May 20

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - May Sightings

Once again coverage was limited due to the lockdown, however it did slightly increase with the easing of restrictions during the second half of the month. Thank you to everyone who shared their local sightings during this time.

Lingering waterfowl included two or three Whooper Swans, the last Pink-footed Goose (14^th) and a late Goldeneye (26^th). It was another good month for returning Garganey with up to nine pairs present, thus attracting a steady stream of admirers towards the second half of the month. Grey Herons and Little Egrets both had successful breeding seasons, with 34 and 19 active nests respectively. A Great White Egret was present on the 13^th/14^th, followed by a Common Crane on the 25^th and three on the 28^th. 

It was a good month for raptors with an Osprey at Crockey Hill on the 1^st and a lingering bird in the Melbourne area from the 20^th. Hobbies also put on a good show with up to 11 feeding over the pool at Wheldrake Ings early in the month, and scattered birds elsewhere throughout the site. An adult male Red-footed Falcon was also present with them on the 7^th, with another possible first-summer bird reported at North Duffield Carrs on the 16^th (too distant for definite confirmation). Passage wader movement on the other hand was poor, with just a handful of Ringed Plover, Dunlin, two Greenshank and a single Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit and Common and Wood Sandpipers. 20 Whimbrel were still at the Wheldrake roost on the 5^th with the last individual recorded on the 24^th, whilst two pairs of Little Ringed Plover were thought to be breeding at Bank Island.

Other notable records and counts included an encouraging 35-40 Cuckoos throughout the area, a Nightjar churring at Skipwith Common on the 19^th, a further three singing Grasshopper Warblers, three singing Quail, and six Cetti’s Warblers holding territory around the reserve.

BIRDS: 

Whooper Swan – Three remained at North Duffield Carrs between the 1^st-6^th whilst a single flew north-west calling on the 4^th. A single lingered on the river at North Duffield from the 11^th to month end, with presumably a different bird at Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th.

Mute Swan – Numbers of non-breeders remained high with 58 at North Duffield Carrs and 41 at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th. 88 non-breeders were still present throughout the site on the 11^th, followed by 79 on the 18^th - down to 47 at month end.

Mute Swan and cygnets - Wheldrake - 27/05 - DB

Pink-footed Goose – Two at Bank Island on the 6^th with one there on the 14^th.

Egyptian Goose – Two were still present at East Cottingwith on the 1^st with three on the 11^th and a single on the 18^th. Four flew into Bank Island after dark on the 26^th.

Shelduck – 76 birds were loafing on the river bank at Thorganby Ings on the 1^st with a total of 87 birds present throughout the site on that day, many of which were off-duty males. 43 were at North Duffield Carrs on the 6^th. A pair with seven ducklings were observed walking through a garden in Elvington on the 23^rd before heading down the Main Street.

Shelduck - North Duffield - 06/05

Teal – Up to 30 pairs were present throughout the site during the month.

Garganey – A total of nine pairs were located around the site on the 1^st with new pairs at Thornton Ellers and at Hagg Bridge. These males were still present on the 4^th and 5^th, by which time the females were thought to be incubating – appearing more typically at dawn and dusk. Single drakes were still at Bank Island and Wheldrake on the same date (with presumed females now also nesting), along with additional pairs at Wheldrake and North Duffield. Up to two pairs remained regularly at Bank Island thereafter, with two drakes chasing a female at Wheldrake on the 16^th, when a single pair were also present at North Duffield Carrs, Hagg Bridge and Thornton Ellers – total of six pairs and a single drake on that date. Four drakes and at least two females remained at Wheldrake, with a pair at Bank Island and two additional pairs elsewhere to month end - at least five pairs, possibly as many as seven.  

Garganey - Bank Island - 06/05

Mandarin – Two drakes were present at Bank Island on the 17^th and again on the 20^th. 

Mandarin - Bank Island - 17/05 - DB

Wigeon – Up to 11 drakes and five females remained throughout, with five apparent pairs involved.

Goldeneye – Two red-heads were still on the pool at Wheldrake on the 1^st. A single red-head was then present there on the 16^th-26^th.

Little Egret – Up to 24 were located across the site during the day on the 6^th, whilst a visit to the heronry on the 7^th produced a count of 19 active nests, including some with small young.

Great White Egret – A single was present in the Thornton area on the 13^th with one north over Bank Island on the 14^th.

Grey Heron – 19 were present at Wheldrake Ings with 11 at North Duffield Carrs on the 5^th. A total of 26 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th, which included the first six fledged young from the adjacent heronry. A visit to the heronry on the 7^th produced a count of 34 active nests, many of which had large, almost ready to fledge young. The settled weather, with a lack of strong winds, appeared to help in an early and productive breeding season.

Osprey – A single was found at Pool Bridge Farm on the 1^st (DB) with another at Brickyard Farm Melbourne on the 20^th (CSR). What was presumably the same bird was present at Melbourne on the Pocklington Canal on the 25^th (DS), and later seen fishing over the pool at Wheldrake on the 27^th (DB). Perhaps the same bird was also present at Oak Mere Farm fishing ponds near Skipwith on the 28^th (CSR). 

Osprey - Pool Bridge Farm - 01/05 - DB

Marsh Harrier – One or two birds lingered throughout the month.

Peregrine – A single first year bird was at Wheldrake on the 1^st, with further records in the core valley on 4^th, 7^th and 12^th. No further reports thereafter, however four or five pairs were present in the wider area.

Hobby – Three or four continued to be seen daily in the Wheldrake/Bank Island area early in the month with one at Thornton Ellers on the 1^st. Four were present over the pool at Wheldrake on the 3^rd with one at Bubwith Bridge on the 4^th. Seven were over the pool at Wheldrake on the 5^th with three at Bank Island on the same date. Nine were over the pool at Wheldrake on the 6^th followed by 11 there on the 7^th. Singles were present over North Duffield Carrs and Thorganby on the 12^th, with two hawking emerging Mayflies over the River Derwent at North Duffield Carrs on the 14^th with a single also at Wheldrake Ings. Two were present over Thorganby Ings on the 17^th when three were at North Duffield Carrs, followed by two there on the 18^th. Two were present at Wheldrake on the 20^th with regular sightings of ones and two throughout the site thereafter.

Hobby - Wheldrake Ings - 07/05

Red-footed Falcon – A single adult male was observed over the pool for 20 minutes at Wheldrake on the 7^th, amongst a feeding flock of 11 Hobbies, before slowly drifting south with some of the Hobby flock (CSR, NCa). Presumably the same bird was relocated in subsequent days from Humberhead Peatlands NNR. A possible first-summer bird was seen distantly from North Duffield Carrs on the 16^th, and although considered by the observer to be almost certainly this species and age, it was too distant to confirm beyond all doubt (DW).

Red Kite – Regular throughout the month and now more common than Marsh Harriers on the Ings during the summer. Five were at Bubwith Ings on the 6^th when three were at Wheldrake and a single at Thorganby on the same date. Probably four or five breeding/non breeding pairs in the area.

Coot – The first brood (four) were at Wheldrake on the 11^th.

Water Rail – A total of six pairs were at Wheldrake, with two pairs at Bank Island and two pairs at Thornton Ellers. Single pairs were also present at North Duffield Carrs and Aughton Ings.

Quail – A single singing male at North Duffield Carrs at dusk on the 20^th with two at Thorganby on the 31^st.

Common Crane – A single was present from Bank Island on the 25^th with three over Skipwith Common on the 28^th.

Great Crested Grebe – A single pair remained on the pool at Wheldrake from the 1^st–5^th.

Little Ringed Plover – A pair were present at Bank Island on the 3^rd with three there on the 4^th and again on the 5^th-7^th. A single was present at the same site again on the 12^th with a pair seen copulating the following day. Four were present on the 14^th to month end and were thought to be attempting breeding, with one pair incubating from the 24^th. A single pair also bred and hatched a brood of four between Wheldrake village and Escrick on the 19^th.

Little Ringed Plover - Bank Island - 22/05 - DB

Ringed Plover – A single at Bank Island was a rather late first of the year on the 11^th. Seven then followed there on the 19^th with four on the 20^th and one on the 25^th – all presumably of the larger, brighter ‘tundra’ race.

Lapwing – The first juveniles to be reported were a brood of two on the 5^th - observed walking over the road at Bank Island, and then down onto the Ings having hatched on nearby arable fields. A brood of three followed at North Duffield Carrs on the 6^th, with two broods (of three and two) seen on arable at Menthorpe on the 7^th.

Woodcock – Four ‘roding’ birds were present at Skipwith Common on the 18^th.

Black-tailed Godwit – A late single at Bank Island on the 13^th.

Dunlin – Two late passage birds were present at Bank Island on the 17^th–21^st with one remaining on the 22^nd. Three were present from the 23^rd to the 26^th followed by two on the 27^th.  

Whimbrel – Numbers at the Wheldrake roost fell quickly following the peak with 20 at the roost on the 5^th. Several individuals were observed visiting Wheldrake during the day around this time, as is often the case with these later birds. Three were present during the day on the 6^th with another at Bank Island, and seven at the roost in the evening. A single at Bank Island on the 7^th was followed by three during the afternoon of the 12^th at Wheldrake, with two birds heading north there at dusk later the same day. Two were present again on the 13^th with one at Breighton Meadows on the 24^th.

Ruff – A single flew south over the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th.

Redshank – Up to 20 pairs were present throughout the valley during the month. Birds were largely confined to the wetter sites of Wheldrake and North Duffield, whilst up to five birds frequented Bank Island during the second half of the month.

Greenshank – Two were present at Thornton Ellers on the 1^st with one remaining on the 4^th and 5^th. One at Bank Island was also present on the 5^th whilst a single flew north over North Duffield village after dark on the same date. A single was present at Bank Island from the 29^th to month end.

Wood Sandpiper – A single flew north over North Duffield Carrs calling on the 6^th. Singles were also logged (calling after dark) over Thorganby village on the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th – possibly relating to the same mobile individual.

Common Sandpiper – A single was present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 14^th with one at Bank Island on the 20^th.

Common Gull – 23 sub-adults and four adults were at Wheldrake on the 1^st, with nine still present on the 5^th – part of the small spring passage movement recorded annually at this time.

Lesser Black-backed Gull – A single immature at Wheldrake on the 6^th with 130 on the riverbank at Thorganby from the 15^th–19^th, where up to 20-30 remained throughout the month.

Black-headed Gull – A single pair attempted to breed on the pool bund during the month, but had appeared to fail and moved on by the end of the month.

Yellow-legged Gull – A first year bird was present at Wheldrake on the 2^nd.

Common Tern – Nine were still present across the site on the 1^st. Pairs were then regularly seen at both Wheldrake Ings and North Duffield Carrs, with a pair also present at Pool Bridge Farm at Crockey Hill on the 2^nd – possibly birds wandering from either the valley or the nearby University. Two pairs had settled onto the rafts by the 11^th with the pair at Wheldrake incubating a clutch of three eggs by the 18^th. It would appear this attempt failed but the pair were looking like laying a repeat clutch by the end of the month.

Cuckoo – Two calling males were present at Thornton Ellers on the 5^th, with a single at Wheldrake on the same date. Four singing males were on Skipwith Common on the 6^th with one in nearby Skipwith village later in the day and a single at Storwood. A single flew across North Duffield Carrs on the 7^th, hotly pursued by several Meadow Pipits. A calling male was reported between Stamford Bridge and Low Catton on the 8^th when two were also present in the Beilby/White Carr Meadow area of the Pocklington Canal. A pair were present in the reedbed at Wheldrake at dusk on the 11^th with one at Bank Island on the 12^th and two at Thorganby. Five calling birds were on Skipwith on the 13^th. Two were present around White Carr Meadow, Beilby on the 14^th with a further two along the canal at Canal Head. Two males and a hepatic female at Wheldrake on the 15^th. Five (four calling males and another hepatic female) were present in the Melbourne Ings area on the 15^th. A pair (male and hepatic female) were present at Thornton Ellers on the 18^th when single birds were also present at Thorganby and Seavy Carr.

A full survey of the canal produced a total of 18 calling males along its length, with an estimated 35-40 calling males throughout the whole site. Possibly at least two or three hepatic females were also present. 

Cuckoo - Wheldrake - 16/05 - DB

Nightjar – A single churring male was present at Skipwith Common at dusk on the 19^th – presumably newly arrived as the site was visited and non were heard on the 18^th.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker – A single on the riverbank at Wheldrake on the 6^th.

Swift – 500+ moved through Wheldrake Ings and 300+ went through North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st. 100+ were present at Wheldrake on the 5^th. Numbers reduced thereafter with many local villages recording an arrival or build up in numbers, suggesting local birds had dispersed away from the Ings and back to local breeding sites.

Kingfisher – Up to eight pairs were recorded throughout the site.

White Wagtail – A single on the new scrapes at Bank Island on the 14^th showed well.

White Wagtail - Bank Island - 14/05

Yellow Wagtail – Good numbers present throughout the site – one of the best showings for over a decade.

Wheatear – Five were present near Skipwith Common on the 2^nd with one at North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th.  

Whinchat – A single between Escrick and Wheldrake on the 18^th.

Sand Martin – Up to 15 pairs were busy excavating holes in the Bank Island bank on the 14^th with regular activity thereafter - following a rather slow start and build up. 

Sand Martins - Bank Island - 14/05

House Martin – 300+ were present and moved through Wheldrake Ings during the course of the day on the 1^st.

Mistle Thrush – A pair with three fledged young were present at Thorganby Thicket Priory on the 7^th.

Mistle Thrush - Thicket Priory - 07/05

Nuthatch – A single was present near Hagg Bridge on the 19^th with two pairs in Thicket Priory, Thorganby during the month.

Spotted Flycatcher – The first of the year was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th, with a pair at Melbourne Arm on the 19^th. Two pairs were also present at Skipwith village by month end.

Blackcap – Present throughout in good numbers.

Garden Warbler – Further arrivals continued with increasing numbers between the 1^st-3^rd throughout the site.

Whitethroat – A good year for the species with the first fledged young appearing late in the month.

Grasshopper Warbler – A further bird was found ‘reeling’ at East Cottingwith by the Pocklington Canal on the 5^th, with another off Sands Lane at Skipwith Common on the 18^th to month end. Single at Wheldrake on the 24^th to 27^th.   

Cetti’s Warbler – At least four, possibly five singing males were present throughout with a new (sixth) male caught and ringed at Thornton Ellers on the 18^th.

Linnet – 50 at Thornton Ellers on the 5^th was the largest group, and appeared to be breeding throughout the site in above average numbers.

Linnet - North Duffield - 12/05

OTHER NOTABLE RECORDS:

Three Fallow Deer were observed in the woods opposite the car park lane at Wheldrake Ings on the 26^th. Two Holly Blue butterflies were seen at Breighton Meadows on 7^th. A Chocolate Tip moth was caught overnight at the NNR base on the 21^st. A Hairy Dragonfly was seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th. A Grass Snake was unfortunately a victim of being run over and was found dead on the road on Bubwith Bridge on the 4^th.