Oct'

Lower Derwent Valley NNR - October Sightings

Although October was generally one of the warmest on record which saw a number of butterflies and dragonflies remain on the wing throughout, it was however a rather poor month for invertebrates, and coupled with other priorities elsewhere available recording time was reduced. Equally the relatively mild conditions and largely south westerly winds helped suppress the numbers of incoming wintering birds and returning migrants until late in the month. However, one or two notable bird records during the month helped maintain the interest.

Glorious day on the Common - 25/10

Highlights included the continuing run of Bearded Tits in the valley with up to three at Wheldrake between the 2^nd-16^th (DB et al), a Ring Ouzel at Bank Island on the 9^th (CSR), a Cetti’s Warbler at Wheldrake Ings on the 22^nd (MFJ), a Twite calling over Bank Island on the 25^th (CSR) and a Yellow-browed Warbler which was caught and ringed at Skipwith on the 30^th (DT). A Stonechat in front of the Geoff Smith Hide at North Duffield Carrs on the 23^rd (AC) was also noteworthy given their scarcity over recent years following some harsh winters – nice to see them back at one of their past wintering haunts.

Cetti's Warbler - Wheldrake Ings - 22/10

More expected but no less welcome were the records of returning wintering waterfowl which included several passing herds of Whooper Swans from the 6^th and the slow build-up of the wintering herd at North Duffield Carrs from the 23^rd, up to 14 by month end. A total of 1426 Pink-footed Geese moved over the valley during the month with one or two skeins pausing on site whilst the first Pintail were noted back on the 17^th. Increasing numbers of other wildfowl were also recorded with 1050 Greylag Geese, 1400 Teal, 900+ Wigeon, although these numbers were down on those logged at this time last year. Also returning were five Jack Snipe caught and ringed at Skipwith Common from the 15^th (DT). 

Pink-footed Geese - Bank Island - 23/10

Jays remained numerous during the month with an extraordinary count of 20 at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th, with 10 moving through Bank Island the following day. The first returning Brambling was noted on the 14^th with another on the 23^rd whilst north easterly winds finally brought an influx of thrushes in the last two days of the month with 2000+ Redwing, 1000+ Fieldfare and 100 Blackbirds noted on the 30^th. What were possibly the last five Swallows of the year passed through Wheldrake Ings on the 23^rd whilst late (or possibly incoming wintering birds), Chiffchaff and Blackcaps were at Melbourne and Wheldrake respectively.

BIRDS: 

Mute Swan – 22 flew over Bank Island on the 1^st representing the first main arrival of the autumn (back from the moulting sites), with five then flying over Bank Island on the 12^th. 25 were at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th. 

Whooper Swan – The first seven birds of the autumn flew south over Bank Island on the 6^th. The first ‘resident herd’ birds arrived in the usual field at North Duffield Carrs with four (two adults and two juveniles) on the 23^rd increasing to 14 there by the 25^th (six juveniles). In addition to the above, a family party of eight birds (two adults and six juveniles) paused at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th including two colour-ringed birds marked last autumn at the same site. 

Ringed in the valley last year, G5K has returned to NDC

Egyptian Goose – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th and 11^th whilst a family party of two adults and six fledged juveniles were still on a local pond near East Cottingwith throughout the month. 

Pink-footed Goose – 37 flew south over the Wheldrake on the 1^st with 220 south on the 4^th and 147 south on the 11^th. Skeins of 110, 150 and 190 flew south through the valley on the 19^th, 20^th and 22^nd respectively whilst 630 flew east over Bank Island on the 23^rd, with 120 spending several hours on the flood water there with the local Greylag flock before continuing east towards dusk. 42 were present there on the 25^th and a total of 1426 birds moved through the valley during the month. 

Greylag Goose – Numbers increased as expected during the month with 300 in the Melbourne and Thornton Ings/Pocklington area throughout the month and 750+ built up at Bank Island by the 23^rd giving a minimum of 1050 during the month. Smaller numbers were counted elsewhere throughout the site. 600+ roosted at Wheldrake Ings on the evening of the 26^th. 

Greylag Geese - Bank Island - 23/10

Canada Goose – A monthly maxima of 121 on the 14^th. 

Shelduck – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 8^th was the first of the autumn. 

Teal – Numbers increased during the month to 1400 by the 23^rd. 

Wigeon – 410 were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 4^th with numbers increasing to a peak of 900+ at Bank Island on the 23^rd. 

Pintail – The first returning bird of the autumn was at Bank Island on the 17^th - 19^th with four there on the 21^st and five there on the 23^rd. 

Gadwall – Only small numbers present throughout the month with a peak of 21 at North Duffield Carrs on the 21^st. 

Shoveler – Numbers began to increase early in the month with 30 at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th and 25 there on the 6^th. 24 were present at Bank Island on the 23^rd and 28 at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th. 

Pochard – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th.

Goosander – A single red-head flew north-east up the River Derwent at Bank Island on the 14^th (CSR). 

Water Rail – Three were still present at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th with up to three showing well from Pool Hide most days - continuing the autumn’s excellent run of records and showy individuals. Four were present there on the 19^th with a single at Thornton Ellers on the 21^st. 

Little Grebe – Up to three remained on the Pocklington Canal at Melbourne during the month with another arriving at North Duffield Carrs on the 24^th. 

Grey Heron – Small numbers were present throughout the site with 12 at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd. 

Little Egret – A single at Wressle on the 10^th. 

Cormorant – Up to five birds recorded daily throughout the month from across the site. However, a flock of 18 flying east along the Pocklington Canal at Melbourne on the 8^th represents a large count outside of Wheldrake Ings (NC). 

Red Kite – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th and 6^th and again on 10^th. One at Canal Head on the Pocklington Canal on the 22^nd. 

Marsh Harrier – Up to three female/juvenile birds remained at Wheldrake Ings during the month which included the green wing-tagged male until the 10^th, with another juvenile near Skipwith Common on the 10^th. Two or three birds lingered until month end with a sub-adult male at Bank Island on the 23^rd and a different second summer male on the 27^th – at least 6 different birds were involved during the month. 

Peregrine Falcon – Singles were regularly reported from Wheldrake Ings early in the month with an immature female attacking Carrion Crows there on the 24^th. 

Golden Plover – 79 flew south at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th with 57 at Bank Island on the 9^th and 43 near Bubwith on the 10^th. 230 were at Wheldrake on the 17^th. 

Curlew – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 27^th. 

Greenshank – A single on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th and 6^th with two there on 8^th-10^th with another at Thorganby Ings on the 8^th. A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 12^th-16^th. 

Common Snipe – 100+ were still present on Melbourne Ings on the 2^nd with 40 at Bank Island on the 23^rd and 27 at Wheldrake Ings on the 25^th with smaller numbers scattered throughout the site. Up to 30 frequented Skipwith Common NNR during the month. 

Jack Snipe – The first returning birds were two at Skipwith Common on 15^th with five caught and ringed there during the remainder of the month (DT). 

Green Sandpiper – Two on the riverbank at Thorganby Ings on the 8^th. 

Green Woodpecker – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th and Bank Island on the 13^th. Two or three were present almost daily on Skipwith Common NNR during the month. 

 

Green Woodpecker - Skipwith Common - 27/10 

Greater Spotted Woodpecker – Two different birds were present at the Bank Island feeding station early in the month with another single caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st (MFJ). Three at Bank Island on the 10^th with a female caught and ringed there on the 25^th (MFJ).

Fieldfare – The first of the year was at Wheldrake Ings on the 6^th (DB) followed by the same or another at Bank Island on the same date (CSR) with two over Bank Island on the 9^th. A large arrival onto the North Yorkshire coast on the 30^th saw 1000+ arrive in the valley late in the day with 800+ moving through the site on the 31^st.

Redwing – 110 flew west over Bank Island in the first few hours after dawn on the 14^th. Only small numbers were recorded thereafter until heavy nocturnal passage on the 29^th/30^th saw numbers arrive with 2000+ on the 30^th and 900+ on the 31^st. 

Blackbird – A small but noticeable influx saw 14 at Bank Island on the 1^st – these were probably local birds on the move rather than an arrival of continental birds. Another small arrival/movement saw 16 move through Bank Island on the 9^th. 50 at Wheldrake Ings on the 15^th marked another influx whilst 100+ there on the 30^th were associated with a large thrush arrival into the county. 

Ring Ouzel – A single female was seen at Bank Island on the 9^th when its arrival coincided with a small movement of Blackbirds through the site (CSR). 

Grey Wagtail – A single pair lingered at the Water Treatment Works at Bank Island during the month where one took a liking to attacking the wing mirrors of cars in the NNR car park! A single had returned to the lock at Church Bridge on the Pocklington Canal by the 8^th (NC).

 

Grey Wagtail - NNR Base - 27/10/14 

Swallow – Present daily early in the month with 120 heading south over Wheldrake Ings ahead of heavy rain on the 8^th. Smaller numbers thereafter with 14 south over Bank Island on the 21^st and five at Wheldrake Ings on the 23^rd. 

Jay – Still good numbers and a scattering of records from throughout the valley early in the month including a staggering count of 20 at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th (AW). A loose flock of 10 flew through Bank Island on the 6^th with four between Elvington and Wheldrake on the 7^th. Seven were seen at Skipwith Common on the 8^th with four at both Bank Island and Thornton on the 9^th. Three or four were present daily thereafter at Bank Island until month end with scattered singles elsewhere throughout the site and three at Wheldrake Ings on the 21^st.

Stonechat – A single male at North Duffield Carrs showed well in front of the Geoff Smith Hide on the 23^rd (AC).

Blackcap – A single male was caught and ringed at Wheldrake Ings on the 29^th (MFJ).

Chiffchaff – Three were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th with one still in a mixed tit flock at Melbourne on the 8^th and one in the NNR base garden at Bank Island on the 14^th. One was still singing at Melbourne on the 22^nd.

Yellow-browed Warbler – A single betrayed its presence at Skipwith Common on the 30^th by flying into a mist net (DT). This represents the first record for Skipwith Common and only the second for the wider Skipwith Common/Lower Derwent Valley area following last year’s single at Bank Island, and is the first to be ringed in the area. 

Bearded Tit – Three flew over the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 2^nd (CSR et al) with two in the reedbed at Wheldrake Ings on the 12^th – 16^th (DB).

 

Bearded Tit - Wheldrake - 12/10 - DB  

Cetti’s Warbler – A single summer male was caught and ringed amongst poolside willows at Wheldrake Ings on the 22^nd (MFJ).

Nuthatch - A single was present at Wheldrake Ings on the 5^th. 

Willow Tit – A single was present at the Bank Island feeding station on the 3^rd. 

Tree Sparrow – Up to 60 built up at the feeding station at Bank Island during the month.

Twite – A single flew west over Bank Island on the 25^th (CSR). 

Lesser Redpoll – 40 were caught and ringed at Skipwith Common NNR during the month (DT), with small numbers passing overhead on most days, although no flocks were reported on the site. 11 were also present in the Alders near Church Bridge, Melbourne on the 22^nd (NC).

Brambling – A single over Bank Island on the 14^th (CSR) was the first of the autumn with another over North Duffield on the 23^rd (AW).

MAMMALS: 

Roe Deer – Four were seen at Skipwith Common on the 8^th and two at Wheldrake Ings on the 13^th. Two were at Bank Island on the 22^nd with three there on the 25^th and singles daily thereafter to month end. 

 

Roe Deer - Bank Island - 25/10 - DB 

Red Fox – Three together at Bank Island on the 19^th represented an usual record, followed by a single there on the 22^nd.

Water Shrew – A single at Skipwith Common NNR on the 25^th (DT).

BUTTERFLIES: 

Peacock – A single at the NNR Base at Bank Island on the 2^nd and 10^th, with a single at Thornton Ellers on the 17^th and two in the NNR base garden on the 29^th. 

Red Admiral – Four were seen in the base garden on the 2^nd along with a single at Wheldrake Ings. Two were at Skipwith Common on the 10^th with singles in the base garden on the 17^th and Wheldrake Ings on the 23^rd. A single was still present in the base garden on the 31^st. 

Small Tortoiseshell – Two were at Bank Island on the 2^nd with two there in the base garden on 17^th, followed by two at Bank Island on the 31^st. 

Comma – Singles were seen at Wheldrake Ings and Bank Island on the 2^nd with two at Wheldrake Ings on the 10^th, followed by one there on the 29^th and one at Bank Island on the 30^th. 

Green-veined White – Seven were at Bank Island on the 1^st with five there on 10^th followed by two at Bank Island and two in the base garden on the 17^th. 

Speckled Wood – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd.

DRAGONFLIES: 

Southern Hawker – A single at Wheldrake Ings on the 1^st. 

Migrant Hawker – The month opened with singles at the NNR Base on the 1^st when two were also seen at Wheldrake Ings, followed by four there on the 2^nd. A single was at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd with other singles at Wheldrake on the 16^th and 21^st, Bank Island on the 23^rd and Skipwith on the 25^th. 

Common Darter – Two at Bank Island on the 2^nd were followed by two at Wheldrake Ings on the 3^rd and 17^th, along with two at the base garden on the latter date. Singles were still present at North Duffield Carrs on the 22^nd and Skipwith Common on the 25^th. Singles were seen at Bank Island and North Duffield Carrs on the 29^th. 

MOTHS: 

Pale Tussock Moth – Caterpillars were seen on Skipwith Common on the 8^th and 9^th.

Vapourer – A single at Skipwith Common on the 8^th followed by two at Bank Island on the 10^th.

FUNGI: 

Due to mostly working elsewhere on the site throughout October only one visit was made onto Skipwith Common NNR to look for fungi, however we did at least come across a few species including new ones for the year – Orange Peel & Green Elfcup. A group of Shaggy Inkcaps could also be found near the main entrance, along with several Fly Agaric and clusters of Sulphur Tuft.

 Shaggy Inkcap - Skipwith Common - 27/10

 Orange Peel - Skipwith Common - 27/10