Oct' 25

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - October Sightings 

As expected, the month saw an increase in returning winter migrants, although the ongoing dry conditions rather suppressed waterfowl totals. A minimum of 280 passage Whooper Swans were logged, although more passed through under the cover of darkness. A single Barnacle Goose moved through Bank Island on the 15^th – no doubt reorientating following a large dispersal in the North Sea and off the Yorkshire Coast in the preceding days. Two Common Cranes made an appearance to the east of the area whilst 16 Water Rails were recorded later in the month – perhaps including some wintering migrants. Fifteen Marsh Harriers were present in the Wheldrake roost on the 4^th, although this was short-lived with only smaller numbers remaining thereafter. A Hobby remained until the 2^nd with the first returning Merlin seen on the 31^st.

1,700 Golden Plover in the area represented a good October count, with a small increase in Snipe noted. Nine Jack Snipe were present at Bank Island from the 22^nd with another at Skipwith Common NNR late in the month. Up to three Green Sandpipers remained for much of the month and a Short-eared Owl felt rather autumnal on the 4^th. A total of nine Ravens were logged (reflecting their continued increase in the area) and a particularly early Waxwing showed well albeit briefly by Cheesecake Hide at Bank Island on the 15^th. The first main influx of winter thrushes occurred between the 12^th and 15^th with a handful of Crossbill and Bramblings also recorded.

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, Jeremy Pierson and Trevor Walton for the use of their images below.

BIRDS:

Whooper Swan – 92 passed south over Bank Island during the first two hours after dawn on the 7^th whilst six roosted overnight there on the 7^th/8^th. Two flew north over Bank Island at dawn on the 9^th having arrived there sometime overnight. Birds were then logged on nocturnal migration over Elvington overnight on the 10^th/11^th, with 11 found in fields near Seaton Ross on the 14^th. Thirteen flew over Wheldrake village heading west after dark on the 15^th. Eighteen flew south over Wheldrake on the 18^th followed by 33 on the 20^th and 54 on the 24^th. Fourteen flew south over Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 25^th, when 12 were in the usual wintering fields at North Duffield Carrs and five flew north-west the following morning. Eight flew west over Aughton Church on the 28^th with 17 over Bank Island on the 29^th.

Whooper Swans - North Duffield Carrs - 25/10 - DB

Greylag Goose – Up to 1,000 were involved in the dawn flight out of Wheldrake Ings on the 15^th with birds spread throughout the area and fairly mobile during the month.

Pink-footed Goose – Ninety passed south over Bank Island on the 6^th followed by 33 south at dusk at Wheldrake on the 7^th. 570+ flew south over Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 10^th followed by 79 on the 11^th. 170 flew east over Thornton Ings on the 12^th with 180 north at Bank Island and 40 at Wheldrake Ings on the 19^th. Up to 200 remained across the site but were fairly mobile thereafter whilst 150 flew over Bank Island on the 25^th with 1,000+ seen distantly towards the Wolds on the 26^th. 300 were feeding in fields near Melbourne on the 31^st.

Barnacle Goose – A single flew east calling over Bank Island on the 15^th.

Mallard – 900+ were present in the Thorganby area during the month with smaller numbers recorded elsewhere across the reserve.

Pintail – The first two returning birds were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th remaining until at least the 25^th. Two were at Skipwith Common NNR late in the month.

Pintail - Wheldrake Ings - 11/10 - DB

Teal – 250 were recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th with 400 throughout the site on the 19^th and 600+ present by month end. 

Wigeon – 50+ were at North Duffield Carrs on the 8^th. 150 were present throughout the site on the 19^th followed by 250 on the 24^th. 280 were present at Skipwith Common NNR on the 29^th.

Shoveler – A single remained early in the month with up to five returning birds present in the area by month end.

Gadwall – Ten were at Wheldrake Ings on the 26^th (monthly maxima).

Great White Egret – One was at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th and regularly thereafter with singles at both Wheldrake Ings and Ellerton Ings on the 18^th. At least one remained across the site thereafter with two again on the 26^th.

Great White Egret - Wheldrake Ings - 26/10 - DB

Common Crane – Two birds were seen circling over Shiptonthorpe on the 20^th.

Water Rail – Several individuals remained in the reedbed areas at Wheldrake Ings throughout the month, with two calling birds heard at North Duffield Carrs on the 25^th and a single at Bank Island. Up to six calling birds were present in the Melbourne Ings area later in the month.

Slavonian Grebe – One was present to the south of the area at the Hemingbrough Brick Pits on the 7^th and was still present on 10^th (earliest winter record).

Marsh Harrier – A total of 15 birds (including two adult males and three immature males) roosted at Wheldrake Ings at dusk on the 4^th, with numbers down to only two on the 7^th and 11^th.

Marsh Harrier - Wheldrake Ings - 29/10 - JP

Peregrine – A single immature bird was at Wheldrake Ings on the 26^th with another there on the 27^th. 

Red Kite – Five were seen roosting in the Storwood area from Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th with eight at Bank Island on the 5^th.

Red Kite/Marsh Harrier - Wheldrake Ings - 05/10 - TW

Hobby – A single remained at Skipwith Common on the 2^nd.

Merlin – A single was seen at Field Lane, Melbourne on the 31^st.

Golden Plover – 200+ remained scattered throughout the Wheldrake area early in the month with numbers up to 230 on the 5^th. The flock then settled in the favoured fields by Raker Lakes, Wheldrake, and increased to 478 on the 8^th, 520+ on the 11^th, 700 on the 12^th and 868 on the 13^th. 200+ were also in the Thornton area on the 12^th and 14^th, making a total of 1,080+ in the area at this time. 1,200+ were at Bank Island on the 15^th followed by 1,700+ there on the 18^th, with additional flocks in the Wheldrake and Newton on Derwent areas. 900 were in fields near Melbourne on the 29^th when 100 were also present near Hayton.

Lapwing – Several small flocks moved through Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th and 5^th with numbers up to 200 in the East Cottingwith area by the 8^th – increasing to 264 on the 19^th.

Snipe – Numbers started to increase from mid-month with 14 recorded after dark on Wheldrake Ings on the 17^th and 11 at Bank Island on the 19^th.

Jack Snipe – Three were seen at Bank Island from the hide during the day on the 22^nd although thermal survey work produced a total of nine there after dark, one of which was caught and ringed. One or two were then seen daily from the hides, with seven present after dark on the 24^th when another was caught and ringed.

Green Sandpiper – Three were present from the 1^st to 8^th with one remaining on the 11^th and two to three daily thereafter until the 20^th. One remained thereafter until the 24^th.

Green Sandpiper - Wheldrake Ings - 05/01 - DB

Green Woodpecker – One was near Thornton and Melbourne on the 13^th.

Short-eared Owl – A single was at Seavy Carr on the 4^th.

Little Owl – A pair were present on farmland to the west of Wheldrake village throughout the month.

Wood Pigeon – 5000+ moved south over Bank Island on the 24^th with 1,000 on the 25^th and 3,352 on the 26^th. 1,000 were feeding on the ground over Bank Island on the 30^th.

Wheatear – A single was present on the meadow at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th.

Meadow Pipit – 130 flew into Wheldrake Ings towards dusk on the 7^th whilst 100+ roosted there on the 17^th.

Water Pipit /Rock Pipit – One was present near Crook Moor at Thorganby on the 1^st.

Skylark – 70 north-west on the 5^th were followed by 30 south over Bank Island on the 19^th.

Swallow – 100 remained at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th with 20 there on the 5^th. Six were at Bank Island on the 13^th followed by two on the 17^th with a single south over Bank Island on the 19^th.

Swallows - Wheldrake Ings - 15/10 - DB

House Martin – One was at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th.

Stonechat – Nine were recorded at North Duffield Carrs on 4^th with five in the Melbourne and Thornton Ings area on the same date, and three at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th. Four were at Thornton Ellers on the 12^th with two at Seavy Carr on the same date.

Stonechat - Bank Island - 11/10 - DB 

Raven – A single was seen in the main meadow at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th before flying off towards the Low Grounds. Three were over Skipwith Common NNR on the 10^th followed by two over Bank Island on the 14^th with another at Skipwith on the 16^th. Singles were recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 19^th and Skipwith Common on the 29^th.

Raven - Wheldrake Ings - 05/10 - DB

Jay – Five were in poolside willows at Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st.

Waxwing – A rather early bird was found by Cheesecake Hide at Bank Island on the 15^th.

Redwing – Five went south-west over Bank Island at dawn on the 7^th. Nocturnal passage was noted over Wheldrake Ings after dark on the 12^th with 650 ‘calls’ logged on nocturnal passage overnight on the 13^th/14^th with 1,000+ through Bank Island on both the 14^th and 15^th. 200+ moved through Wheldrake Ings on the 18^th with 355 over Bank Island on the 19^th.

Fieldfare – The first birds of the autumn were a flock of 170 over Bank Island on the 14^th followed by 290 there on the 15^th. 150 passed over Wheldrake on the 19^th with another 327 over Bank Island.

Song Thrush – Nocturnal passage was noted overnight on the 13^th/14^th with 42 ‘calls’ logged, and like Redwing, most were occurring before midnight.

Blackcap – A single was present at Bank Island on the 4^th with one caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th (still present on the 11^th). Two first year males were caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st.

Chiffchaff – Thirteen were recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th with numbers down to eight on the 5^th, and nine were ringed there on the 10^th. Three were calling at Wheldrake on the 11^th with ten caught and ringed there on the 17^th followed by three on the 18^th . Four were still present at Wheldrake on the 25^th with two caught and ringed in the reedbed roost at there on the 29^th.

Cetti’s Warbler – A single remained at Bank Island with four at Wheldrake Ings and a single on the riverbank at North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th and 5^th. Four singing/calling males were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 18^th when two were caught and ringed. Three singing males were also present along the Pocklington Canal during the month with another two at Barmby on the Marsh.

Bearded Tit – One was reported between Hagg Bridge and Storwood on the 29^th.

Siskin – 100+ were present in Alders at Thornton Ings on the 12^th.

Lesser Redpoll – Up to 280 were present at Skipwith Common NNR early in the month with a large degree of turnover noted. 70 were recorded near Allerthorpe on the 13^th whilst 70 were caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 16^th. 63 were ringed at Wheldrake on the 19^th with 300+ passing overhead during the morning and 12 were recorded at Bank Island. A flock of 400+ were at Skipwith Common on the 30^th.

Brambling – A single flew south over Wheldrake Ings on the 18^th with three over Bank Island on the 19^th.

Crossbill – At least two were present at Crook Moor at Thorganby on the 1^st. Three were seen over Wheldrake village on the morning of the 8^th with 17 over Wheldrake Ings later in the day.

Corn Bunting – Twenty-two were counted in game cover/wild bird mixes in the Thornton area on the 13^th.

Reed Bunting – 150+ roosted at Wheldrake Ings on the 17^th when 40 were caught and ringed. Twenty-five were caught and ringed again there on the 24^th followed by another 34 on the 29^th.

Reed Bunting - Wheldrake Ings - 05/10 - DB