July 25

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - July Sightings

July can often be a quiet month at the end of the breeding season with the ongoing drought conditions further compounding the situation during the month. The highlight was the ongoing ‘Quail year’ which saw a further influx into the surrounding area during the early part of the month. A possible female Corncrake was heard calling at Wheldrake Ings on the 15^th, raising hopes of wild breeding on the reserve during the year as it wasn’t far from the location of a singing male earlier in the season. There were some notable raptor counts, particularly Common Buzzards and Red Kites around the site during the month, as a result of hay making activities, and Ravens were again recorded and suggestive of local breeding in the wider area.

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 and Steve Huddleston for the use of their images below.

 

BIRDS:

Wigeon – Two pairs remained at Wheldrake Ings with a single drake at North Duffield Carrs throughout the month.

Shoveler – Several broods remained around the site during the month with the last ducklings fledging towards month end.

Gadwall – The dry conditions present throughout the site caused birds to depart soon after fledging, with the last unfledged brood seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 27^th.

Little Egret – A total of 25 remained on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st but had decreased to eight by the 11^th, seven by the 13^th and just six remained on the 19^th. Singles figures remained at month end. 

Little Egrets - Wheldrake Ings - 17/07 - DB

Great White Egret – At least one remained across the site throughout the month.

Water Rail – Up to eight singing birds remained throughout the month at Wheldrake Ings where two broods were noted on the pool.

Quail – Following a ‘new’ arrival on the 30^th June there was another secondary influx early in the month which saw the number of recorded singing males rise to 27, with this influx being largely confined to the arable areas surrounding the reserve and mainly in barley.

Corncrake – A single female type call was heard several times at Wheldrake Ings on the 15^th, about 100 m away from the location of a singing male in May.

Red Kite – Seen regularly throughout the month across the area with a high total of 32 counted throughout the site on the 12^th following hay making operations.

Red Kite - Wheldrake Ings - 13/07 - DB

Common Buzzard – Recorded daily throughout the month with an impressive 71 counted throughout the Ings hay meadows on the 12^th.

Marsh Harrier – Up to six individuals were present throughout the month.

Curlew – Several young fledged early in the month and the delayed hay cut helped several other broods fledge during the first week of the month. Up to 20 post-breeding/passage birds lingered at Wheldrake Ings until the 16^th, and small passage flocks and family parties were noted heading west during the month.

Redshank – Most adults departed the site as usual during the first half of the month with a pair and three unfledged young remaining at North Duffield Carrs to month end.

Dunlin – A single was present on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th and 21^st.

Greenshank – One was recorded heading over North Duffield Carrs on the 28^th.

Green Sandpiper – Three were present from the 1^st with up to five recorded from the 8^th. At least seven were then present on the 19^th followed by nine on the 22^nd and five to six daily thereafter to month end, on a rapidly drying pool. Other birds were located away from the pool in small ditches and waterbodies where water/mud existed.

Green Sandpiper - Wheldrake Ings - 17/07 - DB

Wood Sandpiper – One flew over North Duffield Carrs on the 22^nd.

Common Tern – A single pair on the Wheldrake raft remained throughout the month and fledged three young on the 1^st, before soon departing the rapidly drying site on the 5^th.

Common Tern chick - Wheldrake Ings - 01/07 - SH

Mediterranean Gull – A single adult flew north-west over Wheldrake village on the 10^th in a small flock of Black-headed Gulls.

Cuckoo – Good numbers remained during the first week of the month but activity reduced thereafter as adult birds started to depart the site/area.

Nightjar – At least one pair and an additional churring male were present during the first half of the month at Allerthorpe Common.

Raven – A single was present on Seavy Carr before flying off low to the west on the 7^th.

Whinchat – The first returning bird was at the favoured location of North Duffield Carrs on the 12^th with another at Thornton Ings on the 15^th. Six were then present at North Duffield Carrs from the 28^th to month end.

Willow Tit – A family party of four were at Wheldrake Ings on the 19^th and 23^rd with another brood (of four) seen there on the 29^th.

Spotted Flycatcher – A pair with four young were present at Seavy Carr and the surrounding area from the 16^th and remained to month end – presumably local breeders. Two were present at Skipwith Common on the 26^th.

Grasshopper Warbler – Two reeling birds continued to be present at both Thornton/Seavy Carr and Wheldrake Ings during the month, with another recorded at Bank Island.

Grasshopper Warbler - Wheldrake Ings - 19/07 - DB

Cetti’s Warbler – Singing males remained at Wheldrake Ings (three), Bank Island (one) and North Duffield Carrs (one), with two pairs also recorded along the Pocklington Canal.

Corn Bunting – Singing birds were present through the site during the month and a delayed hay cut certainly helped the species with late broods. Six were still present on Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th.

Corn Bunting - Wheldrake Ings - 27/07 - DB