Lower Derwent Valley NNR - January Sightings
Local birders had a good start to the year with a Ruddy
Shelduck and Amercian Wigeon both present in the valley on the 2nd,
the former presumably the same returning bird from last year (returning with
Shelduck), whilst the latter was presumably the same bird seen at Bank Island
and Ellerton during December 2017. In total 111 species were recorded during the month, with Great White Egret once again present, along
with two Hawfinch from the autumn’s influx and Iceland,
Glaucous and Mediterranean Gulls all recorded (despite the gradual
winding down of operations at Harewood Whin landfill site at Rufforth).
Waterfowl numbers dominated as usual with over 100 Whooper
Swans throughout the month and a peak of 127 on the 2nd. Geese
included 1089 Greylag and 460 Canada, whilst a small influx of European White-fronted Geese onto the
North/East coast saw a peak of 52 in the valley, with other totals including
Five Tundra Bean, Eight Barnacles and a single Egyptian Goose.
Other peak waterfowl counts included 12,740 Wigeon and an impressive 11,200 Teal
– in line with this species trend of increasing numbers over recent years. 400+
Pintail, 190 Shoveler, 150 Gadwall, 130 Tufted Duck, 114 Shelduck and 90 Pochard
were all respectable counts, with a better count of late of 24 Goldeneye.
Wintering waders were also well represented but in lower numbers due to the
extensive floods with 3500 Lapwing, 1200 Golden Plover, 200 Dunlin, 77 Ruff, 51
Redshank and 36 Curlew. The first returning Oystercatchers appeared back
on cue on the 27th reminding us that spring isn’t far away, and a
single Black-tailed Godwit remained throughout continuing the recent
trend of over-wintering in the valley now.
Raptors were again well represented with three or
four Marsh Harriers, a minimum of four Peregrines, two records of Red Kites and
four sightings of Merlin as well as the usual numerous and daily sightings of Buzzards,
Kestrels and Sparrowhawks. Other notable sightings included a Short-eared
Owl in the Melbourne/Thornton area mid-month, a Rock/Water Pipit at
Wheldrake on the 6th, two lingering Hawfinch following the
influx earlier in the winter, several wintering Stonechat and a build up
to 51 wintering Corn Buntings at the traditional Melbourne roost.
Many thanks as always to those who have contributed records throughout the month, especially to the regular valley birders and members of the YOC, including Duncan Bye, thanks also to the Duncan for the use of his photographs (credited DB).
BIRDS:
Whooper
Swan – 127 were present in the valley on the 2nd
with 102 counted on the 22nd including a good number of juveniles (30). Birds were scattered throughout the site with the largest numbers
present on Ellerton during the month.
Whooper Swan - Aughton - 27/01 - DB
Mute Swan – 86
recorded on the 16th was the monthly maximum with birds
present throughout the site.
Pink-footed
Goose – The year started with skeins of 350, 35 and 30
moving north-west over the valley on the 2nd. 80 flew
north-west over Wheldrake Ings on the 13th. A single
was also present throughout the month with the local Greylag flocks, usually in
the Wheldrake/Bank Island area.
European
White-fronted Goose – 38 flew south east over Bank Island on the 14th
(DB, JL) – part of an influx into the county on that date. 52 were present at Bank
Island at dawn on the 15th (CSR), whilst seven were recorded at
Ellerton on the 21st.
Tundra
Bean Goose – Four flew over Bank Island on the 5th
with a single there on the 17th mixed in with a single Pink-footed
Goose and 200+ Greylags.
Greylag
Goose – Large numbers remained throughout the month
scattered across the site. 1089 were present in the valley on the count on the 15th,
with large flocks found in the Bank Island/Wheldrake area, Ellerton and
Thornton.
Greylag Geese - Wheldrake - 22/01
Canada
Goose – 467 were present throughout the site on the 16th
- the monthly maximum.
Barnacle
Goose – Six arrived at the Wheldrake roost towards dusk
on the 13th, with eight there on the 26th which
were then present at Bank Island on the 28th.
Egyptian
Goose – A single was present at Ellerton Ings on the 2nd.
Ruddy
Shelduck – A single was present with Shelduck at Thorganby
Ings/Ellerton Landing on the 2nd (DB) and again on the 6th (OM), perhaps last springs
returning bird.
Shelduck – 40
were present at Thorganby/Ellerton landing on the 2nd with 69
at Ellerton on the 13th. An impressive count of 114 was had
throughout the site (largely in the same area as above) on the 22nd.
Please keep an eye out and record any colour-ringed birds present in the valley
– part of an ongoing long term study.
Wigeon – Large numbers remained
throughout with a sample count of 4000 at Wheldrake on the 17th and 5000 on the 22nd. A total of 12,750 were present on the valley
during a full count on the 22nd.
American Wigeon – Last months adult drake was
found again at Wheldrake Ings on the 2nd
(JL, DB) and again on the 4th (CSR) and 6th
(OM) with reports also coming on the 7th.
Teal – Large numbers remained
throughout the month with 4950 present between Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings
on the 15th, and 3770 on
the 22nd when a total of an
impressive 11,200 were present throughout the site.
Teal - Wheldrake Ings - 22/01
Pintail – 80 were present at Wheldrake
Ings on the 13th when 31
were also present at Aughton Ings. A full count at Wheldrake Ings on the 15th as part of the WeBS
revealed an increase to a total of 370 on that date (with 65% drakes), whilst
410 were present across the whole site. 80+ were present at Aughton Ings on the
22nd with 270 at
Wheldrake on the 26th.
Gadwall – 78
were present at Wheldrake on the 13th followed by 113 on the 14th
and a full count of 143 on the 15th (59% drakes). Further
counts of 148 was had there on the 22nd (with 156 throughout
the site) followed by 117 on the 22nd.
Shoveler – A
partial count of 90 at Wheldrake on 14th with a full count of
170 there on the 15th (61% drakes), with 190 throughout the whole
site on the 22nd.
Tufted
Duck – Numbers increased slightly early in the month
with renewed flooding. 35 were recorded throughout the valley on the 2nd
followed by 33 at Bank Island on the 6th and 56 at Wheldrake on
the 13th. 126 were present between Wheldrake and Bank Island
on the 15th (69% drakes) with 136 throughout the valley on
the 22nd.
Pochard – Numbers
increased to 16 by the 6th with a total of 21 throughout the
valley on the 13th. 23 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 14th
when 75 were counted throughout the valley on the same day, whilst 61 were
present there on the 15th (with 91 throughout the site).
Sample counts showed the population to be comprised of over 86% drakes.
Goldeneye
– Up to 10 were present at Wheldrake on the 1st
with 11 there on the 14th and a full count of 24 there by
the 15th.
Goosander
– Two drakes were present at Bank Island on the 19th.
Cormorant – Up
to 18 birds were present at the Wheldrake Ings roost during the month, with smaller
scattered numbers also recorded throughout the site during the day.
Grey
Heron – Numbers were rather low during the month with a
maximum of just four recorded on the 22nd.
Little
Egret – A single was present at Bank Island on 15th.
Great
White Egret – A single was present near Bubwith Ings and North
Duffield Carrs on the 25th (CH).
Little
Grebe – A scattering of birds were noted wintering
throughout the site with up to eight birds present on the River Derwent. Five were
recorded along the Pocklington Canal whilst two were at both Bank Island and
Wheldrake Ings (17 birds).
Great
Crested Grebe – The first two, early returning birds were at
Wheldrake Ings on the 6th with a single there on the 28th.
Coot – Two
were at Wheldrake Ings on the 13th with 13 between Wheldrake and
Bank Island on the 15th and 17 by the 17th.
Numbers continued to slowly rise with 22 there on the 22nd
increasing to 35 by the 25th.
Red Kite – A
single was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 6th with another
there on the 20th.
Common Buzzard –
Eight were in the air together over Wheldrake on the 6th with
a minimum of six there on the 15th. Otherwise widespread
throughout the site.
Marsh Harrier – At least two cream-crowns remained in the valley
throughout the month with three at Wheldrake on the 15th and another single at North Duffield Carrs on the 17th and Thorganby on the 26th.
Marsh Harrier - Wheldrake - 14/01 - DB
Peregrine – At least three wintering birds
were present in the valley early in the month – an adult female was at Aughton on
the 14th and showed well
at Wheldrake Ings on the 15th
along with an adult male. An interesting looking adult female at North Duffield
Carrs on the 15th/16th
showed characteristics of one of the northern race birds, with an immature also
reported there on the 17th
– at least four birds involved in total during the month.
Merlin – A single was present near
Sutton upon Derwent on the 9th
with a female at East Cottingwith on the 13th.
A single was present at Bank Island on the 15th
with a female/immature at North Duffield Carrs on the 18th.
Kestrel – Good numbers were present
throughout the site during the month with six hunting at North Duffield Carrs
on the 17th (DW). Present
daily around the base at Bank Island with three there on the 25th.
Water Rail – Two were present in the refuge
area at Wheldrake Ings on the 2nd
with up to four present along the river bank between Bank Island and Wheldrake on
the 9th. Two were present
along the Pocklington Canal near Melbourne, with calling birds heard from three
other sites along the canal during the month and at least one at Thornton
Ellers.
Oystercatcher – Singles at East Cottingwith
and Aughton Ings on the 27th
were the first returning birds of the year.
Golden Plover – Up to 1230 were present around
the valley during the month but were mobile in response to changing water levels.
Lapwing – 1000+ were present at Wheldrake
on the 2nd with 3500
there on the 22nd being the
monthly maximum.
Dunlin – 100+ were still present at
Aughton on the 13th with
up to 200 wintering throughout, largely concentrated on the river in the Thorganby
area.
Dunlin - Thorganby - 22/01
Ruff – 44 were present on the
riverbank at Thorganby/Ellerton Landing on the 2nd with 62 at Wheldrake on the 5th and 77 throughout the valley on the 22nd.
Common Snipe – Up to 350 birds were scattered
throughout the site during the month.
Jack Snipe – One at Bank Island on the 19th.
Woodcock – Singles were present in the
Wheldrake Ings car park lane on the 5th, 7th and 13th with a single bird at
Thornton Ellers on the 9th.
Another was present near the Pocklington Canal at Melbourne on the 19th with one flushed from Broomhill Plantation, Sutton upon Derwent, on the 26th. Two were present after
dark on damp grassland near Wheldrake on the same date.
Black-tailed Godwit – A single remained from late
December into the new year and was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 2nd although appeared mobile
and difficult to locate with variable water levels. Last seen there on the 27th.
Curlew – 25 were present at Wheldrake on
the 6th with 33 there on
the 12th, up to 36 by the 15th.
Redshank – Numbers increased during the
month with 51 present on the 22nd
– with most birds being concentrated on the floodbank in the Thorganby/Ellerton area.
Glaucous Gull – A first winter bird was
present at Harewood Whin on the 2nd
but wasn’t found in the roost at Wheldrake Ings that evening, however it was
present there on the 3rd
with a similarly aged bird again on the 13th
and at the Bank Island pre-roost on the 17th
and 21st. What was
presumably the same bird appeared again at Wheldrake on the 27th.
Iceland Gull – An adult was present at the Wheldrake
Ings roost on the 13th
with a first winter there on the 26th.
Lesser Black-backed Gulls – Several sub-adults were
present at Rufforth Tip during the month with three at Bank Island on the 11th, whilst the first
returning adult was logged at the Wheldrake roost on the 27th.
Mediterranean Gull – A single adult roosted at
Wheldrake Ings on the 2nd
and 27th, with a first
winter on the 20th.
Little Owl – Singles were present at Bank Island
and Thorganby Ings on the 7th
with another at Hagg Bridge on the 11th.
Short-eared Owl – A single was reported from the
Melbourne and Thornton Ings area on the 13th/14th.
Rock/Water Pipit – A single was present at
Wheldrake Ings on the 6th.
Stonechat – The first of the year were
singles at both Aughton Ings and North Duffield Carrs on the 2nd, with a single male
remaining at Aughton on the 13th
and 27th. Two were
present at North Duffield Carrs on the 17th
with a male still present on the 26th.
Stonechat - Aughton - 27/01 - DB
Jay – Away from the stronghold of
Skipwith Common which provided regular sightings, two flew over Bank Island on
the 11th.
Wren – Up to 39 were roosting in
boxes on the reserve base at Bank Island during the month.
Brambling – Several remained in a garden in
Thorganby throughout the month, with three reported from Elvington early in the
month and two there on the 27th.
Hawfinch – A single at Thornton on the 7th with another near
Elvington on the 20th.
Nuthatch – A single at Wheldrake Ings on
the 14th.
Corn Bunting – The traditional roost near
Church Bride, Melbourne built up to 51 birds by the 23rd (NC).
MAMMALS:
Roe Deer – Two at Bank Island on the 15th.
Fallow Deer – A herd of 11 were present in
fields near Crockey Hill on the 7th.
Red Fox – One at Bank Island after dark
on the 12th.
Brown Hare – Two at Thornton Ellers on the 9th.
MOTHS:
Winter Moth – A single on the NNR base
window at Bank Island on the 2nd.
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