Nov' 25

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - November Sightings

With the welcome return of the winter floodwaters numbers of wintering waterfowl also increased. A good early count of 179 Whooper Swans were present in the wintering herd, with 2,000 Pink-footed Geese also being noteworthy and 3,600+ Wigeon had returned towards the end of the month. Up to four Great White Egrets lingered and up to 22 wintering Water Rails were recorded. Wader numbers also increased with four Ruff, 200+ Dunlin, several Knot (recorded on noc-mig), up to 12 Jack Snipe and the first returning Curlew (13^th). A late passage or wintering Greenshank on the 14^th was notable, whilst Woodcock were rather late in arriving, and in smaller numbers than compared to recent years.

A Water/Rock Pipit was heard only at Thorganby (26^th) whilst a single Blackcap and two Chiffchaffs were recorded during the month. However, the highlight related to a rather elusive Firecrest that remained at the NNR Base at Bank Island (17^th-28^th), whilst three more Raven sightings continued the species’ dramatic change in fortune in the local area. 50 Corn Buntings roosted at the traditional Church Bridge roost at Melbourne during the month.

Many thanks 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, Adam firth and Oliver Metcalf for the use of their images below.

 

BIRDS:

Whooper Swan – 70 were present in the resident herd at Ellerton Ings by the 5^th. A total of 69 passage birds arrived at Bank Island in several herds on the 14^th before departing prior to dusk, whilst 22 were present there at dawn on the 15^th before departing to the south - on the same day 91 were recorded at Thorganby Ings in the wintering herd. Four flew south down the valley after pausing briefly at Bank Island on the 18^th and 179 were present in the Thorganby area on the 23^rd.

Whooper Swan flock - Ellerton - 23/11 - DB

Greylag Goose – 1,200 were in the Hagg Bridge/Low Grounds area on the 15^th with 1,700 recorded across the site on the 21^st.

Pink-footed Goose – 1,549 were presently distantly on the reserve from Bank Island on the 1^st. Small skeins of up to 150 passed south over Bank Island on an almost daily basis during the first week of the month, and small numbers continued to be reported daily with up to 300 birds apparently resident on the reserve from the 9^th. 500 were present in the Thorganby area on the 15^th with 1,000+ roosting on the Low Grounds between the 17^th-19^th. 2,000+ were recorded to the east of the valley on the 20^th.

Pink-footed Geese - Bank Island - 01/11 - DB

Egyptian Goose – Seventeen were present in roadside fields at Elvington on the 10^th whilst two were at North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th. Two were at Ellerton on the 23^rd.

Shelduck – The first returning birds were seven at North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th and were followed by a single at Bank Island on the 12^th. Seventeen were then present at Thorganby Ings on the 17^th with 21 recorded across the site on the 21^st.

Pintail – Up to 20 were present on the reserve on the 5^th with up to 40 further south on Hemingbrough Brick Pits. Five were at Bank Island on the 15^th with 60+ recorded throughout the site on the 16^th. 65+ were at Bank Island and the Low Grounds on the 23^rd with 100+ recorded throughout the site on that date.

Teal – 1,000+ were back on the reserve and Skipwith Common NNR by the 5^th with 2,000+ present throughout both sites by the 23^rd.

Teal - Bank Island - 14/11 - AF

American Wigeon – A drake was found at Thorganby Ings on the 30^th – presumably one of the two present in the 2024/25 winter.

Wigeon – 350 were at Hemingbrough Brick Pits on the 2^nd, perhaps having been displaced from the reserve due to the dry conditions. Numbers there increased to 500+ on the 3^rd with 500+ then present between Thorganby, North Duffield Carrs and Elvington on the 5^th – total of 1,000+ throughout the area. 1,800+ were recorded across the site by the 12^th, increasing to 3,600+ by the 21^st.

Shoveler – 40+ had returned to the reserve on the 16^th following limited flooding.

Gadwall – Thirty-seven were recorded on the 16^th with numbers up to 71 by the 28^th.

Tufted Duck – Seven at Bank Island on the 15^th were the first returning birds but were quickly followed by 22 on the 16^th and 24 on the 24^th.

Goldeneye – The first returning bird, a drake, arrived at Bank Island with the first of the winter flooding on the 15^th with two there by the 23^rd.

Great White Egret – One was still present at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st and North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th. Two were present on the reserve between the 12^th-14^th with three recorded on the 15^th (including two seen together at North Duffield Carrs) and four on the 16^th. Two were at Bank Island on the 20^th and up to four remained on the reserve thereafter until the 29^th when numbers increased to five.

Great White Egret - Bubwith Bridge - 15/11 - DB

Water Rail – Birds continued to be vocal and occasionally seen at North Duffield Carrs with at least two present. Three were recorded at the Pocklington Canal at East Cottingwith during the month, with other records including four at Melbourne, six at Wheldrake Ings and two at Thornton Ellers. Two were also present at Bank Island giving a minimum of 22 wintering birds present around the site.

Great Crested Grebe – A single at Bank Island on the 30^th was an unusual autumn/winter record.

Marsh Harrier – Up to eight were present across the site early in the month whilst five were at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th.

Peregrine – The return of the first flooding and wintering waterfowl produced a record of one at Melbourne on the 12^th. On the 15^th a pair of adults were at North Duffield Carrs and a juvenile male was seen at the Low Grounds.

Peregrine - Bank Island - 02/12 - DB

Red Kite – Six were recorded at Bank Island on the 1^st.

Merlin – A single was seen from Swantail Hide at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with another recorded at North Duffield Carrs on the 13^th.

Golden Plover – 500 were still present in the Sutton on Derwent area on the 1^st with 900 there on the 4^th. 1,000 were recorded at Bank Island on the 10^th with 300 at North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th. 1,300 were still present throughout the site on the 15^th.

Golden Plover - Thorganby - 15/11 - DB

Lapwing – Numbers increased early in the month with an influx noted from the 10^th and by the 11^th 1,000+ were present in the area. 1,600 were recorded throughout the area on the 15^th increasing to 3,300 by the 28^th.

Ruff – Two were at Bank Island on the 4^th and a single was with Lapwing and Golden Plover at North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th, and later at Thorganby Ings on the 15^th. Four were present at Thorganby on the 22^nd.

Dunlin – The first returning two birds flew over North Duffield Carrs in a Lapwing flock on the 11^th with three at Thorganby and one at Bank Island on the 15^th. Three singles and two flocks were recorded on noc-mig over Elvington overnight on the 15^th/16^th. Seven were at Thorganby Ings on the 16^th. Numbers had increased to 91 at Thorganby Ings on the 22^nd and 92 were still present there on the 26^th, further increasing to 200+ on the 27^th.

Knot – One was picked up on noc-mig over Elvington on the night of the 2^nd/3^rd with a small flock then recorded over the same site on the 15^th/16^th.

Snipe – Fifty-three were recorded on Swantail Ings at Wheldrake on the 14^th.

Jack Snipe – Twelve were still present at Bank Island on the 4^th with two at Wheldrake Ings on the same date. Numbers then reduced at Bank Island as other sites became suitable and birds dispersed more widely, with three recorded on Swantail Ings at Wheldrake after dark on the 11^th – two of which were motus-tagged. Four were then recorded in the same area on the 14^th.

Jack Snipe - 11/11 - Wheldrake Ings - OM

Curlew – The first returning bird was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 13^th with singles then recorded at Wheldrake on the 14^th and Thorganby Ings on the 16^th. Four were at Thorganby Ings on the 22^nd.

Black-tailed Godwit – The first returning bird was at Thorganby Ings on the 22^nd with two there on the 23^rd and six on the 27^th. Flocks of eight and eleven were present on the reserve on the 29^th with 15 recorded at Thorganby on the 30^th. 

Woodcock – The first returning birds were rather late with four seen after dark on Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th, whilst Elvington Airfield held one on the 11^th. Five were present after dark there on the 14^th followed by four on the 25^th.

Woodcock - Elvington - 11/11 - OM

Greenshank – A single flew over Bank Island calling on 14^th.

Redshank – The first returning bird was at Thorganby Ings on 15^th with four there on 23^rd and five on 29^th.

Green Sandpiper – Two were still present at Wheldrake Ings on 4^th with one seen on floodwater with Lapwing at Bank Island on the 12^th. Two were at North Duffield Carrs on the 13^th and one was at Melbourne on the 21^st.

Black-headed Gull – 2,000+ roosted on the Low Grounds on the 16^th and 17^th.

Common Gull – 2,000+ roosted on the Low Grounds on the 16^th and 17^th.

Herring Gull – Up to 500 roosted at Wheldrake Ings on the 30^th.

Greater Black-backed Gull – 30 roosted at Wheldrake Ings on the 30^th.

Green Woodpecker – Two birds were heard calling at Skipwith Common NNR on the 6^th and 21^st.

Wood Pigeon – 1,800 went south over Bank Island on the 1^st followed by 1,000+ on the 14^th.

Kingfisher – Three birds were present along the river at North Duffield Carrs on the 13^th with two at Bank Island on the 15^th.

Water Pipit /Rock Pipit – One was heard calling at Thorganby Ings on the 26^th.

Stonechat – Up to 20 individuals were wintering around the site during the month.

Stonechat - Whedrake Ings - 02/11 - DB

Raven – A single was present again at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with another at North Duffield Carrs on the 13^th. A single was present again at Wheldrake Ings on the 22^nd.

Starling – 1,812 headed north-west over Bank Island on the 1^st.

Redwing – 121 moved over Bank Island on the 1^st followed by 150 on the 6^th and 200 on the 7^th.

Fieldfare – 627 went south-west over Bank Island on the 1^st followed by 500 at North Duffield Carrs on 5^th, 400+ through Bank Island on the 6^th and 500 on the 7^th. 600 were recorded from North Duffield Carrs on the 15^th. 400 were present in the Ellerton area on the 26^th when 150 were feeding around Bank Island.

Fieldfare - Bank Island - 02/11 - DB

Blackcap – A first-year female was caught and ringed at the NNR Base on the 18^th.

Chiffchaff – Two were still present in the Wheldrake reedbed on the 3^rd with a singing bird present again there on the 15^th and 21^st.

Cetti’s Warbler – A calling bird was present throughout the month at ‘Top Pond’ at North Duffield Carrs.

Firecrest – A first-year male was caught and ringed at the NNR Base Garden at Bank Island on the 17^th where it was re-trapped again on the 20^th – when it showed well later in the day in the hedge between Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings. The same individual was present again on the 25^th and 28^th, but generally proved elusive during its stay.

Firecrest - Bank Island - 20/11 - OM

Brambling – One was present with mixed finches at East Cottingwith on the 23^rd.

Greenfinch – Forty were seen with mixed finches at East Cottingwith on the 23^rd.

Tree Sparrow – Twenty were present at Sutton Farm on the 15^th.

Crossbill – Twelve were present in Hagg Wood at Dunnington on the 12^th.

Linnet – Up to 200 remained at Elvington and Thornton during the month with 270 recorded between Elvington and Wheldrake on the 13^th. 200 were present at East Cottingwith on the 23^rd.

Corn Bunting – Up to 20 were recorded at Thornton on the 14^th with 50 roosting at the Church Bridge reedbed roost on the 25^th.