December 2001

Highlights from the Lower Derwent Valley included 2 Short-eared Owls at Bank Island on the 3rd and up to 350 Reed Buntings around the valley on the 1st (largest flock 62) while the Melbourne roost started with 6 Corn Buntings on the 3rd. Records from the Dunnington area included 2 Woodcock in Warren Wood on the 19th with a Green Woodpecker noted there next day. Warren Wood also held up to 26 Long-tailed Tits and 2 Treecreepers with 87 Redpolls counted on the 23rd. A Barn Owl was hunting over Dunnington Common on the 25th with 2 Little Owls in farm buildings there all month. 200 Skylarks were present at this site on the 31st when 42 Meadow Pipits were also noted. 14 Redwing were on the common on the 19th with 24 Yellowhammers roosting there on the 11th. In Dunnington itself, records included up to 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers visiting one garden, 100+ House Sparrows and 25 Tree Sparrows. A Kingfisher was at Hassacarr Nature Reserve all month while up to 20 Fieldfare were feeding on apples and 20+ Siskin fed on alders. A Jay was also present on the reserve all month with a Grey Wagtail there on the 10th. A Little Grebe was on the River Ouse near the Millennium Bridge, York on the 2nd with a possible Peregrine over Nunthorpe Road (also York) the same day. c.110 Fieldfare were in the Naburn/Bishopthorpe area, also on the 2nd with c. 175 there on the 8th. Good numbers of Golden Plover and Lapwing were in the same area during the month while Jays were present at Bishopthorpe Palace and Clifton Ings where a wintering Grey Wagtail was found on the 19th. Also mid-month, a flock of 35 Skylarks and up to 20 Corn Buntings were noted at this site. Finally, 30-40 Tree Sparrows were visiting a garden in Linton-on-Ouse on a daily basis. A pair of Stonechats was seen at Riccall on the 30th.

November 2001
Wildfowl were again prominent in the Lower Derwent Valley with up to 83 Whooper Swans throughout the month, but only a single Bewick's Swan. Up to 4 Peregrines were present with another seen over Middlethorpe on the 24th. A 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was wintering in the Lower Derwent with another at Strensall Common on the 18th while Barn Owls were seen regularly at the former site. Waders in the Lower Derwent included up to 240 Redshank, 190 Dunlin and 80 Ruff with the highlight being single Grey Phalarope sightings at Bubwith Ings on the 20th and 25th. Elsewhere, 2 moulting Slavonian Grebes were on Castle Howard Lake on the 29th with single Woodcocks seen at Dunnington on the 9th and Bootham Park Hospital, York on the 10th. Up to c.2000 Golden Plover and 500+ Lapwing were in the Naburn/Bishopthorpe area while records at Clifton Ings included a Little Grebe on the 2nd, a Pheasant from the 14th (new record), 1-2 Jays and 2 Corn Buntings. A Great Crested Grebe was on Rawcliffe Lake from the 15th when a Wigeon was also present while a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the 12th was a surprise. Up to 4 of the latter species were feeding in a Dunnington garden with species recorded there and in surrounding fields including 45 Fieldfare, 15 Redwing, Blackcap, 50 Greenfinches and 47 Corn Buntings while nearby Hassacarr Nature Reserve held up to 25 Siskin. Back in the Lower Derwent, Stonechats were at East Cottingwith and Sutton with up to 200 Brambling at Escrick Duck Decoy late in the month and up to 350 Reed Buntings present around the valley. Meanwhile, good numbers of Long-tailed Tits were noted generally.

October 2001
In the Lower Derwent Valley, waterfowl counts were generally high but fluctuated with the changing water levels. Three Whooper Swans remained at Hagg Bridge all month while 61 were at North Duffield Carrs on the 28th. 320 Pink-footed Geese flew south on the 2nd with smaller numbers noted during the rest of the month until 390 flew over Hagg Bridge on the 22nd. Peak duck counts were 6100 Wigeon, 4300 Teal, 170 Tufted Duck and 45 Pochard. The first Goldeneye arrived on the 29th while an immature Goshawk was at Wheldrake Ings on the 16th. Wader highlights included up to 36 Dunlin, 102 Ruff, 20 Jack Snipe, 500 Common Snipe and 100 Redshank while several thousand Golden Plover were near Naburn Sewage Works on the 27th. An unseasonal Curlew was at Ellerton on the 24th. Meanwhile, the last summer visitors included Yellow Wagtail at North Duffield on the 8th, Whinchat at this site on the 2nd and Thornton on the 10th with Wheatear at Elvington, also on the 10th. 1200 Meadow Pipits flew southwest over North Duffield on the 2nd while 400+ moved through Clifton Ings on the 4th where 250 Goldfinches were seen feeding on thistle heads the same day. A Chiffchaff was noted at Rawcliffe Lake on the 1st where Skylarks were passing overhead and a Coal Tit was a new record. 3 Grey Wagtails were in a Micklegate (York) garden on the 26th. Jays were seen at Clifton Ings, Naburn and Wheldrake while 50 Tree Sparrows were feeding by the new Park and Ride site near York.

September 2001
As usual, this was very much a changeover month with many comings and goings in the Lower Derwent Valley. Two Bewick's Swans flew south on the 21st and 82 Pink-footed Geese did likewise the following day with c. 20 of the latter west over Fulford on the 8th. Duck numbers in the Lower Derwent increased with up to 2700 Wigeon, 1700 Teal, 1900 Mallard and 100 Tufted Ducks by the month end. Raptors early in the month included Hen Harrier, Honey Buzzard, Goshawk and Merlin. Meanwhile, up to 5 Jack Snipe were seen at Bank Island with a Grey Plover near Ellerton from the 15th-18th. Two Knot flew north in this area on the 30th. Counts of Lapwing and Golden Plover were up to 2300 and 1100 respectively by the end of the month while 300 of these two species were reported near York and c. 500 Lapwings were near Naburn Sewage Works on the 8th. The first Redwings in the Lower Derwent were 7 on the 19th, building up to 100+ by the 26th while 2 Fieldfares arrived on the 19th increasing to 4 on the 29th. Both species were reported elsewhere late in the month. Departing summer visitors included Swift (last seen on the 30th), Reed Warbler (last on 22nd), Sedge Warbler (28th) and Spotted Flycatcher (22nd). 300+ Skylarks were at Aughton on the 17th when a Woodlark was also seen. At Dunnington, Redstart, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and 50+ hirundines chased by the usual Hobby were noted.

Summer 2001 Sightings
A highlight this summer was a Rose-coloured Starling, reported from Grimston Bar, York, on 22 June, and also reported in other parts of York. Five churring male Nightjars were present on Skipwith Common, and two pairs raised young. A Little Owl was seen in Poppleton between mid June and July. The breeding season on the Derwent Valley was mixed, and delayed due to extensive flooding. 5 pairs of Black-necked Grebes bred on North Duffield Carrs, raising at least 10 young. A pair of Black Terns held territory in the Valley, but didn't breed. A Little Egret was the first for the reserve. One Corncrake, three Spotted Crake, and over 30 Quail had been noted, mostly arrived in two influxes, in mid July and mid August. Two Spoonbills, a Crane and two Red Kites had been seen, and two pairs of Avocets on 2 September. Also in the Derwent Valley, there had been good numbers of passing terns, mostly Common, but several Sandwich and one Roseate. Wader passage had been good for Greenshank. Raptor passage noted early August, with several Buzzards. A Buzzard was also seen over Bilborough on 10 August. Movements noted late August early September included Lesser Black-backed Gulls passing over Dunnington, with 300 heading for the Humber on 26 August. Also in Dunnington, two different Hobbies were seen on the 28 August. A large mixed flock of tits was seen in Hagg Wood, including over 26 Coal Tits, 19 Long-tailed Tits and 15 Goldcrests. There was a report of 45 Crossbills at Castle Howard.

April 2001
Highlight of the month was undoubtedly a Great Snipe seen in flight by two lucky observers at Elvington on the 4th - the first record for the YOC area since the 1900s! Otherwise, the Lower Derwent Valley saw an impressive build-up of Black-necked Grebes with 13 pairs by the 29th, while White Stork sightings on the Tilmire on the 8th and at Elvington Airfield at the month end will not be counted as wild birds. Wildfowl included up to 2 pairs of Garganey in the Lower Derwent, two records of Common Scoter - a female picked up exhausted near Strensall on the 12th (before being released at the coast) and a male at Wheldrake on the 13th, up to 49 Goldeneye in the Lower Derwent early in the month when 5 were still at Castle Howard where a Goosander was also present. Raptors included two sightings of male Marsh Harriers in the Lower Derwent where up to 4 each of Common Buzzard and Osprey passed through - the latter species also being noted at Gilling on the 9th. A Common Crane flew south over Sheriff Hutton on the 3rd before settling down in the Lower Derwent at Sutton. Waders included a Grey Plover at Ellerton on the 1st with up to 160 Ruff and 22 Black-tailed Godwits remaining in the Lower Derwent Valley, while the Whimbrel roost built up from the 15th to 111 by the 28th. 1-2 Iceland Gulls lingered while 3 Common Terns passed through on the 26th. Returning summer visitors included Turtle Dove at Bank Island on the 26th, Cuckoo at Elvington on the 25th with 2 at Dunnington on the 29th, Swifts in the Lower Derwent from the 25th increasing to 100+ by the 30th with 2 over Bishopthorpe Bridge on the 29th, up to 2000 Sand Martins early in the month in the Lower Derwent with up to 100 over Castle Howard Lake, Swallows at Castle Howard on the 1st and North Duffield on the 3rd when a House Martin was also present with one of the latter at Clifton Ings on the 19th, Yellow Wagtail at North Duffield on the 10th, Sedge Warbler at Wheldrake on the 18th with 2 Reed Warblers there on the 30th, Whitethroat at Bank Island on the 22nd, Blackcap at Wheldrake on the 1st, 30 Chiffchaffs in the Lower Derwent on the 1st when 2 at Castle Howard and Willow Warblers singing at Wheldrake on the 1st and in an Osbaldwick garden on the 3rd. Other interesting records consisted of a Black Redstart at Sutton on the 26th and good numbers of lingering Waxwings with 17 in the Museum Gardens, York on the 20th, up to 70 (in 3 separate groups) flying over Clifton on the 21st and 3 in Poppleton on the 27th.

March 2001
Unfortunately, access restrictions due to the foot and mouth disease outbreak affected the number of records received during the month. However, there were still several interesting sightings reported from various localities. In the Lower Derwent Valley 35 Whooper Swans remained until the 28th, the last few departing in early April. 1-2 Pink-footed Geese lingered at Bubwith while 200 flew east over Escrick on the 14th when 16 Barnacle Geese flew over East Cottingwith. Pintail peaked at 520 early in the month with the first Garganey seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 30th. 4 Scaup were still present in the valley while a drake Smew flew over Elvington on the 16th. Interesting raptors included a Hen Harrier at Bowthorpe on the 30th and a Common Buzzard at Bubwith on the 31st. Significant wader records comprised 150+ Ruff at Thorganby on the 29th, a very early Whimbrel at North Duffield on the 11th and 2 Black-tailed Godwits in the valley on the 7th with 4 on the 17th. Barn Owl sightings increased to 56 with breeding now underway. The first passerine summer visitors appeared with 2 Sand Martins on the 12th and 4 on the 17th. The first Chiffchaff was at Wheldrake Ings on the 11th increasing to 12 by the 30th when 6 were at Escrick. 2 White Storks reported at Wheldrake on the 28th and 29th were undoubtedly free-flying birds from Harewood House. Elsewhere, a pair of Shelduck was seen on floodwater near Stillington during the month while a drake Mandarin was at Newburgh Priory. A male Merlin was noted at Huby and a pair of Oystercatchers was seen along the road between Sutton-on-the-Forest and Strensall with 100 Fieldfare and 200+ Redwing in the same area. The same observer was surprised by a Woodcock in his Strensall garden. Waxwings were still prominent with over 30 at the Nestle Rowntree complex in York and up to 23 still in Strensall. 22 briefly visited a garden in Clifton. Nearby, a Sand Martin was seen at Rawcliffe Lake on the 28th.

February 2001
Wildfowl remained prominent in the Lower Derwent Valley this month with up to 60 Whooper Swans still present along with a good selection of geese including 3 Bean Geese at North Duffield on the 14th with 13 there on the 28th, an arrival of 21 White-fronted Geese there on the 12th, a large movement of 1500 Pink-footed Geese throughout the valley from the 9th-16th and a dark-bellied Brent Goose at North Duffield Ings on the 12th. The highlight was probably a drake Green-winged Teal at North Duffield Carrs on the 18th, while several Scaup lingered from January. Meanwhile 15 Pochard were on floodwater near Bishopthorpe on the 15th. Waders began to return to the Lower Derwent with the first Oystercatchers on the 21st and the first Curlew on the 9th. A Grey Plover was with a flock of Golden Plover at North Duffield Ings on the 12th while there were up to 10,200 of the latter species present throughout the valley. 20 Snipe were present at Fulford Ings on the 24th, but no Jack Snipe seen there. There was also a very unusual record of a wintering juvenile Turtle Dove at Long Marston which had been visiting a garden bird table since the beginning of December. Waxwings were still in evidence with 7 at Rawcliffe on the 14th and 3 on Beckfield Lane in Acomb on the 11th. An encouraging 24 Song Thrushes were counted along the Ouse between York and Bishopthorpe on the 15th and an unexpected Chiffchaff on Millfield Road in York was presumably wintering. Back in the Lower Derwent Valley, up to 2000 Goldfinches around the area included a large charm of 700+ at East Cottingwith. Up to 3 pairs of Bullfinch were in the Bank Island car park and 30+ birds in the Wheldrake Ings car park area. There was also a report (as yet unsupported) of a Pine Bunting with Yellowhammers at Sutton in the first week of the month and up to 300 Reed Buntings were roosting daily in the reedbed at Melbourne with a total of 590 throughout the Lower Derwent Valley on the 18th. 8 Mealy Redpolls were at Rawcliffe on the 27th and records from Dunnington included 75 Skylarks, 65 Redwings, 50+ Yellowhammers and 100+ Corn Buntings.

January 2001
A series of Waxwing reports were received early in the month, mainly from the outskirts of York, with 28 in Riccall being the largest flock. Up to 11 were then noted at Rawcliffe late in the month. Wildfowl and waders were prominent in the flooded Lower Derwent Valley throughout the month with up to 70 Whooper Swans, 60 Bewick's Swans, 11 Scaup, 2-3 Smew, 1500 Redshank, 265 Ruff and 1400 Dunlin while the Wheldrake Ings gull roost held 2-3 Iceland Gulls and 2 Glaucous Gulls. A Red-necked Grebe was at North Duffield on the 4th and a Turnstone seen flying up the Derwent at East Cottingwith on the 13th. Meanwhile, up to 5 Short-eared Owls were counted between Elvington and The Tilmire, a Common Buzzard was seen in the Strensall area mid-month and a female Blackcap in a garden off Boroughbridge Road. In the Fulford Ings area, single Wigeon and Gadwall, 4 Pochard, 3 Goldeneye, 11 Goosander and a 'redhead' Smew were all seen on the Ouse with 1-2 Jack Snipe on Fulford Ings itself and 3 of the latter species also seen in the Strensall area mid-month. Askham Bog held up to 3 Woodcock, 5+ Marsh Tits, 3+ Willow Tits and 5 Treecreepers with 55 flyover Fieldfares also there and 40 Redwing at Fulford Ings. Finally, 15 Siskin were at Bishopthorpe Bridge on the 1st when 1-2 Lesser Redpolls were at the Millennium Bridge.