Feb'

Lower Derwent Valley Sightings - February 2014

Extensive flooding continued throughout February, and only just began to recede towards the last few days of the month. Despite birds being both widespread and access to monitor the site difficult, numbers remained fairly high with 11,200 Wigeon and 6000 Teal representing good counts. 620+ Pintail continues the now regularly large wintering numbers and the deeper water attracted 235 Pochard during the month, again showing a small upturn in numbers over the last couple of winters. An early Little Egret was noted, a pair of Smew put in an appearance and numbers of Coot finally started to build during the month.

Although wader habitat was in short supply, North Duffield Ings at least held some shallow flooding and areas of un-submerged grass to their liking. Up to 3000 Golden Plover and 4000 Lapwing were noted throughout the valley whilst other wintering numbers included 200+ Dunlin and 100+ Ruff. The first returning Oystercatchers built up quickly to 22 by the 26^th whilst Curlew were singing and holding territory late in the month.

 

North Duffield Carrs - 13/02/14

Interest was again (for some!) focused on the gull roost at Wheldrake Ings with birds commuting between here and Harewood Whin landfill site to the west of York. Numbers of large gulls here largely matched numbers attending the Wheldrake roost, and several ‘white-wingers’ were also noted commuting between the sites, with up to five different Glaucous Gulls and two Iceland Gulls. Mid week roost counts were larger as birds appear to disperse more widely during the weekend when the landfill site is less active – impressive counts of nearly 20,000 large gulls were had.

It was a good month for Otter sightings with records coming from several sites around the reserve and wider area, these being either sight records or animals caught on several of our camera trail traps. Spring was in the air with the first Grass Snake seen on Skipwith Common and several species of moths were on the wing along with the first two butterflies of the year.

114 species have been recorded so far on the Lower Derwent Valley NNR and Skipwith Common NNR throughout 2014.

BIRDS: 

Whooper Swan – 74 were present at Derwent Farm on the 13^th which included at least six colour-ringed birds still present from the November cannon net catch. 95 were present at Derwent Farm on the 19^th – the highest count of the winter so far suggesting some return passage northwards through the site with 71 there on the 26^th. On this latter date a passage party of 12 birds also paused on the low grounds before heading off north before dark. 

Mute Swan – 33 were present on ponds at Thorganby on the 9^th with 31 at Derwent Farm on the 13^th when 29 were still present in Thorganby. Scattered birds were present elsewhere throughout the site with 98 on the 17^th. 107 were present throughout the site on the 26^th. 

Greylag Goose – 1200+ were present early in the month with 1000+ remaining at month end with 937 recorded on the WeBS on the 26^th. 

Pink-footed Goose – Skeins of 180 and 200 passed north over Bank Island on the 18^th. 60 flew north on the 19^th with 120 on the 20^th. 

Canada Goose – 500 remained early in the month but decreased during the second half with c300 remaining at month end. 

Egyptian Goose – Following last year’s successful breeding attempts and increasing numbers over recent years a single pair returned to Derwent Farm on the 26^th. 

Shelduck – Up to 60 were present at Thorganby Ings on the 9^th with 75 there on the 17^th, when 104 were present throughout the whole site. 95 were present throughout the site on the 26^th. 

Mallard – Birds were widely scattered throughout the month with extensive flooding, a low monthly maxima of 1425 recorded on the WeBS on the 26^th. 

Teal – Large numbers were present early in the month following the 6000+ present in late January. However, extensive and deep flooding reduced feeding opportunities until month end, with 5900 recorded throughout the site on the 26^th. 

Pintail – Birds were difficult to count with extensive flooding early in the month, more notable counts being of 100+ at North Duffield Ings on the 7^th and 145 at Seavy Carr on the 23^rd. A full count on the 26^th produced 226 at North Duffield Ings, 171 at Melbourne Ings, 198 at Wheldrake Ings and a total of 625 throughout the site. 

Wigeon – 10,000+ were present early in the month, and although numbers were depressed by the extensive and prolonged flooding during the month, 11,200 were present throughout the site on the 26^th. 

Gadwall – Low numbers remained throughout the month but started to build up towards the end with 89 counted on the 26^th. 

Shoveler – Low numbers remained throughout the month, with the only notable count being 60 present across the site on the 26^th. 

Tufted Duck – 150+ on the 1^st increased to 375 by the 26^th, no doubt benefited by the extensive flooding and deep water.

Pochard – 100+ were present at Bubwith Ings on the 7^th increasing to 146 there on the 19^th when a total of 167 were present throughout the site. 31 at Thorganby Ings on the 22^nd with 185 at North Duffield Carrs on the 25^th and 235 throughout the site on the 26^th. 

Goldeneye – Following a poor winter so far numbers slowly increased during the month with seven at Wheldrake Ings on the 23^rd, when four other singles were scattered elsewhere giving a monthly maxima of 11 on that date. 16 were then present throughout the site on the 26^th. 

Smew – A single redhead was at Thorganby Ings on the 16^th (GW), with a pair at Bank Island on the 18^th. 

Goosander – A single flew into Bank Island on the 16^th in and amongst a small flock of Shelduck. 10 were present on fishing ponds near Elvington on the 17^th. 

Little Grebe – Up to four wintering birds remained on the Pocklington Canal near Melbourne during the month, whilst a single in front of the Geoff Smith Hide at North Duffield Carrs on the 26^th may well have been a returning breeding bird. 

Great Crested Grebe – A single at North Duffield Carrs on the 20^th-24^th was the first record of the year. 

Cormorant – 29 were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 15^th and 26 were counted throughout the site on the 26^th. 

Water Rail – Five birds were present along the Pocklington Canal during the month with singles at Wheldrake Ings and North Duffield Carrs on the 17^th and 21^st respectively. No doubt some birds were forced out of their favoured haunts, such as the Wheldrake Ings car park scrub, by the extensive flooding. 

Coot – Remarkably absent early in the month, numbers slowly built up with 97 present across the site on the 26^th. 

Grey Heron – An early breeder, and so activity increased during the month around the heronry and birds became more obvious as the month progressed. Monthly maxima of 16 on the 26^th. 

Little Egret – A single near Riccall on the 14^th represents a rather early record for the year. 

Red Kite – A single near Allerthorpe on the 3^rd, Thornton on the 6^th and Canal Head on the 8^th. A single at Crockey Hill on the 16^th. 

Marsh Harrier – A single cream crown at Bubwith Ings on the 5^th, Wheldrake Ings on the 11^th and North Duffield Carrs on the 25^th. 

Peregrine – Up to three birds were seen occasionally throughout the month. 

Merlin – A single male was at Seavy Carrs on the 6^th and 23^rd, with a female at Ellerton on the 18^th. 

Sparrowhawk – Three were seen at Skipwith Common on the 22^nd with scattered singles elsewhere. 

Buzzard – Six were reported on several dates from Skipwith Common during the month with 9 different birds viewed there on the 4^th. Regularly reported elsewhere throughout the month. 

Oystercatcher – A single was at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th with three there on the 22^nd, when six were also present at Thorganby Ings, the usually favoured location. A single was along the Pocklington Canal on the 25^th whilst a full count on the 26^th located 22 birds, including a flock of 18 on the river bank at Thorganby Ings – a favoured location. 

Golden Plover – 2500 at North Duffield Ings on the 9^th with 3100 there on the 14^th and 2400 on the 17^th. 3100 were present there on the 23^rd with 2230 throughout the site on the 23^rd. 

Lapwing – 1500 were present in the Bubwith bridge area on the 7^th when another 1700 were present in the Thorganby Ings area, a total count for the valley being over 4000 on that date. 1740 remained throughout the site on the 26^th. 

Dunlin – 100+ remained at North Duffield Carrs on the 7^th increasing to 228 by the 26^th. 

Ruff – Up to 110 were present early in the month with 90 recorded on the WeBS on the 26^th. 

Curlew – Numbers increased during the month with 30+ at Wheldrake Ings on the 16^th and 29 at North Duffield Ings on the 19^th. Birds were well spread throughout the site by this time with several birds along the flooded meadows of Melbourne and Thornton Ings and near Barmby Moor on the 25^th. 39 were at North Duffield Carrs on the 25^th, with a full count of 62 birds throughout the site on the 26^th by which time many were territorial. 

Common Snipe – Peak counts throughout the month were 100+ on North Duffield Ings on the 5^th with 102 at Seavy Carr later in the month on the 26^th. 

Jack Snipe – A single was present at North Duffield Carrs on the 1^st.

Woodcock – Two wintering birds were present at Skipwith Common on the 13^th with two at Thornton Ellers on the 27^th. 

Redshank – 18 at North Duffield Carrs on the 25^th and 25 throughout the valley on the 26^th – a rather poor count for the time of year. 

Lesser Black-backed Gull – Single birds were in the Wheldrake roost on the 3^rd, 17^th and 26^th. 

Glaucous Gull – An adult present at the Wheldrake Ings roost on the 5^th and 6^th with two first-winters there on the 16^th. Single first and second winter birds were present on the 21^st with a second and third winter on the 22^nd. A single first winter at Wheldrake Ings at dawn on 25^th, with an adult at the roost there on the same date – at least five different birds were thought to be involved. 

Iceland Gull – A second winter bird was at the Wheldrake roost on the 14^th with a first winter there on the 15^th and 23^rd. 

Herring Gull – Mirroring activity on the landfill site at Harewood Whin near York, larger numbers were reported during week days at the Wheldrake roost. 3000+ were present at the roost on the 16^th with a more respectable 14,300 on the 26^th. 

Greater Black-backed Gull – 3000+ at the Wheldrake roost on the 16^th with 4700 on the 26^th. 

Common Gull – An increase in numbers during the month at the Wheldrake roost with 10,000+ on the 16^th and 11,300 there on the 23^rd. 

Mediterranean Gull – A single adult was at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd and 16^th. 

Black-headed Gull – Monthly maxima of 15,000+ at Wheldrake Ings on the 16^th and 17,500 on the 26^th. 

Barn Owl – A single day flying bird over the village allotments at Wheldrake opposite Bank Island on the 16^th and at Skipwith Common on the 18^th showed the first signs of a recovery following a rather poor previous eight months. Another was again on Skipwith Common on the 25^th. 

Long-eared Owl – A single first winter bird was sadly picked up dead by the roadside near Bubwith on the 6^th. 

Green Woodpecker – Singles were reported regularly from Skipwith Common during the month with two there on the 22^nd. 

Woodlark – The first singing bird was present to the north of Thornton Ellers on the 18^th with two singing birds at Skipwith Common on the 22^nd. 

Skylark – Birds were holding territory over the flood water on warm sunny days from mid month, with 13 singing birds between North Duffield Ings and East Cottingwith on the 26^th. 

Kingfisher – A single was present at Thornton Ellers on the 27^th. 

Marsh Tit – Three were present at Skipwith Common on the 13^th amongst a large mixed tit flock. 

Brambling – 13 were present near Canal Head on the 25^th. 

Tree Sparrow – Up to 100 remained in the Bank Island area during the month with up to 60 also present at North Duffield Carrs. 

Corn Bunting – Up to 50 continued to roost in the reed bed at Church Bridge during the month. 

MAMMALS: 

Fallow Deer – Four were at Thorganby Ings on the 16^th with three near Wheldrake Woods on the 21^st. 

Roe Deer – Two were at Skipwith on the 13^th, with two or three daily at Thornton Ellers during the month, and four near Elvington on the 19^th. 

Badger - The known family party from an un-disclosed site was seen on a number of occasions throughout the month.

 

Badger - Undisclosed site - 17/02/14

Brown Hare - Two were seen at North Duffield on the 13^th with a single then at Thornton Ellers on the 23^rd.

Red Fox – Singles were at Thornton Ellers on the 14^th, 18^th, 19^th, 21^st, 22^nd and 23^rd. 

Otter – Two were reported at Church Bridge near Melbourne on the Pocklington Canal on the 1^st, 3^rd and 11^th. One or two were ‘caught’ daily on camera traps at Thornton Ellers during the month, with singles seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th and 12^th, along with two seen well, calling to each other, on the river by the bailey bridge on the 22^nd. Others were reported from nearby fishing ponds, possibly as a result of the increased water flows. A single spraint was seen by the beck in Escrick on the 27^th. 

Otter - 22/02/14 - Thornton Ellers

Mink – A single was picked up on a camera trap at Thornton Ellers on the 2^nd and 21^st with two seen near Hollicarrs during the month. 

Mole – Present, based on the appearance of multiple hills, at Thornton Ellers and along the floodbank between Bubwith and East Cottingwith, and around Thorganby during the month.

REPTILES: 

Grass Snake – The first of the year was seen on ‘adder heath’ on Skipwith Common on the 22^nd.

MOTHS: 

Winter Moth – One at Bank Island on the 4^th. 

March Moth – Two at Bank Island on the 8^th, with five there on the 18^th. 

Dark Chestnut – One at Bank Island on the 14^th. 

Chestnut – Singles at Bank Island on the 2^nd and 11^th. 

Pale brindled Beauty – One at  Bank Island on the 2^nd, two there on the 18^th and three on the 22^nd. 

Dotted Border – One at Bank Island on the 27^th.

BUTTERFLIES: 

Small Tortoiseshell – A single at Sutton upon Derwent on the 16^th was the first for the year - enjoying some early sunshine. It was then followed by another at North Duffield Carrs on the 18^th. 

Brimstone – A single male was seen on Skipwith Common on the 18^th.


FUNGI:

Just new species were added to the year list throughout February, with Meadow Puffball and Willow Bracket found on Skipwith Common.

Meadow Puffball - Skipwith Common - 13/02/14