Lower Derwent Valley NNR - May Sightings
May is always a busy month, with spring passage
overlapping the main breeding period for many species. The largely dry, and at
times warm conditions seem to have helped produce a rather productive breeding
season, although the birding highlights were dominated by a rather large and
rather striking wanderer. The month opened with a Spoonbill at Wheldrake
Ings on the 2nd, (presumably the same individual seen at the end of
April), whilst up to 21 Little Egrets and 30+ Grey Herons remained, and
no doubt helped in attracting yet another two Great White Egrets present
between the 25th and 28th. Two Common Cranes
re-appeared between the 17th and 21st, and a White
Stork flew north between Wheldrake and Elvington on the 22nd –
the first for several years.
Nine pairs of Mute Swans hatched a total of 59
cygnets, whilst up to 110 Greylag goslings were recorded in the valley,
although many more were present in the wider local area, along with an
increasing population of five pairs of Egyptian Geese. Late northward
bound birds included a Barnacle Goose on the 4th and Pink-footed
Goose on the 10th.
It was alo an excellent breeding season for our
local breeding waders with both good numbers and breeding success recorded for Lapwing,
Curlew, Snipe and Redshank. Passage waders included four Avocet on the
3rd, an impressive movement of ‘tundra’ Ringed Plovers with
peaks of 18 at Thornton Ellers on the 14th and seven on the 30/31st,
along with a Sanderling on the 5th, two Wood Sandpipers and a
summer plumaged Spotted Redshank between the 8th-10th.
Greenshank where recorded almost daily with a max of five on the 5th,
while the nationally important Whimbrel spring passage roost peaked at 88 on
the 1st in a rather late and protracted passage, with the last bird
seen on the 23rd.
Among the five different Marsh Harriers
present, a lingering pair gives hope of some eventual breeding success, whilst
several Red Kites were noted along with good numbers of Hobbies almost
daily around the valley. Other highlights included up to four singing male Corncrake,
three Quail and encouragingly, three pairs of Grey Partridge
on the Ings during the month. A Long-eared Owl at Wheldrake Ings
hopefully indicates local breeding whilst a single Turtle Dove was still
present in the former stronghold around Foggathorpe on the 14th. Up
to 10 Common Terns lingered with a single pair incubating from mid month
on one of the new rafts. One or two ‘Greenland’ Wheatears trickled
through the site on passage, whilst a Nuthatch carrying food in the
Wheldrake car park area once again confirms local breeding. 21 singing Corn
Buntings on the Ings continues the recent pattern of birds moving onto the
reserves meadows.
Butterfly and dragonfly sightings increased as the
weather improved, with the end of the month seeing an influx of Red Admiral and
the first Painted Lady of the year on the 31st, which also
brought a Hummingbird Hawk-moth to the NNR base garden (for the fourth year
out of the last five). Other first’s for the year included Small Copper on the
22nd, Common Blue on the 23rd and Wall on the 25th.
Many thanks as always to the local valley birders, in particular members of the YOC for the submission of records throughout the month, and extra thanks to Duncan Bye (DB) for the use of photographs.
BIRDS:
Mute Swan
– Up to 60 non-breeding birds remained throughout the
month with 47 at Wheldrake Ings on the 15th being the largest
concentration. Three pairs were nesting at North Duffield Carrs (cluches
of 8, 6 and 7), while the first brood of eight appeared there on the 14th.
A pair with a large brood of 10 were seen near Melbourne on the 17th,
while two broods of six hatched at Wheldrake on the 22nd. In
total, 9 pairs bred in the valley producing a total of 59 cygnets.
Greylag
Goose – A full count of Wheldrake on the 1st
included 167 adults and several broods totalling 43 goslings. 17 adults were
also present at North Duffield Carrs on the same date. Three pairs with 21 goslings
were present at Aughton on the 11th while at month end 34
adults and 89 goslings were present at Wheldrake Ings, with scattered pairs and
broods in the wider area. The goose round up on the 31st
resuled in 36 caught and ringed (28 goslings) - all fitted with white darvic’s consisting
of three black numbers/letters.
Pink-footed
Goose – A single was present at North Duffield Carrs on the
10th.
Pink-footed Goose - North Duffield - 10/05 - CR
Canada
Goose – Scarce as usual during the breeding season with more
pairs and broods on farm ponds in the wider area. Six pairs produced 13
goslings at Wheldrake Ings.
Barnacle
Goose – A single was present at Wheldrake on the 4th.
Egyptian
Goose – A single bird was noted at Bank Island and Wheldrake
on the 8th and again on the 13th with a
pair regularly there from then on to month end. Elsewhere, the usual breeding
pair were present on a small farm pond at East Cottingwith, and a full survey
of this area revealed five breeding pairs on scattered ponds in the vincity
towards the end of the month.
Shelduck – 32
were recorded at North Duffield Carrs on the 1st with 31 at
Thornton Ellers and 11 at Wheldrake Ings – a total of 87 present throughout the
site. Sample counts thereafter include 32 at North Duffield Carrs and 19 at
Thornton Ellers on the 5th.
Wigeon – 56 were still present at
Wheldrake on the 1st when
four pairs were at North Duffield Carrs along with three at Bank Island. 40
were at Wheldrake on the 6th
including c10 pairs. On the 13th
five were still at Wheldrake when a total of 11 pairs were present throughout
the valley. Birds became increasingly difficult to see thereafter with seven
drakes seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 30th.
Teal – Counts of 170+ at Wheldrake
Ings, 78 at North Duffield Carrs, 31 at Bank Island and 30 at Thornton Ellers were
had on the 1st – a total
of 328 present throughout the site. 37 were at Thornton Ellers on the 5th with 200 at Wheldrake
Ings on the 6th, on the
same date 40+ were still present at North Duffield Carrs. Up to 80 remained
thereafter in pairs and small scattered groups.
Pintail – A single pair were still
present at Wheldrake on the 1st
and again on the 21st.
Garganey – A single drake at Wheldrake on
the 2nd was followed by a
female at Thornton Ellers on the 15th
and a pair at Bank Island on the 29th.
Mallard – Good numbers present
throughout the site with small numbers of broods appearing during the month.
Mallard pair - Wheldrake - 11/05 - CR
Gadwall – Large
numbers (c90 pairs) were present throughout the site with eight pairs at
Thornton Ellers on the 5th. The first brood, of 11, were
recorded at North Duffield Carrs on the 20th with another of 8
at Sutton-on-Derwent on the 22nd. 13 were at Ellerton Ings on
the 23rd. Up to 25 drakes were ‘loafing’ at Wheldrake on the 30th
when three broods (c25 ducklings) were seen.
Shoveler – 40
were still present at Wheldrake Ings on the 6th with good
numbers of breeding birds present throughout the site.
Spoonbill – A
single flew south at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st (CSR), where a
belated record of one infront of Pool Hide was received for the 28th
April.
Grey
Heron – The first fledged young were present on Wheldrake
on the 8th, with increasing numbers concentrating there as
the month progressed, including 29 on the 11th, 21 on the 20th
and 33 on the 28th – thus showing a successful breeding
season.
Great
White Egret – Two were present at Wheldrake on the 25th
with a single present again on the 27th and 28th.
Great White Egret - Wheldrake Ings - 25/05 - DB
Little
Egret – Four were still present at North Duffield Carrs on the
1st with one at Thornton Ellers on the 5th.
17 were recorded across the valley on the 8th. Eight were then
recorded at Wheldrake on the 11th with 21 at dusk there on
the 18th and eight there on the 21st. Elsewhere, up to three were present at
Thornton Ellers on the 18th.
Little Egret - North Duffield - 10/05 - CR
White
Stork – A single flew north between Elvington and Wheldrake
on the 22nd (CSR).
Cormorant – Up
to 19 remained at Wheldrake Ings early in the month reducing to just a handful towards
the end of the month.
Little
Grebe – At least two pairs were present at both Wheldrake
Ings and Bank Island, along with a single pair at North Duffield Carrs.
Little Grebe - Wheldrake - 29/05 - DB
Marsh Harrier – Two at Wheldrake on the 6th were followed by singles at North Duffield Ings on
the 9th and North
Duffield Carrs on the 9th
and 10th. An immature
male was present on the 14th
with an adult male on the 16th,
whilst a pair were noted at Wheldrake Ings from the 20th to month end. At least four or five individuals
were thought to be involved during the month.
Common Buzzard – A high count of 12 were
reported at Wheldrake on the 20th
with good numbers reported throughout the wider area.
Peregrine – Five sightings were reported
from the reserve during the month and presumably related to nearby breeding
pairs.
Hobby – A single was present at
Wheldrake during the afternoon of the 1st,
with two showing well there at dusk with three, possibly four at Bank Island on
the 2nd, followed by two
there on the 3rd, 4th and 5th. A single was also reported at Skipwith Common on
the 5th and Wheldrake on
the 6th. Singles at Bank
Island and Melbourne on the 14th
were followed by two at Wheldrake and two at North Duffield Carrs. Regular
sightings were received at Wheldrake, Bank Island and elsewhere thereafter. A
hatch of mayflies from the 22nd
were enjoyed by hunting birds including a first summer individual at East
Cottingwith Ings on the 23rd.
Daily throughout thereafter.
Red Kite – Present
throughout the month in increasing numbers, making it unclear as to how many
birds were involved. Two remained in the Thorganby area while three were
present near Seaton Ross on the 18th, with presumably the
same three reported near Aughton on the 22nd. Birds were
regularly seen in the Wheldrake, Storwood and Bank Island areas and frequent
sightings came from the Melbourne/Allerthorpe area. Three pairs were thought to
be involved as well as additional singles/groups.
Red Kite - Wheldrake - 20/05 - DB
Common Crane – Two at Thorganby Ings on the 17th (CSR) were followed by
three at North Duffield Carrs on the 21st.
Corncrake – A singing male found calling
in front of the Geoff Smith Hide at North Duffield Carrs at 1100hrs on the 14th continued throughout
the day (MFJ et al). It was then present and heard calling throughout the 15th and again on the 16th. Two were calling in
the area on the 17th and thereafter
until month end. Another was heard at East Cottingwith on the 23rd (CSR et al) followed by
one at Wheldrake briefly on the 31st.
Quail – The first singing bird was
present on Melbourne and Thornton Ings on the 14th (NC) and again on the 15th (CSR) with one at East Cottingwith Ings on the 23rd.
Water Rail – A single was calling on the
riverbank by Tower Hide on the 1st
whilst another was seen at Church Bride, Melbourne on the same date. On the 18th three were recorded
from the reedbed at Swantail Hide, followed by two along the old course of the
River Derwent on the 20th.
Up to three birds were heard calling from around Pool Hide on the 30th.
Grey Partridge – A pair were present on the
floodbank at North Duffield Ings on the 9th
with another at Thornton Ellers on the 10th.
A pair were seen again on the riverside track at Wheldrake Ings by Tower Hide
on the 23rd.
Avocet – Four were present at Bank Island
on the 3rd.
Little Ringed Plover – Two were present at Thornton
Ellers on the 5th – 15th,
followed by a single at Bank Island on the 22nd
and 23rd.
Ringed Plover – Two ‘tundra’ birds were present
at Thornton Ellers on the 8th
with two there again on the 11th
along with a single at Bank Island on the 13th.
Up to 18 were present at Thornton Ellers on the 14th, all having moved on by the following day. Seven
‘tundra’ birds were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 30th and 31st.
Lapwing –
On the 1st up to 25
pairs were present at Wheldrake along with 27 (pairs) at North Duffield Carrs. 11
pairs were at Thornton Ellers on the 5th
with the first chicks (a brood of four) appearing there on the 8th. Three broods (eight
young) were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 9th along with seven pairs at North Duffield Ings on the
9th and 10th. Eight pairs with two broods were present at
Aughton Ings on the 11th
with a brood at Seavy Carr on the 14th
and further broods (four young) at North Duffield Carrs on the 16th. Although not completed as yet, survey work so
far suggested c100 pairs with good breeding success – 17 young caught and
ringed. Post breeding flocks included 60 at Wheldrake Ings on the 27th and 45 at Ellerton on
the 30th.
Lapwing - North Duffield - 10/05
Ruff - A single was present at Thornton Ellers on
the 13th with another at
Bank Island on the 25th.
Sanderling – A summer plumaged bird was
present at Thornton Ellers on the 5th.
Dunlin – A single at Thornton Ellers
was present on the 8th, joined
by another individual on the 10th.
Black-tailed Godwit – A single pair lingered at
Wheldrake Ings between the 1st-5th,
with four there on the 6th
and a pair on the 10th –
with breeding thought to have been attempted. A single individual was present
at Thornton Ellers on the 15th.
Common Snipe – Four drumming birds were heard
at Wheldrake on the 1st
with up to 15 there by the 6th.
Four were then heard drumming at Thornton Ellers on the 5th followed by five at Ellerton Ings on the 11th including a pair with a
brood. Another pair with a brood were present at Grange Ings, Melbourne on the 14th with other birds seen
distracting at Seavy Carr and Aughton.
Common Snipe - East Cottingwith - 11/05
Whimbrel – At least 44 were present at
the Wheldrake roost on the 1st,
although birds were late in and may have been undercounted, while 31 were
present before dusk feeding in fields near Ellerton. 88 were present throughout
the valley on the 2nd
with 31 recorded throughout the area on the 8th, down to 15 by the 10th. A late bird was at Wheldrake Ings on the 23rd.
Curlew – Sample counts included seven
pairs present at North Duffield Carrs, along with three (pairs) at both
Wheldrake Ings and Bank Island. Two (pairs) were recorded at Thornton Ellers along
with a third pair nearby, whilst five pairs were noted at Ellerton and three
pairs at North Duffield Ings.
Redshank – Four were noted at Thornton
Ellers on the 5th whilst three
pairs were seen at Aughton Ings on the 11th
including a female incubating four eggs. Other sample counts included three
pairs at Bank Island, five pairs at Wheldrake Ings and four pairs at North
Duffield Carrs where two young were ringed on the 31st.
Spotted Redshank – A single ‘black’ summer
plumaged individual was present at Thornton Ellers on the 8th-10th (CSR, DB).
Greenshank – Four were present at North
Duffield Carrs on the 1st
with three there on the 2nd
and five at Thornton Ellers on the 5th.
Four remained at this site on the 8th
with just one lingering by the 10th
but with four again there on the 11th.
A single was also present at Bank Island between the 11th -21st with the same or another on the 27th-29th.
Common Sandpiper – A single was seen at the Melbourne
Arm on the 1st while two
were present at Thornton Ellers on the 5th.
One was present at Bank Island on the 25th.
Wood Sandpiper – A single was present at
Thornton Ellers on the 8th
and 11th.
Iceland Gull – A late single was still
present at Rufforth Tip on the 31st
(CSR et al) - the latest record for the area.
Common Tern – Four flew east along the Pocklington
Canal at Melbourne on the 1st,
while two were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 3rd. By the 4th
a pair were investigating the new raft at Bank Island – the day after it was
installed. A pair were then seen copulating on the other new raft on the pool
at Wheldrake Ings on the 5th.
Three were then present at this site between the 6th – 13th, whilst four were recorded between
Bank Island and Wheldrake on the 14th.
A total of 10 were present throughout the valley on the 16th-17th. A single pair were incubating a
clutch on the Wheldrake raft on the 22nd
with two pairs there on the 23rd
to month end.
Common Tern - Wheldrake - 29/05 - DB
Barn Owl – Sightings of adults carrying food
increased during the month with many broods thought to have hatched by month
end.
Long-eared Owl – A single adult was seen in
riverbank willows on the 21st
near Tower Hide, Wheldrake.
Cuckoo – Birds were heard calling
regularly in the Storwood area early in the month and at Bank Island on the 2nd and Thornton Ellers on
the 1st - 5th.
Up to three were present at Wheldrake from the 8th, with further singles at Elvington and two singing
males at Skipwith Common NNR. Up to three birds were present in the Melbourne
area throughout – widespread with calling birds reported from c30 locations in
the valley but considered to be less numerous than previous recent years.
Cuckoo - Wheldrake - 25/05 - DB
Turtle Dove – A single was present in the
remaining stronghold of the Foggathorpe area on the 14th (DB).
Kingfisher – Birds were reported regularly
from Bank Island, Wheldrake Ings and several sites along the Pocklington Canal.
A single was also present near Sutton Lock on the 9th with a pair remaining in the area thereafter.
Grey Wagtail – A single pair raised a brood
at Bank Island whilst three pairs were reported along the Pocklington Canal
during the month.
Yellow Wagtail – 20+ at Thornton Ellers on the 5th with breeding birds
scattered throughout.
White Wagtail – Two were at Thornton Ellers on
the 5th amongst 35 Pied Wagtails.
Pied Wagtail – A pair were spotted nesting in
the NNR base log store early in the month, and found to be incubating six eggs
by the 11th, with the
young fledging by the end of the month.
Tree Pipit – Up to 11 singing males were
present on Skipwith Common NNR.
Wheatear – Singles were present at Thornton
Ings (10th) and North
Duffield Carrs (10th/11th).
A further single was also present in the Wheldrake Ings reedbed on the 11th.
Wheatear - North Duffield - 11/05
Swift – Three were present at Wheldrake
Ings on the 1st with two
or three daily thereafter, until a large arrival brought 50+ to Bank Island and
100+ to Wheldrake Ings on the 5th.
300+ were present on the 8th.
Garden Warbler –Three were singing at Bank Island
on the 4th.
Lesser Whitethroat – Good numbers were present
throughout the site with three pairs at Bank Island and five at Wheldrake Ings
on the 4th.
Nuthatch – A single was seen carrying
food in the car park lane at Wheldrake Ings on the 9th.
Corn Bunting – Up to 21 pairs were located on
the Ings grasslands during the month – an increasing trend of birds moving onto
the Ings over recent years. Good numbers were also present in the Thornton area
and around East Cottingwith.
MAMMALS:
Roe Deer – Up to seven were present at
Wheldrake Ings on the 1st
with good numbers throughout the rest of the site. A single newly born fawn was
found at Seavy Carr on the 25th.
Fallow Deer – Four were present near
Skipwith Common NNR on the 9th.
Brown Hare – Three at Wheldrake Ings on the
1st were followed by four
at Thornton Ellers on 5th
and four at North Duffield Carrs. Six were seen at Menthorpe Ings on the 8th with seven in the
Thornton area on the 10th.
Good numbers were reported throughout the rest of the month.
Mole – A single was present at
Thornton Ellers on the 5th.
MOTHS:
Hummingbird Hawk-moth – A single in the reserve base
garden at Bank Island on the 31st.
BUTTERFLIES:
Peacock – Three at Bank Island and
Wheldrake Ings on the 5th
with four at North Duffield Carrs on the same date. One at North Duffield on the 10th with two there on the 11th.
Red Admiral – A single at Bank Island on the
5th and 22nd, whilst three were at
Wheldrake Ings on the 23rd,
with two in the NNR base garden on the 25th.
Six at Wheldrake Ings on the 30th
and four at North Duffield Carrs on the 31st.
Painted Lady – The first of the year was
present at North Duffield Carrs on the 31st.
Brimstone – A single at Thorganby on the 4th, followed by singles at North Duffield and Ellerton on the 11th.
Orange Tip – Two at Wheldrake Ings on the 2nd with two at East Cottingwith on the 11th.
Comma – A single at Wheldrake and North
Duffield Carrs on the 5th
was followed by another at Bank Island
on the 22nd with four
there on the 23rd.
Holly Blue – A single at Wheldrake Ings on
the 5th.
Common Blue – A single at Wheldrake Ings on
the 23rd was the first of
the year.
Small Copper – A single at Wheldrake Ings on
the 22nd was the first of
the year and was soon followed by one in the reserve base garden on the 25th.
Wall – A single at the reserve base
garden on the 25th.
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