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 18^th, at least seven Marsh Harriers and a ringtail Hen Harrier on the 25^th. 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 14^th.  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 7^th.

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

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

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

Mandarin - Wheldrake - 11/08 - GD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Little Egret – 10 were counted on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd followed by 12 on the 6^th and 14 on the 9^th. 17 flew east out of the heronry in a v-formation at dawn on the 15^th while 20 pre-roosted on the pool at Wheldrake on the 18^th. 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 1^st along with the female D3, with a cream crown there on the 3^rd. Two males and two cream crowns were present between the 8^th-12^th, with a juvenile there on the 16^th. D3 was present again at Wheldrake on the 18^th with two juveniles on 21^st and an adult female in heavy wing moult on the 30^th – at least seven different individuals involved.

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

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

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

Hobby - Wheldrake - 18/08 - DB

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

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 9^th when one juvenile was caught and ringed there. Another older juvenile was caught and ringed there on the 17^th.

Ringed Plover – A single dropped into the pool at Wheldrake following rain on the 22^nd 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 9^th with seven there on the 12^th and 10 south on the 13^th. 60 were in the East Cottingwith area on the 24^th.

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

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

Snipe - Wheldrake - 09/08 - DB

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Green Sandpiper - Wheldrake - 18/08 - DB

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

Common Sandpiper – One was picked up on nocturnal recordings over Elvington on the 15^th. A single was on the pool at Wheldrake on the 26^th 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 20^th.

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

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

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

Tree Pipit - Wheldrake - 05/08 - LM

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

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

Wheatear - North Duffield - 20/08 - DB

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

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

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

Cetti’s Warbler – Occasional calling from males was heard at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th and Bank Island on 6^th, with a single juvenile re-caught at Wheldrake on the same date followed by one at Bank Island on the 7^th. A gap then followed before one was heard calling at Wheldrake, and later caught, on the 27^th.  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 29^th with a new bird caught and ringed on the 31^st 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 1^st. The third juvenile of the autumn was caught and ringed in poolside willows at Wheldrake on the 6^th, followed by another there on the 12^th and one at Melbourne on the 17^th. A single was caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th.

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 12^th.

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 1^st. 64 followed on the 4^th and 44 on the 5^th. 51 were again caught and ringed on the 8^th, followed by 40 on the 12^th. 21 were still present on the 15^th, with 31 there on the 18^th, 17 on the 19^th and 37 on the 22^nd. 31 were present on the 25^th, 30 on the 26^th and 28 on the 27^th. Numbers appeared to slow thereafter with just eight new birds on the 31^st.

Sedge Warbler - Wheldrake - 06/08 - LM

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

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

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 22^nd, followed by 25 on the 26^th and 32 on the 27^th. 29 were ringed at Bank Island on the 31^st.

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

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 15^th, whilst eight birds (two pairs plus young) were at Skipwith Common NNR on the 11^th and 12^th. A single was present at Bank Island on the 14^th. One was in poolside willows at Wheldrake Ings on the 23^rd with one at Barmby on the Marsh wetlands on the 24^th.

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

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 24^th.