Heslington East / LDV trip 7th Dec

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Morning

Eleven of us gathered at the Outgang Car Park this morning for a walk along the southern (private) shore of Hes East lake, with the intention of moving on to Wheldrake around mid-day when Duncan would take over. The weather was good (until lunch-time!).

Nothing particularly exciting, but a good morning’s birding with 39 species in total. Most notable were:

  • An impressive flock of ca 70-80 Siskins feeding in Alder trees with smaller numbers of Goldfinches and a few Redpolls. Not everybody saw a Redpoll.
  • Woodcock – 1 flushed (not seen by all) and we failed to relocate it.
  • Cormorant – 4 (rather more than usual)
  • Pochard – 4 drakes
  • Plus good numbers of Gadwall (not counted, but the commonest duck) but only about  30 Tufted ducks (well down on the expected number at this time of year).

We then set of for Wheldrake to join Duncan and as we got there the weather deteriorated quite quickly, so with deep floods making the reserve inaccessible (unless you were a mermaid or – like Duncan – had chest-waders on), and with visibility rapidly deteriorating several of us bailed out.

John Lawton

Afternoon

After meeting up at Bank Island, where the main highlight was a large flock of Redwing & Fieldfare along with a pair of Kestrel who were taking advantage of the voles & mice being concentrated in ever small pieces of dry land by the flood. 

With Wheldrake Ings being inaccessible, we headed to the viewing platform at Thorganby village hall. However we didn’t stay long due to the rain, but we did manage to see 5 Redshank & a drake Goldeneye.

Then down to North Duffield Carrs, which had the benefit of the hides providing shelter from the rain. Good numbers of ducks & geese were present including, Shoveler, Pintail,  6 Shelduck, 4 Redshank & 20 Whooper Swan. There was also 1200 Lapwing with 40 Golden Plover. A couple of Marsh Harrier were also present. There was also 2 Stonechat & a Little Grebe on the river. Further up the valley around Ellerton, a larger flock of Lapwing of around 3000 were disturbed. 

Duncan Bye