July 23

 Lower Derwent Valley NNR - July Sightings

The pick of the waterfowl was a female Garganey with a brood of eight at Bank Island early in the month, with two of the young later colour-ringed overnight with at least one individual remaining between there and Wheldrake at month end. The usual mid-summer build-up of Egrets and Herons on the pool at Wheldrake included at least 15 Little Egret, with a Great White also present in the area between the 26^th - 28^th. Three Common Cranes also put in a brief appearance at Cheesecake Farm on the 25^th. 

Raptors showed well with the first fledged Marsh Harriers appearing late in the month (joining an adult pair), with the first juvenile fledged Red Kite noted on the 12^th and good numbers of Hobbies observed towards the end of the month. Two male and a female Quail were present at East Cottingwith Ings on the 11^th and were thought to have a brood nearby. The highlight of the returning wader passage was a Temminck’s Stint at Bank Island on the 12^th – perhaps the same returning individual that has appeared at this time of year over the last few years. Three Wood Sandpiper were at Bank Island early in the month with small numbers of Little Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwits, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper moving through, followed by a Ruff (21^st) and Whimbrel (26^th). An adult Mediterranean Gull was also present on the 27^th.

Other notables included a juvenile Cuckoo at Wheldrake Ings on the 14^th, with a large movement of Swifts and up to 1000 roosting Swallows observed. A Wheatear (2^nd) and Redstart (15^th and 21^st) showed some signs of passage. Four reeling Grasshopper Warblers remained at Melbourne and Thornton Ings, whilst four juvenile Cetti’s Warblers were caught and ringed at Wheldrake (6^th and 13^th).

Many thanks as always 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 for the use of his photographs below.

 

BIRDS:

Wigeon – A drake and a pair were still present on the pool early in the month with a single drake caught and ringed there on the 6^th.  

Teal – Breeding birds were scattered throughout the site early in the month with 12 arriving at Wheldrake Ings on the 18^th - perhaps the first returning birds of the autumn. Numbers had increased to 47 across Bank Island and Wheldrake by the 23^rd.  

Garganey – A single female with eight ducklings remained at Bank Island on the 1^st and 2^nd. A female and eclipse drake were observed there on the 12^th with six flying juveniles on the 13^th. Two juveniles were caught and ringed overnight on the 13^th/14^th with three there the next morning on the 14^th. Regular sightings continued with three at Wheldrake Ings on the 18^th and two on the 20^th. A colour-ringed juvenile (from Bank Island) was seen on the pool at Wheldrake on the 22^nd, with a single remaining at Bank Island on the 29^th and 30^th.

Gadwall – Six broods were present on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd with several unfledged young remaining at month end.

Gadwall brood - Wheldrake Ings - 01/07 - DB

Shoveler – Five broods remained at Bank Island on the 2^nd with several unfledged broods present throughout the site at month end.   

Little Egret – 15 were on the pool at Wheldrake on the 1^st and 2^nd with 21 there on the 3^rd. 13 individuals were on the pool at dawn on the 5^th, 12 of which were juveniles. 11 were still present on the pool on the 22^nd with several new broods continuing to fledge throughout the month.

Little Egrets - Wheldrake Ings - 22/07 - DB

Great White Egret – Single present at Wheldrake Ings and Bank Island between the 26^th - 28^th.

Grey Heron – 12 were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd.

Common Crane – A party of three were in fields by Cheesecake Farm on the 25^th.

Great Crested Grebe – A single was picked up having crash landed on a road near Barmby on the Marsh – fortunately unhurt just a bit dazed, it was checked over and later returned to the more suitable surrounding of the River Derwent on the 3^rd.

Marsh Harrier – Both an adult male and female remained early in the month until at least the 23^rd, with the first fledged juvenile appearing on the 27^th followed by two on the 30^th.

Marsh Harrier - Wheldrake Ings - 01/07 - DB

Red Kite – Three were seen at Wheldrake on the 2^nd. The first fledged juvenile was observed following an adult at Bank Island on the 12^th with two individuals seen again there later in the month.

Hobby – A second year bird was present at Bank Island on the 1^st and 2^nd, with three at North Duffield Carrs on the 3^rd. Up to three were seen most evenings early in the month at Wheldrake Ings with four at Storwood on the 5^th. Birds became increasingly widespread and noticeable after the breeding season, with singles at Thornton, Melbourne, North Duffield, Stamford Bridge and Dunnington towards month end.

Quail – Two males and a female were at East Cottingwith Ings on the 11^th – with the female acting as if she had chicks nearby.

Little Ringed Plover – Two adults were at Bank Island on the 1^st with one remaining on the 2^nd which was followed by a fledged juvenile there on the 3^rd. A family party of four were at Bank Island on the 6^th. On the 11^th a single was present on the closed A163 by Bubwith Bridge with another at Sutton Farm on the 30^th.

Oystercatcher – 12 were at Bank Island on the 12^th with nine remaining at Wheldrake on the 28^th.

Temminck’s Stint – Single at Bank Island on the 12^th (DW).

Lapwing – A brood of three-week-old chicks were ringed at Bank Island on the 6^th with three other unfledged broods also present on the reserve on this date. Another brood of four appeared there on 10^th. Up to 250 post breeding birds roosted at Bank Island with smaller numbers feeding on the small number of cut meadows during the month.

Lapwing chick - Bank Island - 07/07 - GD

Black-tailed Godwit – Two were at Bank Island on the 9^th with eight on the 10^th. A total of 58 were present throughout the site over the course of the day on the 11^th with eight remaining on the 12^th. Two were present on the 18^th and 19^th with a single at Wheldrake on the 21^st.

Curlew – 12 flew into roost at Bank Island on the 12^th with small numbers present throughout the site following a productive breeding season.

Whimbrel – Single at Sutton Farm on the 26^th.

Dunlin – One was seen on the scrape at Wheldrake on the 17^th with three at Bank Island on the 21^st. Single at Sutton Farm on flooded arable on the 27^th and 30^th.

Ruff – Single on the pool at Wheldrake on the 21^st.

Redshank – Two pairs bred and raised six young at Bank Island, with the last to fledge on the 12^th. These individuals then moved to the pool at Wheldrake where they remained until the 23^rd.

Greenshank – Single at Bank Island on the 12^th/13^th with one there on the 28^th and presumably the same individual at the Low Grounds on the 29^th/30^th.

Green Sandpiper – One at Bank Island on the 13^th and 17^th with four arriving on the pool at Wheldrake on the 22^nd (two individuals also present to the south of the reserve on this date). Two to four were then present daily to month end.

Green Sandpiper - Wheldrake Ings - 22/07 - DB

Wood Sandpiper – Three were at Bank Island on the 12^th with three between there and Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th. Single remained at Bank Island between the 14^th-18^th.

Common Sandpiper – One was picked up on nocturnal passage over Elvington in the early hours of the 17^th.

Common Gull – A flock of 191 flew into Bank Island on the 1^st with 34 there on the 12^th.

Black-headed Gull – The first juvenile of the season was at Bank Island on the 7^th.

Mediterranean Gull – A moulting adult was seen at Sutton Fam on the 27^th.

Common Tern – Three adults and three fledged young remained on the pool at Wheldrake from the 1^st with three adults over Bank Island on the 13^th. One remained at Wheldrake on the 14^th with occasional sightings thereafter until the 23^rd.  

Common Tern - Wheldrake Ings - 02/07 - DB

Cuckoo – A single juvenile was observed being fed by Reed Warblers at Wheldrake on the 14^th.

Swift – 300 flew south over Bank Island on the 4^th, with 600 south over North Duffield Carrs and 200 over Bank Island on the 5^th. 200 were seen over Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th with 150 south over the reserve on the 17^th.

Swallow – Up to 1000 roosted in the reedbed at Wheldrake on the 13^th with 300+ on the 17^th.

Pied Wagtail – Up to 50 roosted in the reedbed at Wheldrake on the 13^th with 60+ there on the 17^th.

White Wagtail – Single at Sutton Farm on the 27^th.

Wheatear – A single was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd.

Redstart – A female was present briefly in the Bank Island car park on the 15^th with another female at Seavy Carr on the 18^th and 21^st.

Grasshopper Warbler – A single remained at Wheldrake from the 1^st with two reeling there on the 5^th and 6^th. Singles were at Bank Island from the 4^th and at Bubwith Ings on the 11^th. Three reeling individuals remained at Melbourne throughout the month with a fourth bird reeling there on the 18^th.

Spotted Flycatcher – A single pair raised two young at Melbourne with two young fledging early in the month, with a second pair known to have bred elsewhere in the area.

Cetti’s Warbler – Two newly fledged juveniles were caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th - once again proving successful breeding. Two other un-ringed juveniles were caught there on the 13^th.