Jan' 24

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - January Sightings

The start of the new year began where December left off with extensive flooding throughout the site, although water levels did finally start to recede towards the end of the month. A great start to the year was had with the highlight being an American Wigeon present between the 16^th and 18^th, with up to two Bewick’s Swans, three Smew and six Scaup all notable (remaining from December). A Common Crane on the 9^th and Cattle Egret between the 21^st and 24^th provided additional interest.

Wintering wildfowl were well represented with 167 Whooper Swans, 2271 Greylag and 2000 Pink-footed Geese along with a single White-fronted and Tundra Bean. Raptors were also notable with two Hen Harriers, five Marsh Harriers, five Peregrines and the usual Merlin and Red Kite records. On the wader front 4600 Lapwing, 1760 Golden Plover and 1200 Dunlin were highlights, with the Dunlin count in particular being the highest for several years. 2,000+ Snipe flooded back onto the reserve later in the month with perhaps as many as 100 Jack Snipe scattered through the wider area. A flock of 13 Grey Plover through North Duffield Carrs on the 13^th was a notable record with a build-up of 34 Curlew and 74 Black-tailed Godwits as the month progressed. The gull roosts were also well covered and held two Caspian and at least five different Mediterranean Gulls.

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, Trevor Walton and Dave Ward for the use of their images below.

 

Mute Swan – 86 were present throughout the reserve on the monthly WeBS count on the 13^th. A total of 30 were recorded at Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st with another 20 at North Duffield Carrs – a total of 92 were present throughout the site on that date.

Bewick’s Swan – Three remained from December and were still present at Melbourne Ings on the 7^th and remained in the area until at least the 13^th. Two adults flew south through Wheldrake Ings on the 26^th.

Whooper Swan – 140 were present throughout the reserve on the 1^st followed by 167 on the 13^th.

Pink-footed Goose – The wintering flock of 400 were still present on the 1^st when a further 33 birds flew northwest through the reserve. At least 450 were at North Duffield Carrs on the 3^rd and 4^th. Up to 2000 were then found roosting on North Duffield Ings and Carrs from the 6^th with 460 remaining on the 13^th. 1000+ came into roost again at North Duffield Carrs after dark on the 15^th with 200 remaining in that area thereafter to month end. 33 flew west at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th with 63 northwest over Bank Island on the same date, when the first largescale return movement back to the northwest coast was noted throughout the county. 29 flew west over the reserve on the 28^th.

Pink-footed Geese - North Duffield Carrs - 06/01 - DB

White-fronted Goose – Last month's single was possibly heard again on the 7^th.

Tundra Bean Goose – One at North Duffield Ings on the 9^th.

Greylag Goose – 1000+ were present in the Thorganby area on the 1^st with 2271 recorded throughout the site on the 13^th.

Egyptian Goose – Four were present on the usual breeding ponds at East Cottingwith on the 1^st when display and territorial behaviour was noted. A flock of 13 were at Thornton Ings on the 10^th with 20 then present on the 17^th.

Shelduck – Numbers continued to increase with 114 on the 13^th.

Wigeon – Numbers had increased to 9551 by the 13^th.

Wigeon - Thorganby Ings - 08/01 - DB

American Wigeon – A single adult drake was present at Seavy Carr on the 16^th with it (or another) in the North Duffield Carrs/Bubwith Ings area on the 17^th and 18^th.

Teal – The WeBS count on the 13^th produced a total of 7931.

Mallard – 1083 were counted throughout the site on the 13^th.

Pintail – Numbers continued to increase with 420 counted on the 13^th. A total of 266 were then present at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th.

Pintail - Wheldrake Ings - 25/01 - DW

Shoveler – Numbers remained low (no doubt due to the extensive flooding), with only 59 present on the 13^th.

Gadwall – 133 were recorded throughout the site on the 13^th.

Pochard – 120 were present at Bubwith Ings on the 1^st followed by 113 on the 13^th. A total of 105 were still present at North Duffield Carrs at month end.

Tufted Duck – Numbers reduced slightly as the floods started to recede with 184 remaining on the 13^th. 104 were present at Wheldrake Ings with 160+ still present throughout the whole site on that date. 165 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th with 75 at Bank Island and 62 elsewhere throughout the site – a total of 302 throughout the reserve. 121 were at Bank Island on the 30^th.

Smew – A drake appeared at Thorganby on the 3^rd (presumably the one from December) and remained thereafter until the 10^th when a further drake was present at Bubwith Ings with a red-head also present at East Cottingwith. The drake remained at Thorganby where it was joined by the same red-head or another on the 12^th and 13^th. A drake was then present at Wheldrake Ings on the 17^th with a pair there on the 20^th and a red-head remaining on the 26^th until the end of the month.

Smew - Thorganby Ings - 04/01 - DW

Scaup – Two ducks and a drake were present on the site on the 1^st following December’s influx with two males then found at North Duffield Carrs on the 2^nd. Two drakes and a duck were at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th with two drakes remaining there on the 9^th. Six remained throughout the reserve on the 13^th with two ducks thereafter at Wheldrake Ings until the 17^th and a single thereafter until the 20^th. A male and female were then present on the 21^st and remained until the 27^th with a drake thereafter.

Goldeneye – Eleven were present on the 13^th whilst 25 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st. 30+ were at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th.

Goldeneye - Wheldrake Ings - 22/01 - TW

Goosander – A single drake was at Thorganby Ings on the 13^th with two at Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th and four there on the 21^st. Five were at Wheldrake with three at Bank Island on the 28^th.

Cormorant – 28 roosted at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th.

Little Egret – Two were at Bank Island on the 6^th with occasional sightings following from there throughout the month with three also present at Melbourne Ings. 13 were at Melbourne Ings on the 10^th, with 19 throughout the site on the 13^th. Nine were then present at Melbourne on the 15^th.

Grey Heron – Numbers increased as the month progressed as birds returned to the area ahead of breeding. 34 were present around the reserve on the 13^th.

Great White Egret – A single was present along the Pocklington Canal towpath at Melbourne on the 3^rd and was there again on the 4^th, 7^th and 13^th. One was present at East Cottingwith on the 20^th and Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st daily to month end, roosting in poolside willows.

Cattle Egret – One flushed by shooters at Storwood Ings on the 21^st was then present on the Low Grounds on the 22^nd. Two days later on the 24^th it appeared over Bank Island before heading back towards Wheldrake Ings.

Great Crested Grebe – One at Melbourne Ings on the 26^th.

Grey Partridge – 16 were at Elvington Airfield on the 21^st.

Water Rail – Three were wintering in the Wheldrake Ings car park scrub on the 1^st when two were present on the canal at East Cottingwith. Ten were recorded throughout the site on the 13^th with three showing well on the ice in front of the Geoff Smith Hide at North Duffield Carrs on the 21^st.

Coot – Three were at Thorganby Ings on the 5^th with five there on the 13^th. Five were also on Melbourne and Thornton Ings on the 10^th with 21 were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st.

Common Crane – A single passed over the NNR Base at Bank Island (calling) on the 9^th, before heading over towards Thorganby.

Marsh Harrier – An adult male was present at Bank Island on the 2^nd when five cream-crowns were in the Thorganby area. Occasional sightings were also noted from Skipwith Common throughout the month. Five were still present across the reserve on the 21^st.

Marsh Harrier - North Duffield Carrs - 08/01 - DB

Red Kite – Regular sightings were had throughout the month with three at Wheldrake Ings and two at North Duffield and Thorganby on the 21^st. Four different birds were at Melbourne during the month with three seen together there on the 25^th followed by three at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th.

Hen Harrier – The single ringtail remained on Skipwith Common early in the month until the 7^th with a second bird present in the area on that date. A ringtail was then found at Melbourne on the 15^th with another over Elvington and Bank Island on the 17^th. What was believed to be the same individual was then present again at Bank Island on the 19^th and 20^th. A single was then observed leaving the reedbed at Swantail, Wheldrake at dusk on the 30^th.

Peregrine – A pair were present at Ellerton on the 1^st with a further bird present at Wheldrake Ings on the same day with regular sightings of a pair at North Duffield Carrs. A small male at Wheldrake Ings on the 19^th was observed hunting thrushes coming into roost at dusk. Up to five were present across the reserve on the 20^th and 21^st. The small male was seen hunting thrushes again at Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 26^th.

Merlin – Singles were at North Duffield Carrs on the 7^th, Skipwith Common on the 8^th and 11^th and Melbourne on the 28^th.

Oystercatcher – The first two returning birds were present at Elvington on the 27^th.

Lapwing – 4000+ were present throughout the reserve on the 1^st followed by 3825 on the 13^th. 2500+ were at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th with a further 2100 at North Duffield Ings and 500+ at Thornton - giving a minimum count of 5100 throughout the site.

Golden Plover – 900 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with numbers up to 1760 on the 13^th. 1000 were recorded at North Duffield Ings on the 21^st with 800 there on the 26^th. 1000+ were at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th with 300 at Thornton Ings on the same date.

Golden Plover - Wheldrake Ings - 27/01 - DB

Grey Plover – A flock of 13 flew south along the river at North Duffield Carrs on the 13^th.

Dunlin – 900+ remained throughout the reserve on the 1^st with 1020 present across the site on the 5^th (including 540 at Thorganby Ings). Numbers remained stable thereafter with 1018 counted on the 13^th, whilst a German-ringed bird was re-caught at Bubwith Bridge on the 15^th. 1200 were recorded on the reserve on the 18^th when a single Norwegian-ringed bird was caught after dark amongst a catch of 50 Dunlin at Bubwith Bridge.

Ruff – 21 were present at Ellerton on the 1^st with 25 at Bubwith Ings on the 13^th and 15 at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th.

Black-tailed Godwit – One was present at Bubwith Bridge on the 12^th and 13^th. Two were at Wheldrake Ings on the 19^th with four there on the 20^th. 31 were then present at Wheldrake Ings on the 26^th with 74 there on the 27^th and 28^th.

Black-tailed Godwits - Wheldrake Ings - 27/01 - TW

Jack Snipe – 14 were recorded near Elvington Airfield on the 1^st with nine there on the 2^nd.  Two were present at Heslington Tilmire on the 4^th with one near Elvington village on the 6^th. Two were recorded at Skipwith Common on the 8^th. Eleven were at Bubwith Bridge on the river bank after dark on the 12^th when 15+ were still present at Elvington. 17 were recorded throughout the site on the 13^th with nine at Bubwith Bridge on the 15^th. One was also present at Melbourne Ings on the 16^th with four flushed by a Hen Harrier at the Low Grounds on the 17^th. At least ten if not more remained on the riverbank at Bubwith Bridge after dark on the 18^th with two seen at Bank Island on the 19^th. Ten were still present at Bubwith Bridge on the 21^st. A total of 26 were ringed during the month.

Snipe – Over 250+ were in fields by Elvington Airfield on the 1^st with 500+ on the Tilmire on the 4^th. Small groups were seen arriving at Bank Island on the 12^th with 130 present on the riverbank at Bubwith Bridge after dark on the same date. A minimum of 453 were recorded throughout the site on the WeBS on the 13^th, suggesting a return of wintering birds following the falling water levels. A large arrival back onto the reserve took place on the 15^th with an estimated 1000+ present, further increasing to 2000+ by the 18^th. Approximately 300 were flushed from the Low Grounds on the 16^th by a passing Hen Harrier.

Woodcock – Eight were in fields by Elvington Airfield after dark on the 1^st with 20+ in three fields by Skipwith village on the 2^nd. At least 30 remained at the Tilmire on the 5^th with one or two daytime birds reported from several sites around the area during the month. Up to 100 were estimated as wintering on Skipwith Common throughout the month, with a total of 41 caught and ringed in the area.

Curlew – Up to 14 remained early in the month increasing to 20 by the 13^th. A total of 34 were present throughout the reserve on the 27^th.

Redshank – At least 20 were present at Bubwith Bridge on the 5^th and 7^th with 23 there on the 13^th.

Green Sandpiper – One near Elvington Airfield on the 1^st with three at Melbourne and Thornton Ings on the 10^th and 16^th. One was then present at Bubwith Bridge on the 24^th.

Mediterranean Gull – An adult was at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st with either it or another at nearby Derwent Cottage Farm fields on the 6^th. The same individual remained at dawn on the 7^th with a different bird present there at dusk. Two were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 13^th. Both adults and first-winters were then present at both Wheldrake Ings and North Duffield Carrs on the 21^st. A second bird was at Wheldrake Ings on the 24^th with a first-winter at North Duffield Carrs on the 26^th. An adult was present at the Wheldrake roost on the 27^th. At least five different individuals recorded throughout the month.

Black-headed Gull – Birds were roosting at both Wheldrake Ings and North Duffield Carrs early in the month with a combined count of 46,000 on the 13^th. Following freezing conditions and ice cover some birds had then presumably been displaced with 19,000 recorded across the site on the 21^st.

Gull roost - Wheldrake Ings - 27/01 - DB

Common Gull – Birds were roosting at both Wheldrake Ings and North Duffield Carrs with a combined count of 21,000 on the 13^th. Following freezing conditions and ice cover some birds were then presumably displaced with just 9,000 remaining on the 21^st.

Herring Gull – 400 were present in the gull roosts on the WeBS count on the 13^th with 540 recorded on the Wintering Gull Survey on the 21^st.

Caspian Gull – Two first-winter birds were present in the Wheldrake roost on the 16^th with one remaining on the 20^th and 21^st. Both were then present again on the 26^th.

Great Black-backed Gull – 130 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th with numbers down to only 34 on the Wintering Gull Survey on the 21^st.

Lesser Black-backed Gull – One or two were present in the gull roosts on a regular basis throughout the month.

Short-eared Owl – A single was present at dawn at Bank Island on the 1^st.

Long-eared Owl – One was heard calling near Elvington on the 1^st and 7^th.

Little Owl – A single showed well and regularly at Thorganby from the village hall viewing platform early in the month.

Skylark – 160 were recorded near North Duffield Carrs on the 5^th and 6^th.

Raven – A single was seen at Buttercrambe Woods, Stamford Bridge on the 5^th.

Starling – 13,000+ headed over North Duffield Carrs to the southwest presumably to join a roost towards dusk, with 15,000 through Wheldrake Ings in a similar manner on the 27^th.

Waxwing – One was seen in Wheldrake village on the 9^th with three near Fangfoss on the 11^th.

Black Restart – A single was reported from Thorganby village on the 5^th.

Chiffchaff – A single wintering bird was present again at the NNR Base on the 5^th with one by Bubwith Bridge on the 12^th. Either it or another was then seen in front of the Geoff Smith Hide at North Duffield Carrs on the 13^th. One was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th and 28^th.

Nuthatch – Singles were at Wheldrake Ings on the 26^th, 27^th and 28^th.

Willow Tit – The year opened with two in the Wheldrake Ings car park area on the 1^st. Pairs were then present by Bubwith Bridge and at the Melbourne Arm on the 7^th.

Cetti’s Warbler –A single was on the canal at East Cottingwith on its usual wintering territory on the 1^st with other birds at Melbourne (two), Wheldrake (three) and North Duffield Ings (one).

Brambling – Up to ten were present early in the month at Thornton with 50 by Cheesecake Farm near Wheldrake. One or two were also reported in gardens in the Thorganby and Wheldrake areas during the month with up to 20 at Sutton Farm. 22 were at Thornton on the 10^th with numbers up to 30 there on the 16^th.

Siskin – 130 at Melbourne on the 26^th.

Corn Bunting – 60 were present near North Duffield village on the 7^th with 55 recorded at the Church Bridge roost at Melbourne on the 15^th.