Nov' 22

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - November Sightings

Following a Swift species seen over Thorganby village on the 30^th October, a Pallid Swift was then seen over fields between Bank Island and Elvington on the 1^st before appearing low over Bank Island and allowing confirmation of the ID – the first record for the reserve and wider York area. Perhaps a stranger record was the Sandwich Tern that flew over Elvington and Bank Island on the 12^th (the latest to have occurred in the area), whilst a Swallow over the reserve base on the 10^th was equally unseasonal. A Green Sandpiper near Elvington Airfield on the 16^th was a good local wintering record whilst 12 Bearded Tits flew over Church Bridge at Melbourne at dusk on the 18^th. Extensive flooding from the 19^th/20^th saw the usual increase in wintering waterfowl, however, sadly the presence of Avian Flu was confirmed in the local populations of Greylag Geese. Raptors put on a good show with a late Hobby, several Merlin and two Hen Harriers, one of which lingered allowing many of the local birders to connect with it.

Many thanks as always to everyone who submitted records and counts throughout the month, in particular to members of York Bird Club, with special thanks to regular patch birder Duncan Bye. Thanks also to Duncan Bye, Adam Firth, Jono Leadley, Stuart Rapson and Trevor Walton for the use of their images below.

 

BIRDS:

Mute Swan – Monthly maximum of 49 on the 27^th – a rather low monthly total but probably reflecting the loss of 80% of this year’s cygnets to Avian Flu.

Whooper Swan – 14 went over Bank Island on the 1^st in two small groups. 21 roosted there on the 5^th with six remaining on the 6^th and 7^th. Up to 12 were then present daily at Bank Island from the 8^th with 41 on the reserve on the 10^th. 39 were at Bank Island on the 14^th with 28 passage birds over Bank Island on the 18^th. A family party of four stopped off at Bank Island on the 25^th with 57 throughout the site on the 27^th.

Whooper Swans - Bank Island - 06/11 - TW

Pink-footed Geese – 40 were at Bank Island on the 1^st followed by 50 on the 5^th and 15 on the 6^th. 230 roosted at Bank Island between the 14^th-18^th. 69 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 20^th.

European White-fronted Goose – A family party of four were at Melbourne on the 28^th.

Greylag Goose – Up to 1300 were present around the reserve on the 13^th with 400 at Bank Island on the 14^th. 1200 were recorded throughout the site on the 27^th. Sadly, Avian Flu was recorded in the population during the second half of the month with up to 80 fatalities. Numbers recorded during the month were lower than in recent years with Avian Flu likely to be the reason.

Egyptian Goose – 17 were present in the East Cottingwith area on the 13^th with two north-west over Bank Island on the 20^th. 17 (inc. three over Wheldrake Ings) were recorded on the 27^th.

Egyptian Geese - East Cottingwith - 13/11 - DB

Shelduck – The first returning birds were present at Thorganby and Bank Island (nine in total) on the 20^th, followed by two at Elvington on the 25^th and 39 at Thorganby on the 27^th.

Wigeon – 240 were at Bank Island on the 5^th with 1000 there on the 7^th. 1500 were recorded throughout the site on the 13^th with numbers increasing to 3000+ by the 20^th. 4130 were counted throughout the site on the 27^th.

Teal – 1000 were recorded throughout the site on the 13^th with numbers reaching 3600 by the 28^th.

Gadwall – Numbers increased to 61 throughout the reserve by the 27^th.

Mallard – 988 were recorded on the 27^th.

Pintail – Two returned to Bank Island on the 5^th and 6^th increasing to 20 by the 9^th and 10^th. 20 were recorded at Wheldrake on the 20^th. Numbers had increased to 119 by the 27^th with 88 at Wheldrake on the 29^th and 162 throughout the reserve on the 30^th.

Shoveler – Monthly maximum of 57 were recorded on the 27^th.

Tufted Duck – Five were at Bank Island on the 20^th followed by 20 on the 22^nd, when 25 were also at Wheldrake Ings with an additional four at Elvington. A total of 43 were recorded on the 27^th.

Pochard – Two at Bank Island on the 9^th, were followed by 6 at Elvington on the 25^th, with nine there on the 26^th and twelve on the 27^th.

Goldeneye – Single female at Bank Island on the 13^th was the first returning bird of the autumn, followed by six at Wheldrake Ings on the 24^th - remaining to month end.

Goldeneye - Wheldrake Ings - 24/11 - SR

Goosander – Three redheads were at Melbourne on the 22^nd with a single at Bank Island on the 23^rd.

Little Egret – One was present over Bank Island on the 1^st when seven were in fields by Elvington. Four or five were at Bank Island daily until nine appeared there on the 12^th. One or two lingered thereafter until six were found at Thornton Ellers on the 27^th.

Great White Egret – Singles were recorded over Bank Island on the 2^nd, 5^th and 11^th. One then appeared at North Duffield Carrs on the 26^th with a total of three individuals across the reserve on the 27^th.

Great White Egret - North Duffield - 27/11 - JL

Great Crested Grebe – Three remained at a site nearby throughout the month.

Marsh Harrier – Two or three roosted daily at Bank Island early in the month with four there on the 10^th and up to four or five regularly to month end, including the long staying wing tagged bird, D3.

Hen Harrier – Single immature over Bank Island and Sutton Farm area on the 22^nd, reappearing and showing well at Bank Island the following day and again on the 24^th. It was then present at North Duffield Carrs on the 26^th and 27^th, with an adult male then appearing at Thornton Ings on the 27^th. The juvenile was then present again at Bank Island on the 28^th.

Hen Harrier - Bank Island - 23/11 - CSR

Red Kite – One or two were reported regularly throughout the month from several locations in the area.

Buzzard – 21 were recorded throughout the site on the 27^th with daily records throughout the month.

Peregrine – One over Melbourne Ings on the 4^th with a juvenile at Wheldrake on the 12^th followed by a single there on the 20^th. At least three different individuals were present on the reserve from the 21^st to month end.

Hobby – A late bird was seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd – the latest since one at Thorganby on the 9^th November 2013.

Merlin – One was present at Bank Island on the 2^nd with a female near Seavy Carr on the 4^th and another (female/immature) at the refuge area at Wheldrake on the 6^th. One was present at Crockey Hill on the 9^th with another at Melbourne on the 19^th and 22^nd. A single was seen at Elvington on the 24^th and Thornton on the 27^th.

Grey Partridge – Coveys of 18 were present at Swallow Hall Golf Course in Wheldrake on the 7^th with 14 at Storwood the following day. One was caught and ringed after dark on Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th, with up to 35 at Sutton Farm on the 11^th. Coveys in the Wheldrake/Thorganby area totalled 57 birds during the month, plus an additional 21 in three coveys around Elvington. 15 were located between Wheldrake Woods and Elvington Airfield on the 16^th. 25 were at Bank Island on the 20^th.

Water Rail – Up to seven calling birds were scattered around the reserve on the 27^th, taking up winter territories.

Golden Plover – 1200 were present in the Wheldrake/Low Grounds/Storwood area on the 11^th with 600 there on the 12^th. Once again birds were located feeding on arable land after dark around the reserve, particularly along the Escrick Moraine. 1200 were still present in the area on 19^th/20^th. 2200 were recorded throughout the site on the 27^th.

Lapwing – 1600 were recorded throughout the site on the 12^th and 13^th, up to 2200 by the 20^th, followed by 2400 on the 22^nd and 3130 by the 27^th.

Lapwing - Wheldrake Ings - 20/11 - DB

Snipe – Up to 150 were at Wheldrake early in the month with 130 at North Duffield Carrs plus additional scattered birds elsewhere. Extensive flooding at the northern end of the site caused birds to redistribute thereafter, however, around 400-500 wintering birds were thought to be present.

Jack Snipe – Single at Melbourne Ings on the 24^th.

Ruff – Six were present at Thorganby on the 19^th with eight at Wheldrake on the 20^th followed by a total of 12 throughout the site on the 27^th.

Dunlin – Two were at Thorganby on the 19^th – relocating to Bubwith Ings the following day, with 10 at Wheldrake on the 22^nd. 53 were present at Bank Island/Low Grounds on the 25^th with 89 throughout the site on the 27^th.

Curlew – A single appeared at Bank Island on the 1^st followed by four there on the 3^rd and 4^th. Numbers had increased to seven by the 9^th (present until the 17^th), followed by four at Melbourne on the 18^th and eight at Wheldrake on the 22^nd. 19 were at Bank Island on the 26^th.

Woodcock – Following the full moon early in the month birds started to arrive with a single at Wheldrake on the 7^th, followed by three on the 9^th and four on the 10^th. Numbers continued to build up thereafter with two caught and ringed after dark on North Duffield Carrs on the 21^st followed by three on the 22^nd. 14 were present in and around Thornton Ellers on the 27^th with a single by the Geoff Smith Hide on the same date.

Black-tailed Godwit – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 22^nd was the first returning bird of the autumn/winter.

Redshank – The first returning bird was heard calling after dark at North Duffield Carrs on the 21^st. A total of 14 were recorded throughout the site on the 27^th.

Green Sandpiper – One was flushed and heard after dark adjacent to Elvington Airfield on the 16^th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull – Two were at the Wheldrake roost on the 27^th.

Caspian Gull – A colour-ringed first-winter was present at Wheldrake Ings on the morning of the 27^th.

Black-headed Gull – 2000-3000 continued to head south through the reserve at dusk, before the first real flooding of the winter saw the formation of the gull roost at Wheldrake, with c6000 there by the 27^th.

Common Gull – c5000 had returned to the Wheldrake Ings roost by month end.

Herring Gull – Up to 100 had reappeared at the Wheldrake roost by month end.

Sandwich Tern – A single flew over Elvington on the 12^th before being located as it passed over Bank Island. This species is barely annual on the reserve and this is unsurprisingly the latest sighting ever recorded.

Little Owl – A single was seen on the Elvington to Wheldrake road by Raker Lakes on the 24^th.

Collared Dove – 69 at Melbourne village on the 13^th was a notable count.

Wood Pigeon – 1400 headed over Melbourne village on the 13^th.

Pallid Swift – One over Bank Island and Elvington on the 1^st was presumably the same Swift sp. reported over Thorganby a couple of days previously and will be the first on record for the area if accepted.

Swallow – A late juvenile was present over Bank Island and around the NNR Base on the 10^th.

Stonechat – Up to 19 wintering birds were present throughout the reserve and surrounding area during the month.

Stonechat - Wheldrake Ings - 12/11 - DB

Redwing – A noticeable arrival took place on the 18^th with 1400 at Bank Island from mid-morning onwards. 1800 were recorded throughout the whole site on the 27^th.

Blackbird – A noticeable arrival took place on the 3^rd with a larger arrival (including 33 at Bank Island) following on the 18^th, when vast numbers were also reported on the East Coast. Large numbers were reported across the whole site with perhaps several hundred birds involved across the reserve and the local area. 40 were at Bank Island on the 27^th with an estimated 300 throughout the reserve.

Fieldfare – 1000+ were present throughout the reserve on the 13^th with numbers in the region of 3000 on the 15^th, 1700 on the 16^th and 480 on the 17^th. Once again birds were found roosting after dark on the Ings meadows in small numbers. 1000+ arrived from mid-morning at Bank Island on the 18^th with 3000+ present throughout the reserve on the 27^th.

Fieldfare - Wheldrake Ings - 26/11 - TW

Starling – 4500 were observed feeding around the flooded Ings on the 27^th.

Cetti’s Warbler – Two birds continued to frequent the reedbed at Wheldrake during the month, with a new bird caught and ringed there on the 3^rd, and two more caught and ringed at Church Bridge on the Pocklington Canal on the 6^th. One was also calling further upstream there by the reedbed on the 16^th where another was ringed on the 27^th. Another un-ringed bird was seen well there on the 29^th. A total of 18 have now been caught and ringed in the LDV this year.

Bearded Tit – A flock of 12 flew over Church Bridge on the Pocklington Canal, possibly heading to roost in the nearby reedbed on the 18^th.

Blackcap – A female was present in Melbourne Arm area on the Pocklington Canal on the 12^th.

Chiffchaff – A single was seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th and 6^th with singles there and at Dunnington Common on the 12^th and 13^th.

Chiffchaff - Wheldrake Ings - 05/11 - AF

Linnet – 200 were near Thornton Ellers on the 3^rd. 30 started to gather at Bank Island at last winter's roost by the NNR Base, with numbers reaching 300+ at Thornton Ellers on the 27^th. 60 roosted at Bank Island on the 29^th.

Chaffinch – 100+ were present in game cover strips at Thornton Ellers on the 27^th.

Brambling – Three were present at Thornton Ellers on the 13^th with 13 there on the 27^th.

Corn Bunting – Three were spotted in the Melbourne Church Bridge reedbed roost from the 5^th, whilst c20 were roosting on the Ings grassland after dark at North Duffield Carrs on the 21^st. The usual winter roost in the reedbed at Church Bridge, Melbourne, held 43 on the 19^th, whilst up to 120 were in the East Cottingwith area on the 27^th.