Nov' 23

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - November Sightings

Extensive flooding dominated the month resulting in restricted access, however there was still plenty of interest with highlights including a red-head Smew, Ring Ouzel and two Common Cranes (3^rd), a Glossy Ibis (4^th over North Duffield Carrs) and a Cattle Egret (5^th - 19^th). Two Scaup also lingered during the month.

Three Bewick’s Swans spent several days near Fangfoss whilst the Whooper Swan herd increased to 114. Other waterfowl totals included 5000 Wigeon, 3800 Teal, 279 Pintail, 257 Tufted Duck and 49 Pochard. Similarly, wader numbers included 4458 Lapwing, 2100 Golden Plover and 400 Dunlin, whilst Woodcock continued to increase throughout the wider area. More unseasonal were nine Black-tailed Godwits and six Green Sandpipers. Up to 11 Marsh Harriers remained throughout with the lingering Hen Harrier present in addition to three Merlin.

Other notable sightings included a Short-eared Owl, Raven and a presumed wintering Chiffchaff. The area also had its fair share of the recent Waxwing influx with several flocks around including 25 over the NNR Base at Bank Island on the 27^th - the largest such group. A late Swallow was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 20^th.

Many thanks as always to everyone who contributed records and counts throughout the month, in particular to members of York Birding, and regular patch birder Duncan Bye. Thanks also to Duncan bye & Dave Ward for the use of their images below.

 

BIRDS:

Bewick’s Swan – Three adults were present in fields in Fangfoss on the 23^rd, remaining until the 29^th when they were seen flying in the direction of the Lower Derwent, before returning to the same fields in Fangfoss on the 30^th.

Whooper Swan – 50 individuals were present in the wintering herd on the 1^st when eight passed south over Bank Island, followed by 17 on the 2^nd and herds of 11, 8 and 6 on the 3^rd. Ten passed south over Bank Island on the 6^th when a total of 79 were present throughout the site on that date. 90 were recorded throughout the reserve on the 11^th with a total of 85 on the 19^th. Herds of 25 and 8 flew south over Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st with 12 south there on the 22^nd. A total of 99 were recorded across the reserve on the 24^th followed by 114 on the 26^th.   

Whooper Swans - Hagg Lane - 05/11

Pink-footed Goose – Daily flocks of 100-200 birds were recorded early in the month with 229 counted on the 5^th, which included 49 feeding with Greylags at North Duffield Ings. 30 flew south-east at Ellerton Ings on the 11^th when 14 were also present at North Duffield Carrs. 200 were recorded on the 18^th while 119 were present throughout the site on the 19^th.

White-fronted Goose – A single flew south over Bank Island on the 3^rd.

Greylag Goose – Numbers increased throughout the month with an impressive 3244 recorded on the WeBS on the 19^th.

Barnacle Goose – Presumably last month’s lingering individual flew south-east over Bank Island on the 4^th and was present at Thorganby Ings on the 5^th.

Egyptian Goose – Seven were present at Thornton Ellers on the 1^st whilst two were regularly recorded in the Wheldrake/Bank Island area early in the month. Two were at Thornton Ings on the 5^th, followed by two birds near Elvington on the 9^th and 15 throughout the site on the WeBS on the 19^th.

Shelduck – Numbers had increased to 21 between Thorganby/Aughton by the 11^th with 47 present a week later on the 18^th.

Wigeon – Numbers quickly returned to the Ings due to the extensive flooding early in the month, with 5169 present throughout on the 5^th and 5287 on the 19^th.

Wigeon - Thorganby - 12/11 - DB

Teal – A total of 2624 were present on the 5^th followed by 3835 throughout the site on the 19^th.

Mallard – 2214 were recorded throughout the site on the 5^th.

Pintail – Numbers increased quickly to 167 on the 5^th and further to 279 by the 19^th.

Shoveler – A total of 80 were present throughout the site on the 5^th.

Gadwall – 101 were recorded on the 5^th with 80 at Melbourne Ings on the 29^th.

Pochard – A single was present on the Low Grounds on the 3^rd with ten at Thorganby Ings on the 4^th followed by 20 on the 5^th and 25 on the 11^th. Three at Melbourne Ings were unusual for this location and probably reflects the depth of flooding recorded throughout the site. 49 were recorded throughout the reserve on the 19^th.

Tufted Duck – 43 were present on the Low Grounds on the 3^rd with 26 at Thorganby Ings on the 4^th. A total of 144 were recorded on the 5^th with rafts of 60+ present at both East Cottingwith and Bubwith Ings. 182 were present throughout the site on the 11^th followed by 257 on the 18^th.

Smew – An early returning red-head was present on the Low Grounds on the 3^rd.

Scaup – A single female was present with Tufted Ducks at East Cottingwith on the 5^th with a first-winter drake (previously recorded in October) present at Bubwith Ings on the 19^th.

Goldeneye – Three were present on the reserve on the 5^th followed by 11 on the 11^th and 20 on the 19^th.

Goldeneye - Wheldrake Ings - 05/11 - DB

Goosander – A single was at Wheldrake Ings on the 19^th with an adult drake at Bank Island on the 22^nd – perhaps it was the same individual which then appeared at Wheldrake Ings on the 26^th.

Little Egret – Seven were present at Thornton Ellers on the 1^st with singles largely recorded from scattered locations thereafter.

Grey Heron – 16 were present around the edges of the floods on the 5^th with numbers reaching 25 by the 19^th.

Great White Egret – Up to four were present early in the month with singles at Wheldrake and Melbourne and two in the North Duffield Carrs area. Two were on the flood banks at North Duffield Carrs on the 5^th where they were observed feeding on small mammals which had been flooded onto the higher ground. At least one remained thereafter to month end with one at Melbourne Ings on the 29^th.

Great White Egrets - North Duffield Carrs - 05/11 - DB

Cattle Egret – A single egret sp. seen at Thornton Ellers on the 5^th was thought to be this species, with presumably the same individual confirmed there on the 19^th and again on the 28^th.

Glossy Ibis – A single at North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th.

Great-crested Grebe – Singles were present at Aughton Ings and Thorganby Ings on the 11^th.

Grey Partridge – Up to 37 remained at a site near Wheldrake village with 20 at Aughton on the 18^th. Other coveys were scattered around the area with 20 near Dunnington, 17 at South Duffield and nine at Thornton, with it appearing to have been a successful breeding season.

Marsh Harrier – Up to five lingered at North Duffield Carrs early in the month with two at Bank Island on the 2^nd and 3^rd. At least 11 were present throughout the reserve on the 5^th with five still present on the 11^th and at least eight on the 19^th.

Marsh Harrier - North Duffield Carrs - 03/11 - DW

Hen Harrier – A single ringtail remained at North Duffield Carrs between the 1^st - 4^th, re-appearing there again on the 21^st.

Peregrine – A single was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st and 5^th, with two at East Cottingwith on the 19^th.

Merlin – Singles were at North Duffield between the 1^st - 3^rd with two there on the 4^th. A single was also present at Bank Island on the 2^nd and Melbourne on the 3^rd.  

Common Crane – Two roosted over night at Melbourne Ings on the 3^rd and may have been the same birds heard calling in the fog in the Wharfe Valley the following morning.

Coot – The first returning wintering bird was at Bubwith Ings on the 18^th with either the same or another at Melbourne on the 29^th.

Water Rail – Numbers and activity of calling birds increased throughout the reserve with up to ten calling birds in the Melbourne and Thornton Ings area, an additional six at Wheldrake Ings and four at North Duffield Carrs. Scattered singles were elsewhere throughout the site.

Lapwing – Numbers had increased to 1393 throughout the area on the 5^th with 3100 by the 11^th. A total of 4458 were present on the WeBS on the 19^th.

Lapwing - Wheldrake Ings - 19/11 - DB

Golden Plover – A total of 744 were present throughout the reserve on the 5^th increasing to 2130 by the 19^th, although these were largely confined to higher ground away from the Ings due to the site flooding.

Dunlin – Numbers had increased to 39 by the 5^th with the flock at North Duffield Ings building to 101 by the 19^th whilst 100 flew through Bank Island on the 21^st. 400+ were present in fields by Derwent Cottage Farm on the 25^th.

Ruff – A single was present at Thorganby on the 4^th with six across the site the following day. 12 were present throughout the site on the 19^th.

Black-tailed Godwit – Five were present at Thorganby Ings on the 4^th with four remaining on the 5^th. Nine were at North Duffield Ings on the 25^th with two at Wheldrake Ings on the 26^th.

Jack Snipe – A single was present on pasture near Elvington Airfield on the 20^th with two caught and ringed there on the 22^nd.

Snipe – Numbers increased throughout the month with 400 present by month end.

Woodcock – Large numbers were observed returning to the wider area from mid-month with 15 feeding on pasture after dark near Elvington Airfield on the 22^nd. 30+ were feeding after dark on the 29^th.

Curlew – The first returning birds were three on the 2^nd followed by six on the 11^th and 19^th.

Redshank – The first returning wintering birds appeared with seven at Thorganby on the 4^th.

Green Sandpiper – A single was near Elvington on the 9^th with two there on the 10^th, six on the 20^th and two on the 22^nd.

Black-headed Gull – 4000 were present at the Wheldrake roost on the 11^th with 16,000 on the 19^th.

Gull roost - Wheldrake Ings - 11/11 - DB

Common Gull – 400 were at the Wheldrake roost on the 11^th increasing to c4000 by the 19^th.

Herring Gull – 112 roosted at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th.

Great Black-backed Gull – 24 were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull – 30 were present around the reserve on the 3^rd with one at the Wheldrake Ings roost on the 11^th.

Short-eared Owl – A single was present at Thornton Ellers on the 5^th.

Short-eared Owl - Thornton Ellers - 05/11 - DB

Raven – A single over Skipwith Common NNR on the 2^nd.  

Starling – c2000 were present throughout the reserve feeding on the edges of the floods on the 5^th.

Swallow – A late single was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 20^th.

Waxwing – The area finally got in on the action as birds continued to move south during the month. 30+ were present near Stamford Bridge on the 20^th with 15 over Wheldrake village the following day. Several were also recorded from Fulford around these dates. Six were present in Melbourne village on the 25^th with seven there on the 26^th and 27^th. 25 flew south over the NNR Base at Bank Island on the 27^th. Five were present in a Thorganby garden on the 29^th.

Ring Ouzel – A single was present at Bank Island/the Low Grounds area on the 3^rd.

Stonechat – Up to four birds were present early in the month at North Duffield Carrs with a single on the Low Grounds on the 3^rd and Bank Island on the 4^th. Numbers then increased with six at East Cottingwith, two at North Duffield Carrs and singles at Bank Island, the Low Grounds, Wheldrake and North Duffield Ings on the 5^th. Further pairs were found at Elvington on the 9^th and East Cottingwith/Ellerton Ings on the 11^th with further birds located throughout the site during the rest of the month - a minimum total of 40-45.

Stonechat - North Duffield Carrs - 11/11 - DB

Chiffchaff – One at the NNR Base garden at Bank Island on the 19^th.

Willow Tit – Two or three remained at Wheldrake Ings early in the month with other sightings of one or two birds from Bielby, Melbourne and North Duffield Carrs.

Cetti’s Warbler – Singles remained at Melbourne, North Duffield Carrs and the car park area at Wheldrake Ings, with three at East Cottingwith on the 4^th. Extensive flooding made assessing the records difficult as birds may have moved around the site, however, four to five were thought to be wintering on the reserve during the month.

Siskin – 20 at Church Bridge at Melbourne on the 4^th increased to 150 by month end.  

Linnet – Flocks of 200 at Hagg Lane East Cottingwith and 100 at Field Lane Thornton were recorded on the 5^th. 200 were at Thornton on the 19^th with 35 present in the arable field at North Duffield Carrs on the 23^rd.

Crossbill – One flew south over Bank Island on the 3^rd.

Corn Bunting – A single was caught and ringed after dark roosting on the ground in fields near Wheldrake village on the 2^nd, with 60 at Hagg Lane East Cottingwith on the 4^th and ten at Thornton on the 5^th. 20 were at Hagg Lane on the 11^th with 46 there on the 18^th.

Corn Bunting - Hagg Lane - 19/11 - DB