Sep' 26

Lower Derwent Valley – September Sightings

The drought conditions continued throughout the month limiting available habitat for returning waterfowl and passage waders (although extending the usual season for undertaking site management works around the reserve), and whilst waterfowl did increase during the month it was on adjacent ponds and waterbodies only. The first returning Pink-footed Geese were recorded on the 5^th  and at least 800 Golden Plover were present by month end. The first returning Jack Snipe was logged on the 6^th followed by a notable Grey Plover on the 16^th.

Other highlights included a lone Cattle Egret (24^th), three juvenile Gannets overhead (23^rd), a passage Hen Harrier (19^th) and a passage Nightjar in yet another local garden (13^th). A small passage of chats was noted through the site during the month, along with an increasing number of Raven sightings and the first returning Redwings (30^th).

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 for the use of his images below. 

BIRDS:

Greylag Goose – Up to 500+ had returned to the wider area by mid-month, but, given the dry conditions on the Ings, they instead frequented roost sites off the reserve at Elvington Water Treatment Works and the gravel pits in the East Cottingwith/Rossmoor and Melbourne areas.

Pink-footed Goose – A single at Skipwith Common NNR on the 5^th was followed by 80 south on the 10^th, 35 (11^th), 130 (13^th) and 30+ (15^th). A total of 61 went south on the 16^th followed by 30 north-west on the 19^th. Small flocks moved through daily thereafter with increased numbers noted towards month end including 400+ on the 28^th and 700+ on the 30^th.

Pink-footed Geese - Wheldrake Ings - 16/09 - DB

Mallard – Up to 2,000 were present in the wider area on local shooting ponds with 200+ at North Duffield late in the month.

Teal – 70 were recorded at North Duffield Carrs on the 6^th, increasing to 150+ there on the 16^th and to 700+ from the 21^st.

Wigeon – Up to 30 were present on the reserve on several dates during the second half of the month.

Gadwall – 40 were at North Duffield Carrs Top Pond on the 6^th.

Pochard – A single immature/female was present at the Top Pond at North Duffield Carrs on the 6^th and 12^th.

Tufted Duck – A drake was at North Duffield Carrs on the 13^th and was followed by a female there on the 15^th.

Great White Egret – Singles were present at Bank Island (5^th-12^th), North Duffield Carrs (13^th-15^th ) and Wheldrake Ings on the 19^th, before one appeared at North Duffield Carrs again and remained until month end.

Cattle Egret – Single at North Duffield Carrs on the 24^th.

Gannet – Three juveniles flew west over Wheldrake heading towards Escrick on the 23^rd.

Grey Partridge – Up to 40 were present in the Wheldrake area during the month with up to 20 recorded in various small coveys around North Duffield Carrs. Up to eight remained at Bank Island and 12 were at Sutton upon Derwent on the 30^th.

Marsh Harrier – Up to five lingered at Bank Island/Wheldrake Ings early in the month, with up to 11 roosting at Bank Island on the 7^th and 8^th. Eight were present throughout the site on the 19^th.

Marsh Harrier - Bank Island - 27/09 - DB

Hen Harrier – A single ring-tail was observed hunting over fields between North Duffield Carrs and Skipwith Common NNR on the 19^th.

Hobby – Sightings were logged daily from the 1^st with two seen at Bank Island on the 30^th.

Golden Plover – Five flew over Wheldrake village on the 1^st with four then seen on the flash at Sutton upon Derwent on the 5^th. A total of 150 were back in the usual fields by Raker Lakes, Wheldrake, on the 29^th with 800+ seen there on the 30^th.

Grey Plover – A single flew over Wheldrake village calling and heading towards York on the 16^th.

Dunlin – One was at Sutton upon Derwent between the 2^nd-4^th.

Jack Snipe – An early returning bird was at North Duffield Carrs on the 6^th.

Ruff – Two were on a flooded turf field by Sutton upon Derwent on the 1^st with three there on the 2^nd followed by a single on the 3^rd and two on the 4^th.

Redshank – Two were seen at Sutton upon Derwent on the 1^st.

Spotted Redshank – One was on a flooded turf field by Sutton upon Derwent on the 1^st.

Greenshank – Singles were at Sutton upon Derwent on the 2^nd and Skipwith Common NNR on the 5^th. One was at North Duffield Carrs between the 5^th-7^th.

Green Sandpiper – One was seen in a flooded turf field near Sutton upon Derwent between the 1^st-3^rd with other records coming from North Duffield Carrs on the 5^th and 6^th. Two were at North Duffield Carrs on the 7^th with one or two then remaining until the 15^th.

Curlew – A flock of 16 remained on the Low Grounds and Wheldrake Ings during the month.

Curlew - Wheldrake - 20/09 - DB

Whimbrel – One flew through Bank Island on the 7^th.

Caspian Gull – An immature was seen near Sutton upon Derwent on the 6^th with another third calendar year bird recorded in fields by Skipwith Common NNR on the 22^nd.

Yellow-legged Gull – Two adults were seen near Skipwith Common NNR on the 22^nd.

Cuckoo – A juvenile was at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st.

Swift – Singles were at Bank Island on the 5^th, 7^th and 9^th.

Meadow Pipit – Small numbers started to move from mid-month with 150 at Wheldrake Ings on the 15^th and 250+ at North Duffield Carrs on the 19^th.

Meadow Pipit - North Duffield Carrs - 19/09 - DB

Nightjar – An immature was at Skipwith Common NNR on the 5^th, with one then found at roost during the day in a Breighton garden on the 13^th.

Yellow Wagtail – Fifteen were recorded at Sutton upon Derwent on the 5^th. One flew east at Bank Island on the 15^th with another late bird seen there on the 30^th.

Grey Wagtail – Two or three were present daily at Bank Island with occasional passage birds noted overhead elsewhere during the month.

Whinchat – One remained at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st with five recorded in the refuge area at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd. A single was at North Duffield Carrs on the 6^th with two there on the 19^th.

Stonechat – Two were at North Duffield Carrs from the 1^st with 11 there on the 13^th and six the following day. Two were at Wheldrake Ings on the 16^th with seven at North Duffield Carrs on the 19^th.

Stonechat - North Duffield Carrs - 19/09 - DB

Spotted Flycatcher – One was at Bank Island on the 2^nd and another, an immature, was at North Duffield Carrs on the 19^th and 20^th.

Redwing – The first two of the autumn passed over Bank Island on the morning of the 30^th.

Raven – The number of sightings through the area increased during the month with records coming from Hemingbrough, North Duffield Carrs, Wheldrake Ings and Bank Island, and were almost daily towards month end.

Chiffchaff – Good numbers passed through the site during the month with 23 recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 19^th.

Chiffchaff - Bank Island - 20/09 - DB

Whitethroat – Three were at Bank Island on the 13^th with two there on the 16^th.

Garden Warbler – One was at Bank Island on the 1^st.

Lesser Whitethroat – Singles were at Bank Island on the 6^th, 13^th and 15^th.

Cetti’s Warbler – Two remained at Wheldrake Ings on the 19^th and more unusually a single was present in riverside willows at Aughton on the same day. Four were present at Wheldrake from mid-month with one returning to Bank Island from the 14^th.

Siskin – The first bird of the autumn was at Melbourne on the 30^th.

Linnet – 250 were present during the month at Field Lane, Thornton, in a wild bird mix, with 80+ building up at the wild bird mix at New Meadow, North Duffield Carrs. Smaller scattered flocks were recorded elsewhere across the reserve.