Welcome to the LDV NNR ringing blog, this blog is designed to share the experiences, findings and tales from a group of dedicated ringers. We specialise in conservation orientated research projects, largely focusing on wildfowl, waders, owls and birds of conservation concern, in and around the Vale of York NNR's.

NB - Whilst the purpose of this blog was initially designed to cover our nationally important wildfowl ringing activities, it now also features wildlife and work posts, explaining how we manage the NNR for both wildlife and people.

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Nov' 21

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - November 2021

The highlight of the month was undoubtedly the immature White-tailed Eagle, seen causing mass panic among thousands of waterfowl at Bubwith Ings on the11th - showing well (c100m height), before drifting south over Bubwith Bridge, dwarfing a mobbing Marsh Harrier. It appears this bird had actually passed right through the LDV, with widespread panic among waterfowl reported from Bank Island and Thorganby in the proceeding 10-15 mins. 

Perhaps the most surprising record of the month however concerned a Garden Warbler caught and ringed at South Duffield on the 13th - the latest ever in the area by quite some time.

Waterfowl numbers predictably increased with a good early total of 117 wintering Whooper Swans, although many others also moved through the site during the month. 2000 ‘resident’ Pink-footed Geese were also present early in the month with 450 still roosting daily at month end. Up to 2000 Greylag Geese were present with Shelduck numbers increasing to 40 late in the month, along with the regular returning hybrid, and a Ruddy Shelduck from the 28th. Up to two Great White Egrets continued to linger, with several Marsh Harriers and three - four Peregrines, several Red Kites and a Merlin on the 8th. 2550 Golden Plover were counted with 1850 Lapwing, whilst c500 Snipe and three - four Jack Snipe were recorded. Large numbers of Woodcock arrived from mid-month feeding on the Ings and local arable fields after dark, with 10 Curlew, a Knot (15th), 13 Ruff and 15 returning Dunlin by month end. A single Green Sandpiper was also noted, along with a Raven at Bank Island on the 27th. One or two wintering Chiffchaffs were also logged.

Many thanks as always to everyone who submitted sightings and counts throughout the month, in particular to members of York Birding and regular patch birder Duncan Bye – thanks also to Duncan for the use of his images below.

 

BIRDS: 

Whooper Swan - Two dropped into Bank Island briefly on the 1st followed by 12 on the Low Grounds on the 2nd/3rd. 20 flew south over East Cottingwith on the 3rd with 30 at North Duffield Ings - two flew over Wheldrake Ings after dusk on the same date. 13 were recorded at Melbourne and Thornton Ings on the 4th with 20 there on the 5th. A total of 89 were recorded on the WeBS on the 7th (inc. 14 juveniles), with 68 present in the herd at Thorganby. 12 flew into Bank Island high from the north on the 9th before moving on after a couple of hours. 11 flew south at Breighton on the 10th when 103 were recorded in the Thorganby area along with three briefly at Bank Island - total of 117. 11 adults were at Bank Island on the 16th (another presumed passage group), with another four (family party) at dawn on the 17th. Four flew over Melbourne village on the 19th. A total of 98 (inc. 23 immatures), were present across the reserve on 20th with 83 at North Duffield Carrs on the 23rd.

Whooper Swan - North Duffield - 07/11 - DB

Mute Swan – 87 were recorded throughout the site on the 7th.

Greylag Goose – 1050 remained throughout the site on the 7th followed by 1470 on the 10th. A further 600+ were present in the Melbourne and Thornton Ings area during the month – total of over 2000 across the reserve.

Pink-footed Goose – 2000 were still roosting at the Low Grounds and feeding nearby in local fields early in the month. 160 were at Melbourne on the 1st followed by 41 on the 4th. 200 remained in the area between the 7th - 10th with up to 450 ‘local’ birds present between the 11th - 18th. 300 were still roosting daily at Wheldrake Ings until the 29th.

Pink-footed Geese - Bank Island - 07/11 

Egyptian Goose – A single was recorded at East Cottingwith Ings on the 7th with three over Storwood Ings and the Low Grounds on the 8th. A pair were present at Bank Island between the 10th - 17th.

Shelduck – Three were at Bank Island on the 8th followed by eight there on the 13th and 16 on the 15th. 23 were at Thornton Ellers on the 20th with 11 at Bank Island on the 21st and 22nd, increasing to 22 on the 26th. Numbers increased further with 40 on the 29th along with the regularly returning hybrid.

Ruddy Shelduck – One flew north over North Duffield Carrs on the 28th.

Wigeon – 4050 were present throughout the site on the 7th with 5000+ on the 10th and 5670 on the 20th.

Teal – 2030 were recorded on the WeBS survey on the 8th.

Mallard – A monthly maximum of 988 on the 8th.

Pintail – A total of 69 were present throughout the site on the 7th.

Pintail - Bank Island - 06/11 - DB

Tufted Duck – 17 at Bank Island on the 4th were the first returning wintering birds. Four were then observed at Bubwith Ings on the 7th with two at Wheldrake Ings on the 8th.

Pochard – A single drake was present on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 5th.

Goldeneye – A single was present at Bank Island on the 4th with one on the pool at Wheldrake between the 13th - 15th. Two red-heads were at Bank Island on the 19th with one at Wheldrake Ings between the 27th and 29th.  

Goosander – Nine (including five drakes), flew south down the River Derwent at Wheldrake Ings on the 5th. A single red-head was recorded on Bubwith Ings on the 7th whilst a pair flew east at Wheldrake Ings on the 27th.

Little Egret – Five were at Thornton Ellers on the 24th. Small numbers (1 – 3), were present throughout the month at Barmby-on-the Marsh Wetlands.

Great White Egret – A single was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st, with other singles reported over the Low Grounds on the 2nd, Wheldrake Ings on 5th/6th and Bank Island on the 8th. A single flew along the canal from Wheldrake towards Hagg Bridge on the 14th with two at Bank Island on the 15th. Two were then present at Thornton Ellers on the 24th.

White-tailed Eagle – An immature (first winter), flew south over Bubwith Ings causing panic in the wintering waterfowl on the 11th, before continuing south over Bubwith following the river. It would appear that the bird had passed over Bank Island, Wheldrake and Thorganby (unseen), where large numbers of geese were panicked into the air, ten minutes before it appeared over Bubwith Ings.

Marsh Harrier – Up to five still remained across the reserve on the 2nd with flooding displacing the roost from Bank Island. A second-year male was present at Thornton Ellers on the 7th, with an immature and wing-tagged bird D3 seen at Aughton on the same date.

Marsh Harrier - Wheldrake Ings - 14/11 - TW

Peregrine – Numbers of sightings of different birds increased during the month, starting with two immature females seen on the reserve on the 8th, followed by an adult male at North Duffield Carrs on the 17th and a small immature male at Wheldrake Ings on the 18th.

Red Kite – A single over Bank Island on the 9th with two there on 13th and 14th. Singles were also regularly seen in the Thorganby area during the month.

Merlin – One at South Duffield on the 8th.

Water Rail – Up to four calling birds were present around the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st and 2nd, with up to three in the Melbourne/Thornton area early in the month. A single was on the riverbank at Bank Island on the 24th – presumably an incoming wintering bird taking up this regular winter territory. Four were in the Melbourne area on the 17th.

Grey Partridge – Seven were on arable fields by Wheldrake village on the 3rd when six were also present near Elvington Airfield. 11 were at Bank Island on the 9th when three coveys totalling 17 birds were present near Wheldrake village, in addition a further nine were at Elvington. Six were also present near Thornton on the same date. Two were at Crockey Hill on the 20th with eight at Melbourne on the 26th.

Golden Plover – 400 were in the Bank Island/Wheldrake area, with 300 at North Duffield Ings on the 1st. 1000+ were recorded throughout the reserve on the 2nd including 570 at Bank Island. 900+ were at Wheldrake Ings on the 8th with 1100 there on the 9th. 2000+ were present across the site on the 10th whilst an additional 700 birds were recorded to the east of the reserve near Wilberfoss on the 11th. Up to 2400 remained in the Low Grounds/Wheldrake/Bank Island area during the remainder month. 2550 were present throughout the reserve on the 20th.

Lapwing – 1030 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 8th with 1850 recorded throughout the site on the 14th.

Lapwing - Bank Island - 14/11 - DB

Snipe45 were present at Bank Island on the 3rd when 15 were present on pasture near Elvington. 250 were recorded at Wheldrake Ings after dark on the 8th, with 100+ at North Duffield Carrs and scattered smaller numbers elsewhere – perhaps as many as 500 across the reserve at this time. Up to 15 were present during the month at Barmby-on-the-Marsh Wetlands.

Jack Snipe – A single was caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 9th, followed by another two on the 15th and 16th. One was present at Elvington Airfield on the 29th.

Woodcock – A single was seen at Wheldrake Ings after dark on the 1st with one caught and ringed there on the 2nd. Singles were present near Dunnington and Elvington Airfield on the 3rd, followed by one seen feeding in the lane at Bank Island during the day on the 5th. One was feeding after dark near Wheldrake village on the 9th, with three located at Wheldrake Ings after dark on the 15th. Six were in fields by Elvington Airfield after dark on the 17th, with 11 located on Wheldrake Ings after dark on the 23rd. Six were in Wheldrake on nearby arable fields on the 24th – a clear increase throughout the week was noted - associated with the full moon. 14 were present on Wheldrake Ings after dark on the 29th.

Curlew – Three were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 6th with five there on the 9th. Five were recorded at Bank Island on the 21st followed by 10 there on the 26th.

Dunlin – A single was present with a flock of Lapwings at Bank Island on the 16th with six there on 18th and five on the 24th. Numbers then increased with 15 on the 26th.

Knot – A single immature bird was caught and ringed at Bank Island after dark on the 15th – the first to be ringed on the reserve.

Ruff – The first returning birds were 13 at North Duffield Carrs on the 2nd - followed by 16 at Bank Island on the 3rd. 18 were recorded on the WeBS count on the 7th with 13 at Bank Island on the 17th.

Ruff - Bank Island - 20/11 - DB

Redshank – Three were on the Low Grounds on the 2nd with seven throughout the site on the 8th and 11 on the 15th. Eleven were at Bank Island on the 16th and 17th.

Green Sandpiper – One at Thornton Ellers on the 7th was followed by a single at Melbourne Ings on the 22nd with two there on the 24th.

Short-eared Owl A single was present at Elvington Airfield on the 29th.

Little Owl A pair were present near Wheldrake village on the 29th.

Redwing – 2000 passed over Bank Island on the 3rd followed by 5230 on the 4th, most before 0900hrs. Small numbers were present almost daily thereafter with a small movement of 400 on the 16th.

Fieldfare – 30 were present over Bank Island on the 3rd with 227 there on the 4th. 390 were counted at Bank Island during the day on the 5th, followed by 200 on the 6th and 7th and 150 on the 8th. Small numbers continued to move through the reserve over the following days.

Fieldfare - Bank Island - 06/11 - DB

Blackbird – A small increase in birds appeared early in the month with 21 recorded at Bank Island on the 2nd and 50+ on the 3rd. 37 were present in the hedges towards the hides at Bank Island on the 10th – another noticeable influx with large numbers reported in fields and hedges throughout the Melbourne area during the week. Another small arrival took place on 16th.

Stonechat – Up to six remained at Wheldrake Ings during the month with pairs also recorded at Melbourne, Thornton, East Cottingwith and Bank Island with up to four at North Duffield Carrs.

Stonechat - Wheldrake Ings - 14/11 - DB

Raven – A single was present at Bank Island on the 27th (MFJ, CSR).

Starling – 1376 flew west at Bank Island on the 4th with 1000+ at Wheldrake Ings on the 7th.

Chiffchaff – Singles were lingering at Bank Island on the 7th and 14th, with one at Elvington on the 19th.

Garden Warbler – An extraordinary record of an individual caught and ringed at South Duffield on the 13th – the latest ever recorded in the area after one on the 29th September 1983.

Willow Tit – A single was heard calling at Thornton Ellers on the 17th.

Nuthatch – Pairs were present in the Elvington and Thorganby areas during the month with three at Thicket Priory on the 15th.

Brambling – A single was caught and ringed at South Duffield on the 7th when one was also present at Bank Island. Two flew through Melbourne Ings on the 4th followed by four the next day on the 5th. Three were recorded at Breighton on the 10th with six on the 11th. Singles were present at Bank Island on the 13th and 14th.

Hawfinch – Nine were seen to drop in towards Woodhill and the eastern side of the river from Wressle Castle on the 10th (OM).

Greenfinch – 100+ were feeding in a sunflower cover crop near South Duffield on the 8th.

Siskin – Birds were logged moving daily early in the month with 20-40 most mornings over Bank Island, with 50 over Breighton on the 10th. 110 were at Melbourne on the 11th with 60 at Thornton Ellers on the 17th. 150 were present at Thornton Ellers on the 23rd/24th.

Linnet – 200 were at Thornton Ellers on the 7th.

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