Sept' 25

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - September Sightings

As usual September was a month of change with summer migrants departing, the first winter migrants arriving and passage movements overlapping. The drought continued with little in the way of standing water to attract wildfowl and waders on the move. However, that said there was plenty to keep the interest with the highlight being a Stone Curlew on the 10^th which flew over Bank Island calling, before circling and heading off south down the valley at first light. A White-tailed Eagle would have been popular had it not skirted the eastern part of the area, passing over Holme-on-Spalding Moor and Howden on the 9^th, only detected by its satellite signals. Equally a Glossy Ibis at Storwood on 7^th (part of the widespread national influx) only came to light when a photograph was posted on social media.

The first Pink-footed Geese were recorded on the 14^th followed by the first Whooper Swans on the 22^nd and several flocks of Common Scoter were once again logged on nocturnal passage. Raptors featured well with four Ospreys recorded during the month including three on the 16^th and up to 21 Red Kites were recorded at Bank Island during hay cutting.

An estimated 12,000-15,000 Swallows roosting at Wheldrake Ings represented a good count with birds observed feeding young underneath Tower Hide to month end. The month was also notable for Yellow Wagtails with a good autumn passage recorded whilst up to nine Whinchats at Wheldrake also represented an above average showing.

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, Tony Laverack and Chris Gomersall for the use of their images below.

BIRDS:

Mute Swan – Numbers increased during the month as non-breeding birds returned from their summer moult sites, swelling the local breeding population, whilst twenty-six non-breeders had returned by month end.

Whooper Swan – The first of the autumn (eight) flew south over Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings on the 22^nd.

Greylag Goose – Numbers increased quickly with 500+ back in the Wheldrake/Elvington area during the first week of the month. 700 flew over Bank Island at dusk on the 9^th.

Pink-footed Goose – Eighty flew south-east over Thornton Ellers on the 14^th followed by 20 over Bank Island on the 15^th, with two birds recorded passing south over Wheldrake village on the 16^th. Sixty went south over the reserve on the 17^th followed by eight over Wheldrake Ings on the 19^th and 120 south over Thornton Ellers on the 20^th. c500 went south during the day over Wheldrake and Bank Island on the 21^st, followed by 600+ on the 22^nd and 248 on the 23^rd. Small numbers continued to be logged daily throughout the month thereafter.

Pink-footed Geese - Wheldrake Ings - 21/09 - DB

Egyptian Goose – Six were seen heading over Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st.

Mallard – Up to 250 were present at ‘Top Pond’ at North Duffield Carrs on the 13^th and 14^th.

Teal – Twenty-five were recorded at North Duffield Carrs on the 12^th followed by 60 at Wheldrake Ings on the 17^th. 200+ were then present across the site on the 27^th.

Wigeon – Five were at Wheldrake Ings on the 17^th with one on the Low Grounds on the 21^st and 33 at North Duffield Carrs on the 27^th.

Shoveler – One or two were recorded occasionally throughout the month at North Duffield Carrs with one returning to Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th.

Gadwall – Several were present throughout the month at North Duffield Carrs.

Common Scoter – One or two flocks were recorded on nocturnal passage during the month with a flock seen at 20:15 on the 25^th heading over Elvington.

Great White Egret – A single was at Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th with another there on the 14^th and again on the 21^st/22^nd and lastly on the 28^th.

Common Crane – A single roosted overnight at Thornton Ings on the 6^th.

Glossy Ibis – A single was photographed at Storwood on the 7^th.

Glossy Ibis - Storwood - 07/09 - TL

Water Rail – One was present in the building site at Bank Island on 9^th – a more unusual location. Several remained in the reedbed areas at Wheldrake Ings throughout.

Marsh Harrier – Up to four individuals were present early in the month with nine roosting in front of Tower Hide at Wheldrake Ings on the 8^th (six immatures and three adult females). Two or three males were present in a separate roost nearby on the 9^th, making a total of 10 or 11 birds using the site.

Marsh Harrier - Wheldrake Ings - 27/09 - DB

Common Buzzard – Eleven were at Bank Island on the 9^th with 23 recorded between Wheldrake and Bank Island on the 14^th. Twenty were present along the Pocklington Canal on the 24^th.

Osprey – One flew south down the River Derwent at Bank Island on the 7^th. A single flew east along the Pocklington Canal over Hagg Bridge, with a different bird seen over Thornton and another south over Thorganby later the same day on the 16^th.

Osprey - Pocklington Canal - 16/09 - CG

White-tailed Eagle – A single (from the Isle of Wight reintroduction programme) passed south along the Wolds near Pocklington to Market Weighton, before once again passing over Howden on the 9^th.

Red Kite – Large numbers were present throughout the site with a gathering of 21+ at Bank Island on the 9^th during hay cutting operations. Eight were at Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st followed by seven at Bank Island on the 22^nd. Eight were in the Melbourne area on the 30^th.

Hobby – Two were present over Bank Island on the 8^th with two at the Wheldrake roost at dusk on the same date. Two were also present at Bank Island on the 9^th and 10^th with three at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th where a single remained on the 21^st.

Stone Curlew – A single circled Bank Island calling at first light on the 10^th before heading south down the valley.

Golden Plover – Forty-six were present near Thornton on the 5^th. 200 were back in the usual fields by Raker Lakes by the 15^th, increasing to 220 on the 17^th and 250 on the 21^st.

Curlew – A single individual lingered at Wheldrake until the 4^th.

Dunlin – One was recorded over Elvington on nocturnal passage on the night of the 25^th/26^th.

Snipe – Small numbers remained scattered throughout the site, with four returning to Bank Island following the first floodwater appearing there on the 23^rd.

Jack Snipe – An early single appeared with Snipe at Bank Island on the 23^rd.

Green Sandpiper – Five were present on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with three thereafter between the 2^nd -5^th. Two remained on the pool on the 8^th increasing to four on the 9^th and one was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 12^th. Five were back at Wheldrake Ings on the 17^th, with three recorded at North Duffield Carrs on the 19^th and four at Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st/22^nd – two remained to month end.

Green Sandpiper - Wheldrake Ings - 28/09 - DB

Short-eared Owl – A single was at North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th.

Wheatear – A single was present on the meadow at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th.

Yellow Wagtail – Ten were at the Wheldrake roost on the 1^st with 12 seen over Ellerton (heading south along the river in one’s and two’s throughout the day). Thirty-four were observed following cattle on the Low Grounds on the 6^th with 40+ in the Melbourne and Thornton Ings area and 27 were with sheep at North Duffield Carrs on the same date. With scattered singles recorded throughout the site over 120+ were possibly present across the reserve on this date. Fifteen roosted at Wheldrake Ings on the 8^th with ten seen at Thornton Ellers on the 10^th. One or two were recorded daily from this site thereafter until the 19^th. Small numbers remained from then on with two over Wheldrake Ings on the 14^th and one over Bank Island on the 21^st – a notable year for the species.

Grey Wagtail – Birds returned to the Water Treatment Works at Bank Island on the 2^nd with four seen heading overhead there on the 19^th.

Meadow Pipit – 500+ flew south over Bank Island from dawn on the 18^th.

Water Pipit – One was present at Bank Island on the morning of the 27^th before flying off calling west.

Rock Pipit – One flew over the viewing platform at North Duffield Carrs on the 29^th.

Skylark – Fifty flew south over Bank Island at dawn on the 18^th followed by 20+ on the 19^th.

Swallow – 500 present late evening at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st were followed 200+ on the 3^rd and 2,000+ on the 8^th. Around 5,000+ were recorded on the 15^th with an impressive 12,000-15,000 estimated on the 17^th and 10,000+ on the 18^th. At least 300 remained on the 20^th but just small numbers were present thereafter with two remaining on the 30^th.

Swallows - Bank Island - 14/09 - DB

Whinchat – A single remained at Wheldrake Ings between the 1^st - 8^th with one at North Duffield Carrs between the 1^st - 7^th. A total of nine were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 8^th with just two remaining on the 10^th. A single was at Bank Island and three were at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th and 14^th. Up to three remained at Wheldrake Ings between the 15^th - 18^th when two were present at North Duffield Carrs. One was at Wheldrake Ings between the 19^th - 22^nd with the last bird recorded there on the 26^th.

Stonechat – One was at North Duffield Carrs on the 13^th and two were at Wheldrake Ings on the 14^th. Six were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 19^th with a male seen at Bank Island on the 23^rd. A single male was present at Bank Island on the 27^th when two were seen at Wheldrake and six were at North Duffield Carrs.

Raven – Two were present at Thornton Ellers and Seavy Carr on the 6^th when a pair were also present to the south of Wheldrake on the same date. Two were at Barmby on the Marsh on the 11^th.

Jay – Birds became increasingly obvious during the month with regular sightings coming from Wheldrake, Bank Island, North Duffield Carrs and Thornton Ings.

Redwing – The first returning bird was picked up over Elvington on noc-mig at 05:00 on the 26^th.

Spotted Flycatcher – One remained at Bank Island until the 8^th with two there on the 9^th when a single was also present at Bank Island.  

Sedge Warbler – A single was caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 19^th.

Reed Warbler – A single was caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 14^th.

Lesser Whitethroat – Two or three were still present in the Bank Island area on the 13^th and 14^th.

Whitethroat – Three were at Bank Island/Wheldrake on the 14^th.

Blackcap – Numbers reduced quickly towards month end with just singles recorded daily during the last week of the month.

Chiffchaff – Good numbers remained throughout the month following an exceptional year. Twenty plus were recorded daily at Wheldrake Ings until month end with 31 caught and ringed there on the 30^th.

Cetti’s Warbler – A single remained at Bank Island with three calling birds heard at Wheldrake Ings throughout the month.

Willow Tit – A family party of at least five birds were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 22^nd.

Siskin – Eleven were seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th followed by 25 at Seavy Carr on the 12^th and nine at Bank Island on the 13^th and 14^th. Twenty were present at Melbourne on the 18^th with 33 seen over Bank Island the following morning. Eleven were at Bank Island on the 20^th.

Lesser Redpoll – 200 were caught and ringed at Skipwith Common NNR during the month with several small flocks present throughout. Twenty were recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th.