Welcome to the LDV NNR ringing blog, this blog is designed to share the experiences, findings and tales from a group of dedicated ringers. We specialise in conservation orientated research projects, largely focusing on wildfowl, waders, owls and birds of conservation concern, in and around the Vale of York NNR's.

NB - Whilst the purpose of this blog was initially designed to cover our nationally important wildfowl ringing activities, it now also features wildlife and work posts, explaining how we manage the NNR for both wildlife and people.

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Aug' 22

 Lower Derwent Valley NNR - August Sightings

The drought conditions resulted in the pool at Wheldrake drying up by month end, and with little standing water elsewhere across the reserve it was a quieter August than usual. Whilst wader passage was reduced to a trickle, migrant passerines were making headlines with a record-breaking passage of Sedge and Reed Warblers. 1,118 Sedge Warblers were caught and ringed by the end of the month (since late June), with the previous highest annual total being 380. Likewise, 400+ Reed Warblers were ringed, compared to a previous high of 285, showing another significant increase. 13 Grasshopper Warblers caught and ringed during the month was also notable.   

Other highlights included a Bittern at Hagg Bridge on the 18th, at least seven Marsh Harriers and a ringtail Hen Harrier on the 25th. Two Peregrines were recorded during the month with daily sightings of Hobbies across the area. Following on from last month a further mini-arrival resulted in four calling Quail, whilst the last of the breeding waders were replaced by small numbers of passage migrants including - Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, and Wood, Green and Common Sandpiper. Returning Wheatears, Whinchat and Redstarts were all noted, with the first returning Stonechat seen on the 14th.  A notable post-breeding run of Spotted Flycatchers was also recorded.

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 for the use of his images below.


BIRDS:

Greylag Goose – Numbers built up in the Elvington Water Treatments Works during the month with c200 there by the 7th.

Egyptian Goose – Six were still present in fields at East Cottingwith on the 6th whilst four (two adults and two immatures), flew north over Wheldrake Ings on the 12th.

Shelduck – Three immatures were at Elvington Water Treatment Works on the 7th with four there on the 13th.

Mandarin – An eclipse drake was caught and ringed after dark at Wheldrake Ings on the 11th.   

Mandarin - Wheldrake - 11/08 - GD

Teal – 14 were present early in the month with 24 recorded on the 5th and 36 on the 7th.

Gadwall – Up to 27 were recorded early in the month with 19 at North Duffield Carrs on the 21st.

Pintail – A single was picked up on noc-mig over Elvington on the 25th – the first returning/passage bird of the autumn.

Shoveler – 22 were present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 1st with three unfledged ducklings.

Garganey – A single eclipse drake was at Wheldrake Ings on the 19th and 22nd.

Common Scoter – A flock was picked up on nocturnal recordings over Elvington after dark on the 26th.

Great Crested Grebe – Two were present at Elvington Water Treatment Works between the 7th-13th.

Bittern – One was seen briefly on the Pocklington Canal at Hagg Bridge on the 18th.

Little Egret – 10 were counted on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 3rd followed by 12 on the 6th and 14 on the 9th. 17 flew east out of the heronry in a v-formation at dawn on the 15th while 20 pre-roosted on the pool at Wheldrake on the 18th. Up to 10 remained to month end despite the dry conditions.

Little Egret - Wheldrake - 06/08 - DB

Marsh Harrier – An adult male was still present at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st along with the female D3, with a cream crown there on the 3rd. Two males and two cream crowns were present between the 8th-12th, with a juvenile there on the 16th. D3 was present again at Wheldrake on the 18th with two juveniles on 21st and an adult female in heavy wing moult on the 30th – at least seven different individuals involved.

Hen Harrier – A ring-tail was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 25th (NC, CSR).

Red Kite – 12 were viewable from Bank Island on the 1st with daily records coming from across the site. A single rehabilitated juvenile was ringed and released at North Duffield Carrs on the 15th.

Peregrine – One or two were reported regularly from Wheldrake village, Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings during the month.

Hobby – Birds were seen daily throughout at Wheldrake Ings, with one at Bubwith on the 3rd and singles over Ellerton and Bank Island on the 4th. Singles were also seen at Bank Island, Wheldrake, Breighton and Melbourne on the 6th, with daily dusk sightings at Wheldrake thereafter with two there on the 31st.

Hobby - Wheldrake - 18/08 - DB

Quail – A singing bird at Cheescake Farm on the 14th was caught and ringed at Bank Island after dark, with another individual caught and ringed at Wheldrake on the 15th. Two were then calling at Bank Island/Low Grounds on the evening of the 15th with one near Thornton on the 17th and 22nd.

Quail - Wheldrake - 15/08 - DB

Water Rail – Good numbers remained on the pool at Wheldrake with at least six calling birds present on both the pool and scrape early in the month, with young from at least three broods seen. Six were seen (three young) on the 9th when one juvenile was caught and ringed there. Another older juvenile was caught and ringed there on the 17th.

Ringed Plover – A single dropped into the pool at Wheldrake following rain on the 22nd but moved on quickly, although it maybe have been the same bird seen over Hagg Bridge the next day.

Golden Plover – A single flew south calling over Wheldrake Ings on the 9th with seven there on the 12th and 10 south on the 13th. 60 were in the East Cottingwith area on the 24th.

Lapwing – 120 were present at Bank Island on the 3rd with 80 at North Duffield Carrs on the 15th.

Snipe – Passage birds were present throughout on the pool at Wheldrake, which held 26 on the 25th.

Snipe - Wheldrake - 09/08 - DB

Black-tailed Godwit – 33 flew south over Bank Island on the 1st. A single appeared on the pool at Wheldrake between the 9th-12th with another from the 15th-18th.

Curlew – Twelve appeared at Wheldrake Ings on the 12th with seven there again on the 15th. A single was seen flying south over Wheldrake on the 18th with one in the meadow there on the 20th and three there on the 25th.

Whimbrel – Five flew south over North Duffield on the 18th with one over Elvington on the 24th.

Dunlin – A single was present on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 30th.

Redshank – A single lingered on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st and 2nd.

Greenshank – Single was present at Wheldrake Ings between the 1st-11th.

Ruff – Singles (different individuals), were present on the 1st and 2nd.

Green Sandpiper – Seven were present on the pool at Wheldrake between the 1st-4th with eight there on the 5th -7th followed by nine on the 8th (with six also present on Skipwith Common NNR). 11 were recorded on the 9th at Wheldrake followed by 13 on the 10th -12th. 10 were then present on the 13th and 14th, with scattered singles elsewhere in the surrounding area. A total of 11 were recorded on the 15th to 17th followed by nine on the 18th and 15 on the 19th.  Ten were then present during the 20th-22nd with six thereafter as water levels receded further with just five remaining on the 26th/27th.

Green Sandpiper - Wheldrake - 18/08 - DB

Wood Sandpiper – Single at Wheldrake Ings on the 6th and 24th.

Common Sandpiper – One was picked up on nocturnal recordings over Elvington on the 15th. A single was on the pool at Wheldrake on the 26th with one over Elvington and another the nearby at the Water Treatment Works.

Lesser Black-backed Gull – 150 were present in fields along the Escrick/Wheldrake road on the 20th.

Cuckoo – A juvenile was present around the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st with one still there on the 12th and 13th.

Green Woodpecker – Single calling at Wheldrake Ings on the 31st.

Tree Pipit – A passage bird was caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings in poolside willows on the 5th with one over Melbourne/Pocklington Canal on the 17th. Single at Barmby on the Marsh on the 21st with three over Menthorpe Lane on the 29th.

Tree Pipit - Wheldrake - 05/08 - LM

Woodlark – Two adults and two juveniles were present on Skipwith Common NNR on the 12th – probably relating to different broods.

Wheatear – A single female was in the refuge area at Wheldrake Ings on the 5th with another at Hagg Bridge on the same date. A single remained at Wheldrake on the 6th, with one at Barmby on the Marsh wetlands on the 14th. One was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 20th, and Wheldrake Ings on the 21st, 28th and 30th.

Wheatear - North Duffield - 20/08 - DB

Whinchat – The first returning bird of the autumn was at Church Bridge, Melbourne on the 6th with the next reported bird at Wheldrake Ings on the 20th. Three were at Wheldrake Ings on the 23rd, with singles present on the 25th-26th. 11 were recorded there on the 27th with eight remaining on the 28th and two on the 29th and 30th.

Stonechat – A juvenile (presumed passage individual) was at Cheesecake Farm on the 14th.

Redstart – A pair were present at Hagg Bridge on the 15th with a male at the Low Grounds on the 17th. Single at Thornton on the 21st was followed by two immature males at Wheldrake Ings on the 27th.

Cetti’s Warbler – Occasional calling from males was heard at Wheldrake Ings on the 4th and Bank Island on 6th, with a single juvenile re-caught at Wheldrake on the same date followed by one at Bank Island on the 7th. A gap then followed before one was heard calling at Wheldrake, and later caught, on the 27th.  A juvenile caught was perhaps more likely a passage bird from elsewhere with it coinciding with a large passage of other warblers at the time. One was calling in the reedbed at Wheldrake on the 29th with a new bird caught and ringed on the 31st and another calling on the same date.

Willow Tit – A family party of five young with two adults were present in the NNR base garden at Bank Island on the 1st. The third juvenile of the autumn was caught and ringed in poolside willows at Wheldrake on the 6th, followed by another there on the 12th and one at Melbourne on the 17th. A single was caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 28th.

Willow Tit - Wheldrake - 27/08 - LM

Nuthatch – Up to three were present in riverside willows regularly during the month at Wheldrake Ings. Two were heard on Skipwith Common NNR on the 12th.

Sedge Warbler – Large numbers of passage birds continued to move through the site during the month with 50 caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st. 64 followed on the 4th and 44 on the 5th. 51 were again caught and ringed on the 8th, followed by 40 on the 12th. 21 were still present on the 15th, with 31 there on the 18th, 17 on the 19th and 37 on the 22nd. 31 were present on the 25th, 30 on the 26th and 28 on the 27th. Numbers appeared to slow thereafter with just eight new birds on the 31st.

Sedge Warbler - Wheldrake - 06/08 - LM

Reed Warblers – Autumn passage increased early in the month with 12 ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st, followed by 33 on the 4th and 20 on the 5th. 20 were caught and ringed on the 8th, 14 on the 15th, 11 on the 19th and 22nd, 10 on the 26th and 27th, down to just three on the 31st.

Garden Warbler – One or two passed through Wheldrake regularly early in the month with one on the 20th and four on the 22nd and one at Bank Island on the same date. A single was at Wheldrake Ings on the 23rd with two there on the 25th. One was at Bank Island on 25th and 26th with one at Wheldrake Ings on the 28th and Menthorpe on the 29th. Single at Bank Island on the 31st.

Blackcap – As usual passage started to build during the second half of the month, with the first significant catch involving 33 ringed at Wheldrake on the 22nd, followed by 25 on the 26th and 32 on the 27th. 29 were ringed at Bank Island on the 31st.

Grasshopper Warbler – A juvenile was caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 4th with two there on the 15th and three different individuals on the 18th. Another single was caught and ringed on the 19th and 20th followed by another three on the 27th.

Grasshopper Warbler - Wheldrake - 04/08 - LM

Spotted Flycatcher – Two pairs fledged young in the Melbourne area during the month but had seemingly departed by the 15th, whilst eight birds (two pairs plus young) were at Skipwith Common NNR on the 11th and 12th. A single was present at Bank Island on the 14th. One was in poolside willows at Wheldrake Ings on the 23rd with one at Barmby on the Marsh wetlands on the 24th.

Goldfinch – c300 were in a game cover strip near Thornton on the 24th

Linnet – Small numbers were present in the Wheldrake/Bank Island area throughout, with 60 in a mixed finch flock in a game cover strip near Thornton on the 24th.

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