Dec' 13

Lower Derwent Valley NNR Sightings - December 2013

December was dominated by the ongoing dry and mild conditions, although by the second half of the month there was some limited flooding at Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings. As a result it was a quiet month with rather low numbers of wildfowl and waders and only a few notable movements recorded. That said, 81 Whooper Swans represented a noteworthy count, whilst 1347 Greylags at Bank Island presumably involved some ‘wild’ Icelandic birds and attracted both Pink-footed Geese and Greenland White-fronted Geese.

Wintering waders usually return quite quickly to the valley following the first flooding which brings water onto the Ings. This year was no exception with 50 Ruff and 50 Dunlin appearing the very next day, smaller numbers of Redshank and Curlew also followed in quick succession.

It was a quiet month on the passerine front, the highlight being a Nuthatch present for the day in the car park lane at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd – this species is still scarce in the area although it has increased in recent years.

BIRDS: 

181 species have been recorded on and adjacent to Skipwith Common and the Lower Derwent Valley NNR’s so far during 2013 including a new species for the reserve.

Whooper Swan – Up to 70 birds remained throughout the month, largely spending time feeding on the Ings and only occasionally venturing onto the nearby arable fields at Derwent Farm. Numbers increased late in the month when 81 were present on the 31^st. 

Mute Swan – Numbers increased during the month with incoming wintering birds. 35 were present on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st, 5^th and 7^th. 14 were present along the River Derwent at North Duffield Carrs on the 11^th when a total of 91 were present throughout the site. 

Greylag Goose – Up to 600 remained early in the month with a sudden increase in numbers on the 9^th when 1000+ were present at Bank Island with 1347 there on the 12^th. Large numbers remained thereafter, with many moving to roost on Wheldrake Ings towards the end of the month due to the increasing water levels there. 

Pink-footed Goose – A single bird remained at Bank Island from the 1^st, with three from the 3^rd.  52 flew into roost there on the 15^th whilst 71 flew north-west on the 16^th, with three lingering there until month end. In addition, seven birds were present at Wheldrake Ings from the 21^st to 31^st. 

Greenland White-fronted Goose - Two adults were present at Bank Island on the 12^th amongst a large arrival of Greylags.

Canada Goose – Numbers increased as the month progressed with up to 400 by the 30^th. 

Shelduck – Following the arrival of up to 12 birds during November, numbers continued to increase with maximum counts of 21 at Bank Island on the 18^th and 29 there on the 28^th. 

Mallard – Large numbers remained throughout the month, once again largely concentrated in the Thorganby area until small areas of flooding brought larger numbers to Bank Island and Wheldrake late in the month. A monthly maximum of 3200 was had on the 18^th. 

Teal – Numbers remained low during the month but increased slowly to a monthly maximum of 3700 on the 31^st. 

Pintail – A rather poor end to the year no doubt reflecting both the dry and mild conditions with a peak count of 23 at Bank Island on the 23^rd and 22 at Wheldrake Ings on the 29^th. 

Wigeon – Numbers remained low during the month with the lack of flooding and rather mild conditions. Increased flooding late in the month brought 4100 to Bank Island on the 31^st when 5000+ were present throughout the reserve. 

Gadwall – A poor month with five at Bank Island on the 7^th, a single caught and ringed amongst Wigeon at North Duffield Carrs on the 14^th, and four at Wheldrake Ings on the 29^th. 

Shoveler – A poor month with 12 at Bank Island on the 17^th being the monthly maximum. 

Tufted Duck – Four at Wheldrake Ings on the 7^th, three there on the 11^th and 12 from the 28^th to month end. 

Pochard – The first returning birds of the winter were two drakes and a female at Bank Island on the 31^st. 

Goldeneye – Two redheads at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th were the first since the only other winter record of a single redhead at North Duffield Carrs on the 24^th November. 

Little Grebe – Two remained throughout the month on the pool at Wheldrake Ings, with a single at North Duffield Carrs between the 4^th - 7^th. Up to seven also frequented the Pocklington Canal during the month. 

Cormorant – Up to 12 remained at Wheldrake Ings throughout the month with smaller numbers encountered elsewhere throughout the valley. 

Water Rail – Up to three birds returned to winter in the favoured haunt of the Wheldrake car park scrub during the month with a calling bird at dusk at Bank Island on the 29^th. 

Marsh Harrier – Three birds lingered in the valley throughout the month. 

Peregrine – Regular sightings throughout the valley with at least four wintering birds during the month. 

Merlin – A single male at North Duffield Carrs on the 2^nd and a single at Melbourne on the 26^th. 

Dunlin – Rising water levels late in the month brought five to Bank Island on the 23^rd with 47 throughout the valley on the 28^th and 55 at North Duffield Carrs on the 31^st. 

Ruff – The return of wintering Ruff to the valley appears almost instant upon the appearance of floodwater on the site. 50 returned to the reserve on the 28^th, including a regular white headed bird, and 65 were present at North Duffield Carrs on the 31^st. 

Common Snipe – Small numbers were spread throughout the site during the month with 50+ at Bank Island on the 2^nd, 60+ at Bubwith Ings on the 11^th and 35 at Seavy Carr on the 14^th. 

Jack Snipe – A single at Seavy Carr on the 6^th, three there on the 9^th and a single at North Duffield Carrs on the 14^th. 

Woodcock – Two flew at dusk in the Wheldrake Ings car park area on the 29^th and 31^st. 

Redshank – Two remained into early December with three by the 15^th and seven at Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th being the monthly maximum. A rather late return to the valley as usual mirroring the appearance of flood water on the reserve. 

Curlew – A single was present at Bank Island on the 2^nd, 6^th and 11^th with an influx late in the month associated with other wader arrivals bringing 14 to Wheldrake Ings on the 28^th. 

Lesser Black-backed Gull – Three at the Wheldrake Ings gull roost on the 28^th were the first returning birds. 

Jay – Three birds remained at Wheldrake Ings throughout the month. 

Nuthatch – A single in the Wheldrake car park lane on the 2^nd represented another great local record (TD). 

Chaffinch – Up to 150 birds were present at the North Duffield Carrs feeding station late in the month. 

Tree Sparrow – Up to 80 birds remained at both the Bank Island and North Duffield Carrs feeding stations during the month.

MAMMALS: 

Fallow Deer – Four females were reported from near Wheldrake Woods on the 17^th. 

Roe Deer – A pair were seen regularly from the field adjacent to the NNR base at Bank Island during the month. 

Mink – A single was reported from Thorganby on the 13^th. 

Otter – Fish kills and spraints were found at Wheldrake Ings on the 12^th.

BUTTERFLIES: 

Small Tortoiseshell – A single was seen on the wing at the NNR base on the 5^th presumably looking for a place to hibernate. Unsurprisingly the only record!

MOTHS:

Winter Moth - A single individual was found at the NNR base on the 3^rd.

FUNGI:

One new species was added during the month - Green Elf Cup, found on Skipwith Common on the the 3^rd, along with two or three possibles still waiting for the i.d. to be confirmed. This brings the list to a very pleasing 73 species for the year!