December 2007
It was a fairly quiet end to the year with most places rather devoid of water after a relatively dry autumn although welcome flooding did come at the end of the month. Castle Howard Lake held the most interest this month with wildfowl counts on the 17th of 42 Mute Swans, 200+ Greylag Geese, 300+ Canada Geese, 100+ Wigeon, 50+ Tufted Duck and at least 20 Goldeneye but only two Goosander. More surprising, however, was a drake Eider which pitched down in one of the few ice-free areas of the lake! This bird was not present the following day but there was some form of compensation for local listers in the shape of a female Scaup and nine Goosander while five Eurasian White-fronted Geese were seen at Bank Island on the 28th. A drake Common Teal was on floods at Fulford Ings on the 31st with a Goshawk reported over Askham Bog on the 22nd. A Jack Snipe was flushed at Fulford Ings the same day as well as two Common Snipe with many of the latter noted at Wheldrake Ings on the 14th, 22 in Rawcliffe Meadows flood basin on the 24th and seven at Heslington Tillmire on the 29th when a Woodcock was flushed from a ditch at Fulford Golf Course. Other waders of note at Wheldrake Ings on the 14th were six Ruff, two Black-tailed Godwits and a single Curlew. A juvenile Iceland Gull at Castle Howard Lake on the 17th was picked out amongst the roosting Black-headed Gulls and Common Gulls with a 50:50 split of these species in a total of some 10,000 birds. A Little Owl was seen in the grounds of The Retreat in York the same day with a Green Woodpecker noted at Heslington Tillmire on the 26th – the first for some time there. The Water Pipit was still at Catterton on the 1st but was not reported again until the new year while a Grey Wagtail was feeding on the ice at Castle Howard Lake on the 17th. An impressive gathering of c. 150 Pied Wagtails was noted on the frozen floods at Wheldrake Ings on the 14th where a pair of Stonechats was also present with a female at Heslington Tillmire on the 26th and a male on the 29th. A flock of 18 Fieldfares was at Fulford Ings on the 31st along with five Redwings while both Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush were heard singing at York Science Park by the 11th. A male Blackcap was in a Fulford garden on the 9th but a Siberian Chiffchaff found at Fulford Ings on the 24th was of more local interest and this bird remained into the new year but was often very elusive as it fed low down in rank vegetation, being best located by its distinctive piping call. A Firecrest discovered during a BTO Bird Atlas visit to Yearsley Moor on the 9th was also a good record but was not seen again. Two Nuthatches were seen at Bishopthorpe Palace on the 15th while a notable count of 66 Tree Sparrows was made at Rawcliffe Cornfield Nature Reserve on the 14th. This site also held up to 200 Linnets on the 11th as well as 20 Yellowhammers and small numbers of Corn Bunting early in the month. At least one Brambling was with the finch flock on the 24th with a possible seen in a stubble field near Cliffe on the 25th as well as up to 15 Yellowhammers. A large flock of c. 300 Linnets was discovered in a game strip near the southern edge of Heslington Tillmire on the 29th along with 80 Chaffinches, ten Greenfinches and a single Tree Sparrow. About 15 Lesser Redpolls were seen along the River Ouse in the Fulford area on the 7th with singles noted at Danesmead Copse, Fulford on the 22nd and 31st. Finally, a sizeable flock of 140 Siskins was reported from South Milford Common near Bishop Wood on the 30th while a Lapland Bunting which landed briefly on rough ground at The Knavesmire, York on the 20th provided an early Christmas present for the observer, but unfortunately did not linger...

November 2007
November continued in the same vein as October although things did begin to settle down by the end of the month! The Whooper Swan herd at North Duffield Carrs held 48 birds on the 1st when 53 Pink-footed Geese dropped in briefly before heading off in a northwesterly direction. A female Goosander was on the Ouse at Bishopthorpe on the 17th while a notable covey of 20 Grey Partridge was seen at Heslington Tillmire on the 6th. The pair of Great Crested Grebes at York University Lake remained and were even engaging in display on the 1st with another adult still at Naburn Marina on the 17th. More intriguing, however, was a report of a distant egret perched on a fencepost near Poppleton on the 26th. The farmland habitat and date suggest this may well have been a Cattle Egret with several birds in Britain at the time, but we will never know!... A Common Buzzard frequenting the stretch of road between Long Marston and Rufforth early in the month was the only raptor record received while there were a few reports of Lapwing and Golden Plover with 300 of the latter in fields east of Heslington village on the 6th being the only sizeable flock noted. A Woodcock flew out of the grounds of Millfield School in York just before dawn on the 15th but perhaps more surprising was a Grey Phalarope seen and photographed from a boat on the River Derwent between Aughton and Ellerton on the 11th! However, it didn’t hang around and was never seen again... A juvenile Iceland Gull found in the Castle Howard Lake roost on the 10th was the only gull of note while a storm-blown Little Auk was picked up dead at Great Barugh near Malton on the 14th – an unfortunate victim of the massive ‘wreck’ of this species recorded in the North Sea this month. A White Wagtail accompanying a Grey Wagtail on the river towpath opposite Rowntree Park in York on the 17th was unusual while four Stonechats (probably two pairs) were engaged in territorial dispute at Heslington Tillmire on the 6th. A late Wheatear was reported from Slingsby on the 4th while reasonable numbers of both Fieldfare and Redwing continued to be seen. Presumed wintering Blackcaps were noted at Askham Bog (male) on the 10th and in an Osbaldwick garden (female) on the 15th. Two Jays were seen between Long Marston and Angram early in the month while the only Brambling reported was in a Sheriff Hutton garden on the 16th. The only other ‘winter finches’ noted were a Siskin flying over York University Lake on the 15th and single Lesser Redpolls flying over the Fulford area on the 16th and 17th while the only bunting record involved a pair of Yellowhammers in a roadside hedge east of Heslington on the 12th.  

October 2007 
October is traditionally regarded as one of the most exciting months for birdwatching with the possibility of seeing some very special species, particularly on the coast. Our recording area is well inland but still has plenty to offer and although the number of records received wasn’t great, this was made up by the variety and quality of birds involved! Fourteen Mute Swans were still present along the Ouse south of York on the 1st while the first Whooper Swans of the autumn involved ten birds at North Duffield Carrs on the 18th where the regular herd had built up to 39 by the 30th. Some of these may have accounted for a group of ten observed flying east over Dunnington on the 27th. The wintering Greylag Goose flock at Castle Howard numbered c. 400 birds on the 2nd and contained a single Barnacle Goose (probably of dubious origin!) as well as a bird thought to be a hybrid between the two species. A drake Mandarin Duck was seen on the Great Lake here on the 14th with a pair noted on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 15th and 22nd while 40+ Wigeon were present at the former site on the 2nd with an eclipse-plumaged Pintail also there as well as 40+ Teal, 150+ Mallard, ten Pochard, 100+ Tufted Duck and two first-winter Scaup. The latter were still present on the 8th while two first-winter birds seen at Newburgh Priory Lake on the 9th were considered to be different individuals based on plumage features. A drake Common Scoter was seen at Castle Howard Lake on the 14th with a female-type bird present on the pond at Sand Hutton Central Science Laboratory from the 15th-19th. Up to eight Great Crested Grebes were at Castle Howard on the 2nd while the impressive inland movement of Gannets in Yorkshire continued with birds in our area including a juvenile flying low over the nursery on Holtby Lane near Stockton-on-the-Forest on the 2nd and two birds heading west over North Duffield Carrs on an unspecified date around this time. A Bittern was seen on the scrape at North Duffield on the 29th while just outside our area, a Great White Egret was reported by the railway line between Selby and Howden on the 16th. Things were rather quiet on the raptor front although a late Marsh Harrier was noted at Wheldrake Ings on the 16th and Common Buzzards were reported from the Castle Howard and Heslington Tillmire areas. Counts of Coot at Castle Howard Lake included at least 300 birds on the 2nd while the only notable wader record in a rather dry autumn concerned a Jack Snipe seen from the Swantail Hide at Wheldrake Ings on the 26th. A Barn Owl was still feeding young in a nest box at Heslington Tillmire on the 30th (!) while a Little Owl was seen along Holtby Lane near Stockton-on-the-Forest on the 2nd and a Long-eared Owl flew over North Duffield Carrs in the early morning of the 30th. Moving on to passerines, lingering summer migrants at Fulford Ings on the 1st included c. 30 Swallows, 20 of which were heading south together, and at least five House Martins while a pair of Stonechats (thought to be migrants) was in fields above Howthorpe Farm on the 1st with further pairs (presumed wintering birds) at North Duffield Carrs on the 21st and Wheldrake Ings on the 26th. Many thrushes were making their way inland on the back of easterly winds this month with the largest flock of Fieldfare noted being up to 200 birds at Long Marston on the 15th while c. 80 Blackbirds were at Fulford Ings on the 1st along with an impressive tally of c. 40 Song Thrushes and 100+ Redwings. Several Chiffchaffs lingered with birds being seen up to the 11th at least when two separate individuals were located at Fulford Golf Course. Willow Tits were encouragingly recorded at a few sites with three Jays seen flying over the Fulford area on the 1st perhaps indicating an influx of continental birds although the undoubted highlight of a six-species-strong crow cast that morning was a Raven heading high east over the Millennium Bridge in York. A flock of c. 20 Tree Sparrows feeding in a weedy stubble field adjacent to Fulford Golf Course on the 11th was the largest seen by the observer in that area with eight birds also noted at Nunnington on the 21st. A single Siskin flew over Fulford Ings on the 8th with a lone Lesser Redpoll doing likewise while another bird flew over York University Lake on the 12th.

September 2007
As usual, this month saw the departure of most of our summer visitors while the first winter visitors arrived during the final week. Ducks at Newburgh Priory Lake on the 28th included two Wigeon, 75 Common Teal and an eclipse drake Shoveler while a female-type Pintail was reported on the 14th. Two Garganey remained at North Duffield Carrs until the 13th and a Goosander was seen on the River Ouse at Fulford Ings on the 27th. Displaced inland seabirds were a feature this month with single Gannets seen flying over Market Weighton (just outside the recording area) on the 27th, Shipton on the 28th and Wheldrake Ings the same day while Great Skuas were noted at Malton on the 11th (picked up and released on the coast at Bempton) and Ellerton Ings on the 13th. Notable raptor records consisted of single Red Kites over Easingwold on the 5th and Wheldrake Ings on the 11th, at least three Marsh Harriers seen in the Lower Derwent Valley throughout the month, a Hobby over Thornton Ellers on the 10th and Peregrine at Wheldrake Ings on the 20th. There were few interesting wader records, however, with c.200 Lapwings and c.100 Golden Plovers seen in a field near Yearsley Moor on the 28th, a Spotted Redshank on the pool at Wheldrake from the 20th-22nd with single Greenshanks there on the 2nd and 20th and four Green Sandpipers on the 2nd. Late Swifts were seen at Fulford Ings (two) on the 3rd and Clifton Ings on the 5th while two Kingfishers were noted along the River Derwent between Howsham and Stamford Bridge on the 1st and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker flew low over Fulford Ings on the 12th but could not be relocated. On the passerine front, Sky Larks and Meadow Pipits were on the move with over 1,000 of the latter counted passing through North Duffield on the 13th. Swallows and House Martins were still very much in evidence while winter thrushes began to flood in along the coast at the end of the month with the first Redwings seen in the Fulford area on the 27th and a Ring Ouzel was reported from Skipwith Common the next day. A variety of warblers was noted with a late Sedge Warbler seen at Heslington Tillmire on the 23rd, three Lesser Whitethroats along the Pocklington Canal on the 6th and at Fulford Ings on the 7th, Common Whitethroats at the latter site up till the 12th. A Garden Warbler, appropriately, was in a garden at Long Marston on the 9th and at least six Blackcaps still at Fulford Ings on the 3rd while Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers were reported from several locations during the month. Two Marsh Tits were seen down The Outgang, Heslington on the 23rd while a Nuthatch was heard at Fulford Ings on the 12th and Jays were conspicuous around Yearsley Moor on the 28th. Finally, single Siskin and Lesser Redpoll were recorded at Fulford Golf Course on the 23rd.

August 2007
August was relatively quiet bird-wise, especially in the wake of the atrocious conditions experienced over the preceding couple of months. Remains of flooding at Wheldrake Ings did attract some interesting species, however. Up to ten Garganey were seen there throughout the month while a juvenile Goosander appeared at Naburn Marina on the 25th. Grey Partridge numbers on the Castle Howard estate have reportedly increased to 24 pairs as a result of a sympathetic farmland management scheme. The pair of Great Crested Grebes at York University Lake had hatched their second brood by the 4th with the two young at Naburn Marina continuing to do well. A Bittern flew over the refuge at Wheldrake Ings on the 24th with up to 11 Little Egrets seen in the area until the 15th and three on a pond by the River Derwent at Breighton on the 2nd. It was a good month for raptors, especially in the Lower Derwent Valley, with a Honey Buzzard drifting slowly east over Wheldrake Ings on the 28th where at least three Marsh Harriers were seen as well as at North Duffield Carrs, although a young bird circling over Clifton Ings on the 7th was more unusual. Sightings of Common Buzzards have now become the norm with several reported, including one soaring high over York University Lake on the 28th, while an Osprey flew south over North Duffield Carrs the following day. A Spotted Crake was seen from the Swantail Hide at Wheldrake Ings on the 28th with the reserve also attracting a good selection of passage waders including Ringed Plover, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper A large temporary pond between Lilling and Strensall had formed following last month’s deluge and was also attracting an interesting array of waders including Greenshank and Green Sandpiper with one of the latter also seen on a pool by the River Ouse at Newhay on the 28th while a Common Sandpiper was at Newburgh Priory Lake on the 24th. Large numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were roaming around the recording area while Common Terns were seen at York University Lake on the 2nd and Wheldrake Ings on the 4th. Small numbers of Swifts (normal ones!) lingered at the end of the month in the Millennium Bridge area of York with a Wheatear seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 7th. Several species of warbler remained throughout including Lesser Whitethroats at Middlethorpe Ings on the 4th and Fulford Ings on the 27th, up to four Common Whitethroats at Fulford Ings and a Garden Warbler at Danesmead Copse, Fulford on the 31st where a Spotted Flycatcher was also present. A Nuthatch was heard calling at Bishopthorpe Palace on the 17th and a pair apparently bred behind the allotments on the Fulford side of York Millennium Bridge this ‘summer’. Around 50 Tree Sparrows were counted in a hedge near Lilling Green Farm, West Lilling on the 6th while an early returning Siskin was seen in Low Moor Allotments, Fulford on the 23rd with up to seven Lesser Redpolls continuing to perform display flights at Fulford Golf Course on the 5th.

July 2007
July, as usual, was a rather quiet month for birds – with one notable exception! The weather was again rather unsettled with further rain topping up already swollen rivers culminating in the constant threat of yet more flooding. An influx of Mute Swans into York followed the floods and a Garganey was seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 23rd with a Mandarin Duck also present that day while two Black-necked Grebes were noted there then as well as on the 25th. A summer-plumaged Little Grebe on the Ouse at Fulford Ings on the 2nd was perhaps more of a surprise, however, while at least one singing Quail continued to be reported from West Lilling with another heard at Ellerton Ings on the 15th. Interesting raptors included an Osprey flying south over East Cottingwith on the 2nd, an adult male Goshawk putting in a good performance at Clifton Park on the 27th and several Hobby sightings in and around the Lower Derwent Valley throughout the month. Breeding waders around York included Oystercatcher and Curlew while the start of return passage was indicated as early as the 9th when a Common Sandpiper was seen feeding on floods at Middlethorpe Ings. The place to be, however, was Thorganby Ings late in the month with the rapidly receding floods attracting a number and variety of waders, the pick of which was a Pectoral Sandpiper found on the evening of the 30th and still present the following morning. There were also 50+ Dunlin, four Ringed Plovers, four Black-tailed Godwits, two Greenshank and three Common Sandpipers visible from the viewpoint there while four Green Sandpipers were seen along the Pocklington Canal near Hagg Bridge on the 31st during a YOC evening field trip. An Arctic Skua was reported flying north over Wheldrake Ings on the 25th while four Little Gulls were at North Duffield Carrs on the 23rd with good numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls noted in several places and Common Terns seen along the Ouse south of York as well as at the University and in the Lower Derwent Valley. Barn and Little Owls were often seen hunting during daylight hours but the highlight of the month was undoubtedly the bird confidently identified as a Chimney Swift on the 24th which ranged along the Ouse between York and Bishopthorpe and was also present on the 25th attracting a large number of birdwatchers. This individual remained very mobile and elusive during its stay giving many would-be observers the run-around and was possibly never seen particularly well in the field. Euphoria soon turned to abject disappointment and despair, however, following close scrutiny of the available photographs which suggested that the bird was possibly just an ‘aberrant’ Common Swift missing its outer primaries and tail feathers, although support for the initial identification has begun to grow again following reference to the available literature regarding moult patterns and subsequent discussion prompted by the appearance of another photograph of the bird – WATCH THIS SPACE! Numbers of swifts had noticeably increased around that time with many probably on passage through the area. Meanwhile, reports of small passerines were few and far between, presumably as birds became elusive having commenced their post-breeding moult. Nevertheless, Yellow Wagtails were seen at Naburn Sewage Works on the 7th and along the Pocklington Canal on the 31st where birds were associating with good numbers of Pied Wagtails including many juveniles. A male Whinchat discovered at Clifton Ings on the 21st was unusual for the time of year and remained in the area throughout the rest of the month, possibly indicating breeding activity. A family party of Jays roaming around Fulford Ings on the 7th was a pleasant surprise while at least ten Corn Buntings frequenting the West Lilling area during the month was a welcome sight.

June 2007
In contrast to May, June was a poor month for records, probably due to many observers not getting out in the field as this was to become the wettest month ever recorded! There was a lot of flooding as a result making many areas inaccessible but despite all the rain, there were few waterbirds reported. A female Goosander with two young was on the River Rye at Ryton Bridge on the 25th while up to four calling Quail were discovered at West Lilling on the 23rd. The pair of Great Crested Grebes at York University had hatched a second brood of two young with the three birds from the first brood now fully grown. A Red Kite flew west over Ellerton Ings on the 5th while Hobbies were seen near Alne on the 7th and at Coneysthorpe on the 21st. More unusual, however, was a Peregrine perched on York Minster on the 15th – will they eventually breed here as there would be no shortage of food and nesting ledges? ‘Roding’ Woodcocks were noted at Allerthorpe, Skipwith and Yearsley Moor while a pair of Curlews was breeding on Middlethorpe Ings where floods attracted c. 120 Black-headed Gulls and 150+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the 21st. A pair of Common Terns was seen at York University Lake on the 15th with a Turtle Dove visiting Long Marston on the 5th as birds continued to be reported from Yearsley Moor. Tawny Owls were prominent in their usual woodland haunts while young Long-eared Owls were heard at one or two sites. The only Nightjar reported was one ‘churring’ at Allerthorpe Common on the 2nd while an impressive gathering of over 250 Swifts was noted over Grimston roundabout on the 13th and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were reported to be breeding at Sand Hutton. Two male Redstarts were performing well at Yearsley Moor on the 2nd in the same area as the rather elusive Wood Warbler with a pair of Nuthatches feeding nestlings in a tree by the track there. Up to three Reed Warblers were singing at the western end of Castle Howard Lake on the 2nd and a Lesser Whitethroat watched bathing in a garden pond at Long Marston on the 7th while a pair of Spotted Flycatchers was seen at Coneysthorpe on the 21st. Corn Buntings remained on territory along the road between Long Marston and Tockwith with good numbers noted at West Lilling although many small birds (and some bigger ones!) probably suffered in the appalling conditions...

May 2007
Typically, this was a bumper month both in terms of the number of records submitted and the variety of species seen. A late Whooper Swan was still at Wheldrake Ings on the 2nd while the feral Pink-footed Goose was seen again at York University Lake on the 24th. A pair of Grey Partridges was regularly seen at Long Marston while three birds flushed at Heslington Tillmire on the 8th were a pleasant surprise for the observer. The pairs of Great Crested Grebes, each with three young, remained at Naburn Marina and York University Lake while several Little Grebes were noted at Skipwith Common with an adult and two young on the top pond at Yearsley Moor on the 30th. An albino Cormorant rather stood out in the breeding colony at Wheldrake Ings and was presumably not the Little Egret reported there on the 31st! All of the best raptors were seen at Wheldrake as a Red Kite drifted over on the 2nd and a female Marsh Harrier gave good views on the 25th with a Hobby seen the previous day, while the two Common Cranes were present only in the early morning of the 1st before departing for good. Interesting waders included Oystercatchers at Kexby, Long Marston, Naburn Sewage Works and Newburgh Priory Lake, up to 15 Whimbrel at the Wheldrake Ings roost as well as two Bar-tailed Godwits, with Greenshank and Green Sandpiper also there on the 3rd and an obliging Wood Sandpiper at Melbourne on the 13th. A Little Gull was an unexpected visitor to the pond at Sand Hutton CSL on the 4th while at least 100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over Fulford on the 30th and 31st. A Turtle Dove was reported from the lane between Acaster Selby and Appleton Roebuck as four birds were noted at Yearsley Moor on the 30th and Cuckoos were seen and heard in several locations with a hepatic female present at Wheldrake Ings. Swifts flooded in early in the month with c. 80 at Wheldrake on the 2nd, 30 at Naburn Sewage Works on the 5th and up to 50 at Clifton Ings on the 12th. Up to three pairs of Wood Larks were nesting at the traditional site of Sand Hutton CSL while singing birds were also reported from two other localities and hirundines had mostly returned to their usual breeding sites with up to 50 House Martins feeding over Naburn Sewage Works. Tree Pipits were back at both Skipwith and Strensall with Yellow Wagtails noted in several areas while two male Redstarts were seen at Castle Howard on the 13th. A Whinchat at Sand Hutton CSL on the 15th was a new record for the site with the Stonechats at Strensall Common having already fledged young by the 22nd and a pair of Wheatears was seen at Dunnington Common on the 1st. At least three Grasshopper Warblers were ‘reeling’ at Wheldrake Ings at the start of the month with Sedge Warblers in good supply there while one of the latter was in song at York University Lake on the 3rd and up to three at Fulford Ings from mid-month. Several Reed Warblers were also at Wheldrake with Lesser Whitethroats noted at Walmgate Stray, York on the 2nd and Middlethorpe Ings on two dates while Common Whitethroats were reported from a number of locations. Garden Warblers were present in the usual breeding areas with a passage bird in riverside willows at Middlethorpe Ings on the 5th while a Wood Warbler had returned to the same spot as last year at Yearsley Moor by the 30th. About 15 Tree Sparrows including recently fledged juveniles were kicking around the bottom end of Naburn Sewage Works on the 26th while at least six Corn Buntings were counted along the road between Long Marston and Tockwith late in the month.

April 2007
A mix of summer and winter visitors this month provided much interest as the migration season got into full swing! A late Whooper Swan remained at North Duffield Carrs on the 19th while one drake American Wigeon had moved to Wheldrake Ings where it was still present on the 24th. Four Garganey were at North Duffield on the 16th with one at Wheldrake on the 19th and three at North Duffield again on the 24th where a female Common Scoter was found early in the month. The pair of Great Crested Grebes at York University Lake had hatched four chicks with another pair at Naburn Marina raising three young while a pair of Black-necked Grebes was at North Duffield Carrs on the 1st and a single bird there on the 9th. A Red Kite over Long Marston on the 5th, Hobbies at Dunnington Common on the 17th and Wheldrake Ings on the 30th and a Peregrine at North Duffield on the 1st were the only raptors of note. A tame Water Rail hung around the totally enclosed quadrangle by the library at Sand Hutton Central Science Laboratory from the 2nd-27th. Two Common Cranes arrived at Wheldrake on the 30th, but were not to linger long. Four Little Ringed Plovers were seen in the Elvington/Sutton upon Derwent area on the 9th with another at Bank Island the following day while a single Knot was present at the latter site on the 15th and 16th with other interesting wader sightings including up to 70 Ruff at North Duffield Carrs, a Jack Snipe at Seavy Carr on the 19th, Woodcocks at Wheldrake on the 12th and Askham Bog on the 22nd and up to 60 Black-tailed Godwits in the Lower Derwent Valley. Three immature Iceland Gulls were still coming in to roost at Wheldrake Ings on the 11th while the first Cuckoos were noted at Askham Bog and between Sheriff Hutton and Strensall on the 26th with the first Swifts being two together over Bishopthorpe Road in York on the 21st. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was reported from the wood by the car park at Wheldrake Ings early in the month while Sand Martin numbers were building up with the first Swallow being seen at Naburn Sewage Works on the 9th and the first House Martins also at that site on the 14th. A Yellow Wagtail was seen at Heslington on the 19th with several Grey Wagtails noted in different areas while four Waxwings were belatedly reported from a Riccall garden on the 6th. Stonechats were prominent on Strensall Common and up to three Wheatears were noted at several sites from the 19th as departing Fieldfares (20) and Redwings (8) were seen moving purposefully north at Long Marston and Fulford Ings respectively on the 7th. Three Grasshopper Warblers were reeling along the river at Wheldrake Ings on the 30th with the first Sedge Warblers noted there on the 19th when Lesser Whitethroats were singing at both Bank Island and North Duffield Carrs while the first Common Whitethroats were at Askham Bog and Fulford Ings on the 26th. A Garden Warbler was found near Naburn on the 30th while a noticeable influx of Blackcaps and Willow Warblers occurred on the 9th and 10th as Chiffchaffs became widespread. Up to four Jays around the southern end of Fulford Ings mid-month was unusual while Tree Sparrows and Corn Buntings returned to traditional breeding sites.

March 2007
Plenty of water remained in the Lower Derwent Valley at the start of the month with a good number of waterbirds still making the most of the conditions. The Whooper Swan herd, however, had moved to nearby farmland to feed with c. 50 birds on the 8th declining to 22 by the 15th. Eleven Pink-footed Geese were seen briefly at Wheldrake Ings while a Dark-bellied Brent Goose was present on the 21st and 22nd with a pair of Mandarin Ducks noted at Bank Island on the 14th. The elusive drake American Wigeon finally gave itself up at Bubwith Ings on the 13th and was amazingly joined by another the following day with at least one bird continuing to linger in the area. Up to 200 Pintail remained at Wheldrake Ings while 20 Goldeneye were seen displaying there on the 12th with up to two pairs of Smew reported briefly at North Duffield Carrs early in the month. A pair of Goosander was on the floods at Wheldrake on the 13th with eight birds seen on the River Ouse at Poppleton on the 24th. The wintering Black-necked Grebe remained at the southern end of Wheldrake Ings throughout the month while a Fulmar was reported flying south over the reserve on the 17th. Interesting raptors included a Red Kite flying north over North Duffield village on the 11th and a male Merlin seen dashing close by an observer at Malton the same day while a few Peregrines were also reported along with the now expected Common Buzzards. Waders continued to delight visitors to the Lower Derwent Valley with five Avocets reported at North Duffield Carrs early in the month where c. 1,200 Golden Plover were counted on the 8th though Lapwings had mostly returned to their breeding grounds. Up to 20 Dunlin were seen at North Duffield while 200 Ruff were also noted there during the month with at least 40 Black-tailed Godwits at Wheldrake on the 27th. Outside the Valley, two Jack Snipe were at Fulford Ings on the 24th and 25th with at least 28 Common Snipe for company on the first date while a Green Sandpiper was on floods at Middlethorpe Ings on the 2nd and 3rd. The gull roost at Wheldrake Ings was well worth a visit at this time with up to 15,000 birds present including single Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gulls, up to three different Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull while a first-winter Little Gull was seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 21st. There were the usual reports of Barn and Little Owls while a Green Woodpecker was heard at Middlethorpe Ings on the 3rd. On the passerine front, the first Wood Larks returned to the York area as well as the first Sand Martins (two at Bubwith Ings on the 13th) while a Rock Pipit of the Scandinavian race littoralis was reported from North Duffield on the 7th. A Waxwing was possibly heard in Acomb, York on the 13th and several pairs of Stonechats were on territory at Strensall Common with a single bird still at Heslington Tillmire. A 500-strong flock of Fieldfare in fields at South Duffield on the 8th was by far the largest concentration of that species reported with only small numbers of Redwing noted. A Blackcap was tempted into song by fine weather at Rowntree Park, York on the early morning of the 8th while a Chiffchaff at Naburn Sewage Works on the 10th was probably also a wintering bird with the first migrants in the York area in song at Wheldrake Ings and York University on the 12th. Four pairs of Tree Sparrow were seen in the Bishopthorpe area on the 10th while Corn Buntings continued to roost at Clifton Ings with a maximum of 35 on the 22nd although only ones or twos were noted at three other sites.

February 2007
February continued in the same vein as January with plenty of water remaining in the Lower Derwent Valley and, consequently, a large number and variety of wetland birds. The herd of Whooper Swans stayed faithful to the southern end of the valley with a maximum of 98 counted at Bubwith Ings on the 1st where the accompanying Bewick’s Swan was easier to pick out from the throng! The vast and often flighty flocks of waterbirds were said by many observers to represent a truly awesome spectacle and totals recorded during the BTO Wetland Birds Survey in the Lower Derwent on the 16th included 95 Whooper Swans, 92 Shelduck, 11,710 Wigeon, 229 Gadwall, 3,180 Teal, 1,435 Mallard, 632 Pintail, 10,600 Golden Plover, 4,610 Lapwing, 89 Ruff, 4,800 Black-headed Gull, 950 Common Gull, 1,600 Herring Gull and 300 Great Black-backed Gull. The Golden Plover count is a new record for the reserve and probably explains the lack of sightings of this species in other areas! Outside the valley, a flock of c. 200 Pink-footed Geese flew north over the back road between Strensall and Sutton-on-the-Forest on the 1st while a first-winter drake American Wigeon put in an all-too-brief appearance of Thorganby Ings, back in the Lower Derwent, on the 17th and a maximum count of just 13 Goosander was made at Castle Howard Lake the following day. Pairs of Great Crested Grebe had returned to Rawcliffe Lake and York University Lake by the middle of the month and soon recommenced breeding activities while the winter-plumaged Black-necked Grebe remained on the pool at Wheldrake Ings. Things were rather quiet on the raptor front with Common Buzzard, Merlin and Peregrine being the highlights although an escaped African White-backed Vulture , first seen flying south over Breighton on the 6th, before visiting the Wolds and the coast until the 15th when it was apparently hit by a car at Castle Howard, must have been quite a sight! Wader-wise, apart from those already mentioned, both Oystercatcher and Curlew had returned to their breeding sites by mid-month while a Knot was seen at North Duffield Carrs on a couple of dates and three Black-tailed Godwits were present at Wheldrake Ings on the 25th. Two adult Iceland Gulls roosted at Wheldrake on the 16th with one noted feeding in fields near Knapton the following day as Lesser Black-backed Gulls began to return to our area. A notable count of 60 Stock Doves was recorded in a set-aside field between Naburn Lodge and the A19 on the 18th while signs of spring were much in evidence with singing Skylarks lifting the winter gloom as many other species started to display and build their nests. Myriads of flies at Naburn Sewage Works continued to attract up to 150 Pied Wagtails and 50 Meadow Pipits with a presumed wintering Chiffchaff also partaking in the feast on the 17th. A pair of Stonechats lingered at Heslington Tillmire and reasonable flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing were still being reported. A male Blackcap was seen in a Long Marston garden on the 2nd where a Marsh Tit passed through on the 18th but finch and bunting numbers remained disappointingly low although 33 Corn Buntings did return to roost at Clifton Ings on the 23rd.

January 2007
The new year started with the luxury of plenty of water remaining in the Lower Derwent Valley – even at Wheldrake Ings(!) The Whooper Swan herd was still at the southern end of the Valley with the accompanying Bewick’s Swan occasionally reported. Good numbers of Wigeon lingered throughout with about 400 counted at Bank Island on the 13th while 200 Pintail were at Wheldrake Ings on the 12th. There was a greater variety of wildfowl at Castle Howard Lake, however, with 100+ Wigeon, 300 Mallard, 20+ Gadwall, 100+ Tufted Duck and c. 50 Pochard counted on the 30th though only four Goosanders were seen. A winter-plumaged Black-necked Grebe was found at Wheldrake Ings on the 26th while a Leach’s Storm-petrel picked up dead after hitting a window at Sand Hutton Central Science Laboratory on the 2nd was more of a surprise! Two White Storks, presumably wandering birds from Harewood Bird Gardens near Leeds, were seen at Norton Ings on the 8th with a single noted circling over Acomb, York on the 29th. Common Buzzards were seen at several sites while the only other raptors of note were Red Kites seen over Linton-on-Ouse and Long Marston on the 11th and Peregrines at Harewood Whin on the 14th and Stockton-on-the-Forest on the 30th. A total of 27 Red-legged Partridges (three coveys) was counted in the Bishopthorpe area during the BTO Winter Plover Survey on the 25th but most of the target species appeared to be taking advantage of the floods in the Lower Derwent Valley, although c. 50 Golden Plover and c. 1000 Lapwing were in fields opposite Naburn Sewage Works on the 6th. A report of 90 Black-tailed Godwits flying north over Bubwith Ings on the 4th has yet to be verified but seven were at Wheldrake Ings on the 8th with eight there on the 16th. Woodcocks were seen at Askham Bog and Yearsley Moor while two Green Sandpipers were noted near Walbutt Lock along the Pocklington Canal on the 1st. Gull numbers began to build up with a Yellow-legged Gull identified at Harewood Whin on the 14th and perhaps the same Iceland Gull noted at this site, Fulford Ings and Knapton during the month. Barn, Little and Tawny Owls were all reported but a probable Long-eared Owl seen flying over the A64 near Copmanthorpe was perhaps more interesting. 50 Skylarks were on maize stubble along the Pocklington Canal on the 1st, but farmland birds were generally thin on the ground. A Water Pipit was seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 8th with Stonechats and wintering Blackcaps noted at several sites while numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing started to increase. The mild weather meant that many species were staying out in the countryside rather than coming into people’s gardens, as evidenced by the good numbers of finches at Yearsley Moor on the 29th including at least 20 Bramblings, while a female of this species at Welburn was the highlight of the Michael Clegg Memorial Birdrace in the York recording area on the 7th.