on the 1st, followed by 12 there on the 22nd and 15 at Wheldrake on the same date. 10 were recorded during the the transect at Wheldrake on the 24th followed by six at Skipwith on the 25th and 26th.

Ringlet – Four at Bank Island on the 4th. One during the the transect at Wheldrake on the 24th. On the 25th six were at Skipwith followed by a single there on the 26th

 
Ringlet - Skipwith Common - 25/07


Gatekeeper – One during the the transect at Wheldrake on the 24th. On the 25th a high count of 14 was had at Skipwith followed by 10 there on the 26th.

Large White – Single at North Duffield Carrs on the 12th. 11 during the the transect at Wheldrake on the 24th.

Small White – Three during the the transect at Wheldrake on the 24th.

Green Veined White – 56 during the the transect at Wheldrake on the 24th followed by 20 at Skipwith on the 26th.

Marbled White –A small colony was found on the old North Selby Mine site with 10 individuals recorded during the month.

Brimstone – Single at Wheldrake on the 22nd and 24th and the NNR base on the 30th.

 
Brimstone - NNR base - 30/07

Common  Blue – A single was present in the refuge area at Wheldrake Ings on the 6th and 25th.   

Essex Skipper – The first records of this range expanding species came from Wheldrake Parish when a small colony was found on the old North Selby Mine site.

Large Skipper – Six were recorded at Skipwith on the 25th.


DRAGONFLIES:


Emerald – 30+ at Skipwith Common on the 26th.

 
Emerald - Skipwith Common - 26/07

Four-spotted Chaser – Single at North Duffield Carrs on the 11th.

Black-tailed Skimmer – Present at North Duffield Carrs on the 11th.

Emperor – Single at North Duffield Carrs on the 11th.

Brown Hawker – Five at Wheldrake on the 7th followed by four there on the 16th and six on the 25th.

Ruddy Darter – Single at Skipwith on the 25th followed by twelve there on the 26th.

Common Darter – Two at Wheldrake on the 7th. Two at Skipwith on the 25th followed by four there on the 26th

 
Common Darter - Skipwith Common - 25/07


Black Darter – Three at Skipwith Common on the 26th.


OTHERS:

Green Shield Bug – Single at the NNR base on the 3rd. Nine nymphs were recorded at Skipwith on the 25th followed by eight there on the 26th.

Birch Shield Bug – Single nymph at Skipwith Common on the 26th.

Gorse Shield Bug – Single nymph and two adults at Skipwith Common on the 25th followed by a single nymph there on the 26th

 
Gorse Shield Bug - Skipwith Common - 25/07


14-spot Ladybird – Single at the NNR base on the 3rd and Skipwith on the 25th.


Orange Ladybird – Single at Skipwith Common on the 26th.


Four Banded Longhorn Beetle – Single at Skipwith Common on the 25th and 26th
 

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