Feb' 23

 Lower Derwent Valley NNR - February Sightings

Another excellent month with some notable records and counts, and a mix of winter and passage movements. Highlights included up to four Red-head Smew and four popular Tundra Bean Geese that lingered from the 4^th-17^th, as well as the first spring passage flock of nocturnal Common Scoter and two Hen Harriers including the long staying individual. A single first-winter Caspian Gull, five Mediterranean Gulls, a Raven and the first returning Woodlark added additional interest.

Wintering wildfowl included 176 Whooper Swans with the first return passage noted late in the month, whilst up to 600 Pink-footed Geese remained (in addition to 1763 passage birds logged heading back north-west). Other notable counts (presumably with returning passage) included 9150 Wigeon, 7717 Teal, 543 Pintail, 495 Gadwall, 248 Shoveler and 235 Coot. In addition to the Hen Harrier up to eight Marsh Harriers remained with up to 10 Red Kites noted – a record day count on the 27^th.  A Grey Plover on the 19^th was notable as were the 7018 Lapwing on that date, whilst 1990 Snipe (and 11 Jacks) indicated some passage movement through the site - the first drumming Snipe was noted towards month end. Spring passage and returning breeding birds saw up to 103 Curlew back by month end, with 39 Ruff, 90 Black-tailed Godwit and one or two Green Sandpiper. Up to 80,000 Starlings continued to show well at North Duffield Carrs/Aughton to month end.

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 Bye, Tim Jones, David Salisbury and James Wild for the use of their images below.

 

BIRDS:

Mute Swan – 69 were recorded on the monthly WeBS count on the 19^th.

Whooper Swan – The month opened with 176 remaining from January. 143 were recorded at North Duffield Carrs on the 12^th followed by 144 on the WeBS count on the 19^th. 112 flew out of the roost at Wheldrake Ings at dawn on the 24^th.

The first passage flock of 37 paused at Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st with 30+ departing Wheldrake and heading north over the village after dark on the 26^th.

Whooper Swans - North Duffield Carrs - 12/02 - DB

Pink-footed Geese – 600 remained throughout the month until the 18^th with 300 thereafter, although they were more elusive than previously (feeding in surrounding fields for much of the month returning to the Ings after dark). 300 still present at Wheldrake on the 26^th.

120 flew over Bank Island on the 1^st followed by 57 on the 2^nd and 150 on the 3^rd. 29 paused for less than an hour at Wheldrake on the 4^th followed by 38 there on the 6^th. 130 flew north-west at Wheldrake on the 11^th. 200 passed over the reserve on the 15^th followed by 30 on the 16^th and 120 on the 17^th. 430 passed over the NNR high on the 21^st with skeins of 220 and 139 following on the 22^nd. 100+ flew over Skipwith Common NNR on the 27^th. A total of 1763 passage birds were recorded during the month.

Greylag Goose – Numbers declined quickly as usual during the month with just 215 remaining by the 19^th.

Tundra Bean Goose – Four were present (with a Pink-footed Goose) at Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings between the 4^th – 17^th – proving to be a rather popular attraction.

Tundra Bean Goose - Wheldrake Ings - 04/02 - TJ

European White fronted Goose – A single recorded from North Duffield Carrs on the 27^th.

Canada Goose – There was a big reduction in wintering birds early in the month with just 43 (presumed local breeders) recorded throughout the wider area on the 19^th.

Egyptian Goose – Up to seven individuals were recorded regularly throughout the month in the Wheldrake/Bank Island and East Cottingwith areas.

Shelduck – 100+ remained throughout the month with 115 counted on the 19^th.

Shelduck - North Duffield Carrs - 12/02 - DB

Wigeon – A monthly maximum of 9152 were recorded on the WeBS on the 19^th.

Teal – Good numbers remained throughout with 7717 present on the 19^th.

Gadwall –180 were counted at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd with a total of 366 present throughout the whole site on that date. Numbers increased quickly with 300+ at Wheldrake Ings on the 7^th with an additional 89 at North Duffield Carrs. The monthly WeBS count on the 19^th produced a total of 495 with 200 at Wheldrake Ings a week later on the 26^th.

Mallard – 1000+ were present early in the month with 603 on the 19^th.

Pintail – Up to 400 remained across the reserve early in the month with 496 throughout the site on the 12^th. A full count during the monthly WeBS resulted in a total of 657 throughout the site. 310 were present in the Wheldrake/Bank Island area on the 25^th with 543 throughout the reserve on the 26^th.

Pintail - Wheldrake Ings - 26/02 - DB

Shoveler – Numbers increased to 100+ at Wheldrake Ings on the 7^th when 190 were recorded throughout the site. Numbers had reached 248 by the 19^th.

Tufted Duck – 60 were recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 7^th, increasing to 97 throughout the site on the 19^th.

Scaup – Last month’s individual was still present on the 1^st but wasn’t seen again during the remainder of the month.

Pochard – Small numbers present with five at Wheldrake on the 11^th followed by eight briefly on the 19^th and five again on the 25^th.

Goldeneye – Up to 13 were at Wheldrake Ings early in the month followed by 15 on the 11^th and 13 again on the 19^th. Nine remained at Wheldrake on the 26^th.

Goldeneye - Wheldrake Ings - 19/02 - DB

Smew – A single red-head was at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd with two then appearing there the following day on the 3^rd. A single remained on the 4^th with two reappearing once again on the 19^th. Four red-heads were then present together at Wheldrake on the 20^th with three present on the 24^th, four on the 25^th -26^th and two to month end.

Common Scoter – The first nocturnal passage flock was recorded over North Duffield Carrs on the 21^st.

Goosander – Six were at Wheldrake on the 2^nd followed by 13 on the 5^th and 11 between the 11^th – 18^th. Three were still present on the 25^th with two at Wheldrake/Bank Island on the 28^th.

Cormorant – 36 were at the Wheldrake roost on the 12^th followed by 60 on the 19^th.

Little Egret – One or two were recorded daily early in the month, with an increase in frequency of sightings as breeding birds started to return to the area.

Great White Egret – A single was present again at Hagg Bridge on the 1^st and Wheldrake on the 2^nd - remaining there throughout the rest of the month.

Great White Egret - Wheldrake Ings - 25/02 - DB

Little Grebe – Birds started to return to the flooded Ings to breeding sites from around mid-month.

Great Crested Grebe – The first returning bird was at Wheldrake Ings on the 12^th.

Marsh Harrier – Five were still present in the Bank Island/Wheldrake Ings area on the 10^th with three at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th – an estimated seven/eight birds still wintering across the reserve (recorded on the 18^th).

Hen Harrier – The long staying immature bird was seen at Bank Island on the 3^rd with another at Heslington Tilmire on the 6^th. Individuals were also recorded from Wheldrake Ings and the Low Grounds at Hagg Bride on the 11^th, North Duffield Carrs on the 18^th and 24^th, and Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th and 24^th-25^th. Two juveniles were present across the reserve on the 27^th.

Hen Harrier - Wheldrake Ings - 25/02 - JW

Red Kite – Four were recorded at Wheldrake on the 11^th with six in the same area on the 24^th. A ‘group’ of 10 were present in the Wheldrake/Escrick area on the 27^th.  

Peregrine – Up to five wintering birds remained throughout the month.

Peregrine - Wheldrake Ings - 11/02 - DB

Grey Partridge – A pair were recorded at Bank Island throughout the month with a pair also at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th.

Water Rail – Up to 14 calling birds were recorded on wintering territories during the month.

Coot – Numbers increased early in the month with 26 on the 6^th followed by 126 at Wheldrake on the 11^th and 235 across the whole site on the 19^th. 222 were recorded at Wheldrake on the 26^th.

Oystercatcher – A single was recorded overnight at Elvington on the 3^rd/4^th with two pairs back on the reserve on the 4^th. Two were at Wheldrake on the 11^th with a pair at North Duffield Carrs on the 12^th. Seven were recorded on the WeBS count on the 19^th.

Oystercatcher - Wheldrake Ings - 19/02 - DB

Golden Plover – 215 were recorded on the 19^th with 150 at Wheldrake on the 25^th and 374 on the 26^th.

Grey Plover – A single was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 19^th.

Lapwing – c2000 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd (a return following the freezing conditions in mid-January). 4000+ were present throughout the site on the 5^th with 6500 recorded on the 11^th (including 4000 at Wheldrake Ings) and 7018 on the 19^th. c5000 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 22^nd followed by c3000 on the 25^th.

Lapwing - Bank Island - 19/02 - DB

Snipe – 100+ were recorded on Melbourne and Thornton Ings on the 2^nd. 300+ were present at Wheldrake on the 12^th, with 200 at North Duffield Ings and 800 at North Duffield Carrs on the 15^th. 50 were counted at Bank Island on the 16^th – on the same date c200 were also present at Heslington Tilmire). An estimated 1500-2000 were possibly present throughout the reserve during this time, with 1990 recorded on the 19^th - presumably a degree of spring passage. The first drumming birds (three) were present after dark at North Duffield Carrs on the 27^th with five or six additional chipping birds.

Jack Snipe – Three were at Wheldrake Ings on the 8^th followed by two there on the 10^th.  Two were recorded at North Duffield Ings on the 15^th with three also present at North Duffield Carrs. Five were located at the Heslington Tilmire on the 16^th with three at Wheldrake on the 17^th. A total of 11 were recorded throughout the site on the 19^th. A single individual was showing during the day from the hides at North Duffield Carrs on the 24^th with three there on the 27^th.

Ruff – 39 were recorded throughout the site on the 12^th with numbers up to 27 by the 19^th.  

Dunlin – 150 remained on the reserve on the 11^th with 298 recorded throughout the site on the 12^th. 200 were at North Duffield Carrs on the 18^th with 276 on 19^th suggesting a degree of spring passage. 300 were present at North Duffield Carrs on 24^th.

Curlew – Up to 27 remained early in the month with 37 at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd and the first singing bird at Bank Island on the 3^rd. 34 were at Wheldrake on the 11^th with 69 throughout the site on the 19^th. 40 were recorded at Wheldrake on the 25^th followed by 66 there the next day on the 26^th (with a minimum of 103 across the reserve on that date).

Curlew - Wheldrake Ings - 26/02 - DB

Woodcock – Following extensive flooding last month, up to four were present at Wheldrake Ings after dark early in the month. However, the number of birds feeding on the Ings after dark fell dramatically from the second week of the month, presumably as birds started their return migration. A single was recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 15^th and 17^th.

Black-tailed Godwit – Six were at Wheldrake on the 1^st with a flock of 20 (including a single colour-ringed bird) arriving in to Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th. 90 individuals arrived at the same site on the 7^th with 40 remaining there between the 11^th – 18^th. A flock of 46 were recorded at Wheldrake again on the 19^th, increasing to 60 on the 25^th with a total of 66 throughout the site on the 26^th.

Black-tailed Godwit - Wheldrake Ings - 25/02 - DB

Redshank – Up to 21 were present on the reserve throughout the month.

Green Sandpiper – Single at North Duffield Carrs was heard after dark on the 15^th and was present again on the 19^th - when two were also recorded at the Hemingbrough Gravel Pits.

Caspian Gull – A first winter bird was again located at the Wheldrake Ings roost on the 4^th (a different individual to that recorded in late January).

Black-headed Gull – 15,000 remained at the Wheldrake roost on the 19^th.

Gull roost - Wheldrake Ings - 02/02 - DB

Mediterranean Gull – A first winter bird was observed at the Wheldrake Ings roost on the 1^st and 3^rd, with two adults and a first winter on the 4^th and a first winter and different adult on the 5^th, with just an adult seen on the 6^th. Four individuals (two adults and two first winters) were present on the 11^th, with two first winters and an adult present on the 12^th. A single adult was still present on the 19^th.

Common Gull – c5000 were present at the Wheldrake roost on the 19^th.

Herring Gull – 100 were at Wheldrake on the 19^th.

Great-spotted Woodpecker – Six drumming birds were recorded on Skipwith Common NNR on the 26^th.

Green Woodpecker – A single was at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th followed by one at Bank Island on the 19^th.

Long-eared Owl – A single calling bird was heard after dark near Wheldrake on the 26^th.

Skylark – Two birds were singing over Melbourne Ings on the 1^st with single singing birds at Bank Island and Skipwith on the 3^rd, and Wheldrake Ings and North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th.

Woodlark – The first returning bird was back on Skipwith Common NNR on the 9^th, although not singing, with the first (two) singing birds heard there on the 15^th followed by five on the 18^th and four on the 26^th.

Woodlark - Skipwith Common - 26/02 - DB

Starling – Up to 100,000 remained at the Aughton roost early in the month, proving a popular attraction for visitors to North Duffield Carrs. 80,000 remained on the 12^th. Elsewhere, 15,000 flew south at dusk at Wheldrake Ings on the 12^th – presumably on their way to joining the Aughton roost.

Starlings - Aughton - 06/02 - DS

Song Thrush – A singing bird was present at Melbourne Arm on the 1^st followed by one at Bank Island on the 8^th.

Raven – A single between Wheldrake and Thorganby on the 21^st.

Stonechat – Up to two remained at North Duffield Carrs during the month with one at Ellerton on the 19^th.

Cetti’s Warbler – Two were heard at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th.

Willow Tit – Three were seen at Wheldrake on the 11^th.