Oct' 23

 Lower Derwent Valley NNR - October Sightings

October was an exciting month combining incoming winter migrants, outgoing summer visitors and some more unusual sightings.

The highlight was an American Golden Plover found amongst the wintering Golden Plover in the favoured fields just outside Wheldrake village on the 17^th, where it remained until at least the 20^th. Several individuals have been ‘claimed’ here over the years, however, each record has been judged to have been ‘unproven’ so this the first confirmed record for the species in the area having been well documented and photographed. At the other end of the reserve a Grey Phalarope at Hemingbrough Gravel Pits proved popular for local listers, being the only ‘twitch-able’ bird to have occurred in the wider area. Two unseasonal Common Cranes, the seemingly ever present Great White Egrets, three wintering Hen Harriers, two Short-eared Owls, an early Tundra Bean Goose and Dark-bellied Brent were added interest.

American Golden Plover - Chris Gomersall

Otherwise, numbers of wintering waterfowl continued to build with the first returning Whooper Swans and increasing numbers of Greylags and Pink-footed Geese. The first returning Jack Snipe and Woodcock started to appear from mid-month, with large numbers of winter thrushes recorded passing over the reserve. A Turtle Dove at Bank Island was notable on the 17^th with a particularly late Whinchat at Wheldrake Ings on the 29^th.

Many thanks 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, Jono Leadley, Tim Ward and Trevor Walton for the use of their images below. 

 

BIRDS:

Whooper Swan – The first returning adults were present on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 9^th with five south a few days later on the 15^th – the same day when two were seen on the river at Ellerton Landing. 33 flew south over Bank Island on the 16^th with 42 south over Bubwith on the 17^th. Six went south over Wheldrake on the 21^st with seven at Thorganby Ings on the 22^nd. 24 were at North Duffield Carrs on the 30^th when four arrived after dark over Wheldrake village. 12 flew south early morning at Bank Island on the 31^st followed by a herd of 68 later in the morning. 16 were seen heading over White Carr meadow near the Pocklington Canal on the 31^st.

Whooper Swans - North Duffield Carrs - 30/10 - TW

Tundra Bean Goose – A single flew south down the reserve over Bank Island on the 24^th with another (or the same) at Thornton Ings on the 27^th.

Pink-footed Goose – 300 were recorded over Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with 200 over Bank Island on the 8^th and 60 over Thorganby on the same date. 136 were present in the Wheldrake/Bank Island and Storwood area on the 9^th. Small numbers were then recorded daily with 540 on the 14^th and 3200 distantly from Bank Island on the 15^th. 5,600 flew east at dawn from the Humber to the Wolds on the 17^th. 300 passed over Bank Island on the 18^th followed by 350 on the 19^th and 200 north over Elvington on the same date. 122 went over Elvington on the 20^th with 1000 recorded in the Bubwith area on the 21^st when 400 went north over Wheldrake. 160 were present over Wheldrake and Bank Island on the 22^nd. 1000 were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 27^th. 168 were at Wheldrake Ings and Bank Island on the 29^th, with 140 over Bank Island on the 30^th and 1,077 on the 31^st.

Pink-footed Geese - Bank Island - 15/10 - DB

Greylag Goose – 1000+ roosted at Bank Island on the 16^th/17^th with 1,430 there on the 19^th.

Barnacle Goose – A single arrived at Bank Island on the 27^th and was present on the Low Grounds on the 28^th and 29^th.

Brent Goose – A single Dark-bellied individual was present on the Low Grounds on the 24^th and was again present there and at Wheldrake on the 28^th and 29^th.

Egyptian Goose – Six were at Bank Island on the 16^th with two at Wheldrake on the 21^st and a single at Thorganby on the 22^nd. Two were still at Wheldrake Ings on the 23^rd.

Shelduck – The first returning bird was at Wheldrake on the 11^th with seven at Thorganby Ings on the 29^th.

Wigeon – Seven were on the pool at Wheldrake on the 7^th when two were also present at Bank Island. 700 were on the pool at Wheldrake at dawn on the 10^th with 400 on the Low Grounds on the 22^nd. Up to 1500 were in the Wheldrake/Low Grounds/Bank Island area on the 29^th when 2500 were estimated to be present throughout the reserve.

Wigeon - Bank Island - 14/10 - DB

Teal – 800 were recorded across the reserve on the 10^th followed by 1,500 on the 30^th.

Mallard – Up to 1000+ were present during the night on the pool at Wheldrake early in the month with very few lingering during the daytime.

Pintail – Two were on the pool at Wheldrake on the 1^st and again on the 4^th. Four were present on the pool on the 14^th. A spell of flooding later in the month saw numbers increase with a total of 45 throughout the site on the 27^th.

Shoveler – Up to 30 were present early in the month until flooding resulted in an increase to 76 on the 29^th.

Gadwall – Up to 67 were recorded across the reserve on the 30^th.

Pochard – Three at Wheldrake Ings on the 24^th were the first of the autumn with four there by the 29^th.

Tufted Duck – The first flooding of the winter attracted 14 to Wheldrake on the 28^th.

Scaup – A first-winter drake was present at Bubwith Ings on the 29^th.

Goldeneye – The first returning bird, a drake, was present at Wheldrake on the 28^th.

Little Egret – Up to five were present throughout the reserve early in the month with extensive flooding then resulting in birds dispersing more widely.

Great White Egret – One was present at Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 1^st with singles at both North Duffield Carrs and Wheldrake on the 4^th. Two flew north-east over Bank Island on the 19^th with one at North Duffield Carrs on the 20^th and 21^st followed by three there on the 23^rd. Singles were present on the Low Grounds (24^th-26^th), Wheldrake (28^th-29^th) and North Duffield Carrs (29^th-31^st).

Great White Egret - North Duffield Carrs - 30/10 - TW

Grey Partridge – 12 were at Bank Island on the 4^th with eight seen near South Duffield on the 15^th and 17^th. 37 were in fields at Wheldrake on the 25^th with a covey of six at Elvington on the 26^th. 24 were at Wheldrake on the 30^th.

Marsh Harrier – The wing-tagged bird ‘D3’ remained during the month with five individuals present around the reserve on the 8^th - including a bird flying high to the south which may have been a migrant on passage rather than a more local individual. Three different birds were also noted on Melbourne and Thornton Ings early in the month. Five roosted at Bank Island on the 13^th with six there at dawn on the 16^th and two at Wheldrake on the 23^rd. Four were at Wheldrake on the 29^th when three were at North Duffield Carrs.

Marsh Harrier - Wheldrake Ings - 01/10 - DB

Hen Harrier – An un-tagged bird was seen at Wheldrake on the 1^st with one south over Hemingbrough on the 9^th. Another individual was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 20^th, followed by one at Wheldrake on the 21^st and North Duffield Carrs between the 22^nd-27^th. These sightings may have related to one or two individuals, with two ringtails at North Duffield Carrs on the 29^th and a single there on the 30^th and 31^st. A male flew south down the reserve at Bank Island on the 31^st.  

Red Kite – Good numbers remained throughout the reserve with two at Wheldrake Ings, four at Ellerton landing, three at North Duffield Carrs and four at Thornton Ellers on the 15^th. Five were seen over North Duffield Carrs on the 22^nd.

Common Buzzard – 10 were at Wheldrake on the 15^th.

Peregrine – A single was at Bank Island on the 14^th, followed by one at Wheldrake between the 18^th-20^th and Bank Island on the 27^th.

Hobby – A single was at North Duffield Carrs on the 4^th.

Merlin – A single at North Duffield Carrs on the 22^nd was the first of the winter, with a male later observed hunting Fieldfare flocks there on the 29^th with a female doing likewise at Bank Island on the 31^st.

Common Crane – Two flew south-east over Bubwith Ings on the 19^th.

Lapwing – 575 had returned to Wheldrake by the 29^th with 365 at Thorganby Ings on the same date – a monthly maximum of 940.

Golden Plover – 140 were seen over Wheldrake on the 1^st. 18 flew west at Wheldrake on the 7^th with 400+ in the Wheldrake area adjacent to the reserve on the 8^th. 500+ were present on the 10^th with up to 650+ thereafter until the 17^th. Birds were more spread out thereafter with 300 over Wheldrake on the 23^rd and 240 on the 28^th. 600+ were present in the northern end of the reserve on the 29^th.

American Golden Plover – A single was found in the Golden Plover flock in the Wheldrake area on the 17^th and was present there until the 20^th.

American Golden Plover - Wheldrake - 17/10 - JL

Dunlin – One remained at Thornton Ellers until the 5^th with the next seen flying over arable fields to the north of Wheldrake village after dark on the 25^th. 11 were at Bank Island on the 27^th following the flooding with two at Wheldrake on the 28^th.

Ruff – A single was seen in arable fields with a flock of Golden Plover near Wheldrake on the 23^rd. Five were present at Thorganby Ings on the 29^th.

Snipe – 22 flew south over Bank Island on the 8^th. Small flocks continued to arrive throughout the day on the 9^th with 200+ on the pool at Wheldrake towards dusk. 50+ were at Wheldrake on the 23^rd with several on wet arable fields near Wheldrake village on the 30^th – presumably having been pushed off the flooded Ings.

Jack Snipe – The first returning birds were two at Wheldrake on the 11^th. Three were present there on the 16^th with one flushed at Bank Island on the 17^th. Another passed over Bank Island on the 18^th.

Woodcock – The first two returning birds were feeding on arable near Wheldrake village after dark on the 30^th.

Green Sandpiper – Three remained at Thornton Ings on the 2^nd with two there from the 6^th. Four were present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 9^th with one at Bank Island on the 14^th.

Grey Phalarope – A single immature was found south of the reserve at Hemingbrough Gravel Pits on the 1^st and remained until the 5^th.

Grey Phalarope - 03/10 - Hemingbrough - TW

Black-headed Gull – 5000+ roosted at Wheldrake on the 24^th following the extensive flooding.

Short-eared Owl – A single was observed hunting over North Duffield Carrs on the 8^th with presumably the same individual there on the 11^th. One was present at Bank Island at dawn and dusk on the 17^th and 22^nd with two there on the 30^th.

Little Owl – One was in fields by Wheldrake village after dark on the 30^th.

Turtle Dove – One flew south with a Collared Dove over Bank Island on the 17^th.

Meadow Pipit – 100 flew south over Wheldrake on the 1^st with 400 over Bank Island in the first three hours after dark the next day.

Meadow Pipit - Bank Island - 14/10 - DB

Skylark – 130 flew south over Wheldrake on the 1^st with smaller numbers daily thereafter. 120 were present in stubble fields at Hagg Lane, East Cottingwith on the 15^th.

Swallow – 240 flew south over Wheldrake on the 1^st. Six headed south over Bank Island on the 7^th with five there on the 8^th and singles until the 13^th.

House Martin – Three or four were recorded daily at Bank Island until the 6^th.

Starling – 900+ moved through Bank Island on the 28^th followed by 1,040 north-west on the 29^th.

Redwing – Two flew over Bank Island on the night of the 5^th/6^th ahead of a large arrival on the 8^th, with 300 over Melbourne, 300 at North Duffield Carrs and 3,330 at Bank Island on that date. 1,500 passed over Bank Island in the first couple of hours after dawn on the 9^th. 800 moved through Bank Island on the 18^th and were followed by 1,380 on the 19^th. 700 flew over Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 22^nd with 240 following on the 23^rd. 3,000 passed over Bank Island on the 27^th followed by 400 there on the 28^th. 1,757 were present at Bank Island on the 29^th.

Redwing - Bank Island - 29/10 - DB

Fieldfare – The first returning birds arrived on the 8^th with 30 at Melbourne, 25 at North Duffield Carrs and 457 at Bank Island and Wheldrake. Only small numbers were present daily thereafter with 45 on the 17^th being the next notable arrival. 610 followed on the 18^th with 800 on the 19^th. 110 were recorded over Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 22^nd followed by 290 on the 23^rd. 100 moved through Bank Island early morning on the 27^th when a flock of 300 were present at Aughton. 324 went south-west over Bank Island on the 28^th. 3,145 were at Bank Island on the 29^th with 5,000+ recorded during the day there on the 30^th. 500 were at North Duffield Carrs on the 31^st with 1000+ at Bank Island.

Ring Ouzel – An immature female was caught and ringed at Bank Island on the 9^th.

Blackbird – A large arrival in thick mist saw 300+ appear at dawn at Bank Island on the 27^th with very few remaining during the day once the mist cleared.

Whinchat – A single remained at Wheldrake between the 1^st-7^th with amazingly another, or the same reappearing there on the 29^th.

Whinchat - Wheldrake Ings - 29/10 - DB

Stonechat – A pair were still present at Wheldrake between the 1^st-7^th with three further birds at Wheldrake and Bank Island on the later date. Pairs remained thereafter at Bank Island and Wheldrake with a single at North Duffield on the 15^th. Two south over Bank Island may have been on passage, with pairs at North Duffield Carrs on the 22^nd and Wheldrake on the 23^rd - remaining thereafter.

Nuthatch – One at Wheldrake on the 7^th with up to three at the Oaks Golf course in Aughton early in the month.

Chiffchaff – Four were still present at Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 7^th. 17 were between Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 8^th however numbers declined thereafter with just one remaining at Bank Island on the 22^nd and 29^th.

Blackcap – One remained at Bank Island on the 7^th with another there on the 22^nd.

Cetti’s Warbler – Four were at Wheldrake on the 1^st and 7^th with singles at Bank Island on the 2^nd and 7^th. A single was then present at North Duffield Carrs from the 20^th to month end.

Siskin – 13 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 22^nd.

Goldfinch – 200 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st.

Brambling – The first returning birds of the autumn were singles at both Wheldrake and Bank Island on the 8^th. Two flew over Bank Island on the 9^th with one there on the 17^th and one or two daily thereafter until the 23^rd. Four were present at Bank Island on the 25^th with seven there on the 29^th.

Crossbill – A flock of six flew south over Bank Island on the 20^th with seven over there on the 21^st and another south there on the 22^nd. An unseen flock passed over Tower Hide, Wheldrake, on the 29^th.