Jul'

Lower Derwent Valley Sightings - July 2014 

July can be a quiet month, and often one of great change on the Ings as the hay meadows are cut and the hay crop removed. As the last of the breeding waders fledge, July can often result in the final duck broods appearing as water levels recede and assessments of other breeding birds being made as family parties start to appear or disperse. July can also see the start of autumn passage as the first, presumably failed breeders from further north head southwards.

Wader passage was slow, and was as usual dominated by Green Sandpipers which favour the pool at Wheldrake Ings, with up to five being present daily. A count of 84 Common Snipe on Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd may well have been local breeders, unlike the seven Whimbrel on the same date. A welcome highlight came in the form of a summer plumage Curlew Sandpiper at Bank Island on the 3^rd. Eight Black-tailed Godwits and two Little Ringed Plovers on the 8^th showed some concerted movement on that day, alongside a notable record of two Sandwich Terns heading south over Bank Island. On the wildfowl front Egyptian Geese bred again and raised another brood in the East Cottingwith area, whilst a record breaking breeding season for Gadwall resulted in a count of 120 on the pool at Wheldrake Ings early in the month, and 45 being caught and ringed during that time. A good showing of Grey Herons and Little Egrets took place, whilst Water Rails were vocal and appear to have had a good season with two caught during the month.

 Little Egret - Wheldrake Ings - 02/07

Yet another Osprey passed through the valley on the 1^st whilst Marsh Harriers were seen daily, and a long staying Red Kite in the Melbourne area continued the general increasing trend whilst Kestrels, having had a productive season were widespread and numerous throughout the valley. As already noted in previous summaries Barn Owls have had a great year with nearly 200 chicks fledged from first broods and many incubating second broods again during the month.

As the bird interest settles down the invertebrate activity picks up pace. Another two Marbled Whites were recorded at Bank Island with large numbers of butterflies recorded throughout the site. Dragonflies have also had a good year with Black-tailed Skimmers being one of the commonest species on the wing throughout the valley during the month, whilst Black Darters showed well on their Skipwith Common stronghold.

 Black Darter - Skipwith Common - 15/07

Moth trapping continued during the month with several new species appearing for the first time during the month including a fine Oak Eggar at Bank Island, True Lover’s Knot and Four-spotted Footman on Skipwith Common and Orange Footman at Bank Island. The hunt for insects continued and gathered pace, with a number of new hoverflies, wasp mimics, grasshoppers, flies and shield bugs found throughout the month.

 Green Tiger Beetle - Skipwith Common - 23/07

BIRDS: 

Mute Swan – Breeding birds were present throughout the site with several pairs and family parties caught and colour-ringed during the month. In addition, 13 birds summered and moulted in the valley. 

Mute Swan cygnet - Pocklington Canal - 18/07

Egyptian Goose – A pair bred again in the East Cottingwith area appearing with eight newly hatched goslings on the 21^st – this follows a brood of six raised at this site earlier in the year. 

Teal – 23 at Bank Island on the 3^rd was the peak count with only low numbers remaining thereafter with five at Wheldrake Ings on the 30^th. 

Wigeon – A pair remained at North Duffield Carrs on the 2^nd with a drake there on the 4^th, a lone female lingered at Wheldrake Ings throughout the month.

Gadwall – Up to 120 ducklings were creched on Wheldrake Ings during the last week of the month, with 21 at Bank Island on the 3^rd, a brood of six newly hatched ducklings at Ellerton on the 4^th and six at North Duffield Carrs on the 10^th. The last newly hatched brood was at Wheldrake Ings on the 19^th where up to 75 remained during the last week of the month. 

Shoveler – Up to 20 ducklings were present at both Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings during the first week of the month with an unfledged brood of eight still present at the latter site at month end.

Garganey – Two at Wheldrake Ings on the 8^th with a fledged juvenile there on the 27^th. 

Tufted Duck – Several broods continued to appear during the month with four broods (12 young) at Wheldrake Ings, three broods (10 young) on the Pocklington Canal upstream of Melbourne and a single duckling at North Duffield Carrs - all unfledged by month end. 

Water Rail - Five calling males were present on Wheldrake Ings earlier in the breeding season and at least three pairs are thought to have bred there with good success. An adult and juvenile were caught at Wheldrake during mist netting evenings in the reedbed and several other calling birds were noted on an almost daily basis. Another was singing near Melbourne on the 29^th and Bank Island on the 30^th.  

Water Rail - Wheldrake Ings - 16/07

Coot – Up to 30 juveniles and 20 adults were present on the pool at Wheldrake Ings throughout the month. 

Grey Heron – A colour-ringed bird ‘yellow 28’ was present at Bank Island on the 6^th having been ringed as a chick in the Wheldrake heronry in 2013. Good numbers were present throughout the site with 31 at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th. 

Little Egret – Three (two adults and a juvenile) were present in the Wheldrake Ings/Bank Island area from the 1^st. Things became harder to sort out thereafter with what was believed to be a different family party of two adults and two young from the 10^th also appearing at Wheldrake Ings, a monthly maxima of five being recorded on several dates. 

Red Kite - One at Bank Island on the 1^st with singles at Melbourne on the 8^th, 11^th, 14^th and 17^th. 

Sparrowhawk – Present throughout the site with many fledging broods from mid-month. A small male flew into one of the un-set duck traps at North Duffield Carrs and was duly caught - one of very few to be ringed in the Lower Derwent Valley.

Sparrowhawk - North Duffield Carrs - 15/07

Hobby – One at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st and one near Elvington on the 28^th.

Osprey – A single flew north at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st. 

Marsh Harrier – A single pair were present at the southern end of the valley throughout the month with at least another female present. Evidence of local breeding could be suggested by an adult pair and a single fledged juvenile at Bank Island on the 14^th-17^th. An adult female in heavy wing moult took a Curlew chick at Thorganby Ings on the 14^th. 

Marsh Harrier - Aughton Ings - T.Weston

Little Ringed Plover – Two juveniles at Wheldrake Ings on the 26^th (DB). 

Lapwing – A post breeding flock of 500 birds were present between Wheldrake Ings and Bank Island during the month with smaller flocks scattered elsewhere. 

Curlew Sandpiper – A summer plumage bird flew into Bank Island on the 3^rd calling (CSR, FM). 

Curlew – Four unfledged broods were noted in the valley until the last fledged on the 21^st – a rather late year but success appears to have been high. A brood of three unfledged birds were still at Thorganby Ings on the 14^th when one was taken by a Marsh Harrier. 10 were still present on Wheldrake Ings on the 29^th.

The usual westerly passage took place during the month with 103 birds noted on the move including a flock of 28 on the 18^th.

Whimbrel – Seven at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd were the first of the autumn.

Redshank – As usual most adults departed the site by the end of the first week of the month, leaving several fledged juveniles behind until the last at Wheldrake Ings which remained until the 30^th.

Greenshank – A single flew south at Bank Island on the 12^th (DB) with another over Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st (MFJ). 

Black-tailed Godwit – 11 at Wheldrake Ings on the 12^th. 

Common Snipe – Following an influx in late June, 84 were present on Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd with 40+ flushed by a Marsh Harrier there on the 14^th. Smaller numbers thereafter with 25 remaining at month end. 

Green Sandpiper – Two were present in the Bank Island/Wheldrake Ings area from the 1^st, increasing to three on the 2^nd and five on the 3^rd. Three were at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th with five thereafter to month end. Two at Melbourne flying along the Pocklington Canal on the 18^th were more unusual (NC). 

Common Tern – A pair were feeding a single fledged chick at Wheldrake Ings from the 11^th, whilst two pairs bred at Allerthorpe raising three young. One over North Duffield village on the 28^th. 

Sandwich Tern – Two flew south over Bank Island on the 8^th (CSR). 

Barn Owl – By the end of the month over 200 chicks had fledged from around the reserve with many birds already on second broods – a full summary to follow. 

Barn Owl chicks - Kexby - T.Weston

Little Owl – A single pair bred and fledged four young during the month near Thornton whilst another was at Thornton Ellers on the 17^th (JR). 

Cuckoo - A single was still calling at Bank Island on the 1^st with two calling at Melbourne on the 6^th and 11^th and a juvenile there on 7^th. A single juvenile was raised by a foster pair of Robins in a garden at East Cottingwith early in the month and a late male was singing at Bank Island on the 14^th and Wheldrake Ings on the 16^th. 

Turtle Dove – A single flew through a garden at North Duffield village on the 20^th. 

Kingfisher – A much better showing and signs of a welcome successful breeding season following several cold winters and summer flooding events. Pairs with broods appeared on the Pocklington Canal and The Beck near Melbourne and Canal Head, with regular sightings from the pool at Wheldrake Ings of up to two individuals. Birds were also heard along the river at Bank Island and North Duffield Carrs. 

Grasshopper Warbler – A single was reeling in front of the Geoff Smith Hide at North Duffield Carrs on the 16^th-19^th.

MAMMALS: 

Brown Hare – Two at Thornton Ellers on the 7^th and one at Skipwith Common on the same date. 

Red Fox – Three cubs were near Melbourne on the 18^th (NC). 

Harvest Mouse – A single swam across the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 15^th, being followed by a rather inquisitive Gadwall!

REPTILES: 

Common Lizard – Two at Skipwith Common on the 9^th. 

Grass Snake – A small individual at Skipwith Common on the 9^th with a single adult found in a garden near Skipwith village on the 14^th.

BUTTERFLIES: 

Small Copper – Just two records throughout the month, a single in the NNR Base Garden on the 17^th and 20^th. 

Comma – Following the earlier records of the year in April, a flurry of records came in July starting on the 3^rd, the majority of records came from the base garden with a number of individuals seen feeding on the lavender. A high count of eight individuals was had on the butterfly transect around Bank Island on the 23^rd. 

Comma - NNR Base Garden - 23/07

Red Admiral – A very good month for this species with a total of 51 recorded throughout, two individuals were seen regularly in the NNR Base Garden whilst Aughton Ings also proved to be a good spot for this attractive species. 

Small Tortoiseshell – The second most recorded species with 454 records from various sites around the Lower Derwent Valley. The lavender in the NNR Base Garden brought a flurry of records from the second week of the month, with a high count of 38 recorded there on the 23^rd. On the 14^th over 30 were recorded at Melbourne Ings and on the 22^nd 25 were counted in the scabious meadow at Thornton Ellers. 

Peacock – Following just the one record at the beginning of June (6^th), no Peacocks were seen this month until the 15^th when a single was in the NNR Base Garden. From the 20^th they were then recorded almost daily, with eleven on the 28^th along the Pocklington Canal being the highest day total.

Peacock - Bank Island - 31/07

Painted Lady – The first for the year was seen on the 7^th on Melbourne/Thornton Ings, the only other record for the month came on the 22^nd from Thornton Ellers. 

Marbled White – The second record for the year came on the 8^th when a single individual flew past the reserve base at Bank Island. Two more records were then had, a single in the base garden on the 14^th and a single at Thornton Ellers on the 22^nd. Pleasing to see them appearing more frequently in the valley, presumably wandering individuals from the large colony nearby on the Yorkshire Wolds. 

Green-veined White – The most recorded species throughout the month with a total of 770 records collected, with the largest counts coming on the 14^th, with 200+ in the meadows at Melbourne/Thornton Ings and 300+ across Aughton Ings. Recorded regularly and in double figures during the butterfly transect around Bank Island throughout the month. 

Small White – Reported regularly throughout the beginning and end of the month, with the largest counts coming from Melbourne/Thornton Ings on the 7^th (30) and Aughton Ings on the 8^th (15). A total of 148 were recorded throughout the month. 

Large White – Sporadic records throughout the month, with no more than three reported at one time, over all a disappointing month for this species. 

Brimstone – A single was seen whilst driving through Thorganby on the 21^st, with the only other record for the month coming from the Pocklington Canal on the 28^th. 

Brimstone - Pocklington Canal - 28/07

Common Blue – The first for the year came on the 28^th when a single was seen along the Pocklington Canal. 

Small Heath – Just two records throughout the month, the first for the year was seen in the base garden on the 11^th, followed by another one there on the 17^th. 

Gatekeeper – The first for the year were seven individuals seen together on Skipwith Common on the 7^th, no records then until the 15^th, from then on almost daily records. The Common produced the highest counts with 21 on the 21^st and 57 on the 23^rd, primarily feeding on the bramble flowers.

Gatekeeper - Skipwith Common - 15/07

Meadow Brown – The third most recorded species throughout the month with 431 records, recorded almost daily on the Ings and Skipwith Common. The scabious meadow at Thornton Ellers also produced high counts, on the 22^nd 50+ were seen. 

Ringlet – A total of 278 records throughout the month made Ringlet the fourth most recorded species. The largest counts came from the beginning of the month, with 65 in the meadow at Thornton Ellers on the 7^th and 48 on Skipwith Common on the 9^th. Numbers tailed off from the 15^th with no more than 6 recorded daily. 

Speckled Wood – Recorded throughout the beginning of the month then notably absent until the 20^th. Skipwith Common produced the largest counts with 21 on the 9^th, 10 on the 12^th and 19 on the 23^rd. 

Speckled Wood - Bank Island - 21/07

Large Skipper – Present throughout the month, with no more than five at one time apart from a high count of 24 on Skipwith Common on the 9^th. A total of 42 individuals were recorded with the majority of the records coming from the Common and the butterfly transect around Bank Island. 

Small Skipper – The first records for the year came on the 7^th from the meadow at Thornton Ellers when 19 were counted feeding on the thistles. Skipwith Common produced the next highest count with 15 on the 12^th. A total of 86 were recorded throughout the month.

Small Skipper - Bank Island - 07/07

DRAGONFLIES: 

Southern Hawker – A single and the first for the year was seen at the Melbourne Arm on the 8^th (NC). A single was at Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st, and at Skipwith Common on the 23^rd and 29^th. 

Common Hawker – The first for the year was seen in the NNR Base Garden on the 16^th, with a single then at North Duffield Carrs on the 21^st. 

Brown Hawker – The first record for the year came on the 7^th followed then by singles seen daily on Skipwith Common and at North Duffield Carrs. Large counts ranging from 20–50 were had from Thornton Ellers towards month end. 

Black-tailed Skimmer – The first records for the year came on the 7^th when six were seen at the Top Pond at North Duffield Carrs, on the same date six were also recorded at Thornton Ellers and at Bank Island. The highest counts for the month came on the 16^th when ten were recorded on Wheldrake Ings, and on the 21^st ten were seen over the pools on Skipwith Common. 

Black-tailed Skimmer - North Duffield Carrs - 07/07

Emperor – Reported regularly throughout the month from the Top Pond at North Duffield Carrs and the pools on Skipwith Common, the occasional single was also seen at Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings.

Broad-bodied Chaser – The first for the year was seen at the Top Pond at North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th, with another single there on the 7^th. The only other record for the month was on the 29^th when a single was seen on Skipwith Common. 

Four-spotted Chaser – On the 7^th at North Duffield Carrs two were seen (first for the year), followed by a single at the NNR Base on the 14^th and a single on Skipwith Common on the 21^st. 

Four-spotted Chaser - North Duffield Carrs - 07/07

Black Darter – The first for the year came during mid-month when four were seen on Skipwith Common, on the 21^st a count of 12 was also had on the Common, with five there on the 28^th and two on the 29^th. 

Ruddy Darter – The second week of the month saw the first records for the year with a single on Skipwith Common on the 11^th. Throughout the remainder of the month the majority of records continued to come from the Common with the odd single also seen in the NNR Base Garden. 

Ruddy Darter - Skipwith Common - 15/07

Common Darter – On the 7^th at North Duffield Carrs the first records for the year were had when two were seen flying across Top Pond. A high count of 17 was had on Skipwith Common on the 11^th, largely from around the bomb bay loop. Reported regularly from the Common from then on. 

Common Darter - Skipwith Common - 21/07

Banded Demoiselle – Present on the wing throughout the month, often found adjacent to larger water bodies such as the River Derwent and Pocklington Canal, the latter site producing the month’s largest count of 20 near Melbourne on the 7^th. 

Emerald – Two at North Duffield Carrs and five on Skipwith Common on the 15^th were the first for the year. Skipwith produced the largest numbers thereafter with thirteen on the 28^th and eleven on the 29^th. 

Emerald - Skipwith Common - 28/07

 

Common Blue Damselfly – The first for the month came on the 7^th with five individuals at the Top Pond at North Duffield Carrs, recorded from then on throughout the month.

Azure Damselfly – Four were seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 7^th (first for the year), recorded from then on throughout the remainder of the month. 

Blue-tailed Damselfly – A scattering of individuals were noted throughout the month at a number of sites across the valley.

MOTHS: 

Throughout July a total of 1394 moths were caught (168 different species) from fourteen trapping evenings at four sites across the valley – Bank Island, Skipwith Common, Wheldrake Ings and Thornton Ellers. 

118 new species for the year were caught including several notable records and new species for the reserve, highlights are listed below.

Notable species: Beautiful Hook-tip (a species which has really taken off in Yorkshire over the last five years), Bird’s Wing (notable species due to its restricted distribution in Yorkshire), Diamond-back Moth (a migrant from Africa), Four-dotted Footman (confined to only a handful of sites in Yorkshire, mainly heathlands), Oblique Carpet, Large Wainscot (typical reed species), True Lover’s Knot (heathland species), Mother of Pearl (huge numbers caught).

Reserve records: Oak Eggar (only the second reserve record with the first being last year in 2013), Orange Footman (first reserve record, a species which is expanding in Yorkshire).

Oak Eggar - NNR Base - 24/07

The pheromone traps were put out throughout the first week of the month which caught three species of Clearwing moth, listed below. 

Red-tipped Clearwing – Seven at Skipwith Common on the 9^th.

Yellow-legged Clearwing – One at Skipwith Common on the 8^th.

Large Red-belted Clearwing – Three at Skipwith Common on the 9^th.

OTHER INVERTS: 

Twenty eight new other invertebrates (i.e beetles, bug, flies etc) were added to the PAN list throughout the month, such as:

Bronze Shield Bug Troilus luridus, Eristalis Hoverflies Intricarius, Arbustorum, Nemorum, Tenax, Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus, Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus, Tachnid Fly Tachina Grossa, Green Leaf Hopper Cicadella viridis, Helophilus Hoverflies Hyrbidus and Pendulus, Hoverfly Eupeodes latifasciatus, Ichneumon Wasp Amablyteles armatorius, Longhorn Beetle Leptura quadrifasciata, Ruby-tailed Wasp Chrysis sp, Wasp mimic Sericomyia silentis.

Bronze Shield Bug nymph Troilus luridus - Skipwith - 28/07

Longhorn Beetle Leptura quadrifasciata - Skipwith - 21/07

Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus - Skipwith - 23/07

Hoverfly Eupeodes latifasciatus - NNR Base - 21/07

Wasp mimic - Sericomyia silentis - Skipwith - 23/07

PLANTS: 

55 new wildflower and grass species were added throughout July, such as Arrowhead, American Willowherb, Climbing Corydalis, Common Centaury, Cotton Grass, Fleabane, Flowering Rush, Knot Grass, Marsh Pea, Musk Thistle, Pale Persicaria, Pink Water-speedwell, Round-leaved Sundew, Scarlet Pimpernel and Trifid Bur-marigold.

 

Musk Thistle - Thornton Ellers - 07/07

Meadow Cranesbill - Bank Island - 07/07

Common Centaury - Skipwith Common - 21/07