Lower Derwent Valley NNR - October Sightings
Following an exciting September with plenty of notable records and interest throughout the month, cumulating with a Common Rosefinch caught and ringed at Bank Island on the 29th, October then started off with a Lesser Yellowlegs - found at Wheldrake at dawn on the 2nd, with it relocating to Bank Island soon afterwards.
Otherwise the month saw a large arrival of wintering
waterfowl, with 212 Whooper Swans moving through the site, whilst the
resident herd had built up to 30+ by month end. An impressive 7100 Pink-footed
Geese were logged, with a lingering flock still present at North Duffield Carrs late in
the month. A flock of 23 Tundra Bean Geese were noteworthy, whilst a few
early White-fronted Geese were also recorded. A noteworthy and rather early
count of 170 Pintail
were recorded, along with the first
returning Goldeneye (3rd) and Goosander (28th).
Two lingering Great White Egrets were also present throughout. Raptor watching
was productive with up to ten Marsh Harrier present at various roosts, along
with a Goshawk (2nd), Merlin (3rd) and the
first wintering Hen Harrier.
Waders numbers also started to build with a small
return of floodwater, with 1000 Golden Plover, 300/400 Snipe and a total of 15 Jack Snipe (caught and ringed) - probably
reflecting only a proportion of the true figures present. Other returning
wintering waders included 4 Dunlin, 11 Ruff, 3 Curlew and 2 Redshank by month end, with a single Black-tailed Godwit and Green
Sandpiper lingering in the area. A late flock of 9 Common Terns were
present over Wheldrake Ings (5th), whilst up to 6 Yellow-legged
Gulls were recorded amidst the large flocks of Lesser Black-backed Gulls
in the Skipwith/Riccall area. Other
highlights/notables included a Raven at Elvington on the 23rd,
Rock Pipit (19th-21st), up to 8 Cetti’s
Warblers and 7 Brambling records, a Bearded Tit (25th),
a single flyover Hawfinch and 37 Crossbills.
Many thanks as always to everyone who has submitted records throughout the month, in particular to members of the YOC, and regular patch birder Duncan Bye - thanks also to Duncan for the use of some of his images below, credited DB.
BIRDS:
Mute Swan –
Numbers increased to 89 by month end.
Whooper Swan – A
total of 212 flew south through the reserve on passage, whilst the wintering
herd slowly built up to 30+ by month end.
A total of 56 flew south through the valley on the 10th, whilst 15 were present in the herd at North
Duffield Carrs on the 11th,
including new colour-ringed birds TCP and TCH. Six flew over the pool at
Wheldrake at dawn on the 12th, with
a further 12 in two parties over Bank Island later in the day. 20 flew south on
the 13th, with 52 at Thornton
Ellers on the 14th. 12
passed through Bank Island on the 18th with
14 on the 19th – on the same day 10
were also present at North Duffield Carrs. Six arrived at Bank Island early
morning on the 20th before
finally departing southwards shortly before dusk. 14 were present there on the 22nd followed by five on the morning of the 23rd, with a family party of six arriving later in
the day. A total of 33 were recorded on the 24th
between North Duffield Carrs and Aughton Ings, with 30+ still present on the 30th. A further 12 flew south on the 31st.
Greylag
Goose – Numbers built up again during the month with
1000+ roosting at Bank Island towards month end. 2000+ were recorded in the
Bank Island and Wheldrake area on the 28th.
Pink-footed
Goose – An impressive 7100 were logged moving through the
site, with some thought be ‘local’ birds moving between the Lower Derwent Valley
and the Humber/Wolds as seen over recent years. Up to 119 lingered at month
end.
Four skeins totalling 157 birds flew south-east over
Wheldrake on the 1st. 1600
flew south-east on the 2nd whilst
350 flew into the Low Grounds on the 8th, followed
by 95 south over Thorganby later in the day. 40 were also over Melbourne on the
same day. 296 flew south-east on the 11th with
400+ on the 12th. 11
were present at Bank Island on the 14th with
several skeins (300+), moving on the 15th followed
by 1675 on the 16th. 358
passed through the reserve on the 17th with
488 on the 18th. 1980
flew west on the 18th followed
by 300 on the 19th. A
flock of 56 followed on the 21st, with 280
on the 22nd and 130 on the 23rd. 100 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 25th with 1136 through the site on the 28th. 130 were at North Duffield Carrs on the 29th with 119 remaining in the area to month end.
Tundra Bean
Goose – 23 flew off from Wheldrake towards dusk on the 26th – after possibly roosting with large numbers
of Greylags at Bank Island after dark (CSR). These individuals may have been
reorientating birds seen coming in off the sea on the Yorkshire Coast earlier
in the day. However, what was presumably the same flock, was present on the 31st over Wheldrake Ings (DB) - heading east so
they may well have been present in the wider area.
White-fronted
Goose – A single was present with Greylags at North
Duffield Carrs on the 28th. Six flew south over Bank Island
on the 31st.
Canada
Goose – Up to 200 had returned by month end.
Barnacle
Goose – 43 flew into roost at Bank Island on the 13th
– a day which saw a large movement elsewhere in the county.
Egyptian
Goose – One at Thorganby Ings on the 22nd, with 12 in the usual stronghold of the East
Cottingwith area on the 24th.
Shelduck – The
first returning five wintering birds were present at Bank Island on the 28th
with numbers increasing to 35 by month end.
Wigeon – 2500
were present on the 18th with 800 at Bank Island on the 19th
and 1100 on the river at Ellerton on the 28th.
Teal – 2000+ were present throughout
the site on the 18th.
Pintail – 12 were present at Bank Island
on the 6th when 12 were
also noted nearby at Skipwith Common NNR. 14 were recorded at Bank Island on
the 12th with 35 there on
the 14th and
80+ on the 17th, when
100+ were present throughout the reserve – a good early count. 149 were then
present on the 19th with
smaller numbers thereafter. 66 were recorded there again on the 28th with 170 at month end.
Shoveler – Numbers increased to 48 by
month end.
Gadwall – Numbers increased to 35 on the
pool by the 23rd, rising to
59 on the 28th and 63 by
month end.
Tufted Duck – A single at Bank Island on the
28th with five on the 31st.
Goosander – The first returning bird was
present at Bank Island on the 28th, which roosted daily
thereafter to month end.
Goldeneye – One at Wheldrake Ings on the 3rd with another there on
the 21st.
Little
Egret – Two at North Duffield Carrs on the 10th
and two at Wheldrake on the 11th were followed by two at
Ellerton on the 20th. A single flew over Bank Island on the 24th, 26th and 28th.
Great
White Egret – Two were present along the river bank at Thorganby
on the 11th with one over Bank Island on the 15th.
A single was then present at East Cottingwith Lock on the 16th
and Wheldrake on the 17th to month end. A second bird was at North Duffield on the 27th, Ellerton on the 28th
and North Duffield Carrs on the 29th to month end.
Little
Grebe – Numbers on the river and canal started to
increase as birds returned to wintering sites. A single was present throughout
the month on the pool at Wheldrake, with two there on the 23rd
and four on the river at Ellerton on the 22nd. A single returned
to North Duffield Carrs top pond on the 27th.
Goshawk – An
immature male was present and photographed over the pool at Wheldrake Ings on
the 2nd (CSR).
Marsh
Harrier – Two
were still present in the Wheldrake/Bank Island area between the 1st -4th. Three or
four roosted at Aughton Ings on the 8th
with one roosting at Bank Island on the 14th.
An orange wing-tagged male was at Wheldrake on the 15th with up to five cream-crowns across the reserve on
the 17th/18th.
A single orange wing-tagged juvenile was seen at Ellerton on the 20th and again at Wheldrake on
the 22nd. Three roosted
at Bank Island on the 26th/27th
with four at Aughton on the 27th
– all untagged, whilst a green tagged bird was observed at North Duffield Carrs
on the 29th/30th.
At least 10 birds were thought to be involved in the records during the month.
Peregrine – Up to three were recorded in
the area from the 1st
with a rehabilitated immature released at Bank Island on the 5th. A single was present
there on the 14th with
one at Ellerton on the 20th and Wheldrake on the 25th. At least three birds were
present in the last few days of the month.
Merlin – A single was at
Wheldrake Ings on the 3rd.
Common Buzzard – Up to 17 were observed on and
around North Duffield Carrs/Ings on the 11th,
with a minimum of 51 throughout the reserve on that date. 25 birds were counted
in one field, presumably ‘worming’ at Crockey Hill on the 12th, with 10 still present on the 30th. Nine were recorded
at Wheldrake Ings on the 25th.
Red Kite – Singles at Wheldrake and Bank
Island on the 2nd with
another on the 10th and 11th. A single was recorded at Ellerton Ings on the 22nd and Thorganby on the 24th.
Hen Harrier – A single ringtail was recorded
in the Thorganby area on the 22nd-23rd.
Grey Partridge – Four calling at dusk at Sutton
Farm on the 1st.
Water Rail – Up to four calling birds
remained at Wheldrake Ings throughout the month.
Golden Plover – Up to 100 were seen regularly
in the Wheldrake/Bank Island/Raker Lakes area early in the month. 100+ were in
the Ellerton Ings area on the 20th
with 268+ there on the 22nd.
200 were recorded at Bank Island on the 25th.
1000+ were then present in the Elvington area on the 28th to month end.
Lapwing – Up to 500 were scattered
around the reserve throughout the month.
Common Snipe – 50 were still present at Bank Island
on the 1st, followed by 30 at Thornton Ellers on
the 5th and 40 at Bank
Island on the 5th and 6th. 110 were recorded on
part of Skipwith Common NNR on the 15th. 50+ were present on
Melbourne and Thornton Ings on the 21st with smaller numbers
scattered throughout the site – perhaps as many as 300/400.
Jack Snipe – Eleven were present at Bank
Island on the 1st with
six on the 6th, of which
three were caught and ringed. Six were caught and ringed there on the 7th from a total of 12 seen,
whilst four were also present at Wheldrake Ings on that date. Six were present
again at Bank Island on the 8th
- three of which were caught and ringed, with another two ringed on the 9th - the lack of any re-traps
suggests a larger number were present and had moved
through the site during the week. Rising water levels thereafter moved most birds
away from this site, however, four were recorded on Skipwith Common NNR on the 15th and again on the 23rd/24th. A
single was caught and ringed after dark at Wheldrake on the 27th.
Curlew – Three wintering birds returned
to the reserve on the 31st.
Black-tailed Godwit – A single at Bank Island on the
26th remained to month
end.
Dunlin – The first wintering birds - flock of four, arrived on the 31st.
Ruff – A single at North Duffield Carrs
on the 25th was the first
returning bird of the winter, with
11 there on the 31st.
Lesser Yellowlegs – A single was found at dawn on the
pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 2nd, (CSR, MFJ), before flying over to
Bank Island (DB), where it remained until 0900hrs when it was watched flying
high north-west – second reserve record. It then re-appeared back at Bank
Island at dusk and remained throughout the following day, but was not present on
the 4th – when it appears
to have relocated to Blacktoft Sands RSPB reserve.
Green Sandpiper – A single was recorded at Bank
Island on the 1st and 2nd,
with one at Thornton Ellers on the 5th
and Bank Island on the 20th.
Lesser Black-backed Gull – 300 were present in fields in
the Skipwith area on the 16th
with 250 there on the 19th.
Yellow-legged Gull – Six individuals (five adults
and a first winter), were present with the Lesser Black-backed flock near
Skipwith Common NNR on the 19th.
Four were still present in a flock of 1000 large gulls on the 27th.
Common Tern – A late flock of nine flew
north-east over Wheldrake Ings on the 5th
(TH).
Green Woodpecker – Singles at both Wheldrake Ings
and Melbourne on the 5th.
Hoopoe – One was present at Scrayingham,
further upstream of Stamford Bridge on the 4th.
Skylark – Up to 130 passed south-west
over Bank Island throughout the day on the 1st,
when 60+ were also present in the Ellerton Ings area. 70 were recorded at
Wheldrake on the 15th,
whilst 213 were counted over Ellerton Ings on the 20th followed by 233 south over there on the 22nd. 350 were on fields at Hagg Lane, East Cottingwith on the 24th, with perhaps 500+ present
throughout the valley on that date.
Rock Pipit – A single was observed on the
river bank at North Duffield Carrs on the 19th
(OM), followed by one at Bank Island on the 21st (AF).
Swallow – 31 passed through Wheldrake on
the 7th, whilst six flew
south at Bank Island and two flew over Thorganby early on the 8th. Another two were seen over
Bank Island on the 9th
when six were at Wheldrake Ings. 41 were recorded at Wheldrake and Bank Island
on the 10th, followed by three
at Wheldrake on the 11th
and seven south on the 14th.
Six were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 17th
with eight heading south, followed by two at Wheldrake on the 18th. Three at Wheldrake
Ings on the 19th with one
on the 21st.
House Martin – 21 at Wheldrake Ings and Bank
Island on the 7th, with two at Bank Island on the 10th
and 11th. Three late birds were at Wheldrake on the 20th
with one at Ellerton Ings on the 22nd.
Redwing – Three flew over Bank Island on
the 6th with a small
nocturnal passage overnight on the 6th/7th.
10 flew over after dawn on the 7th,
with single figure counts on the 8th and 9th. 80
were present on the 10th which were followed by a large
movement on the 11th, which saw a total of 4360 move
north-west over the reserve, including 2650 over Bank Island in a couple of hours
after dawn. 100+ roosted in the pool side willows at Wheldrake on the 12th, with 700 arriving into
the valley on the 13th. 1000
arrived during an afternoon of light drizzle on the 21st.
Fieldfare – 167 north-west over Bank Island
on the 11th were the
first of the year, and were followed by 500 arriving on the 13th. 223 were present at
North Duffield Carrs on the 19th
whilst 300 flew west at dusk over Bank Island on the same date. 200 at Bank
Island on the 21st with
291 at North Duffield on the same date. 758 went south over Ellerton Ings on
the 22nd with 200 at Bank
Island on the 23rd. Up to
500 were observed around North Duffield Carrs from the 25th to month end.
Mistle Thrush – A single flew north-west with
other thrushes on the 11th.
Stonechat – The good numbers present in
September continued - three were present at Bank Island on the 1st – 3rd, with
up to eight observed from the 3rd
at Wheldrake Ings. 12 roosted in front of Tower Hide, Wheldrake on the 5th. A full survey of the reserve
produced a total of 27 on the 11th.
A pair were present at Thornton Ellers on the 29th, whilst up
to five lingered at Wheldrake Ings to month end. Two were also present at
Barmby Marsh Wetlands during the month.
Raven – A single was seen at
Elvington Airfield on the 23rd
(OM).
Willow Tit – Up to eight were present in
the Bank Island/Wheldrake Ings area during the month, with up to three in Melbourne.
Marsh Tit – Several calling birds at Crook
Moor Thorganby on the 6th
with one at North Duffield Carrs on the 24th.
Bearded Tit – A single was seen and
photographed at Bank Island on the 25th.
Nuthatch – Two calling birds at Crook
Moor, Thorganby, on the 6th.
Chiffchaff – Five were present at Bank Island
on the 4th. A single was still singing at
Melbourne on the 27th.
Blackcap – A single was caught and ringed
in the NNR base garden at Bank Island on the 1st. One was present at Bank Island on the 4th, with two caught and
ringed there on the 5th followed by one on the 6th.
Singles lingered there on
the 10th,
11th and 14th.
Lesser Whitethroat – A single at Bank Island was present
with a roving tit flock on the 1st.
Cetti’s Warbler – A single was singing at
Wheldrake Ings on the 1st
and 2nd with four there
on the 3rd and 4th. A single was caught and
ringed at Tower Hide on the 6th
and was followed by one present in the car park scrub on the 10th and 11th. Another individual was
caught and ringed at Wheldrake on the 14th,
with one at Bank Island on the 15th.
Three calling birds were recorded at Wheldrake on the 17th-21st.
Another individual
returned to the usual wintering location on the Pocklington Canal at the Church bridge
reedbed, Melbourne on the 5th,
and remained thereafter. Singles were also present at North Duffield Carrs on the
8th and 9th, with two there on the 11th when another was
present at East Cottingwith. At least eight individuals were present across the
site on that date.
Siskin – A flock of 80 were recorded at
Wheldrake Ings on the 16th.
Lesser Redpoll – 70 were at Melbourne in canal
side Alders on the 2nd, with
70 at Wheldrake on the 21st
when up to 200 were present at Melbourne.
Goldfinch – Numbers at Bank Island
increased to c100 by the 7th.
Brambling – The first of the autumn flew
south over Bank Island on the 18th
with two there the following day on the 19th.
Three were seen at Bank Island on the 21st
with a single there on the 25th.
Hawfinch – A single flew south-east over
Wheldrake at dawn on the 6th.
Crossbill – 10 flew over Bank Island on the 4th, with one over Wheldrake Ings later in the day, when four were also noted near Hemingbrough. A flock were also recorded moving over North Duffield village after dark on the 6th, whilst a single flew west along the canal at Melbourne on the 8th. Six were over Elvington on the 10th with singles at Wheldrake on the 10th and 11th, with a total of five over that site on the 12th. One flew north-west over Ellerton on the 22nd. Single at Wheldrake Ings on the 25th with five over Bank Island on the 28th and a single at Wheldrake on the 30th.
I saw a black swan at N D Carr’s on Sunday.
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