Aug' 21

 Lower Derwent Valley NNR - August Sightings

Numbers of returning wildfowl (from moulting sites in the UK or breeding sites elsewhere), increased during the month with around two hundred Teal, four Wigeon and small numbers of Mute Swans and geese noted, as well as three Pintail (26^th). Two Great White Egrets frequented the reserve, including a wide ranging British bred bird dispersing from the natal colony in Somerset, whilst three broods of Water Rail and two late calling Quail were noted. Raptors showed well with evidence of two family parties of Hobby, probably the result of local breeding, whilst up to five Marsh Harriers also lingered with a single Osprey and Goshawk reported and the first returning Peregrine.

Wader passage was, as usual, dominated by Green Sandpipers (up to nine present), although two more Wood Sandpipers continued the good run of records this year. One or two Little Stints appeared from the 26^th with a Curlew Sandpiper on the 28^th – both representing records of species less than annual in the LDV and scarcer than experienced previously. 

The regular passer warbler ringing study suggested numbers were down on previous years, with Blackcaps appearing at only 20% of the usual 10 year average. Sedge Warblers were the only species to appear in average numbers. Passerine highlights included a handful of Redstarts, more locally bred Grasshopper Warblers, a mere three Whinchat and a late juvenile Cuckoo.

Many thanks as always to everyone who contributed records and counts during the month, especially to members of York Birding and regular patch birder Duncan Bye.

176 bird species have now been recorded since 1^st January 2021, with the addition of Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper this month.

 

BIRDS: 

Mute Swan – Several non-breeding birds started to appear in the last week of the month (returning from moulting sites), with six over Wheldrake Ings on the 31^st. Usual local families parties remained throughout.

Mute Swan brood - Wheldrake Ings - 14/08 - DB

Greylag Goose – Numbers slowly increased throughout the month with up to 150 returning to the local area by the end of the month.

Canada Goose – The first 12 returning birds from the summer moulting sites were at Wheldrake Ings on the 19^th.

Pink-footed Goose – The lingering adult remained at Wheldrake having finished moulting on the 1^st, and was present regularly thereafter to month end.

Egyptian Goose – Up to 14 remained in the East Cottingwith area.

Wigeon – The first two returning birds were present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 22^nd with four at North Duffield Carrs on the 30^th.

Teal – Eight were on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st with 12 there on the 2^nd. Numbers had built up to 30 by the 7^th and 40 by the 8^th. 52 were present on the 14^th, increasing further to 82 by the 18^th and 135 by the 22^nd. 190 were present on the 29^th and 30^th.

Pintail – The first returning and rather early birds were a group of three at Bank Island on the 26^th.

Gadwall – A single brood of five unfledged ducklings remained at Wheldrake Ings early in the month. Thereafter up to 15-20 were present throughout the site.

Shoveler – A single brood of five finally fledged at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th with up to 15 throughout the site at month end.

Pochard – A single was at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th.

Little Egret – Seven were present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 3^rd with up to three daily thereafter.

Little Egret - Wheldrake Ings - 08/08 - DB

Great White Egret – A single was on the pool at Wheldrake on the 3^rd, with another appearing on the 17^th, wearing a red colour-ring (AAU) - showing its origin to be of the British breeding population on the Somerset Levels. Several days later it reappeared at Bank Island on the 20^th (commuting to Staveley near Ripon in between).  

Coot – Up to 14 were scattered throughout the site at month end.

Marsh Harrier – An adult pair and two juveniles remained on the reserve, particularly around the southern end from the 1^st. An adult male and female were still in the Wheldrake/Bank Island area on the 8^th, with three roosting at Bubwith on the 15^th. Last year’s wing-tagged bird ‘D3’ was present again at Bank Island on the 20^th. An adult pair and two juveniles (untagged) were at Wheldrake Ings at dawn on the 25^th with four to five present daily to month end.

Marsh Harrier - Wheldrake Ings - 08/08 - DB

Osprey – One was reported from Crockey Hill on the 17^th.

Peregrine – The first juvenile of the autumn was seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th.

Red Kite – Reported regularly from the Melbourne and Thornton area during the month with occasional sightings from elsewhere around the wider area.

Hobby – Two or three birds were present at the Wheldrake hirundine roost on the 4^th with one seen catching and killing a Swallow. A single was present there at dawn on the 6^th with one observed carrying another Swallow on the 15^th. A single was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 16^th with singles at Wheldrake on the 10^th, 20^th, 22^nd, 25^th and daily thereafter. A recently fledged juvenile was watched being fed by an adult at Melbourne Ings on the 28^th – presumably the result of local breeding. Equally, two adults and three juveniles were at North Duffield Carrs Top Pond on the 30^th. Another was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 31^st.

Goshawk – An adult male was seen in the wider area on the 28^th.

Water Rail – Several were present and showing well on the pool at Wheldrake early in the month, with seven there on the 6^th and two juveniles on the 25^th. Four juveniles (two broods) were present on the 28^th with six young (three broods) on the 30^th.

Quail – Two were singing from adjacent cereal fields by Sutton Wood on the 4^th (JC).

Little Ringed Plover – A single at Wheldrake Ings between the 6^th – 8^th with one at Bank Island in addition on the 8^th.

Ringed Plover – A single flew into the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 31^st in a mixed flock of Ruff and Dunlin.

Snipe – Numbers increased with some passage towards month end with 40 between Bank Island and Wheldrake from the 20^th. 25 were on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th.

Snipe - Wheldrake Ings - 01/08 - DB

Curlew – Three flew west at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th.

Whimbrel – Three went south over Thorganby towards dusk on the 24^th.

Dunlin – A single on the pool at Wheldrake on the 18^th with one over Elvington on the 23^rd. One at Thornton Ellers on the 28^th with four at Wheldrake Ings on the 31^st.

Curlew Sandpiper – One showed well at close range at Thornton Ellers on the 28^th, feeding with a Little Stint, Dunlin and Green Sandpiper.

Little Stint – Juvenile at Thornton Ellers between the 26^th-28^th with another on the pool at Wheldrake on the 31^st.

Ruff – Two at Bank Island on the 23^rd with two different birds there on the 25^th. One flew through Wheldrake Ings on the 30^th with 11 briefly there on the 31^st.

Black-tailed Godwit – Two were present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 29^th and 30^th with a single there on the 31^st.

Common Sandpiper – Single at Wheldrake Ings on the 30^th.

Green Sandpiper – Nine were at present on the pool at Wheldrake on the 1^st, followed by seven on the 3^rd/4^th and six between the 4^th-9^th. Eight were present thereafter, with one at North Duffield Carrs on the 15^th and ten at Wheldrake the following day. Up to nine remained daily thereafter with seven remaining on the 26^th and five thereafter to month end. Singles were also present at Thornton Ings towards month end.

Wood Sandpiper – A single was on the pool at Wheldrake between the 1^st-4^th with another there on the 23^rd/24^th.

Wood Sandpiper - Wheldrake Ings - 01/08 - DB

Greenshank – A single was present on the pool at Wheldrake between the 1^st – 8^th with two on the 11^th and one briefly on the 21^st. Single at Melbourne Ings on the 23^rd.

Lesser Black-backed Gull – Large numbers continued to pass through the area with up to 100 found in surrounding fields on the 30^th.

Yellow-legged Gull – Two adults were present with loafing gulls near South Duffield on the 28^th. Five adults and a juvenile were present there on the 31^st.

Little Gull – A moulting adult flew south along the River Derwent at Thorganby on the 30^th.

Cuckoo – A juvenile was present on the Pocklington Canal near Melbourne on the 6^th.  

Swift – Still present in Wheldrake village until month end with small numbers reported daily over the Ings.

Raven – A single over Wheldrake Ings at dawn on the 25^th.

Tree Pipit – Three flew south at Menthorpe on the 19^th with one over Bank Island on the 20^th. A single was recorded during nocturnal passage over Elvington on the 31^st.

Whinchat – One was present on the riverbank at North Duffield Ings on the 11^th with one at Wheldrake on the 25^th, Thornton Ellers on the 27^th and North Duffield Carrs on the 28^th.

Common Redstart – The first returning bird of the autumn was a single immature caught and ringed in the Swantail reedbed on the 2^nd, with an adult male at Seavy Carr on the 6^th (still present on the 9^th), with another or the same remaining on the 20^th and 30^th. A single at Bank Island on the 23^rd with another at Wheldrake on the 24^th.

Common Redstart - Wheldrake Ings - 02/08

Yellow Wagtail – Up to 21 roosted in the Wheldrake reedbed until at least the 26^th.

Swallow – Up to 1000 were present daily between the 1^st - 9^th at the Wheldrake roost, with ringing efforts at this time suggesting a high degree of turnover on a daily basis. Numbers then reduced with 200 at Wheldrake on the 16^th and 400 on the 30^th.

Starling – The Wheldrake roost continued to hold c2000 birds early in the month.

Spotted Flycatcher – A single pair at the Melbourne Arm were incubating a second clutch on the 5^th, in the same location as to where they were observed feeding a brood on the 13^th - a second pair were also reported to have bred in a village garden.

Sedge Warbler – Large numbers of juveniles moved through the site early in the month with 25 ringed on the 2^nd and 20 ringed on the 3^rd. Movement continued until the 12^th but with very few in the following days, before further birds passed through the site from the 16^th. 10 were caught and ringed at Wheldrake on the 19^th followed by 21 on the 25^th.

Grasshopper Warbler – A single male was reeling by Tower Hide at Wheldrake Ings between the 1^st – 3^rd, with a juvenile caught and ringed in the Swantail reedbed on the 3^rd. The reeling male was still present but not reeling on the 9^th when another juvenile was caught and ringed by Tower Hide.

Grasshopper Warbler - Wheldrake Ings - 03/08

Lesser Whitethroat – Small numbers moved through the site during the month including three at Bank Island on the 23^rd.

Nuthatch – Two at Wheldrake Ings riverside track on the 29^th.

Willow Tit – A juvenile was caught and ringed by Swantail Hide, Wheldrake, on the 25^th with four nearby on the 29^th. One was present with a large flock of 40 Long-tailed Tits in the car park at Wheldrake on the 31^st.

Marsh Tit – A pair with two juveniles were observed at Skipwith Common NNR on the 1^st.