December 2010
The whole of December was held in an icy grip and even the River Ouse froze over leaving few areas of refuge for many birds. A skein of 75 Pink-footed Geese flew southeast over Dunnington Common on the 2nd with 80+ heading south at Clifton Ings on the 7th and nine in stubble at Wilberfoss on the 14th. An obvious escaped drake Wood Duck was on the River Foss at Huntington on at least the 12th while 25 Common Teal flew south down the Ouse at Clifton Ings on the 14th with 30+ being seen there on the 18th. Ten Tufted Ducks on an unfrozen patch of the Ouse at Skeldergate Bridge on the 28th was unusual while a number of Goosander were forced onto local rivers with the most notable counts being 16 on the Ouse at Bishopthorpe Bridge on the 11th, 11 on the Ouse at Clifton Ings from the 15th-18th and 28 on the Ouse at Linton Lock on the 21st. Up to seven Cormorants were frequenting the Ouse at Clifton during the month while a White Stork reported from Holme upon Spalding Moor (just outside the recording area) was unseasonal and the only raptor record received concerned a single Common Buzzard at Newton-on-Ouse on the 21st. Up to three Jack Snipe were lingering at York University’s new lake at Campus East between the 6th and 19th with a single seen flying over the road at Sutton upon Derwent on the 7th and two at Rawcliffe Meadows on the 18th. Only small numbers of Common Snipe were noted also while there were widespread reports of single Woodcocks and the only other wader sightings involved an unseasonal record of two Curlews in the Clifton Ings area on the 24th, two Common Redshanks at Pocklington on the 1st and a single in a ditch at North Duffield on the 5th along with a Green Sandpiper. There were several daytime sightings of Barn Owl but the species was obviously struggling to find food with one or two birds found dead in the harsh conditions. Kingfishers too were suffering with few reports received while Waxwings continued to prosper, on the other hand, with a few flocks of 20 or more in and around York and up to 130 feeding on hawthorns at Malton. At least 30 Fieldfares were observed in Osbaldwick on the 25th with 100 at Dunnington Common the following day as well as c. 20 Redwings. A female Blackcap was seen in a Rawcliffe garden on the 30th with two Jays at Naburn Sewage Works on the 4th and a single at Clifton Ings on the 13th. Flocks of Tree Sparrows were again well reported with the largest being 150+ at Wilberfoss on the 1st and 2nd while Brambling records this month involved a male at Hassacarr NR on the 2nd, ten visiting a garden in Pocklington on the 28th and a female in a Heslington garden on the 30th. A large finch flock was attracted to birch trees in Redhouse Woods during the month and included 60+ Goldfinches, 100+ Siskins and 400+ Lesser Redpolls amongst which at least five Mealy Redpolls could be identified. Other notable finch flocks included c. 100 Linnets at Wilberfoss on the 1st and 2nd as well as 130 at Cawood on the 11th and 60 at Rawcliffe Cornfield NR throughout the month. Maximum counts of buntings at the last site consisted of 30+ Yellowhammers, 120+ Reed Buntings and 62 Corn Buntings while 50 of the latter were also reported from Dunnington Common. Ten Reed Buntings visiting a Pocklington garden on the 28th was noteworthy as was a count of 59 Yellowhammers at Newton-on-Ouse on the 21st.

November 2010
Much of November was generally mild, but cold weather by the end of the month brought heavy snowfall forcing many birds to move out of the area. Groups of five and three Bewick’s Swans were reported flying over Tadcaster (just outside the recording area) on the 1st while six Whooper Swans were at Castle Howard Lake on the 12th with eight flying over Clifton Backies on the 3rd and 21st; birds were regularly noted in the Lower Derwent Valley during the month with a peak of 50 at North Duffield Carrs on the 27th. Four Bean Geese were reported to be with Pink-footed Geese at Thorganby on the 27th while notable counts of the latter included 140 south over Sherburn in Elmet on the 7th, 250 at Wheldrake Ings on the 14th and 600+ east-southeast over the River Ouse between York and Naburn on the 27th when 75 flew south over Osbaldwick and a total of c. 1,200 was present in the Lower Derwent Valley. Two White-fronted Geese were with Greylag Geese at Bank Island on the 21st and 22nd while the drake American Wigeon remained at Wheldrake until the 7th. Other notable duck records included 19 Goldeneye at Castle Howard Lake on the 12th and records of only single Goosanders at York University’s Campus East on the 14th, Redhouse Reservoir on the 20th and Bishopthorpe on the 27th. A covey of nine Grey Partridges at Campus East on the 27th was a good record while a single Great Crested Grebe lingered at Rawcliffe Lake most of the month. Raptor records included a Red Kite over Sherburn in Elmet on the 18th, at least two different Marsh Harriers in the Lower Derwent Valley, single Rough-legged Buzzards between Millington and Warter on the 18th and at Brafferton near Easingwold on the 23rd (both just outside the recording area), a Merlin hunting over Clifton Backies on the 15th and single Peregrines at Beningbrough on the 6th and Wheldrake Ings on the 22nd. It was a good month for waders with highlights being 300 Golden Plovers over Clifton Backies on the 3rd and c. 150 at Campus East on the 27th, a single Grey Plover at Wheldrake on the 9th and 10th, 78 Lapwings flying over the River Ouse between York and Naburn on the 27th when c. 60 were at Campus East, a maximum count of 51 Ruff at Wheldrake Ings on the 5th, single Jack Snipe at Rawcliffe Meadows Flood Basin on the 5th and Wheldrake on the 14th, three Common Snipe at Fulford Ings on the 15th with four flying over that area on the 27th, at least five records involving single Woodcocks with some birds visiting urban gardens and a Green Sandpiper frequenting Hassacarr NR. Around 350 Herring Gulls passed over the Ouse between York and Naburn on the 27th while a second-winter Caspian Gull was reported from Bank Island on the 3rd and a juvenile Iceland Gull joined the roost at Wheldrake Ings on the 22nd. A Kingfisher was present at York University Lake all month while Green Woodpeckers were noted at Redhouse Woods on the 6th and Walmgate Stray, York on the 15th. Sky Larks became prominent towards the end of the month with 150+ at East Cottingwith on the 26th, at least 50 flying south over Fulford Ings on the 27th and 20 birds at Rawcliffe Cornfield NR in the final week. Two Grey Wagtails were at York University on the 26th with singles noted elsewhere while the Waxwing invasion continued apace with the largest flocks involving 30 north over Pocklington on the 9th, 60 at Malton on the 24th and 40 briefly at Rawcliffe Meadows on the 29th. A probable Black Redstart was reported from a Bishopthorpe garden on the 18th while both Fieldfare and Redwing were present in good numbers with 15 Mistle Thrushes at Hayton (just outside the recording area) on the 3rd being noteworthy. A female Blackcap was in Clifton Park on the 20th with 40+ Long-tailed Tits counted at Hayton on the 3rd and a Marsh Tit at Low Moor Allotments, York (an unusual record) on the 15th. Single Nuthatches were in a Heslington garden on the 13th and at Bishopthorpe Palace on the 20th while Jays were noted at Clifton Backies and Redhouse Woods. A garden in East Cottingwith attracted some 80 House Sparrows and 60 Tree Sparrows on the 15th and records of Brambling involved three at Clifton Backies on the 1st with several there on the 17th, four at Hayton on the 3rd and three at East Cottingwith on the 13th. Over 75 Goldfinches were at Rawcliffe Cornfield NR on the 5th with 15 at Campus East on the 27th while c. 40 Siskins were at East Cottingwith on the 13th with counts of around ten birds from three other sites. Three Lesser Redpolls were at Redhouse Woods on the 2nd increasing to 60+ by the 20th when 30+ were in Askham Bog with 20+ at Castle Howard arboretum on the 13th as well as a single Mealy Redpoll. Over 60 Linnets were counted at Rawcliffe Cornfield NR during the month while c. 70 at Campus East on the 27th was a good record. Finishing as usual with buntings, 30 Yellowhammers were at Rawcliffe Cornfield NR towards the end of the month along with over 100 Reed Buntings and 20+ of the latter were at East Cottingwith on the 26th. Thirty Corn Buntings roosted at Clifton Ings on the 13th with 40 birds present on the 20th while 60 were attracted to Rawcliffe Cornfield NR towards the end of the month with 40+ at East Cottingwith on the 15th.

October 2010
The weather in October was mixed though rather uneventful and it was a much better month bird-wise. Two Whooper Swans were at Castle Howard Lake from the 4th-16th at least while four were at Bank Island on the 14th and ten flew over Osbaldwick on the 17th; 15 birds at Wheldrake Ings on the 18th had increased to 60 by the 24th before dropping to 22 by the end of the month. Sixty Pink-footed Geese flew north over Pocklington on the 6th with 75 counted at Wheldrake Ings on the 17th and 14 on the 31st while a single Barnacle Goose at Bank Island on the 13th was presumably of suspect origin. The highlight of the month, however, was a drake American Wigeon discovered at Wheldrake Ings on the 26th which was seen on and off into early November; it was often very difficult to find amongst the thousands of Eurasian Wigeon present as well as hundreds of Common Teal. Only seven Pintail were seen, also at Wheldrake, from the 27th while the only other duck of note was Goosander with three seen flying south over Fulford on the 24th, presumably accounting for three birds seen at Naburn Marina on the 30th. A covey of 24 Red-legged Partridges at Wilberfoss late in the month was noteworthy as was 14 Grey Partridges at Dunnington Common on the 7th and five of this species at Wilberfoss towards the month end. Pairs of Great Crested Grebes remained in residence at Naburn Marina, Rawcliffe Lake and York University Lake while two at Bank Island on the 6th was perhaps more unusual. There was an interesting run of raptor records this month with a Red Kite seen over Strensall Common on the 20th and single Marsh Harriers noted on three dates at Wheldrake Ings where a juvenile Hen Harrier (a rare bird in our area nowadays) lingered from the 24th-30th. More usual were sightings of Common Buzzard with notable reports of seven birds over Dunnington Common on the 7th when at least five were over the Ganthorpe area and five also flew north over Sherburn in Elmet on the 10th while two flew over Heslington on the 17th. A single Osprey watched flying southeast over York University on the 4th followed by a sighting of two birds flying over Crockey Hill next day gave little inkling of what was to come as one was observed fishing at nearby Pool Bridge Fisheries; it soon transpired that two juveniles had been frequenting this site for a week and their regular appearances, often giving spectacular close views, attracted a steady stream of admirers until the last report on the 24th; many will be grateful to the owner of this site for being so accommodating to visiting birders. Otherwise, a possible Merlin was noted at Wheldrake Ings on the 7th with two Peregrines there on the 27th. Waders were not in short supply either with 30 Golden Plover at Dunnington Common on the 7th, 14 in the Ganthorpe area on the 14th and c. 130 at Wheldrake Ings on the 23rd when 300 were at Raker Lakes;  several hundred Lapwings were at Wheldrake Ings on the 22nd with 30 in fields adjacent to Naburn Sewage Works on the 23rd while a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at Wheldrake Ings on the 24th was more unusual with a single Dunlin there the day before; four Ruff at this site on the 6th built up to a peak of 39 birds on the 30th while up to six Jack Snipe were counted at any one time, but with 14 birds ringed mid-month, this gave little idea as to the actual number of birds present! Meanwhile, 200 Common Snipe were counted at Wheldrake on the 17th with two Black-tailed Godwits noted on the 17th and 18th and a single Greenshank at Bank Island on the 23rd. An adult Sabine’s Gull reported amongst thousands of Black-headed Gulls at Bank Island on the 4th and then later that day at Storwood Ings would have been popular had it hung around; a single Kittiwake was also reported from Storwood on the 4th. Another bird that is hard to connect with in the York area these days is Short-eared Owl, so one which was seen hunting on consecutive evenings at North Duffield Carrs from the 9th-11th gave local listers a chance to catch up with this species. Lingering summer visitors were still very much in evidence with 70+ Swallows still at Dunnington Common on the 5th, but these birds soon departed with a small party heading south over Clifton Ings on the 11th being the last report and House Martins were also noted at the latter site during the first week. A single Rock Pipit – a local rarity – was seen briefly at Wheldrake Ings on the 21st with a probable (same bird?) flying over this site on the 30th. Indications of what was to become a major Waxwing invasion this winter started on the 24th with a single bird flying over York and 12 birds briefly at Bank Island followed by another single flying northwest over Woodthorpe on the 25th and 20 birds present at this site on the 31st. Two Stonechats were reported from Strensall Common on the 20th, a species which seemed to have been virtually wiped out from our area by the harsh conditions last winter. There were good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing reported this month with 850+ of the former flying west over Clifton Backies on the 20th when 50+ flew over Osbaldwick and c. 50 flew south over York Science Park; c. 130 of the latter species flew over Fulford Ings on the 9th when c. 50 were noted at Poppleton and 250+ flew west over Clifton Backies on the 20th when c. 80 flew west over Heslington where c. 30 also flew west on the 24th. Two Chiffchaffs were at Hassacarr NR, Dunnington on the 6th while one was watched feeding together with a single Willow Warbler at Clifton Ings on the 11th. A pair of Willow Tits was in Sheriff Hutton Park on the 8th and a pair of Nuthatches at Bishopthorpe Palace on the 30th when a single was noted at Castle Howard while four Jays were at Clifton Ings all month. Up to 80 Tree Sparrows were visiting the feeders at Bank Island during the first week of the month with several hundred at Thornton late on. There was a good influx of Brambling with two at Clifton Ings on the 4th, another duo at Pool Bridge Fisheries on the 8th, a single trapped and ringed in a duck decoy at Wheldrake Ings on the 17th(!), one flying southwest over Clifton Backies on the 18th and 35 at Wheldrake Ings on the 24th with three there the following day. The first Siskin were noted at Redhouse Woods from the 25th with five birds at Walmgate Stray, York on the 28th while at least ten Bullfinches were counted along the River Ouse between York and Naburn on the 30th and 28 Corn Buntings were at Poppleton on the 31st.

September 2010
September was very unsettled but the winds of change did little to liven up the local birding scene, which was unusually quiet for the time of year. Over 100 Pink-footed Geese flew high over Rawcliffe on the 30th while the only other wildfowl records of note were 18 Wigeon flying south at Hagg Bridge on the 22nd and eight Gadwall present at Angram Ponds, Riccall on the 9th. A female Grey Partridge with 11 well-grown young at Sutton on Derwent on the 3rd was a welcome sight though a late Quail at Wheldrake Ings on the 8th was more unexpected. Great Crested Grebes remained at their traditional haunts while a few raptors were reported including a possible Honey Buzzard flying high southeast over Copmanthorpe on the 21st, single Marsh Harriers at Wheldrake Ings on the 8th and flying south over Bielby on the 26th, two Common Buzzards over Fulford Ings on the 1st with four passing through Bank Island on the 4th and single Hobbies seen at five different sites up to the 23rd as well as four together at Castle Howard on the 12th. A juvenile Little Stint at Skipwith Common on the 2nd and 3rd was a new species for that site, accompanied by two Dunlins, while two Curlew Sandpipers were reported from the bottom pond at Yearsley Moor on the 5th along with a single Ruff. Other waders worth a mention were three Snipe passing over Bank Island on the 4th with two back at Rawcliffe Meadows Flood Basin by the 8th and a Greenshank on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 20th, when two Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper were also present, while an impressive nine Green Sandpipers were along the River Ouse at Riccall on the 9th with two at Germany Beck, Fulford on the 25th. An adult Yellow-legged Gull flew south with a passage of Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Wheldrake on the 2nd with nine of the former species seen in a field east of Naburn on the 9th though more noteworthy was an adult Caspian Gull found and photographed at Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, just outside the recording area, on the 18th. Two Black Terns were at Castle Howard Lake on the 7th while a late Swift was seen at Woodthorpe on the 1st with birds still attending a nest at East Cottingwith until the 22nd. Pre-migratory gatherings of hirundines included a pre-roost of 250+ Swallows at Dunnington Common on the 1st with 400+ there on the 8th while the highest count of House Martin received was 30+ birds around Heslington village on the 22nd. A Tree Pipit was still at Skipwith Common early in the month with another flying over Clifton Backies on the 18th while a large gathering of some 120 Yellow Wagtails was at North Duffield Carrs on the 6th and 7th with 20 passing through Wheldrake Ings on the 9th. Interesting records of chats included a Common Redstart at Hassacarr Nature Reserve, Dunnington on the 7th and 8th, seven Whinchats at North Duffield Carrs on the 7th with at least two still there on the 9th and two Wheatears at this site on the 7th with another by Wigginton Road allotments, York on the 22nd. The first Redwings of the autumn were eight birds flying over Sheriff Hutton on the 26th while c. 30 passed over Heslington the following day and birds had returned to Clifton Ings by the end of the month. Records of warblers were few and far between with a single Whitethroat at Fulford Ings on the 17th and four Chiffchaffs along the Ouse between York and Naburn on the 1st. Single Spotted Flycatchers were noted at three sites, the last bird being at Clifton Park on the 14th, while a Brambling graced a garden in Ampleforth on the 28th and 30th with notable counts of commoner finches being 90+ Goldfinches at Riccall on the 9th and c. 30 at Gunby on the 26th along with a similar number of Linnets.

August 2010
A relatively warm but unsettled month was fairly quiet on the birding front, though not bad for the time of year. An immature Shelduck  flew south down the River Ouse at Clifton Ings on the 9th while two juvenile Grey Partridges were a bit of a surprise at Naburn Sewage Works on the 14th and a single Quail was still calling at East Cottingwith on the 15th. A Red Kite at Acaster Malbis on the 10th provided a garden ‘tick’ for one observer but perhaps more noteworthy was an unidentified Harrier species seen briefly flying over Allerthorpe Common in the direction of Wheldrake on the 26th which was described as being slim-winged with a rather flappy flight and may well have been something interesting but was not picked up elsewhere so we shall never know… Meanwhile, three Common Buzzards were seen circling high over Fulford on the 16th and a probable Merlin dashed low north over the A165 just east of Stamford Bridge on the 15th with an adult male seen and photographed at Bolton Percy on the 17th while an adult Hobby passed southeast over Bubwith on the 18th. The pair of Great Crested Grebes at Rawcliffe Lake were nesting again from mid-month with the inexperienced second pair at York University Lake hatching three chicks early on but these soon succumbed while an adult was at Naburn Marina on the 14th. Three pairs of Coot and a total of four juveniles were noted at Rowntree Park, York on the 10th with another pair plus two juveniles noted on the small pond at Bishopthorpe Palace on the 14th. A pair of Lapwings was still at Rawcliffe Cornfield NR early in the month while a sizeable post-breeding flock of 200 was in a field opposite Great Wood, Strensall on the 14th and a single Green Sandpiper at Wheldrake Ings on the 11th was the only indication of wader passage. Three Yellow-legged Gulls were at Rufforth tip on the 7th, possibly accounting for the sighting of two moulting adults passing west over Fulford Ings on the 21st and three birds at Elvington on the 31st; these birds were associating with a build-up of Lesser Black-backed Gulls with c. 80 counted passing over the Ouse between York and Naburn on the 14th and 1,500+ birds at Elvington on the 31st. At least 30 Swifts were still flying around Pocklington on the 13th with single figures noted at several sites after that, though two pairs were still feeding nestlings at Ampleforth on the 31st. About half of the nesting colony of Sand Martins at Clifton Ings remained mid-month with two birds still at Fulford Hall on the 29th while flocks of Swallows and House Martins began to gather prior to migration with respective peak counts of 100+ and 50+ at Pocklington on the 13th. More unusual was a report of nine Tree Pipits leaving a roost at Allerthorpe Common on the early morning of the 27th and flying up high before heading off eastwards. A few Yellow Wagtails were in a field opposite Great Wood, Strensall on the 14th with two at York University’s Campus East on the 18th along with 12 Pied Wagtails. A single Whinchat and a Grasshopper Warbler at North Duffield Carrs on the 2nd lingered on from last month while a Sedge Warbler was still present at Rawcliffe Country Park early in the month with a Reed Warbler in a hedge at nearby Ings Dyke on Clifton Ings on the 25th. Other warbler records of note included two Lesser Whitethroats at Clifton Ings on the 19th, eight Common Whitethroats at Fulford Ings on the 21st and five Garden Warblers at Clifton Ings between the 23rd and 25th. Interesting ringing records from Allerthorpe Common early in the month, which indicated a good passage, included nine Common Whitethroats, four Garden Warblers, and 15 each of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, while respective ringing totals of the latter two species at the same site on the 21st were 16 and 30 birds. Single Spotted Flycatchers were seen at Clifton Ings on the 16th and 25th with two at Strensall Common on the 28th while a Nuthatch was recorded at Bishopthorpe Palace on the 14th. Otherwise, a count of 40 Carrion Crows at Fulford Hall on the 21st, c. 100 House Sparrows at Heslington on the 20th and 20 Chaffinches and a pair of Siskins flying over East Cottingwith on the 19th as well as at least five Bullfinches along the Ouse between York and Naburn on the 21st were the only records of note.

July 2010
A rather uneventful month weather-wise with temperatures about normal and a mixture of sunny spells and bands of rain or showers, though amounts of precipitation were small. Rather quiet on the birding front too as would be expected for this time of year. A pair of Grey Partridges was seen near Nunnington on the 11th while a Quail was calling near Tadcaster (just outside the recording area) on the 7th with birds returning to the traditional site at West Lilling on the 28th when at least five birds were present with two the following day. Great Crested Grebes remained in their usual haunts with further single birds on the River Ouse at Rowntree Park, York on the 13th and Fulford Ings on the 31st. A Little Egret was at Wheldrake Ings on the 2nd with another on the river between Linton Lock and Newton on Ouse on the 14th and four birds on the Ouse at Barmby on the Marsh (just outside the recording area) on the 7th/8th. Adult Peregrines (perhaps the same bird?) carrying prey were seen at Sherburn in Elmet on the 19th and Askham Bog on the 24th while a Common Crane was at Wheldrake Ings on the morning of the 22nd before being seen flying south over North Duffield Carrs later in the day. Wader reports included an Oystercatcher at Naburn Sewage Works on the 3rd, a Little Ringed Plover flying over Alcuin College, York University on the 1st, a pair of Ringed Plovers at Campus East during the month, two pairs of Lapwings nesting at Rawcliffe Cornfield NR with one successfully hatching chicks, a Greenshank at Wheldrake Ings on the 23rd with two Green Sandpipers there on the 2nd and four on the 23rd as well as four on pools at Skipwith Common on the 29th and a Common Sandpiper at Campus East on the 20th. A first-summer Kittiwake flew northwest over East Cottingwith on the 11th and a pair of Turtle Doves was near Sheriff Hutton on the 9th with another pair between Acaster Selby and Appleton Roebuck from the 22nd while a Barn Owl was the highlight of the YOC’s evening trip to Fulford Ings on the 6th. At least 30 Swifts were along the River Ouse between York and Naburn on the 3rd as well as a similar number of Sand Martins, 50+ Swallows and 20+ House Martins. Two male Yellow Wagtails were singing on farmland near Bishop Wood on the 3rd while a juvenile at Clifton Ings on the 26th probably indicated local breeding as did a juvenile Grey Wagtail in the same area mid-month. A Redstart was observed carrying food at Yearsley Moor on the 10th with a possible Whinchat seen briefly at West Lilling on the 29th with a definite sighting of one at North Duffield Carrs during the last week of the month. Moving on to warblers, a rather tatty Cetti’s Warbler trapped and ringed in the car park at Wheldrake Ings on the 1st was quite a surprise and was heard singing briefly there next day; also at Wheldrake, a Grasshopper Warbler was noted on the 7th with another at North Duffield Carrs towards the end of the month and a Sedge Warbler by the pond at Askham Bog early on; ten Whitethroats were counted along the Ouse between York and Naburn on the 3rd, ten at Fulford Ings on the 10th and at least six at Askham Bog during the month where a Garden Warbler was heard singing on the 9th along with three Blackcaps; four Chiffchaffs were singing along the Ouse between York and Naburn on the 3rd with at least five at Askham Bog early in the month as well as at least six Willow Warblers. An adult Spotted Flycatcher was feeding a fledgling at Nunnington Hall on the 11th while a very vocal family party of Jays was at Fulford Ings on the 10th. The West Lilling area held c. 100 Tree Sparrows on the 29th with a single Crossbill noted in Bishop Wood on the 3rd and six at Allerthorpe Common on the 18th. Five Reed Buntings were singing along the Ouse between York and Naburn on the 3rd with five birds at Fulford Ings on the 10th while two Corn Buntings were singing on farmland near Bishop Wood on the 3rd and a few birds noted at West Lilling on the 29th.

June 2010
June was mainly dry with light winds from a mostly northerly direction which meant it was disappointingly cool most of the time though temperatures did pick up later in the month. A highlight of a typically quiet month was a noticeable influx of Quail with up to 45 counted throughout the Lower Derwent Valley, several of which were trapped and ringed including one ‘control’. Great Crested Grebes remained at traditional breeding sites with two pairs at York University Lake where one adult was unfortunately found dead and one pair at Naburn Marina where three young were noted from the 4th, soon down to two. A Red Kite was hunting over East Cottingwith the following day while several Common Buzzards were reported with singles over Clifton Ings on the 11th and 15th being notable. Much more of a surprise was a first-summer male Red-footed Falcon observed circling over the A1237/Moor Lane junction just north of York on the 5th before heading south towards the racecourse, but true to form it was never seen again! Single Hobbies were noted at Dunnington Common on the 8th, Huttons Ambo on the 12th, East Cottingwith on the 14th and Clifton Ings on both the 16th and 29th. Up to two Spotted Crakes and a single Corncrake were reported to have been calling in the Lower Derwent Valley early in the month while breeding or potentially breeding waders noted included Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover and Lapwing with two pairs of the latter at Rawcliffe Cornfield NR being unusual. Signs of passage involved single Green Sandpipers at Cawood Ings on the 16th and Millington Pastures on the 18th with two on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on the 28th. A Turtle Dove – a scarce bird in the area nowadays – was a surprise visitor to a garden in East Cottingwith on the 27th while a Barn Owl was hunting mid-morning at Fulford Ings on the 4th and an adult Tawny Owl with three recently fledged young seen at East Cottingwith on the 8th. A Cuckoo was still calling at Skipwith Common on the 11th with notable numbers of Swifts seen along the River Ouse between York and Naburn increasing to 30+ birds by the 26th. Counts of hirundines along this stretch during the same period included many juveniles, indicating a good early breeding season, with up to 30 Sand Martins, 50 Swallows and 20 House Martins. Three pairs of Yellow Wagtail were discovered in fields at East Cottingwith on the 7th with single Grey Wagtails noted at the Millennium Bridge, York on the 4th and Fulford Ings next day. Up to two Sedge Warblers were singing at the latter site while both this species and Reed Warbler were in residence on the small pool at Rawcliffe Country Park. A single Garden Warbler was singing at Fulford Ings from at least the 4th-12th with a few birds noted in the Clifton Ings area throughout the month. Other commoner species of warbler were also reported although birds became less noticeable as they stopped singing. The only report of Spotted Flycatcher this month, however, concerned a single bird at East Cottingwith on the 25th while a Raven was observed soaring over Clifton Park on the 2nd before heading off northeast over Clifton Backies. One particular garden in East Cottingwith held impressive numbers of both House and Tree Sparrows with respective counts of 60+ and 40+ recorded mid-month. Around 30 Tree Sparrows were also noted in the Langwith area on the 18th while 12 Corn Buntings were counted on territory at East Cottingwith on the 7th.

May 2010            
May was a very dry month with rather cool temperatures at first then steadily increasing to become very warm before cooling off again. Birdwise it was rather quiet compared with April but some good scarcities were on offer for local listers. Two late Whooper Swans were at Wheldrake Ings on the 6th while a single White-fronted Goose was reported from Bank Island on the 3rd. Two Egyptian Geese lingered in the Bank Island/Wheldrake Ings area throughout the month with two pairs of Shelduck apparently nest-prospecting at Rabbit Warren Wood, Dunnington on the 3rd. The only Garganey report concerned a drake at Bank Island on the 4th with others presumably having ‘gone to ground’ while interesting gamebirds included a pair of Grey Partridges at Nunnington on the 8th and the first Quail of the year with one calling at East Cottingwith on the 24th and two at Wheldrake Ings from the 26th. Two pairs of Great Crested Grebes at Rawcliffe Lake became only one pair by mid-month with further birds noted at other traditional sites. A Little Egret was seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 21st while interesting raptor records included a Red Kite over East Cottingwith on the 23rd, four sightings of single Marsh Harriers in the Wheldrake Ings area during the month, a ringtail Montagu’s Harrier northwest over Bank Island on the 21st, the usual smattering of Common Buzzard reports with eight at Castle Howard on the 23rd, and several sightings of Hobby in the Lower Derwent Valley. Pairs of Oystercatchers were at Elvington airfield on the 21st and flying over East Cottingwith on the 23rd whilst both Little and Common Ringed Plovers were reported from Wheldrake Ings late in the month. The wader highlight, however, was the discovery of two Dotterels in a recently tilled field at Ellerton on the 3rd. A pair of Lapwings held territory at Rawcliffe Cornfield Nature Reserve from the 16th with 12 birds noted at Elvington airfield on the 21st while two Common Snipe were observed displaying at Heslington Tillmire on the 17th and a Woodcock roding at Bishop Wood on the 21st. The only other wader record of note concerned three Wood Sandpipers seen briefly at Wheldrake Ings on the 3rd. One to two Cuckoos were reported from eight different localities while 16 Swifts were at Campus East, Heslington on the 1st, 12 over Ouse Bridge, York on the 4th and ‘good numbers’ at Nunnington on the 8th. Two Green Woodpeckers were at Heslington Tillmire on the 17th with birds also noted at Skipwith Common on the 30th while 120 active Sand Martin nests were counted along the river between Linton-on-Ouse and Newton-on-Ouse on the 24th. A Red-rumped Swallow was a surprise for one lucky observer at Wheldrake Ings on the 3rd and several Yellow Wagtails were noted in a few areas while a belated record of a one-day Nightingale at Wheldrake Ings was received. Meanwhile, a male Whinchat was at Clifton Ings on the 14th with a male Stonechat seen at Heslington Tillmire on the 17th and three Wheatears were still at Campus East, Heslington on the 1st with birds of the Greenland race involving a single at Ellerton on the 3rd and two at East Cottingwith on the 15th. It was a good month warbler-wise with one to two singing Grasshopper Warblers reported from five sites while Sedge and Reed Warblers were present in their usual haunts. Single Lesser Whitethroats were noted at Clifton Ings and Dunnington where several Common Whitethroats were also in residence. At least three Garden Warblers were singing in riverside willows at Clifton Ings from mid-month with single birds at Danesmead Copse, Fulford on the 9th and Fulford Ings on the 22nd. Single Spotted Flycatchers were seen at Nunnington on the 8th, Skipwith Common on the 30th and Askham Bog on the 31st while the best bird of the month involved a female Red-backed Shrike present for only one day at North Duffield Carrs on the 24th – a good inland record and interestingly a male was found not that far away just south of Selby, but outside the recording area, that same day! More mundane, perhaps, were 15 Linnets at Elvington airfield on the 21st while several Corn Buntings were present in the East Cottingwith area on the 18th.

April 2010    
April was a dry month overall with high pressure dominating; it was generally rather cold, however, with night frosts but did warm up eventually. Whatever the weather it was a bumper month for birds, possibly the busiest of the year?... A total of 65 Mute Swans was at North Duffield Carrs on the 18th where a juvenile Whooper Swan was also present mid-month. Other records of the latter species included 32 moving north over Bank Island on the 3rd and 31 at Wheldrake Ings on the 10th which were later seen flying north over Heslington. Three Greenland White-fronted Geese feeding in wet grassland at Strensall Common on the 12th was a notable record while up to three Egyptian Geese lingered in the Lower Derwent Valley throughout the month, making an excursion to Calder Wetlands near Wakefield in West Yorkshire early on. Moving on to ducks, 300+ Wigeon were still at Thorganby on the 3rd with two drake Green-winged Teal reported from North Duffield Carrs on the 15th, presumably accounting for records of single drakes at Bubwith Ings the following day and Wheldrake Ings from the 20th-22nd at least. Eight Pintail remained in the Lower Derwent Valley on the 8th with up to three Garganey regularly reported at any time while a drake at Newburgh Priory lake from the 2nd-5th was a good find. North Duffield Carrs held a fine total of 90 Shoveler on the 4th while a pair of Goldeneye was still at Wheldrake on the 7th. Up to six Little Grebes were at North Duffield early in the month with up to four at Bank Island with two pairs of Great Crested Grebes at Rawcliffe Lake on the 10th increasing to three pairs plus an unattached adult by the 17th when two pairs were also at York University Lake and a single adult at Naburn Marina from the 5th. At least four Black-necked Grebes were at North Duffield Carrs on the 6th when three were seen at Wheldrake Ings, possibly involving some overlap, with numbers soon tailing off. A ‘large white heron  with an orange-yellow bill’ reported flying over Wheldrake on the 30th was most probably  a Great White Egret while a Little Egret was seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 27th and three White Storks of suspect origin flew over York University in the direction of Fulford on the 22nd. The ‘biggest’ surprise raptor-wise was an immature White-tailed Eagle reported soaring high over Stockton-on-the-Forest on the 9th; the bird was being mobbed by two Common Buzzards, which it dwarfed, and is presumably the wandering individual from the Scottish east coast reintroduction scheme which was seen at a number of sites in northeast England around that time. Meanwhile two Red Kites loitered over Pocklington all morning on the 3rd with at least one Marsh Harrier being seen in the Lower Derwent Valley on several dates. A pair of Goshawks was seen displaying at an undisclosed site mid-month with Common Buzzards noted in a number of areas including at least 12 in the Bank Island/Thorganby area on the 4th. There was a notable passage of Ospreys this month with singles flying north over Askham Bog on the 1st, Bank Island and Wheldrake village on the 3rd and North Duffield Carrs on the 5th while an individual lingered at Wheldrake Ings from the 21st-23rd. Also, single Hobbies were seen at the latter site on the 20th and 27th with another at Skipwith Common on the 22nd. A Spotted Crake was reported calling at Wheldrake during the month while sightings of Common Crane included two flying over Skipwith Common on the 10th, four over Wheldrake Ings on the 14th and one over Thorganby on the 15th. Waders were well represented with the highlight being a Black-winged Stilt seen flying low west over Clifton Backies on the 26th; this bird was undoubtedly the individual seen at Nosterfield Quarry near Ripon either side of this date. Three Oystercatchers were displaying at Fulford Ings on the 5th with a pair present at York University’s Campus East on the 20th at least and a single bird at Naburn Marina on the 24th while a pair of Avocets was discovered at North Duffield Carrs on the 15th. Potential breeding Little Ringed Plovers were present at two localities with up to five birds noted at one site and a single at Bootham Stray on the 17th. Meanwhile, nine Golden Plovers flew west at Bishopthorpe on the 23rd with a single Grey Plover present at Wheldrake Ings on the 11th while ten pairs of Lapwing were on territory at Heslington Tillmire on the 4th and a pair with five small chicks at Middlethorpe Ings on the 24th. Just one Common Snipe was observed displaying at Heslington Tillmire on the 4th with at least 16 birds still at Fulford Ings next day. Good numbers of Black-tailed Godwit remained in the Lower Derwent Valley throughout the month with a maximum count of 70+ at North Duffield Carrs on the 21st while the Whimbrel roost at Wheldrake Ings built up to a maximum of 101 birds on the 27th. Displaying pairs of Curlew were noted at Thorganby Ings on the 2nd as well as Byland Abbey and Middlethorpe Ings on the 12th while a winter-plumaged Spotted Redshank was at North Duffield Carrs on the 17th and 18th with a different bird mostly in summer plumage at Wheldrake Ings from the 18th-21st and perhaps another individual again at North Duffield on the 27th and 29th. At least ten Common Redshanks were at Thorganby Ings on the 2nd with three at Heslington Tillmire on the 4th, four at Middlethorpe Ings on the 5th and a single at Campus East, Heslington on the 27th. Three Green Sandpipers were at Wheldrake Ings on the 12th and 13th with singles there on the 18th and 19th as well as one in a flooded field near Dunnington on the 13th while a single Wood Sandpiper was seen at North Duffield Carrs and Wheldrake Ings on the 29th and up to two Common Sandpipers noted at five sites. An adult Little Gull was at Wheldrake on the 15th with a pair of Herring Gulls showing signs of nesting at York University’s Central Hall late in the month while an adult Kittiwake passed through North Duffield Carrs on the 12th and the only records of Common Tern involved an adult at Naburn Marina on the 23rd and a pair at Redhouse Reservoir on the 26th. A Ring-necked Parakeet was reported along the A59 road in Acomb on the 9th while the first Cuckoo was at Newton Mask on the 15th with a male calling at Strensall Common from the 17th and single birds noted in a few different localities from the 22nd although others were conspicuous by their absence from some traditional sites. The first Swift of the year was seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 20th with three there next day while further singles were at Naburn Sewage Works on the 23rd and Clifton Ings on the 24th before a major influx took place. Wood Larks were now in full song at their usual haunts with at least eight birds noted at one site and 100 Sand Martins were at Wheldrake on the 18th while Swallows increased in numbers and were soon widespread with the first House Martins noted being three over Brandsby on the 12th followed by further birds in other areas from the 20th. A Tree Pipit was singing at Strensall Common from the 9th with three there by the 18th and two at Yearsley Moor on the 29th but there appeared to be none at Skipwith Common, formerly a good area for this species, again this year… Two Water Pipits were discovered at Campus East, Heslington on the 21st but did not linger long though this site did attract up to three Yellow Wagtails from the 10th with eight birds on the cricket pitch at Pocklington on the 24th along with a White Wagtail. Single male Common Redstarts were noted between Byland and Coxwold on the 12th and at Skipwith Common on the 17th with two at Yearsley Moor by the 29th while the only Stonechats that seem to have survived the hard winter locally was a pair at Heslington Tillmire. Single Wheatears were found north of Bugthorpe on the 3rd and at Campus East, Heslington on the 24th with three birds there on the 26th and 27th while an impressive gathering of at least 14 birds was in a ploughed field between East Cottingwith and Ellerton on the 30th. A small mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwing at Clifton Ings on the 7th reminded us that winter was not that far away with 17 of the former species flying over Wheldrake Ings on the 3rd and 72 at Newton Mask on the 15th. Incoming summer migrants included a singing Grasshopper Warbler at Wheldrake on the 22nd with the first Sedge Warbler singing there on the 12th followed by further singing males at Campus East, Heslington on the 24th, the Pocklington Canal at Church Bridge the same day and York Science Park on the 26th and 27th. Single Lesser Whitethroats were noted at Storwood on the 17th, along the Pocklington Canal at Bielby on the 24th, at Wheldrake Ings on the 27th and York Science Park on the 30th while the first Common Whitethroat was a ringing ‘retrap’ of a bird at Allerthorpe Common on the 16th with the next birds recorded at a few sites on the 23rd before the species became more widespread. Singing Garden Warblers were at Allerthorpe Common on the 16th and Wheldrake Ings on the 27th while Blackcaps were noted in a number of areas during the month. Meanwhile, a single Wood Warbler had returned to the traditional site at Yearsley Moor by the 29th and Chiffchaffs noted throughout the recording area with a maximum of 15+ at Allerthorpe Common on the 6th while the first Willow Warbler was singing at Clifton Ings on the 5th before this species too became widespread. Both Marsh and Willow Tits were present at Allerthorpe Common on the 6th with the former also at Yearsley Moor on the 29th while singing Nuthatches were at Bishopthorpe Palace and Fulford Ings (where breeding was later confirmed) on the 6th as well as Yearsley Moor on the 29th. Two Jays remained at Clifton Park early in the month while a Brambling was still at Wass Moor (just outside the recording area) on the 2nd along with good numbers of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll while ‘hundreds’ of the latter species were reported to be  feeding in birch trees at Strensall Common on the 9th. Ten Linnets were at Campus East, Heslington on the 13th with 40+ House Sparrows and 20+ Tree Sparrows counted in a garden at East Cottingwith on the 7th. Finally, around 15 Crossbills were noted at Wass Moor on the 2nd with at least ten still present on the 5th.

March 2010
From mid-month conditions were finally more spring-like, allowing some of the expected summer visitors to arrive along with one or two surprises! Wetland Bird Survey counts of wildfowl in the Lower Derwent Valley as a whole on the 16th included 114 Mute Swans, 174 Whooper Swans, 433 Greylag Geese, 324 Canada Geese, 159 Shelduck, 14,803 Wigeon, 158 Gadwall, 6,411 Teal, 425 Pintail, 1,234 Mallard, 284 Shoveler, 170 Pochard, 227 Tufted Duck and 14 Goldeneye. Elsewhere, records of Whooper Swan included 18 flying northwest over York on the 3rd and 50 over Terrington on the 7th while a single adult Bewick’s Swan was seen with the Whooper herd in the North Duffield area on the 16th and 17th at least. Pink-footed Geese were on the move with counts of 48 flying over Bank Island and 100+ west at East Cottingwith on the 2nd, a total of 1,800 over the Lower Derwent Valley on the 3rd and 30 over Wheldrake Ings on the 13th; single figures lingered in the Wheldrake area throughout the month. An Egyptian Goose was seen at Bubwith Ings on the 16th with up to three birds present at Wheldrake Ings from mid-month while up to 13 Shelduck were present at Newburgh Priory lake where 60 Teal were counted on the 19th. Up to 12 Wigeon were at Redhouse Reservoir during the month with a small influx of ducks at Clifton Ings on the 1st including four Gadwall and three Shoveler. Records of Tufted Duck outside the Lower Derwent included 12 at the fishing pond near Long Marston, six at Redhouse Reservoir and up to seven at Naburn Marina. Eight Goldeneye were at Castle Howard Lake on the 24th while up to 31 Goosander were at Redhouse Reservoir with 12 at Naburn Marina on the 13th and single figures on the River Ouse north and south of York. Records of scarcer ducks consisted of a drake Garganey at Seavy Carr on the 9th and a female Scaup frequenting the Ellerton area during the month. The only notable gamebird report was highly unusual as it involved a Red Grouse apparently flushed from Strensall Common on the 16th; this record has still to be substantiated… A total of 12 Little Grebes was counted throughout the Lower Derwent Valley on the 16th with five Great Crested Grebes noted at Wheldrake Ings on the 8th while pairs of this species were on territory at both Rawcliffe Ings (where display was noted) and York University Lake (where birds were on eggs by mid-month). More unusual was a Red-necked Grebe seen on the River Derwent at North Duffield Carrs on the 3rd and Ellerton Ings on the 4th. Another notable record involved a juvenile Shag seen at Wheldrake Ings during the WeBS count on the 16th with single Little Egrets noted at Bank Island on the 10th and Wheldrake Ings on the 21st. A Red Kite flew east over Acaster Malbis on the 21st while two were reported at Cawood on the 14th and single Goshawks were noted at four sites with both Sparrowhawk and Common Buzzard showing signs of breeding activity in several areas. Single Ospreys flew south over Hull Road, York on the 27th and over Ellerton the following day while a male Merlin was seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 5th and 14th with single Peregrines noted at Pocklington on the 14th and Wheldrake Ings on the 15th and 30th. A Water Rail was in Rawcliffe Meadows Flood Basin on the 2nd with four noted during the WeBS count of the Lower Derwent Valley on the 16th when totals of Moorhen and Coot recorded were 220 and 429 respectively. Wader counts made during the survey included 32 Oystercatcher, (only) 21 Golden Plover, 3,062 Lapwing, 230 Dunlin, 49 Ruff, 85 Curlew and 189 Redshank. A pair of Oystercatchers had set up territory at York University’s Campus East site by the 13th while an impressive total of 19 Avocets was at Aughton Ings on the 22nd and two Little Ringed Plovers at Wheldrake Ings on the 25th. Up to 200 Lapwings were in the Long Marston area during the month with ten pairs noted at Bielby on the 21st. Four Jack Snipe were seen at Wheldrake Ings on the 25th and at least 15 Common Snipe at Fulford Ings on the 12th while numbers of Black-tailed Godwit at Wheldrake Ings built up from four birds on the 5th to 25 by the 22nd. Curlews were noted displaying in several traditional haunts while a single Green Sandpiper was seen at the fish ponds along the A59 west of York. Moving on to gulls, WeBS totals for the Lower Derwent Valley on the 16th were 11,000 Black-headed Gull, 3,200 Common Gull, 1,140 Herring Gull and 1,740 Great Black-backed Gull. Elsewhere, c. 300 Black-headed Gulls were noted along the River Ouse between York and Naburn on the 13th and up to 500 Common Gulls were present at Newburgh Priory lake on the 19th. Records of scarcer species included a first-winter Mediterranean Gull and an adult Little Gull at Wheldrake Ings on the 25th, a juvenile Iceland Gull at Harewood Whin, Rufforth on the 14th and Wheldrake Ings on the 16th with an adult just outside the recording area at Boroughbridge on the 19th, up to three Lesser Black-backed Gulls noted at Wheldrake Ings with a single adult flying east over Fulford Ings on the 12th and, most surprising, an adult Kittiwake at Rawcliffe Ings on the 6th. A pair of Little Owls was discovered near Heslington while two Tawny Owls were seen in a roadside tree at Wilberfoss on the 6th and an adult with three recently fledged young observed at Clifton Ings on the 21st. The first Sand Martin of the spring was seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 12th followed by further birds in single figures at several sites from the 18th. Two early Swallows were noted with singles at York Science Park on the 19th and Rawcliffe Meadows Flood Basin on the 27th. One to two Grey Wagtails were noted in typical areas while 200+ Pied Wagtails roosted in trees at Parliament Square in York city centre on the 13th. In what has been a poor winter for Waxwings, four mobile birds present in the Heslington Lane area of Fulford on the 17th and 18th was to prove to be the only record for the first part of the year. A male Wheatear was discovered at Bubwith Ings on the 21st while winter thrushes were still much in evidence with the following counts of Fieldfare: 350 at Earfit Lane, Copmanthorpe on the 9th, 60 at Wheldrake Ings on the 13th with 25 there on the 22nd, 30 at Melbourne on the 24th; and Redwing: two at Fulford Ings on the 13th, 60 at Pocklington on the 14th, ten along the Ouse between York and Naburn on the 21st, ‘a few’ at Melbourne on the 24th. A male Blackcap at Askham Bog on the 30th was perhaps the first spring arrival for that species while a singing Chiffchaff at Bielby on the 21st was quickly followed by one or two others at a number of sites. A single Marsh Tit was noted at Wheldrake Ings on the 15th with two there on the 22nd while two Willow Tits were seen at this site on both dates. Two Jays remained at Clifton Park all month with notable congregations of Jackdaw being 50 at Pocklington on the 14th and 70+ at Fulford Ings on the 21st. Flocks of 150 Starlings were present at both Earfit Lane, Copmanthorpe on the 9th and Pocklington on the 14th while at least two Tree Sparrows remained in the vicinity of Fulford Sewage Works on the 12th and 13th with 20 at Allerthorpe Common on the 12th and 35 at both Hassacarr Nature Reserve and Dunnington Common on the 19th. Forwarding to finches, 30 Chaffinches were at Earfit Lane, Copmanthorpe on the 9th while a female Brambling was at Melbourne on the 24th with six at Wass Moor, just outside the recording area, on the 28th along with two Siskin and ‘many’ Crossbills. Two Mealy Redpolls made a surprise visit to Clifton Park on the 10th while up to 300 Linnets roosted at Allerthorpe Common early in the month with c. 30 feeding at Middlethorpe Ings on the 21st. Bringing up the rear, as usual, is Corn Bunting with birds present in their usual spot along the Long Marston-Tockwith road and also 30 by the Pocklington Canal at Bielby on the 7th.

February 2010
February continued to be cold with further spells of snow though temperatures did creep up at times, but never got into double figures. The Whooper Swan herd in the North Duffield area reached a maximum of 114 on the 14th while more unusual species of geese started to appear although how much of what is hard to ascertain. A flock of 14 Tundra Bean Geese was reported to drop into North Duffield Carrs at dusk on the 8th while a popular group of 22 Taiga Bean Geese along with a single Pink-footed Goose were found grazing wet grassland between Byland and Coxwold on the 16th and remained until the 26th; a small group of eight Whooper Swans was noted in the same area on the 25th while further Taiga Beans reported in the Lower Derwent Valley consisted of seven between Aughton and Bubwith and 14 near Melbourne, both on the 17th. Sizeable flocks of Pink-footed Geese were mostly recorded on the move as follows: skeins of 180 and 70 northwest over Melbourne on the 3rd with 100+ west over Tadcaster and 70+ west over Copmanthorpe on the 15th while the only record of birds ‘on the deck’ concerned two at Thornton Ings on the 9th in addition to the Byland bird. Up to four Greenland White-fronted Geese were noted amongst Greylag and Canada Geese between Melbourne and Thornton on the 20th and 21st while other records of White-fronts, presumably of the Eurasian race, in the Lower Derwent Valley in the first half of the month totalled at least 70 birds. Along with these, a group of 19 Barnacle Geese in the Wheldrake/Thornton Ings area between the 7th and the 13th created some debate as to their provenance considering there are now at least 70 free-flying feral birds based at York University. Meanwhile, four Shelduck were noted at Wistow Common on the 7th with at least 45 seen at Ellerton Ings on the 17th. Numbers of duck also seemed to be increasing as the freezing conditions abated a bit with flocks of several hundred Wigeon and Teal scattered throughout the Lower Derwent while 48 of the latter flew northwest over Clifton Ings on the 23rd. Pintail numbers were relatively low with the only records concerning ten at Aughton Ings on the 17th when two were on Newburgh Priory Lake and six between Melbourne & Thornton on the 20th. The extensive & deep flooding was more favourable for diving ducks than dabblers with an estimated total of 100+ Pochard In the Lower Derwent Valley during the month with c. 50 of these at Aughton on the 17th when c. 20 Tufted Ducks were at East Cottingwith. A female Scaup, presumably last month’s bird from North Duffield Carrs, was seen at Ellerton Ings before moving back to North Duffield. A drake Goldeneye on the river at Newton-on-Ouse on the 7th was the only report for that species while small numbers of Goosander were regularly noted on the Ouse either side of York though a count of 46 on the fishing pond between Elvington and Wheldrake was probably not a welcome sight for the anglers! Single Great Crested Grebes were seen on the floods at Ellerton on the 17th and back at York University Lake on the 22nd while single Little Grebes were noted on the Ouse at Clifton Ings on the 1st and by the Millennium Bridge, York on the 13th. A Little Egret was seen in a dyke near North Duffield village on the 14th while an unusual report of a Bittern standing by the roadside next to a small pond near Bilbrough on the 28th was not confirmed. Raptor reports were few although single Marsh Harriers were seen at North Duffield Carrs and flying southeast at Melbourne on the 8th as well as north over Clifton Backies on the 12th; display was noted by both Goshawk and Sparrowhawk while Common Buzzards were also quite active but a report of a Rough-legged Buzzard flying low south over Copmanthorpe in a snowstorm on the 21st does not seem to have enough supporting evidence. A single Merlin flew north over East Cottingwith on the 16th while an adult Peregrine powered northwards over Bishopthorpe on the 13th causing mass panic in its wake. A Coot on the River Ouse at Clifton Ings on the 23rd was said to be an unusual record while waders remained a bit thin on the ground with c. 100 Golden Plover at Bubwith on the 17th while noteworthy Lapwing  flocks included 160 at Wistow Common on the 7th, 42 flying over Bishopthorpe Palace on the 12th and c. 300 between Melbourne and Thornton on the 20th; c. 30 Dunlin were at Bubwith on the 17th while a single Jack Snipe was seen in Rawcliffe Meadows Flood Basin on the 12th with two there on the 18th and two on a pool by the Ouse at Riccall on the 25th; at least 25 Common Snipe were at Rawcliffe Meadows Flood Basin early in the month with eight at Fulford Ings on the 12th and 11 on the 13th as well as 14 on the pool by the Ouse at Riccall on the 25th; more unusual was a Common Sandpiper reported from a dyke near North Duffield village on the 14th. A second-winter Iceland Gull seen at Bank Island on the 21st was probably the same bird as the ‘immature’ which flew southeast over Fulford Ings on the 27th while a hybrid juvenile resembling Glaucous Gull was at Bank island on the 22nd. A flock of 25 Stock Doves at Middlethorpe Ings on the 13th was noteworthy as was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker reported near the Wheldrake Ings car park on the 11th. Passerines were still suffering with the harsh winter weather although 50+ Skylarks were at Thornton Ings on the 9th and flocks of winter thrushes became more prominent with the following counts of Fieldfare: c. 150 at Copmanthorpe on the 4th, 50+ at Newton-on-Ouse on the 7th, c. 20 on York University playing fields on the 9th, c. 35 at Bishopthorpe on the 13th, 66 at Wilberfoss on the 10th, 50+ at Heslington on the 21st, c. 20 at Heslington Tillmire on the 22nd and Redwing: c. 95 on York University playing fields on the 9th, six at Wilberfoss on the 10th and c. 20 at Bishopthorpe on the 13th. A Marsh Tit was heard calling at Sproxton on the 17th with a few birds recorded in Askham Bog while a single Willow Tit was noted again at Fulford Golf Course on the 22nd. Up to four Jays still remained in Clifton Park with one also noted at Heslington on the 21st while there were not as many reports of Tree Sparrow this month with two birds seen at Bishopthorpe on the 13th and six at Heslington on the 21st. A single Brambling was seen again with other finches at Fulford Golf Course on the 9th while a large mixed flock of Goldfinches, Siskins and Lesser Redpolls was noted in Askham Bog on the 13th with ten of the latter at Rawcliffe Lake on the 27th. At least 40 Linnets were still at Middlethorpe Ings on the 13th when at least ten Bullfinches were noted along the River Ouse between York and Naburn with six at Fulford Golf Course on the 22nd and five at Overton borrow pit on the 18th. Around 30 Crossbills were at Yearsley Moor on the 13th while the Corn Bunting roost at Clifton Ings held a maximum of 42 birds on the 19th with 20 still feeding at Rawcliffe Cornfield NR on the 10th, 12 between East Cottingwith and Ellerton on the 17th and 20 at Poppleton on the 25th.

January 2010
The New Year started as the last one ended stuck in the depths of winter. Many small birds had moved to the coast or further south and west although there were some notable exceptions where a good food supply was guaranteed. Wildfowl continued to be seen in the Lower Derwent Valley but numbers were generally much reduced due to the freezing conditions. The Whooper Swan herd in the North Duffield area peaked at 167 birds on the 13th with 130 still present on the 18th. Pink-footed Geese were on the move in fine weather at the end of the month, however, with skeins of 55 flying west and 25 northwest over Fulford Ings on the 30th and 31st respectively while three White-fronted Geese appeared at North Duffield Carrs on the 31st. Some birds were forced to find new areas in which to feed with 12 Common Teal being noted at Clifton Ings from mid-month and seven at Fulford Ings on the 31st. Around 30 Pintail were at Bubwith Ings on the 14th with smaller numbers present at nearby North Duffield Carrs where a female Scaup was seen on the 24th. Birds seeking refuge on the River Ouse included a drake Goldeneye at Clifton Ings on the 7th and Poppleton on the 9th with 14 Goosanders noted at Clifton Bridge on the 13th; six Goldeneye were also at Wheldrake Ings on the 31st. A single Little Grebe was on the river at Fulford Ings on the 10th with two further north at Clifton Ings on the 15th while a winter-plumaged Great Crested Grebe was near Bishopthorpe Bridge on the 2nd and pairs had taken up territory at both Rawcliffe Lake and York University Lake by the end of the month. Unidentified Egrets consisted of one flying south over Askham Richard on the 24th and another dropping in to a field and out of sight near Howden on the 25th. Raptor reports were also few with a male Hen Harrier noted flying over the A169 road near Malton on the 17th and a male Goshawk seen displaying at an undisclosed site on the 30th and 31st while Peregrines were seen at three different localities. Fields to the south of Bishopthorpe attracted 36 Golden Plover and 52 Lapwings on the 31st while c. 30 Dunlin were at Bubwith Ings on the 14th. A Common Snipe was in a Copmanthorpe garden from the 4th-8th and two were at Fulford Ings on the 30th while a single Woodcock was in a Copmanthorpe garden on the 7th with another in a Poppleton garden on the 9th and two seen at Fulford Golf Course the following day. A Bar-tailed Godwit was reported from Bubwith Bridge on the 17th with a Green Sandpiper noted near Poppleton on the 1st. Over 150 Herring Gulls passed over the River Ouse between York and Naburn on the 31st while owls were well reported this month with Barn and Little Owls at East Cottingwith on the 3rd and one of the latter at a regular roost near Harewood Whin the same day; much more surprising was a Long-eared Owl flushed from a large hedge near Foggathorpe during a BTO Atlas visit on the 30th and a Short-eared Owl reported flying north over Huntington on the 6th. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker observed along Earfit Lane, Copmathorpe on the 4th was said to probably be moving from one woodland to another while 17 Sky Larks were attracted to good feeding at Rawcliffe Cornfield NR during the month. Sizeable flocks of winter thrushes included 50 Fieldfares feeding on a cotoneaster bush at Pocklington on the 9th and c. 60 in the Bishopthorpe area on the 31st along with 30+ Redwings. At least five Marsh Tits were coming down to seed put out for woodland birds in Askham Bog on the 23rd as well as one to two Willow Tits while a Nuthatch was noted in the grounds of Bishopthorpe Palace on the 31st. A belated report of a Great Grey Shrike perched on wires by the A19 near Shipton on the 6th can only ever be counted as ‘probable’ while at least four Jays remained at Clifton Park with a single in a garden at Heslington on the 26th being more unusual as was a report of a Raven flying over North Duffield Carrs on the 17th. Tree Sparrows continued to be reported from a few sites with 40+ at Hassacarr NR on the 27th being the only count received. Over 30 Chaffinches were part of a large mixed flock of finches and buntings at Long Marston on the 3rd while 25 were at Hassacarr NR on the 27th along with 100+ Goldfinches and a Brambling with two of the latter being seen at Fulford Golf Course on the 11th and another two frequenting a garden in Copmanthorpe from the 14th-21st. Siskins have generally been scarce this winter but about ten were in Askham Bog on the 23rd with 30+ attracted to feeders at Hassacarr NR on the 27th. The large Linnet flock at Rawcliffe Cornfield NR peaked at c. 140 birds while c. 50 were at Middlethorpe Ings on the 31st. Over 60 Yellowhammers were at Long Marston on the 3rd with 26 counted at Rawcliffe Cornfield NR on the 11th and 20+ at Hassacarr NR on the 27th while the flock of Reed Buntings at Rawcliffe Cornfield had increased back up to over 100 birds by the 11th as well as 90+ Corn Buntings with over 60 of the latter at Long Marston on the 3rd.

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