Sep' 23

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - September Sightings

September had a typically autumnal feel to it with the first returning Pink-footed Geese, and evening waterfowl flights of Greylag, Mallard and Teal, with the first build-up of Golden Plover and Lapwing flocks around the wider area. Passage of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks picked up during the second half of the month, with Jays, Coal Tits and Reed Bunting all being increasingly conspicuous. Other highlights included a lingering Garganey, Great White Egret and Glossy Ibis (10^th), with up to 17 roosting Marsh Harriers, three Caspian and five Yellow-legged Gulls, two Short-eared Owls and another two Ravens. Good numbers of passage Tree Pipits and Spotted Flycatchers were also noted amongst the departure summer visitors.

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, Nicki Fothergill and Trevor Walton for the use of their images below.

BIRDS:

Pink-footed Goose – 33 south over Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th were the first returning birds of the autumn, with small skeins of 37 and 31 following over Skipwith on the 6^th. Flocks of 35 and 42 headed over North Duffield Carrs on the 7^th followed by 47 south at Bank Island at dusk on the 11^th. A further headed south 54 early on the 12^th, with a total of 1200 through the site during the day. 800 passed over the reserve on the 13^th with flocks of 73 and 39 following on the 14^th. 10 were present at dawn on the floodwater at Bank Island on the 15^th. Small numbers were recorded almost daily heading south over the reserve towards the end of the month, with 340 on the 21^st and 98 on the 22^nd. 100 flew north over Bank Island on the 23^rd with 98 over the reserve on the 30^th.

Pink-footed Geese - Wheldrake Ings - 23/09 - TW

Greylag Goose – Up to 500+ were present in the wider area early in the month with numbers up to 960 by month end, when c470 were found roosting at Thornton Ings.

Egyptian Goose – Single at Wheldrake Ings on the 22^nd with three north over Bank Island on the 23^rd.

Wigeon – Two were at Wheldrake on the 1^st and 2^nd, followed by 10 at Bank Island on the 4^th and 17 on the 6^th. Up to 20 were present across the reserve between the 22^nd-23^rd.

Teal – Up to 100 were recorded across the site on the 6^th with 150 following on the 9^th and 350 on the pool at Wheldrake on the 17^th. Up to 500+ were present across the reserve by month end.

Teal - Wheldrake Ings - 17/09 - TW

Pintail – The first returning bird was at Bank Island on the 15^th with one on the pool at Wheldrake on the 24^th and two there on the 27^th.

Garganey – A juvenile lingered between the 1^st - 6^th with an individual (possibly the same bird) appearing at Bank Island on the 24^th.

Shoveler – Numbers increased at Bank Island with 36 there on the 8^th.

Gadwall – Up to 50 remained across the reserve during the month.

Common Scoter – A small flock was picked up overnight on noc-mig passing over Elvington on the 30^th.

Little Egret – Seven individuals roosted on the pool at Wheldrake on the 7^th with similar numbers remaining there to month end.

Little Egret - Wheldrake Ings - 10/09 - DB

Great White Egret – A single at Wheldrake and Bank Island between the 1^st - 7^th was present again on the 11^th - 14^th, with it or another individual appearing at Bank Island on the 29^th and 30^th.  

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

Glossy Ibis – A single flew over Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th.

Water Rail – Good numbers were present at Wheldrake Ings with up to seven or eight calling birds recorded with another three heard at Bank Island. The first returning migrants were picked up on noc-mig over Elvington towards the end of the month.

Marsh Harrier – Both an adult male and female remained into the month with two or three juveniles also recorded, along with five roosting individuals at Bank Island on the 10^th and seven juveniles into roost on the 11^th. Three males and two juveniles roosted at Wheldrake on the 13^th with three males, six juveniles and an adult female there on the 14^th – there were perhaps as many as 17 birds roosting in the northern half of the reserve at this time. A further bird (wing-tagged adult) was recorded on the 17^th, with another/the same wing-tagged bird seen later in the month and identified as ‘D3’.

Marsh Harrier - Bank Island - 30/09 - DB

Red Kite – Up to seven were in the Wheldrake/Thorganby area on the 9^th. Regular sightings were had across the area throughout the month, with a rehabilitated individual released at Wheldrake on the 27^th.

Common Buzzard – 13 were counted over Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th.

Hobby – Two or three were present daily in the Wheldrake area with regular sightings throughout the reserve. A pair with two juveniles were observed hunting at dusk at Wheldrake on the 14^th. Several individuals were noted to month end.

Hobby - Wheldrake Ings - NF - 21/09

Lapwing – 500 were recorded over Elvington on the 11^th with 700 observed near Wheldrake Ings on the 30^th.

Golden Plover – Up to 300 had formed the first autumn flock at Crockey Hill, seen there between the 5^th - 7^th. 30 went through Wheldrake Ings on the 15^th with ten north-east over Bank Island on the 16^th. 20+ were at Wheldrake on the 27^th. Up to 60 were present on the reserve on the 30^th.  

Dunlin – Single at Thornton Ellers on the 20^th with five there on the 26^th.

Ruff – Three were at Bank Island between the 15^th - 17^th, with two at Thornton Ellers on the 20^th, 21^st and 23^rd.

Snipe – Up to 100 were flushed from Bank Island by a Marsh Harrier on the 5^th, with up to 30 at Wheldrake regularly early in the month. 92 were at Bank Island on the 11^th whilst 30 were at Thornton Ings on the 22^nd.  

Greenshank – A single was recorded at Bank Island on the 1^st, 2^nd, 5^th and 6^th, with one then present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 10^th and at Bank Island on the 11^th. Two flew high over Bank Island on the 13^th with one on the pool at Wheldrake on the 15^th and two between the 16^th - 18^th. A single was at Thornton Ellers on the 20^th when three also arrived at Bank Island following a heavy thunderstorm. One or two were recorded daily thereafter to month end, although mobile around the site.

Greenshank - Wheldrake Ings - 17/09 - DB

Green Sandpiper – Two were recorded in the Bank Island/Wheldrake area early in the month. Two flew off north from Bank Island on the 6^th whilst two were on the pool at Wheldrake on the 9^th – remaining there until at least the 18^th. Two were at Thornton Ellers on the 20^th with six there on the 21^st. Six were recorded on Skipwith Common NNR on the 26^th.

Yellow-legged Gull – At least three adults were with a large gull flock at Loftsome Bridge on the 12^th with two near Spaldington on the 27^th.

Caspian Gull – Two adults were at Bank Island on the 26^th with another at South Duffield amongst the flock of Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Lesser Black-backed Gull – Up to 600 had built up around the area feeding and loafing in local fields by mid-month.

Short-eared Owl – A single was present at Seavy Carr on the 24^th and Thorganby on the 26^th.

Turtle Dove – A pair were present between Bank Island and Wheldrake village on the 5^th and 7^th.

Swift – Very few remained over the Ings however three active nests still contained young at Elvington on the 4^th.

Raven – Two were observed heading north-east over Bank Island on the 19^th before returning and flying towards Wheldrake Ings.

Tree Pipit – Singles went over Bank Island on the 4^th and Wheldrake on the 6^th with individuals heard calling over Bank Island on the 14^th, 16^th and 19^th.

Meadow Pipit – Up to 150 were grounded by mist on the 9^th (first movement of the autumn), with 100+ remaining on the 10^th. Small numbers continued to move through the reserve daily thereafter until the first large movement of the year saw 1300+ south over Bank Island in a couple of hours on the 21^st, followed by 1000+ on the 22^nd.

Meadow Pipit - Bank Island - 21/09 - DB

Skylark – Small numbers were noted moving from mid-month with 60 recorded on the 21^st and 200+ on the 30^th as they moved through Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings.

Swallow – Up to 500-1000 birds were recorded daily in the Bank Island/Wheldrake areas during the day early in the month but appeared to be roosting off site, presumably in maize. 60 went south at Wheldrake Ings on the 30^th.

House Martin – Small numbers continued to pass through Bank Island on an almost daily basis. 10 were recorded at Bank Island and Wheldrake late in the month on the 30^th.

Pied Wagtail – Up to 60 roosted in the Wheldrake reedbed early in the month.

Wheatear – A single was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with another there on the 6^th.

Whinchat – Three were at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with two there on the 2^nd and a single thereafter, until two appeared again between the 7^th - 10^th. Three were then present on the 13^th when one was also recorded at Hagg Bridge. Two remained at Wheldrake on the 16^th and 17^th, with a single appearing on the 23^rd and 24^th - remaining to month end.

Whinchat/Stonechat - Wheldrake Ings - 30/09 - DB

Stonechat – The first returning bird was at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th with a pair at Bank Island from the 15^th. Two were on Wheldrake on the 30^th.

Nuthatch – Singles were at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th and 9^th.

Chiffchaff – An increase was noted during the month with good numbers ringed each day as they moved quickly through the site. 13 were counted at Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th followed by nine on the 24^th. 16 remained at Bank Island on the 30^th.

Chiffchaff - Bank Island - 30/09 - DB

Common Whitethroat – Small numbers continued to move through the site early in the month, with three caught and ringed at Bank Island on the 5^th followed by two on the 6^th and 8^th. Five were present there on the 10^th with two caught and ringed on the 14^th.

Blackcap – Good numbers passed through the reserve with up to 20 caught daily at Bank Island during the first part of the month. Small numbers continued after the 20^th with just one remaining at Bank Island on the 30^th.

Lesser Whitethroat – Two were ringed at Bank Island on the 5^th and 6^th followed by one on the 8^th. Three were recorded around Bank Island on the 10^th.

Garden Warbler – A single was caught and ringed at Bank Island on the 5^th with an individual still present there on the 10^th and another caught and ringed on the 14^th.

Spotted Flycatcher – A single was caught and ringed on the 3^rd at South Duffield with one at the NNR Base at Bank Island on the 9^th. Two were present there on the 10^th with a single remaining on the 11^th. 

Spotted Flycatcher - Bank Island - 09/09 - DB

 

Willow Tit – Two juveniles were caught and ringed at Wheldrake on the 9^th – bringing the total for the late summer/autumn to six juveniles ringed. Three individuals were seen at Wheldrake on the 16^th and again on the 24^th.

Cetti’s Warbler – Two continued to be present at Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th with one still lingering at Bank Island (heard calling near Cheesecake Hide on the 13^th). An immature bird was caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 15^th.

Siskin – Small numbers started moving during the month with three over Bank Island on the 8^th and eight there on the 13^th. Two were recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 16^th with small numbers continuing thereafter.

Lesser Redpoll – Two flew over Bank Island on the 11^th with eight at Wheldrake on the 16^th and seven on the 24^th.