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' 19

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - July Sightings

Early returning waders dominated during the first week of the month, with last year’s rotavating of Bank Island paying dividends – the 2nd saw a Temminck’s Stint sharing the mud there with a Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, four Green Sandpiper, five Little Ringed Plover and the usual Lapwing, Curlew and Snipe. Passage continued at a steady pace with two Avocets (21st), the first returning Golden Plover (19th) and an influx of Wood Sandpipers towards the end of the month (part of an arrival throughout the UK), bringing a record-breaking flock of nine to the pool at Wheldrake. Lapwing still had unfledged broods at Wheldrake to the 25th with a late brood of Redshank also present to mid-month. A Woodcock on the riverside path at Wheldrake on the 25th was more unexpected and likely to have been a local breeder dispersing from nearby sites.

It was unsurprisingly quieter for wildfowl , however Garganey continued their excellent run, both in terms of breeding success and numbers - up to two females and five males showed on the pool at Wheldrake throughout much of the month, with Teal starting to increase reaching 17 by the 20th. Two summering drake Wigeon remained with up to two regular female Pochard.  Up to 23 Little Egrets were counted early in the month with numbers decreasing thereafter as birds dispersed away from their breeding colony (as far as Blacktoft Sands and Saltholme RSPB reserves). Regular Marsh Harriers were recorded but out-numbered by Red Kites for the first time; up to seven adults and five young were noted following hay making activities around the valley. Hobbies were also fairly regular throughout, with one or two Peregrines continuing the increase in records. 
Common Terns fledged two broods (five young) from our rafts at Wheldrake and North Duffield, and attracted more passage birds into the site than in recent years. The last adult Cuckoo was reported on the 3rd, although a single juvenile raised by a pair of Reed Warblers lingered at Wheldrake between the 8th-19th, whilst another fledged from a Wren’s nest at Skipwith Common on the 29th. Kingfishers were active and showed well on the pool at Wheldrake, with a second individual caught and ringed at the NNR base on the 26th. A pair of Spotted Flycatchers raised three young from a nest cup at Melbourne Arm, whilst seven juvenile Willow Tits were caught and ringed between Wheldrake and Bank Island. A reeling Grasshopper Warbler was heard at Wheldrake on the 13th.

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


BIRDS: 
Shelduck – A single juvenile at Wheldrake Ings from the 19th to month end.
Wigeon – A single ‘flighted’ drake remained at Wheldrake throughout the month, with another individual unable to fly also present. 
Teal – 12 were recorded at Wheldrake on the 1st with five at Bank Island on the same date.  Up to four remained on the pool at Wheldrake throughout, increasing to 17 by the 29th and 28 on the 31st – the first returning local breeders perhaps. A brood of seven was at Bank Island on the 23rd.
Garganey – A brood of six remained at Wheldrake on the 1st – 5th with another female at Bank Island on the 7th and at Wheldrake on the 10th. A brood of five were seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 8th – 14th. One or two females continued to be seen daily on the pool at Wheldrake and were joined by the brood of five there at dusk on the 15th – at least 12 were present in the valley around this time. Two females and five juveniles remained at Wheldrake thereafter until month end, with one caught and ringed on the 20th. A brood of two, near fledged ducklings were caught and ringed at Bank Island on the 23rd – possibly a third brood of the season here. 

Garganey - Wheldrake - 10/07 - DB



Gadwall – Five newly hatched broods (37 ducklings) present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 1st with 33 at North Duffield Carrs on the 4th. 25 ducklings were still at Wheldrake on the 13th with several unfledged broods remaining at month end. 
Shoveler – 48 ducklings were present in several broods at North Duffield Carrs with 10 ducklings at Wheldrake on the 4th. Only small numbers remained at month end. 
Tufted Duck – Five pairs with 21 ducklings were present throughout the month. 
Pochard – A single female was at Wheldrake between the 7th – 9th with two there on the 15th.  
Little Egret – 19 were present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 1st with other scattered birds present throughout the site. Eight were at North Duffield Carrs on the 4th. 23 were at Wheldrake on the 5th with 15 remaining on the 6th-8th. Up to 10 lingered thereafter until the 19th with up to seven thereafter until the 28th
Four adults and five juvenile birds were caught and colour-ringed during the month – all from the local breeding population. Colour-rings are blue (fitted above the knee), and have two white letters/numbers starting with ‘H’.
Little Egret - Wheldrake - 27/07 - DB



Grey Heron – Up to eight were present at Wheldrake (6th-8th) with a full count of 22 throughout the valley on the 6th
Marsh Harrier – A sub-adult male and cream crown were at North Duffield Carrs on the 4th with a cream crown at North Duffield and Wheldrake on the 8th. Another individual was at North Duffield Carrs on the 22nd and at Wheldrake on the 24th-28th. A sub-adult male was present there on the 30th.
Red Kite – Three were at Wheldrake on the 1st following hay making operations, with four together there on the 2nd and three on the 3rd, 4th and four on the 8th - five were also over Thorganby Ings with a similar count of nine from those two sites on the 10th. Up to seven adults and four juveniles were present in the Wheldrake/Bank Island area thereafter until the 15th, with seven adults and five young there on the 17th. Seven were present throughout the western side of the valley on the 22nd. 

Red Kite - Wheldrake - 13/07 - DB

Hobby – A single adult was showing well at Bank Island on the 2nd with one at Wheldrake on the 6th - sparring with both Common Terns and Lapwing for extended periods. A single was then present at Bank Island on the 8th and Wheldrake on the 14th, 23rd and 30th, when one was also seen over a North Duffield garden. 
Peregrine – A single juvenile (recently fledged), was picked up near Holme on Spalding Moor on the 1st and released on the 6th after a few days in rehab. A single was seen over Wheldrake on the 8th with an immature there on the 13th. Two were over Stamford Bridge on the 15th with another at Wheldrake on the 21st, followed by an adult male there on the 22nd
Corncrake – A single was reported calling in front of the Geoff Smith hide at North Duffield Carrs on the 6th.
Oystercatcher – Passage birds continued to move early in the month with three on the pool at Wheldrake on the 1st with two over there on the 3rd. Three were at both Wheldrake Ings and Barmby on the Marsh on the 10th. Four late birds roosted on the pool at Wheldrake during wader passage on the 29th
Avocet – Three were present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 21st
Little Ringed Plover – A single lingered at Bank Island from the 1st with five there on the 2nd and six on the 3rd-4th. One at Wheldrake on the 5th and 6th. An adult and immature were at Bank Island on the 14th/15th with one at Wheldrake on the 26th-29th and 31st
Ringed Plover – Two at Bank Island on the 3rd with one at Wheldrake on the 16th.
Golden Plover – The first returning bird of the autumn was a lone single at Wheldrake after heavy rain on the 19th, with two south the following morning. Three flew south over Bank Island on the 29th
Lapwing – 80 were at Bank Island on the 2nd and 3rd, with 103 at Wheldrake and 57 at Thorganby on the same date. 44 were at Elvington on the 4th when 36 were at North Duffield Carrs. 150 were at Bank Island on the 7th with smaller flocks scattered throughout the site thereafter - 80+ at Wheldrake on the 15th. Numbers on the pool built up with 300+ thereafter followed by 234 on the 27th. A single unfledged juvenile was present at Bank Island until the 17th with three broods (eight young) seen at Wheldrake until the 25th.  

Lapwing - Bank Island - 19/07



Snipe – 20 were present at Wheldrake on the 24th followed by 30 on the 29th
Woodcock A single was present along the Wheldrake riverside path on the 25th. 
Temmick’s Stint – A single was found at Bank Island on the 2nd (DW).
Black-tailed Godwit – 10 were present at Bank Island on the 2nd with a single seen with the Lapwing flock there on the 23rd
Curlew – Flocks of 18 were present at Wheldrake on the 1st when 13 were seen at East Cottingwith Ings. Five flew north at Wheldrake on the 6th followed by 24 on the 9th and 11th.  12 flew south at Wheldrake on the morning of the 15th followed by five on the 16th and one or two daily thereafter until the 20th - three there on the 21st. One flew over Wheldrake on the 24th. 
Whimbrel – 10 flew south calling at Wheldrake just after dawn on the 18th
Redshank – Three unfledged broods remained at North Duffield Carrs (eight young), whilst two unfledged broods were seen at Wheldrake on the 6th with a pair and two fledged young on the pool there on the 10th. Two juveniles remained on the pool at Wheldrake on the 15th with three there on the 17th- 21st and four on the 22nd. One remained thereafter until the 26th
Greenshank – Two were present at Wheldrake and a single at Bank Island on the 3rd, followed by four across the sites on the 4th and two thereafter until the 11th. One at Wheldrake on the 17th and again on the 19th-22nd.  
Wood Sandpiper – A single was present at Bank Island on the 2nd with two there on the 3rd and one at Wheldrake on the 16th. A record flock of nine were then present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 29th – part of a large national movement of the species. 
Green Sandpiper – Seven were present at Bank Island on the 1st with four on the 2nd and eight on the 3rd. Up to five or six were then regular between Wheldrake and Bank Island, followed by eight there on the 8th -10th. Six were present on the 13th-14th with eight again on the 15th and up to five between the 16th-19th and six between the 20th-22nd. Nine were present across Wheldrake on the 24th-26th followed by eight there on the 29th-30th
Common Sandpiper – A single at Bank Island on the 2nd and Wheldrake on the 8th, with four dropping into the pool at Wheldrake during heavy rain on the 27th - remaining until the next day. Three were present on the 31st
Lesser Black-backed Gull – Five were loafing on newly cut hay at Wheldrake on the 1st with seven at North Duffield Carrs on the 4th. 
Black-headed Gull – Four juveniles were present at Wheldrake on the 1st with eight amongst a flock of 100 at North Duffield Carrs on the 4th. Numbers increased with 100+ juveniles at Wheldrake amongst 430 birds on the 13th.
Common Gull – Six at North Duffield Carrs on the 5th. Numbers increased thereafter with birds attracted to the newly cut meadows, with 76 at Wheldrake (adults and sub-adults) on the 18th
Common Tern – The brood of three from the Wheldrake raft fledged on the 8th, with the brood at North Duffield Carrs fledging the next day – all five were colour-ringed. Six were present at Wheldrake on the 14th, however the family party departed soon after, with just single adults briefly on the 16th and 17th, two on the 18th and a single until the 20th. Two adults appeared with two newly fledged young on the 23rd – possibly another local breeding pair, perhaps from one of the Elvington fishing lakes where adults had been seen earlier in the season. Four adults and two juveniles spent the day on the pool on the 25th with four there on the 26th and a single on the 27th. The family party of local breeders reappeared with two adults and three colour-ringed juveniles present on the 28th with the juveniles present again on the 30th.
Barn Owl – Birds showed well around the site during the second half of the month – presumably busy feeding broods.
Cuckoo – A single adult seen at Wheldrake on the 3rd where a newly fledged juvenile was being fed by a Reed Warbler on the 8thseen again on the 10th, 13th and 19th. Another juvenile fledged from a Wren’s nest at Skipwith Common on the 29th. 
Kingfisher – Birds remained active in the Bank Island and Wheldrake area throughout the month – often seen and heard along the river, but also sitting on the perches in front of Pool Hide and showing well - four seen on the 8th. A single juvenile was caught and ringed in the NNR base garden on the 26th (a first for this site and presumably heading to the water treatment works next door), followed by another at Wheldrake on the 30th. One on the River Derwent at Ellerton on the same date.

Kingfisher - Wheldrake - 01/07



Jay – Regular sightings continued of birds in the Bank Island and Wheldrake area, with one seen in the car park area on the 1st and one at Melbourne on the 3rd.
Great Spotted Woodpecker – The first fledged juvenile was present in the Wheldrake car park area on the 2nd, with three caught and ringed in pool side willows during the month (MFJ).
Sand Martin – First broods fledged and birds were incubating second clutches in the Bank Island nesting bank during the month. Small numbers of passage birds also started to appear at the Wheldrake roost.

Sand Martin brood - Bank Island - 07/07



Grey Wagtail – Two at Bank Island on the 3rd with one on the pool at Wheldrake the same day. Birds were then recorded daily from the Water Treatment Works at Bank Island.
Meadow Pipit – The first two obviously moving migrants were two individuals heading south over Wheldrake on the 24th.
Skylark – Several family parties were present on the Ings following the hay cut, whilst autumn passage birds included 11 south-west over Wheldrake on the 19th and five on the 24th. 
Blackbird – Following what appears to have been a good breeding season, 16 were present around Bank Island on the newly cut meadows on the 16th whilst 11 were counted on Wheldrake – followed by 14 there on the 22nd and 12 on the 24th.  
Starling – Up to 100 roosted in the Wheldrake reed bed most evenings during the month, with 300 by month end. 
Spotted Flycatcher – A pair bred at Melbourne Arm with three young ringed from the nest there on the 4th.  
Willow Tit – A third juvenile was caught and ringed in poolside bushes at Wheldrake on the 3rd (MFJ), followed by two more juveniles caught and ringed in the reed bed by Swantail Hide on the 15th and 16th. Single juveniles were caught and ringed at Bank Island on the 18th and 31st
Grasshopper Warbler – A single was reeling in front of Tower Hide on the 13th
Sedge Warbler – Autumn passage was well underway at month end with several birds carrying fat by this time - a noticeable increase was seen on the 30th when 14 individuals were caught and ringed at Wheldrake (MFJ). 

Sedge Warbler - Wheldrake - 23/07



Linnet – Up to 40 were on Wheldrake on the 22nd and 24th with three (rather unusually), caught and ringed there during warbler ringing. 
Reed Bunting – Large numbers of juveniles were present around the valley with many young birds also caught and ringed at Wheldrake during the month. 20 roosted at Bank Island on the 24th.


MAMMALS:
Brown Hare – Large numbers re-appeared, or at least were easier to see on the cut meadows during the month.
Hedgehog – A single at Wheldrake on the 13th and 14th. 
Otter – One seen at Ellerton on the 26th.
Fallow Deer – A single fawn was seen at Bank Island on the 29th
Roe Deer – Present daily at Bank Island and Wheldrake including and adult with two kids at Wheldrake on the 21st and 28th

Roe Deer - Wheldrake - 28/07 - DB



MOTHS:
Another very busy month including several catches of 500+, and one of 800+, with a vast range of species caught - highlights being Green Silver-lines, Lilac Beauty, Oak Eggar, Pine Hawk-moth, Privet Hawk-moth and Scarce Footman.

Privet Hawk-moth - NNR Base - 11/07



BUTTERFLIES:
Comma – Five at Wheldrake on the 6th and 7th, eight between Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 14th, followed by eleven on the 20th and five on the 28th
Peacock – Scarce during the first half of the month with only singles recorded, until six at Bank Island 17 at Wheldrake on the 28th. 
Small Tortoiseshell – Fairly quiet month, with only singles recorded apart from three at Wheldrake on the 6th and five at Wheldrake on the 7th.
Painted Lady – Recorded from mid-month in single figures before four at Wheldrake on the 28th and seven there on the 31st. 
Red Admiral– Six between Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 6th. Two at Wheldrake on the 10th, three at Wheldrake on the 14th and six at Wheldrake on the 20th. Three at Wheldrake on the 28th and 31st
Meadow Brown – Present throughout the month with a high count of 23 at Bank Island and 20 at Wheldrake on the 6th, followed by 14 at Bank Island and 16 at Wheldrake on the 20th.
Ringlet – Recorded throughout the month with 14 at Bank Island on the 6th and 7 at Wheldrake on the same day, followed 7 at Wheldrake and 7 at Bank Island on the 20th
Gatekeeper – The first of the year was seen at Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 13th, followed by two at Wheldrake on the 20th
Speckled Wood – Recorded in single figures throughout the month, until the 28th when eight were recorded on Wheldrake. 
Large Skipper – Two at Bank Island on the 6th and 14th
Common Blue – One in the NNR base garden on the 26th.

OTHERS:
Lesser Emperor – The first for the year (and a new reserve record) was present at Wheldrake on the 14th
Black-tailed Skimmer – Several were on the wing at Wheldrake and North Duffield Carrs from the 1st, with large numbers then seen from the 14th
Brown Hawker – The first for the year was at Wheldrake on the 5th with an increase in numbers noted on the wing from the 11th.  




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