May 24

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - May Sightings

The bird of the month was a Great Reed Warbler found singing on the riverbank at Bank Island on the 25^th – representing the first record for the site and the wider York recording area. It showed occasionally throughout the day but was not heard subsequently after the 25^th. Otherwise, Spotted Crakes and Garganey dominated the headlines – at least 23 singing crakes were recorded from the 9^th to month end, with one caught and ringed and radio-tagged (still present at month end despite falling silent). Thirteen drakes and at least four female Garganey were reported, with at least two pairs thought to be incubating during the month - showing well especially at Bank Island. Several Whooper Swans lingered into the month with at least one to month end whilst the White-fronted Goose was last seen on the 1^st. Good numbers of Tufted Duck and Pochard remained with the late spring flooding, with at least twelve drakes and three female Pochard present - including at least two pairs which were thought to be breeding. Four Great White Egrets lingered and at least two Cattle Egret pairs were present and breeding in the local area, whilst a fly through Spoonbill and Glossy Ibis were all too brief. Yet more Ospreys passed through the reserve with one on the 28^th (the 13^th of the spring). One or two Marsh Harriers lingered whilst a total count of 21 Hobbies (8^th) was a new reserve record count. Wader passage continued with ten Avocets, 49 Whimbrel and singles of Grey Plover, Turnstone, Wood Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank. Small numbers of ‘tundra’ Ringed Plover were also noted. A Little Gull was recorded on the 13^th with a single Black Tern at North Duffield (1^st) followed by six at Bubwith (11^th).

Many thanks as always to everyone who contributed records and counts throughout the month, in particular to the members of York Birding and regular patch birder Duncan Bye. Thanks also to Duncan Bye, Chris Gomersall, Oliver Metcalfe, Mal Richardson, Trevor Walton, Steve Waudby, Terry Weston for the use of his images below.

 

BIRDS:

Mute Swan – Fifteen breeding pairs were present throughout the site with a brood of five appearing at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th - the same date that a total of 145 birds were present across the reserve. This total involved the usual build-up of non-breeding sub adults and included 54 at North Duffield Carrs, 31 at Wheldrake Ings and 26 at Ellerton Ings. 81 were at North Duffield Carrs on the 17^th with 107 there a week later on the 25^th. 22 were also at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th giving a total non-breeding total of 129 on that date.

Mute Swan family - Wheldrake Ings - 11/05 - DB

Whooper Swan – Four remained at Ellerton Ings on the 6^th with one at North Duffield Carrs until the 28^th.

White-fronted Goose – The single from last month was seen over Bank Island on the 1^st before relocating to North Cave Wetlands.

Greylag Goose – 251 adults were counted on the 6^th alongside several creches of goslings including 24 at Bank Island, 31 at Wheldrake Ings and a brood of eight at North Duffield Carrs. A total of 210 were at North Duffield Carrs on the 19^th.

Greylag Goose creche - Bank Island - 08/05 - TWE

Canada Goose – 31 were present around the reserve on the 6^th.

Barnacle Goose – A neck-collared individual (B91) was seen at Bank Island on the morning of the 3^rd before heading off high to the north-west. This was a bird ringed from the breeding population in Scorton, North Yorkshire, with data gathered from ringing showing that this individual had subsequently wintered in Germany.

Barnacle Goose - Bank Island - 03/05 - DB

Egyptian Goose – A pair were seen with seven fledged young at East Cottingwith during the month, with several individuals scattered elsewhere in the wider surrounding area.

Shelduck – 121 adults (largely loafing and off-duty territory holding males) were present around the site on the 6^th, suggesting a breeding population of around 100 pairs.

Wigeon – 47 remained across the site on the 6^th. 14 drakes and seven ducks were still present at North Duffield Carrs on the 25^th with four pairs at Wheldrake Ings to month end and a single pair a Bank Island. Four additional pairs were present elsewhere across the site.

Teal – Numbers were rather low during the month although approximately 30 pairs were present throughout the site.

Mandarin – A drake was at Thornton Ings on the 1^st and Bank Island on the 8^th, with two drakes there on the 12^th. At least one drake remained to month end with two at Bank Island at dusk on the 28^th.

Mandarin - Bank Island - 08/05 - DB

Garganey – The pair at Bank Island were still present daily from the 1^st with the female thought to be egg laying from the 2^nd. A second pair were then present on the 3^rd with two drakes and a duck present thereafter. A male was at North Duffield Carrs on the 6^th with two drakes there on the 12^th. Numbers then increased with drakes seen regularly at North Duffield Carrs with up to seven recorded from the 13^th including two females engaging in pursuit flighting (at least nine drakes and three females were present on this date across the site). Ten drakes were recorded on the 15^th with regular sightings of several thereafter, although emergent vegetation made birds harder to see. A total of 13 drakes were located by call after dark throughout the site on the 20^th followed by ten on the 25^th. Regular sightings were had throughout the site thereafter to month end, with four drakes at Wheldrake Ings on the 29^th and the regular pair at Bank Island to month end, with the drake moving into eclipse plumage from the 20^th. 

Garganey - Bank Island - 02/05 - DB

Shoveler – The first brood of twelve appeared at Bank Island on the 28^th.

Gadwall – Several newly hatched broods were seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 21^st.

Pochard – A pair were at Melbourne on the 1^st with six drakes and a duck at North Duffield on the 2^nd and 3^rd. Five drakes and a duck remained at North Duffield Carrs on the 6^th. A single pair were present on the pool at Wheldrake thereafter with the female apparently incubating by the 11^th. Up to 13 birds (eleven drakes and two ducks) remained at North Duffield Carrs until at least the 15^th, with another female thought to be egg laying around this time based on behaviour. Six drakes and three ducks remained thereafter. Two drakes were at Bank Island on the 26^th with one at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th.

Tufted Duck – 200+ remained into early May with above average numbers present thereafter to month end.

Tufted Duck flock - Bank Island - 06/05 - DB

Common Scoter – Another drake appeared at North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th, with one over Elvington on nocturnal passage on the 6^th and 8^th.

Little Egret – Large numbers were present throughout the site with 18 at North Duffield Carrs on the 17^th when a total of 47 were recorded throughout the site.

Great White Egret – A single was at Bubwith Ings between the 6^th-8^th with a colour ringed bird (ACV from the Somerset Levels) seen there on the 11^th. At least three birds including two adults in breeding plumage were present on the reserve around this time.

Cattle Egret – Two pairs remained in the heronry with daily sightings of birds in the Hagg Bridge area early in the month. A single bird was observed feeding with cattle at Hagg Bridge between the 2^nd-8^th with one also seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 8^th – where it remained until the 17^th.

Cattle Egret - North Duffield Carrs - 16/05 - MR

Spoonbill – A single flew into Bank Island on the morning of the 20^th before flying off west again.

Glossy Ibis – One was present at Bank Island before flying off high to the south on the 22^nd.

Little Grebe – Up to ten pairs remained on the Ings during the month with seven additional pairs recorded on surrounding water bodies in the local area.

Great Crested Grebe – Up to three pairs were present at Wheldrake Ings early in the month with single pairs also seen at Bank Island – no doubt as a result of the high water levels. Pairs were observed nest building by the 4^th. Two pairs remained at North Duffield Carrs with three pairs also seen on water bodies in the wider area.

Great Crested Grebe - Wheldrake Ings - 01/05 - DB

Water Rail – A total of eleven singing birds were recorded at Wheldrake Ings during the month with another three at Bank Island. Six were present at North Duffield Carrs with another twelve singing birds elsewhere – a total of 32 singing birds were recorded throughout the site.

Spotted Crake – Two were calling well at Bubwith Ings after dark on the 9^th, with one calling occasionally at Bank Island at 0100hrs on the 11^th. A full survey overnight on the 12^th/13^th produced totals of four at Wheldrake Ings, three at North Duffield Carrs, two at Bubwith Ings, three at Thornton Ings and one on the Low Grounds. Calling was varied but generally gave the impression that perhaps birds had arrived between the 8^th-12^th. Six were calling at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th however only two calls from two birds were then heard there after dark on the 14^th. One was calling well at Wheldrake Ings at midnight on the 15^th. Two birds at Bank Island included one bird singing continuously on the 18^th and a single calling well on the 19^th. Three were calling after dark at Bank Island on the 20^th (one well, one occasionally and one largely silent), with one caught, ringed and radio tagged. Another was singing at Aughton Ings on the same date. Two were still present and calling at Bank Island on the 21^st and 22^nd, but the last continuously calling male fell largely silent in the early hours of the 23^rd although remained on territory. One continued to call after dark at Bank Island between the 25^th -28^th with additional birds found at Sutton Ings and Low Catton Ings on the 28^th. A total of 23 singing males were located during the month.

Spotted Crake - Wheldrake Ings - 21/05 - OM

Coot – 186 were counted throughout the site on the 6^th including 44 at North Duffield Carrs, 37 at Wheldrake Ings and 36 at Bank Island. Nine pairs had build nests at Bank Island by the 6^th with the first three broods (15 young) appearing on the 23^rd.

Quail – One on passage was picked up on noc-mig over Elvington in early hours of the 4^th with another on the 6^th followed by one at Ellerton on the 12^th. One was at North Duffield Carrs on the 19^th with one over Elvington again on the 20^th.

Common Crane – Three flew north from Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd and are thought to have roosted overnight near Sutton upon Derwent. Presumably the same three were then seen over Melbourne at 0700hrs on the 4^th before being recorded over North Cave Wetlands later in the morning. One headed over the Low Grounds on the 9^th with four at Aughton Ings on the 10^th.

Common Cranes - Wheldrake Ings - 03/05 - DB

Osprey – A single flew north at North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th, with another north there on the 7^th followed by another over Bank Island on the 8^th. One flew over the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th which was the 13^th individual to be recorded this spring.

Marsh Harrier – Single cream crowns were present daily in the Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings area early in the month, with occasional sightings from Melbourne and Thornton Ings.

Marsh Harrier - Wheldrake Ings - 21/05 - SW

Peregrine – Up to two birds lingered during the month.

Hobby – Up to six were present in the Wheldrake and Bank Island area early in the month with four over North Duffield Carrs on the 3^rd. On the 7^th four were at Bank Island, with five at North Duffield Carrs, six at Wheldrake Ings and a single at Hagg Bridge. A minimum of 21 were present throughout the site on the 8^th – a new reserve record. Seven were hawking over the pool at Wheldrake Ings at dawn on the 13^th with daily sightings from around the reserve to month end. Three were at Bank Island at dusk on the 20^th.

Hobby - Pocklington Canal - 07/05 0- TWA

Little Ringed Plover – One was at North Duffield Carrs on the 3^rd and Elvington on the 4^th. A single was at Bank Island between the 15^th-19^th with a pair there on the 20^th and 21^st.

Ringed Plover –Ten flew through North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th with two present on flooded arable nearby on the 7^th. Two were at North Duffield Carrs with three on nearby fields on the 10^th. One was at North Duffield Carrs on the 15^th.

Avocet – Two flew over Melbourne Ings on the 1^st whilst two were on flooded arable fields at Derwent Cottage Farm on the 5^th followed by one at Thornton Ings on the 8^th. On the 8^th a pair were also at North Duffield Carrs with another or the same mobile pair at Bank Island that evening. One flew south at North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th with two on a flooded field near Barmby Moor on the 23^rd.

Oystercatcher – A single pair at Bank Island were incubating early in the month and hatched a brood on the 30^th.

Nesting Oystercatcher and Common Terns - Bank Island - 05/05 - DB

Lapwing – Breeding numbers were low due to the extensive flooding, with many birds instead nesting on adjacent arable outside of the floodplain. The first four young were present at Thornton on the 1^st.

Grey Plover – Two flew through Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with four over Bank Island on the 22^nd.

Dunlin – Two were seen on the scrapes at Bank Island on the 4^th with one at North Duffield Carrs on the 7^th. Three or four were then present daily at North Duffield Carrs until the 15^th.

Dunlin - Bank Island - 04/05 - TWA

Turnstone – One flew north through North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th with a flock of ten Ringed Plover.

Ruff – Three were present at Wheldrake Ings until the 5^th.

Black-tailed Godwit – Eight were at Thornton on the 1^st with 18 remaining at Wheldrake Ings between the 1^st-4^th. Six were at North Duffield Carrs on the 3^rd, ten were at Thorganby on the 4^th and three dropped into flooded farmland at Derwent Cottage Farm on the 5^th. Eight were at North Duffield Carrs on the 7^th.

Woodcock – Up to several roding birds were recorded at Skipwith Common NNR during the month with at least four or five pairs recorded across the site.

Curlew – Unsurprisingly a slow start to the season due to the extensive flooding, however, seven pairs were recorded breeding at East Cottingwith and Thorganby during the month.

Whimbrel – A minimum of 49 roosted at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st. Two were at North Duffield Carrs on the 2^nd followed by one on the 3^rd. Ten were at Hagg Bridge on the 6^th with singles also present at Ellerton and Wheldrake Ings. Small numbers lingered thereafter with four at Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th. Singles were recorded regularly from North Duffield with small numbers present at Wheldrake Ings until the 13^th. One was calling after dark at Wheldrake Ings on the 14^th. Two were present at Bank Island on the 25^th.

Whimbrel - Storwood - 02/05 - DB

Greenshank – Two were at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st followed by two at Derwent Cottage Farm on the 5^th.

Spotted Redshank – A single summer plumaged bird was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th and 12^th.

Wood Sandpiper – A single at Bank Island on the 4^th with another over North Duffield Carrs and Elvington on the 15^th.

Wood Sandpiper - Bank Island - 04/05 - TWA

Green Sandpiper – One was at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st and Bank Island on the 2^nd.

Common Sandpiper – Singles were recorded at Melbourne Ings on the 1^st, over Elvington on the 4^th and at the Bank Island scrapes on the 5^th and 9^th.

Common Sandpiper - Bank Island - 05/05 - DB

Little Gull – A first summer bird was present at Bank Island on the 13^th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull – One or two were recorded daily with 15 at Bank Island on the 30^th.

Yellow-legged Gull – One was at North Duffield on the 22^nd.

Arctic Tern – A single flew north over Bubwith Ings on the 3^rd with another through North Duffield Carrs later in the day with a Common Tern.

Common Tern – Up to six were present in the Wheldrake Ings and Bank Island area from the 1^st with a pair displaying, copulating and scraping at Bank Island during the first few days, with two pairs then incubating from the 6^th. Occasional sightings of up to four birds were had from elsewhere around the site.

Black Tern – A single at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st was followed by six at Bubwith Ings on the 11^th.  

Cuckoo – Numbers increased early in the month with calling males at Thorganby followed by three at Wheldrake Ings, three at Bank Island, two at North Duffield Carrs and three at Melbourne, which also held a returning hepatic female on the 7^th. Birds were also reported from the Thorganby and Menthorpe areas.

Cuckoo - Wheldrake Ings - 12/05 - DB

Green Woodpecker – A pair were breeding at Thorganby throughout the month with a single seen at Bank Island on the 25^th.

Swift – The first birds were noted back on territories in Wheldrake village on the 1^st although numbers remained low until late in the month. 200 were present throughout the site on the 27^th with 180 recorded across Wheldrake and Bank Island on the 30^th.

Tree Pipit – Up to three singing males were recorded at Skipwith Common NNR during the month.

Stonechat – A single pair were present at Skipwith Common NNR during the first week of the month.

Great Reed Warbler – A singing male was found at Bank Island on the 25^th - frequenting the riverside willows and the reedbed.

Great Reed Warbler - Bank Island - 25/05 - CG

Grasshopper Warbler – One at Bubwith Ings on the 12^th.

Nuthatch – A single at Pool Hide at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd.

Cetti’s Warbler – Calling birds were present at Cheesecake Farm, Bank Island (two), Wheldrake Ings (two), East Cottingwith, Melbourne (three) and East Cottingwith, with two or three also at Barmby on the Marsh early in the month. One was also present by Sutton Wood, with perhaps between 12-14 calling males present throughout the site.

Corn Bunting – The first singing male had returned to the Ings at Wheldrake by the 21^st with two present thereafter.

Corn Bunting - 06/05 - Hagg Lane - DB