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 the11^th - 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 13^th - 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 28^th. 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 8^th. 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 (15^th), 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 27^th. 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 1^st followed by 12 on the Low Grounds on the 2^nd/3^rd. 20 flew south over East Cottingwith on the 3^rd 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 4^th with 20 there on the 5^th. A total of 89 were recorded on the WeBS on the 7^th (inc. 14 juveniles), with 68 present in the herd at Thorganby. 12 flew into Bank Island high from the north on the 9^th before moving on after a couple of hours. 11 flew south at Breighton on the 10^th 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 16^th (another presumed passage group), with another four (family party) at dawn on the 17^th. Four flew over Melbourne village on the 19^th. A total of 98 (inc. 23 immatures), were present across the reserve on 20^th with 83 at North Duffield Carrs on the 23^rd.

Whooper Swan - North Duffield - 07/11 - DB

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

Greylag Goose – 1050 remained throughout the site on the 7^th followed by 1470 on the 10^th. 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 1^st followed by 41 on the 4^th. 200 remained in the area between the 7^th - 10^th with up to 450 ‘local’ birds present between the 11^th - 18^th. 300 were still roosting daily at Wheldrake Ings until the 29^th.

Pink-footed Geese - Bank Island - 07/11 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pintail - Bank Island - 06/11 - DB

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

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

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

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

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

White-tailed Eagle – An immature (first winter), flew south over Bubwith Ings causing panic in the wintering waterfowl on the 11^th, 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 2^nd with flooding displacing the roost from Bank Island. A second-year male was present at Thornton Ellers on the 7^th, 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 8^th, followed by an adult male at North Duffield Carrs on the 17^th and a small immature male at Wheldrake Ings on the 18^th.

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

Merlin – One at South Duffield on the 8^th.

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

Grey Partridge – Seven were on arable fields by Wheldrake village on the 3^rd when six were also present near Elvington Airfield. 11 were at Bank Island on the 9^th 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 20^th with eight at Melbourne on the 26^th.

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

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

Lapwing - Bank Island - 14/11 - DB

Snipe – 45 were present at Bank Island on the 3^rd when 15 were present on pasture near Elvington. 250 were recorded at Wheldrake Ings after dark on the 8^th, 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 9^th, followed by another two on the 15^th and 16^th. One was present at Elvington Airfield on the 29^th.

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

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

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

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

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

Ruff - Bank Island - 20/11 - DB

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

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

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

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

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

Fieldfare – 30 were present over Bank Island on the 3^rd with 227 there on the 4^th. 390 were counted at Bank Island during the day on the 5^th, followed by 200 on the 6^th and 7^th and 150 on the 8^th. 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 2^nd and 50+ on the 3^rd. 37 were present in the hedges towards the hides at Bank Island on the 10^th – another noticeable influx with large numbers reported in fields and hedges throughout the Melbourne area during the week. Another small arrival took place on 16^th.

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 27^th (MFJ, CSR).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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