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.

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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 (3rd), a Glossy Ibis (4th over North Duffield Carrs) and a Cattle Egret (5th - 19th). 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 27th - the largest such group. A late Swallow was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 20th.

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 23rd, remaining until the 29th when they were seen flying in the direction of the Lower Derwent, before returning to the same fields in Fangfoss on the 30th.

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

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 5th, which included 49 feeding with Greylags at North Duffield Ings. 30 flew south-east at Ellerton Ings on the 11th when 14 were also present at North Duffield Carrs. 200 were recorded on the 18th while 119 were present throughout the site on the 19th.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wigeon - Thorganby - 12/11 - DB

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

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

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

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

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

Pochard – A single was present on the Low Grounds on the 3rd with ten at Thorganby Ings on the 4th followed by 20 on the 5th and 25 on the 11th. 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 19th.

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

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

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

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

Goldeneye - Wheldrake Ings - 05/11 - DB

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

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

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

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 5th 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 29th.

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

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

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

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

Grey Partridge – Up to 37 remained at a site near Wheldrake village with 20 at Aughton on the 18th. 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 2nd and 3rd. At least 11 were present throughout the reserve on the 5th with five still present on the 11th and at least eight on the 19th.

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

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

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

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

Common Crane – Two roosted over night at Melbourne Ings on the 3rd 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 18th with either the same or another at Melbourne on the 29th.

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 5th with 3100 by the 11th. A total of 4458 were present on the WeBS on the 19th.

Lapwing - Wheldrake Ings - 19/11 - DB

Golden Plover – A total of 744 were present throughout the reserve on the 5th increasing to 2130 by the 19th, 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 5th with the flock at North Duffield Ings building to 101 by the 19th whilst 100 flew through Bank Island on the 21st. 400+ were present in fields by Derwent Cottage Farm on the 25th.

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

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

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

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 22nd. 30+ were feeding after dark on the 29th.

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

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

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

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

Gull roost - Wheldrake Ings - 11/11 - DB

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 20th 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 25th with seven there on the 26th and 27th. 25 flew south over the NNR Base at Bank Island on the 27th. Five were present in a Thorganby garden on the 29th.

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

Stonechat – Up to four birds were present early in the month at North Duffield Carrs with a single on the Low Grounds on the 3rd and Bank Island on the 4th. 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 5th. Further pairs were found at Elvington on the 9th and East Cottingwith/Ellerton Ings on the 11th 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 19th.

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 4th. 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 4th 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 5th. 200 were at Thornton on the 19th with 35 present in the arable field at North Duffield Carrs on the 23rd.

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

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

Corn Bunting - Hagg Lane - 19/11 - DB

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