June 25

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - June Sightings

A quiet month for waterfowl as the drought conditions continued, although two pairs of Garganey were present throughout the month (if not hard to locate). Forty pairs of Little Egrets were present in the local heronry, and five adult Cattle Egrets were seen briefly (19^th) followed by eight Common Cranes on the 29^th. A White-tailed Eagle slipped through the east of the area undetected but for its satellite transmissions (2^nd) whilst either it or another was reported near Skipwith (11^th). More typical were two mid-summer Osprey sightings.

It was a good breeding season for Curlew with high hatching and fledging success, and Lapwing fared well in a protracted breeding season. A single female Ruff lingered until the 11^th. Another four Raven sightings were logged during the month, whilst nine Grasshopper Warblers reeled throughout the site and good numbers of Corn Buntings held territories on the Ings.

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 Bye, Nathaniel Dargue and Steve Huddleston for the use of their images below.

 

BIRDS:

Greylag Goose – The neck-collared bird ‘HUZ’ was present at Thornton Ellers throughout the month, with ringing details showing this individual to be another bird from the Yorkshire moult migration to Windermere.

Barnacle Goose – A flock of 12 flew north over Bank Island on the morning of the 7^th (unusual mid-summer record) - perhaps relating to wandering birds undertaking the moult migration from the established feral populations elsewhere in Yorkshire.

Egyptian Goose – Small numbers remained throughout the area during the month.

Egyptian Goose - Foggathorpe - 08/06 - DB

Teal – Up to 25 remained throughout the site during the month.

Wigeon – Two pairs remained at Wheldrake Ings with a single drake seen at North Duffield Carrs throughout the month.

Shoveler – A poor year for the species due to the impacts of the drought. The first brood of seven was reported at Bank Island on the 6^th followed by a brood of four at Wheldrake Ings on the 8^th and two broods (13 young) on the 11^th. Thirteen broods (87 ducklings) were present throughout the site by the 24^th.

Shoveler - Wheldrake Ings - 08/06 - DB

Gadwall – As with other duck species numbers were low during the month due to the drought conditions. The first two broods (16 ducklings) appeared at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th with 17 broods noted to month end.

Garganey – Two pairs remained throughout the month but became increasingly elusive with no signs of successful breeding due to the drought conditions. However, a single pair did breed successfully near Skipwith Common NNR during the month.

Little Egret – Up to forty pairs were present throughout the site during the month, with 22 counted on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 29^th.

Cattle Egret – Five adults flew over Bank Island towards Wheldrake Ings before settling on the pool there on the 19^th but promptly moved on.

Cattle Egrets - Wheldrake Ings - 19/06 - DB

Grey Heron – Thirty-four active nests were recorded during the month with increasing numbers of fledged young appearing on the Ings as the month progressed.

Great White Egret – Two remained across the site early in the month with regular sightings of a single thereafter to month end.

Great White Egret - Wheldrake Ings - 12/06 - DB

Water Rail – Up to 13 singing birds remained throughout the month with an individual also heard singing from ponds at Foggathorpe during the month – a more unusual record away from the Ings.

Quail – A single was picked up by noc-mig at Elvington on the 1^st, and whilst it’s been a good year for species they don’t appear to be that vocal, but further birds continued to arrive with 14 recorded by the 3^rd and at least 18 (singing males) by the 5^th. Several individuals were caught and ringed at Ellerton where several males were seen ‘lekking’ in response to a calling female. Another new bird was heard singing at North Duffield Carrs on the 30^th.

Quail - Ellerton - 06/06 - ND

Common Crane – Eight were present at Thornton Ellers on the 29^th.

White-tailed Eagle – A single bird from the Isle of Wight reintroduction project passed to the east of the area on the 2^nd (over Holme-on-Spalding Moor) before heading over RSPB Blacktoft Sands and down the Trent as previous birds have shown a tendency to follow. A week later one was also reported from a field near Skipwith Common NNR on the 11^th.

Osprey – A single was circling to the east of Wheldrake Ings and was then seen drifting to the south-east on the 8^th, with another record coming from Aughton on the 19^th.

Red Kite – Seen regularly during the month throughout the site – now the most conspicuous raptor in the area.

Marsh Harrier – A single pair remained and attempted nest building at Wheldrake Ings, although no further outcomes were noted. At least two other immatures summered in the wider area.

Peregrine – Up to six pairs were found nesting in the wider area with at least four pairs observed feeding young.

Hobby – Birds became increasingly elusive as the month progressed with pairs recorded in the Thornton, Wheldrake and North Duffield areas throughout the month.

Hobby - North Duffield - 01/06 - DB

Little Ringed Plover – A single pair remained at North Duffield Carrs into mid-month with an adult observed undertaking a distraction display there on the 18^th.

Ringed Plover – Fifteen remained at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st.

Ringed Plover - North Duffield Carrs - 01/06 - DB

Lapwing – Good numbers of broods continued to appear at North Duffield Carrs with 33 young recorded there on the 8^th followed by 27 on the 14^th. Seven newly hatched young were caught and ringed there on the 20^th, at the same time as several fledged juveniles were present. A post-breeding/failed breeding flock of 160 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 7^th with 200+ recorded at North Duffield Carrs on the 9^th.

Curlew – A very productive month in which a total of 34 broods were accounted for, with good hatching success and survival rates. Several large young were ringed towards month end.

Curlew chick - Wheldrake Ings - 22/06 - SH

Ruff – A single female remained until the 11^th. 

Redshank – Up to 25 pairs remained including eight at North Duffield where four broods were noted, with the last hatching at month end.

Greenshank – Two were at North Duffield Carrs on the 15^th with just one present on the 17^th.

Green Sandpiper – The first returning bird was present at Bank Island on the 10^th followed by two at Wheldrake Ings on the 12^th. One or two remained daily thereafter until three were recorded on the 30^th.

Common Sandpiper – Two were present at Bank Island on the 3^rd.

Wood Sandpiper – One flew over Wheldrake village calling in the dark on the 18^th.

Common Tern – A pair on the Wheldrake raft remained throughout the month and hatched three young on the 12^th.

Cuckoo – An estimated 27 singing males were present early in the month, but again numbers appeared concentrated into the core valley and designated sites of Skipwith and Allerthorpe.

Nightjar – Two pairs were present throughout the month at Allerthorpe Common with one male caught and ringed on the 30^th.

Green Woodpecker – Singles were recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 15^th and Bank Island on the 29^th.

Kingfisher – Birds started to appear and show well on the rails in front of Pool Hide at Wheldrake Ings.

Kingfisher - Wheldrake Ings - 14/06 - DB

Raven – Four sightings from the Melbourne area were received during the month.

Nuthatch – A family party of eight were at Wheldrake Ings on the 8^th.

Spotted Flycatcher – A single was present along the riverside track at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th – an interesting mid-summer sighting.

Grasshopper Warbler – Three reeling males remained in the Wheldrake Ings and Bank Island area throughout the month, with another three recorded at Melbourne and Thornton Ings and three scattered singles elsewhere. After a couple of quieter weeks of ‘reeling’ activity increased again from the 23^rd suggesting second breeding attempts.

Cetti’s Warbler – Singing males remained at Wheldrake Ings (three), Bank Island (one) and North Duffield Carrs (one) with two also pairs recorded along the Pocklington Canal.

Corn Bunting – Several singing males were present in front of Tower Hide at Wheldrake Ings and around the Geoff Smith Hide at North Duffield Carrs, with scattered pairs recorded elsewhere throughout the reserve and surrounding area – a good year for the species. 

Corn Bunting - North Duffield Carrs - 15/06 - DB