Dec' 24

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - December Sightings

The single drake American Wigeon remained throughout the month, although was rather mobile across the site, with a Red-head Smew also appearing on the 22^nd. Wildfowl numbers were notable with 140 Whooper Swans, 1900+ Greylag Geese and 2100+ wintering Pink-footed Geese late in the month. 7000+ Teal, 11,500 Wigeon and 621 Pintail represented a good December total.

Raptors were well represented with at least 10-15 wintering Marsh Harriers, a single adult male Hen Harrier (24^th), up to five Peregrines and seven sightings of Merlin, whilst a Short-eared Owl at North Duffield Carrs on the 3^rd was the first of the year. An early returning Oystercatcher was present on the 1^st, 2^nd and 22^nd and two wintering Green Sandpipers were noteworthy. Large numbers of Lapwing were present throughout the month with a total of 12,648 recorded along with 3300 Golden Plover and 1000 Dunlin. By month end 25 Curlew and 30 Black-tailed Godwits had also returned.

A single first winter Little Gull was popular with visitors from the 11^th to month end, whilst the Wheldrake roost attracted both Mediterranean and Caspian Gulls, with yet another Raven on the 10^th, at least two wintering Chiffchaff and good numbers of Linnet in areas surrounding the reserve. 

Little Gull - North Duffield Carrs - 21/12 - Wendy Flakes

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:

Mute Swan – Monthly maxima of 82 on the 15^th and 88 on the 17^th.

Whooper Swan – 140 were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 2^nd followed by 98 there on the 3^rd with 133 throughout the whole site on the 5^th. 140 were still present on the 15^th with 131 at Bubwith Ings on the 24^th and 129 throughout the site on the 30^th.

Bewick’s Swan – Three (two adults and a first year) were present at dusk at North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th with six adults present there at dawn on the 5^th.

Greylag Goose – A total of 1,204 were present throughout the site on the WeBS count on the 15^th followed by 1,360 on the 24^th. 1,900+ were present throughout the site at month end.

Canada Goose – Numbers increased during the month with 521 recorded on the 24^th.

Pink-footed Goose – 159 were present throughout the site on the 15^th with small numbers lingering throughout. Numbers increased to 2,100+ in the Aughton/Ellerton/Thorganby area from the 29^th to month end.

Pink-footed Geese - Aughton - 15/12 - DB

White-fronted Goose – An adult and immature were recorded south of the valley at Hemingbrough on the 5^th. Two were at Melbourne Ings on the 8^th.

Tundra Bean Goose – Five flew north past Ellerton Church on the 2^nd with two over North Duffield Carrs on the 10^th and five over Storwood on the 15^th.

Barnacle Goose – A flock of 44 flew south-west over North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st.

Egyptian Goose – Twelve were at Bank Island on the 3^rd with two seen after dark at Elvington on the same date. 18 were recorded throughout the site on the 15^th with four at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th.

Shelduck – Up to 49 remained on the reserve during the first week of the month with numbers up to 56 by the 6^th and 69 by the 15^th. 140+ were recorded by month end.

Teal – 6,724 were present throughout the site on the WeBS count on the 15^th with 7,000+ recorded at month end.  

Teal - Wheldrake Ings - 31/12 - DB

Wigeon – Numbers were rather low during the month having possibly been suppressed by the extensive deep flooding with 5,463 recorded on the 15^th. Numbers increased thereafter with 9,876 on the 24^th and 11,500 at month end.

American Wigeon – The drake reappeared at Bubwith Ings on the 1^st and 2^nd before relocating back to the East Cottingwith pond on the 5^th. It then relocated back to Bubwith Ings on the 17^th before moving to North Duffield Ings on the 24^th and Bank Island on the 29^th.

Mallard – Over 1,600 were present early in the month but dispersed soon after following the extensive flooding, with 1,016 counted throughout the site on the 15^th.

Mandarin – Four were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th and North Duffield Carrs on the 8^th.

Pintail – A total of 156 were recorded throughout the site on the 6^th increasing to 355 on the 15^th, 588 on the 22^nd and 621 on the 24^th.

Shoveler – 126 were present throughout the reserve on the 15^th with numbers up to 188 by the 22^nd.

Gadwall – 88 were present on the 15^th followed by 144 on the 24^th and 147 on the 30^th.

Tufted Duck – 60 were recorded throughout the site on the 12^th with a total of 70 counted on the 15^th followed by 146 on the 30^th.

Pochard – 20 were present at Bubwith Ings on the 12^th when 35 were also at Wheldrake Ings. 70 were recorded at Bubwith Ings on the 13^th followed by 73 there on the 15^th but only 25 remained on the 30^th.

Smew – A single red-head was recorded at Aughton Ings on the 22^nd.

Goldeneye – One or two individuals lingered early in the month with three then present at Wheldrake Ings on the 22^nd and North Duffield Carrs on the 24^th. 18 were present throughout the site on the 30^th.

Goldeneye - Wheldrake Ings - 31/12 - DB

Goosander – Two were present at Bubwith Ings on the 13^th with two at North Duffield Carrs on the 16^th. A single drake was at Wheldrake Ings on the 24^th.

Little Egret – One or two lingered throughout the month with four at Hagg Bridge on the 29^th.

Little Egret - Bank Island - 30/12 - DB

Grey Heron – 19 were present across the site on the 15^th (monthly maxima).

Great White Egret – A single at Bank Island on the 5^th was followed by one at Storwood on the 29^th and 30^th.

Water Rail – Flooding dispsered birds from the usual areas with two at Bank Island on the 12^th, one by Aughton Church on the 13^th and five along the Pocklington Canal on the 16^th.  Two were at North Duffield Carrs on the 30^th.

Coot – The first two returning birds were at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th with four there on the 31^st.

Marsh Harrier – Up to eight remained daily throughout the site early in the month including the red wing-tagged bird ‘D3’ and yellow winged-tagged bird ‘AD’. Estimates at this time included between 10-15 different individuals present in the area. Eight were observed at Aughton on the 30^th.

Marsh Harrier - Wheldrake Ings - 31/12 - DB

Hen Harrier – An adult male was at Wheldrake Ings on the 24^th.

Peregrine – Up to four or five individuals were present during the month including a large presumed continental immature female on the 30^th.

Merlin – A single at North Duffield Carrs on the 2^nd was present again on the 4^th with a female type there on the 5^th and again on the 10^th/11^th. A single was at Bank Island on the 19^th and Wheldrake Ings on the 31^st.

Oystercatcher – An unseasonal individual was recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st and 2^nd and was followed by another at North Duffield Carrs on the 22^nd.

Golden Plover – 2,700+ remained throughout the start of the month with numbers up to 3,300 by the 15^th.

Lapwing – Over 4,600 were present throughout the site on the 1^st including 3,000 in the Ellerton/Aughton area followed by 5,200+ on the 2^nd. Numbers continued to increase with 10,000+ present throughout the site on the 12^th followed by 12,300 on the 13^th. A total of 12,648 were recorded during the monthly WeBs count on the 15^th. At least 10,500 remained at month end.

Lapwing - Wheldrake Ings - 21/12 - DB

Dunlin – 150 were present in the Ellerton/Aughton Ings area on the 1^st, followed by 100 at North Duffield Carrs on the 3^rd, 60 over Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th and 500+ throughout the site on the 5^th. Numbers continued to increase with 750+ recorded on the 12^th. 774 were counted on the 15^th with over 1,000 present from the 19^th to month end.

Curlew – A flock of 19 were present at Bank Island on the 5^th and 19^th, with 23 recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 30^th with numbers up to 25 by the 31^st.

Ruff – 18 were still present on the 1^st with 15 recorded throughout the site on the 16^th.

Black-tailed Godwit – Five were recorded at North Duffield Carrs on the 8^th with a single at North Duffield Ings on the 15^th and six at Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st. Six remained at Wheldrake on the 24^th with 21 at North Duffield Ings on the same date. A total of 28 were recorded throughout the site on the 29^th with a flock of 30 at Wheldrake Ings on the 31^st.

Black-tailed Godwits - Wheldrake Ings - 21/12 - DB

Snipe – c100 were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th with 150 at North Duffield Ings on the same date.

Jack Snipe – At least eleven were present at Wheldrake Ings and four at Elvington Airfield after dark on the 3^rd. Six were at Wheldrake again on the 6^th but the site was then flooded by the 9^th, on which date one individual ringed at Wheldrake (6^th) was recaught at Elvington Airfield. Three were at North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th with five at North Duffield Ings on the same date.

Woodcock – Eight were present on Wheldrake Ings after dark on the 3^rd with three on arable fields by Wheldrake village and eleven near Elvington Airfield on the same date. A single bird ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th had relocated to Elvington Airfield by the 9^th in response to the floodplain flooding.

Redshank – Eleven were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 6^th with 15 recorded at North Duffield Ings on the 15^th. 25 were at North Duffield Carrs on the 30^th with a single at Wheldrake Ings and two at Bank Island on the same date.

Green Sandpiper – Two were still present and presumed wintering at Elvington on the 3^rd, 6^th, 9^th and 13^th.

Herring Gull – Up to 5,000 roosted on the Low Grounds and Wheldrake Ings on the 7^th and 19^th.

Little Gull – A single first winter was at Bank Island on the 11^th before reappearing there again between the 13^th-15^th before moving to Bubwith Ings on the later date. It was then present at North Duffield Carrs on the 18^th and remained at the southern end of the valley to month end.

Mediterranean Gull – Two were present at the Wheldrake roost on the 30^th and 31^st, with at least two first winters and an adult present throughout the month.  

Black-headed Gull – Over 5,000 roosted on the Low Grounds and Wheldrake Ings on the 7^th with 8,000 there on the 15^th followed by 12,000 on the 21^st and 20,000+ on the 22^nd.

Black-headed Gulls - Wheldrake Ings - 21/12 - DB

Common Gull – 5000+ roosted on the Low Grounds and Wheldrake Ings on the 7^th with 10,000+ recorded on the 22^nd.

Capsian Gull – A single was at Wheldrake Ings on the 29^th and 31^st.

Short-eared Owl – One was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 3^rd.  

Stonechat – Still present throughout the site in good numbers following 30 individuals on territory last month.

Stonechat - Bank Island - 30/12 - DB

Raven – A single was seen over Thorganby Ings on the 10^th.

Chiffchaff – One was at North Duffield Carrs on the 13^th with another around the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th.

Cetti’s Warbler – Two were at East Cottingwith on the 15^th with one caught and ringed at the NNR Base Garden on the 26^th.

Willow Tit – Two were recorded regularly at Wheldrake Ings during the month with two at North Duffield Carrs on the 28^th.

Siskin – Up to 100 were present in the Melbourne and Thornton Ings area on the 2^nd amongst the canal side alders.

Brambling – A single was present with mixed finches at Aughton Church on the 1^st and 2^nd. 

Linnet – Up to 1,000 were present near Aughton Church on the 1^st and 2^nd. 50 were also at Thornton on the 2^nd with 150 in the wild bird crop at New Meadow at North Duffield Carrs. 300 were at Thornton Ellers on the 15^th whilst the NNR base roost at Bank Island had built up to 70+ by the 27^th.

Corn Bunting – Three were singing at Hagg Lane, East Cottingwith on the 15^th.

Corn Bunting - East Cottingwith - 15/12 - DB