Feb' 22

 Lower Derwent Valley NNR - February Sightings 

A total of 166 Whooper Swans were present on the 21^st, which was the first evidence of returning spring passage birds. Equally the return passage of Pink-footed Geese moving north-west from Norfolk to Lancashire also started from mid-month, whilst the lingering pair of Bewick’s Swans remained to month end. Extensive flooding towards the end of the month suppressed waterfowl numbers and limited the usual spring build-up, however, 158 Coots had returned by the 21^st with three Smew also appearing briefly.

On the wader front numbers increased with breeding birds returning to the Ings, with 13 Oystercatchers back by the 21^st, at which time several pairs of Lapwings were displaying and several pairs of Curlew were displaying and singing over the flooded Ings. Black-tailed Godwits reached a total of 23, whilst over 7,400 Lapwing were present throughout with a notable peak of 10,295 early in the month. 2,533 Golden Plover were also noted with 223 Dunlin and 45 Ruff.

A count of 130 Stock Dove in fields by Bank Island on the 17^th (regularly thereafter) was notable, with three to four singing Woodlark present at Skipwith Common NNR throughout the second half of the month, following the first record on the 15^th. Two Water Pipits were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 22^nd, with other notable records being two Raven near Crockey Hill on the 18^th. A return movement of winter thrushes was detected during the course of the month, with several good flocks of farmland birds also present around the NNR. 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, Adam and Stuart for the use of their photographs below.

BIRDS: 

Whooper Swan – Up to 151 were counted across the site on the 1^st, increasing to 166 by the 21^st – perhaps involving some returning passage birds. Three flew north-west over Bank Island on the 2^nd - possibly the first early returning migrants. Six flew over Melbourne on the 23^rd, with 43 north through the site on the 26^th and a further seven north-east over Newton Mask on that date. Three herds, of unknown numbers, also passed over Elvington during the night of the 25^th/26^th in what was clearly the first big push of the spring return passage.

Whooper Swan - Aughton - 02/02 - DB

Bewick’s Swan – Two adults (presumably the regular returning pair), were present with the Whooper Swan herd from the 1^st and still there on the 20^th.

Mute Swan – 82 were recorded early in the month with 70+ remaining following extensive flooding on the 20^th.

Greylag Goose – Numbers fell during the month with just 641 remaining by the 20^th.

Canada Goose – Up to 240 remained throughout the month.

Pink-footed Goose – 280 were at Ellerton on the 2^nd with a single at North Duffield Carrs on the same date, whilst 87 passed north-west over Melbourne. The same flock of 280 remained at Ellerton until month end. On the 7^th 110 flew north-west over Bank Island, with 17 following on the morning of the 8^th and 190 on the 10^th. Three skeins (total of 389), flew north-west over the NNR on the 13^th. 400+ flew north-west over the site on the 23^rd, followed by nocturnal passage overnight on the 25^th/26^th, during which a larger movement took place throughout the region with 570+ north on the 26^th.

Pink-footed Geese - Wheldrake Ings - 26/02 - DB

Egyptian Goose – Up to six remained in the usual area at East Cottingwith during the month, with a single over Wheldrake Ings on the 19^th.

Shelduck – Up to 60 were present daily at Bank Island early on in the month with 70 there on the 13^th. From mid-month several pairs were spread out to take up breeding territories, with 18 recorded in pairs in the Elvington/Kexby area on the 27^th.

Wigeon – Up to 9,000+ remained early in the month although numbers fell as the site started to flood from the 19^th/20^th. A total of 4,867 were recorded on the WeBS count on the 20^th.

Teal – 5,000+ were present during the month, reducing in number with the onset of rapid, extensive flooding on the 20^th, with 2,628 counted during the WeBS.

Mallard – 817 were recorded on the WeBS on the 20^th.

Gadwall – Numbers reached 201 by the 5^th but had declined with extensive flooding to 76 by the 20^th.

Shoveler – 144 were recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 14^th followed by 162 on the 20^th. 56 were at Melbourne and Thornton Ings late in the month when deep flooding forced birds to the shallower flood water in this area.

Shoveler - Wheldrake - 11/02 - DB

Pintail – 323 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd with 339 there on the 13^th (total of 476 throughout the site), followed by 297 throughout the site on the WeBS on the 20^th. Increasing water levels caused birds to move to other sites with 15 at Elvington on the 20^th - an unusual record there, with 91 at Melbourne and Thornton Ings on the 26^th.

Tufted Duck – Numbers increased but remained low with limited flooding, with 37 at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th and 33 on the 20^th. Deep and extensive flooding saw numbers increase marginally thereafter with 59 on the 27^th.

Pochard – Two ducks and a drake were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th with seven across the site on the 23^rd following extensive flooding. Numbers increased thereafter with 42 throughout on the 27^th with deeper water levels.

Goldeneye – 19 were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd with 18 there on the 20^th.  

Goldeneye - Wheldrake Ings - 10/02 - SR

Smew – A single red-head (immature male) was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with a different red-head on the 6^th. A drake and two red-heads were present at Bank Island on the 23^rd.

Goosander – A single drake flew over Bank Island on the 2^nd with a red-head lingering at the Melbourne Arm on the canal from the 2^nd to the 5^th, with a pair there from the 8^th to the 10^th and a female until the 25^th. A drake flew over Wheldrake Ings on the 19^th.

Cormorant – Numbers increased with 43 at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd and 46 on the 6^th.

Little Grebe – Birds were as usual scattered in small numbers along the River Derwent and Pocklington Canal with extensive flooding (and the onset of spring perhaps), producing a count of seven at Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th.

Great Crested Grebe – The first returning spring birds were back at Wheldrake Ings and Melbourne Ings on the 27^th.

Little Egret – Up to five lingered around the reserve throughout the month.

Bittern – A single was present and seen on several dates in late January/early February at the Pocklington Canal in East Cottingwith/Storwood.

Marsh Harrier – Up to four or five continued to roost at Aughton and North Duffield Carrs, with two observed hunting Reed Buntings in the bulrushes at the Top Pond at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st. Up to three were recorded daily at Wheldrake Ings where they were seen predating Teal, Wigeon and Black-headed Gulls, with five present throughout the site on the 20^th.

Marsh Harrier - Wheldrake Ings - 11/02 - DB

Hen Harrier – A ring-tail was reported from Skipwith Common NNR on the 5^th, 9^th and 21^st.

Red Kite – A single was present at Bank Island on the 2^nd with three seen later in the day over Thorganby, followed by singles at Melbourne and Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th. Birds were then regular around the NNR thereafter as local breeding birds returned from winter communal roosts.

Peregrine – Up to six remained across the reserve throughout the month.

Merlin – A single was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 26^th.

Coot – Numbers continued to increase with spring passage, with 58 at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th increasing to 153 by the 12^th. 158 were present throughout the site on the 20^th.

Oystercatcher – Following on from the first returning bird at North Duffield Carrs on the 29^th January, a single was at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd and North Duffield Carrs on the 5^th. Two were present at Wheldrake on the 13^th with seven throughout the site on the 14^th. Numbers increased as more birds returned with 13 around the NNR on the 21^st and 19 by the 27^th.

Golden Plover – Up to 2,300 remained across the site on the 2^nd with 1,500 at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th and 2,533 on the 20^th. 3,000+ were present in the Ellerton Ings area on the 28^th.

Lapwing – Numbers increased following a good winter for the species with an impressive 10,295 across the site on the 2^nd. Good numbers then remained throughout the month with 5,000 between Wheldrake Ings and Bank Island on the 13^th/14^th, with 7,417 still present throughout on the 20^th. Numbers then decreased to 4,800 following extensive flooding at month end.

Lapwing - Wheldrake Ings - 02/02 - DB

Snipe – Up to 400 were scattered throughout the site prior to extensive flooding on the 20^th.

Jack Snipe – Up to four remained at Skipwith Common NNR throughout the month.

Curlew – 20+ remained early in the month at Wheldrake Ings with 26 there on the 13^th. Numbers then increased with 62 on the 20^th including scattered pairs back on territory and several singing birds, as well as 42 roosting at Wheldrake. Numbers at Wheldrake had increased to 76 by the 28^th.

Dunlin – 223 were still present during the month until the 20^th, with 200+ remaining on the 28^th.

Ruff – 45 were recorded at North Duffield Carrs on the 2^nd with 44 counted on the WeBS survey on the 20^th.  

Black-tailed Godwit – Numbers started to increased with eight at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd, followed by 11 by the 6^th and 21 by the 13^th. 23 were present on the 17^th followed by 14 on the 19^th/20^th - increasing to 34 (including a single colour-ringed bird) on the 27^th.

Black-tailed Godwit - Wheldrake Ings - 27/02 - DB

Black-headed Gull – 7,000 were present at the Wheldrake roost on the 6^th with 9,000 on the 14^th and 12,000+ on the 23^rd.

Common Gull – 300 were at the Wheldrake roost on the 6^th with 1,000 by the 14^th and 4000+ on the 23^rd.

Mediterranean Gull – The long staying regular second-winter bird was present again at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd, with a first-winter individual on the 17^th and an adult at the Bank Island pre-roost on the 24^th.

Herring Gull – 300 were still present at the Wheldrake roost on the 6^th.

Gull roost - Wheldrake Ings - 06/06 - DB

Greater Black-backed Gull – A mere two were present at the Wheldrake roost on the 2^nd and 6^th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull – One or two were noted in the Wheldrake roost throughout the month with seven there on the 28^th.

Stock Dove – 130 at Bank Island on the 17^th was a notable count, with 30 at Thornton on the 27^th.

Skylark – Singles at Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd were observed in full song. 26 were singing and holding territory in and around the NNR on the 20^th, including several over the flooded Ings.

Woodlark – The first of the year (three singing males), were present at Skipwith Common NNR on the 15^th, with one singing on the 17^th and 3-4 present daily thereafter to month end.

Water Pipit – Two were observed at North Duffield Carrs on the 22^nd before being flushed by a Marsh Harrier and Peregrine - flying off up the riverbank to the north (OM).

Grey Wagtail – Three birds remained at Bank Island throughout the month with a pair at Church Bridge and a single at Elvington on the 25^th.

Stonechat – Pairs were still present at Wheldrake and Melbourne, with two pairs at North Duffield Carrs during the month.

Stonechat - Melbourne Ings - 27/02 - DB

Raven – Two were present between Crockey Hill and Fulford on the 18^th.

Starling – 3,000 were at Ellerton Ings on several dates between the 25^th and month end.

Fieldfare – 500 were noted at Bank Island on the 12^th – an influx on recent weeks. A further notable 1,670 were counted around the NNR on the 20^th - perhaps a suggestion of return passage taking place.

Marsh Tit – A single was present in a Melbourne garden on the 6^th and 9^th, with one at Elvington on the 26^th.

Marsh Tit - Elvington - 25/02 - AF

Willow Tit – Two were observed in the car park area at North Duffield Carrs on the 2^nd, with three at Wheldrake Ings on the same date. A singing bird was at the Melbourne Arm on the 10^th.

Brambling – Up to five were still present at Thornton on the 20^th including a stunning spring male. Numbers had increased by the 27^th with a total of 20 present.

Greenfinch – A notable flock of 50 were at Thornton on the 20^th.

Tree Sparrow – 40 were present in a large mixed finch flock at Thornton on the 20^th.

Siskin – Up to 100 remained in the Melbourne Arm area early in the month with 60 remaining on the 14^th.

Linnet – 350 were recorded at Thornton throughout the month, with 50 at Bubwith on the 20^th and 250 remaining at Thornton at month end.

Yellowhammer – A flock of 100 remained along Intake Lane at Bubwith on the 20^th.