Bits and Bobs- November and December

Just tidying up my phone pics as the year-end approaches, and here is a few birds from the last couple of months. First up, a Great Egret at Castle Howard in mid-November. 

 

Goosander, male, Castle Howard. Good numbers of Goosanders have been present at Castle Howard since November, with up to 35 present. 

Goldeneye, male. Very scarce at the usual winter haunt of Castle Howard until late December, when cold easterlies brought an influx, with at least 35 present just after Christmas, with others in the LDV. 

 

There was a report of a Harvest Mouse climbing up into a Hawthorn bush by the Bank Island car park, so I went along for a look. With the help of a thermal imager, I eventually found the little rodent, but it proved to be a Bank Vole. Still cool to see, as it ascended a good two metres into the bush to grab a berry, which it then returned down to the ground, presumably to cache the food for later.

Whooper Swans, Ellerton Landing, LDV, 23/11/25. Big numbers of Whoopers gathered on the river waiting for the valley to flood, providing a fantastic sight and sound. Below, a few Whoopers gathered on the first floodwater at North Duffield Carrs in late November, watching a prowling Fox.

This young Peregrine came up the valley and landed in a tree near the Thorganby Platform, in late November, much to the annoyance of the local Carrion Crows.   

 

This may not look like much, but it is a Mountain Hare, photographed with my phone at Dove Stone RSPB, in north Derbyshire. This is the first English Mountain hare I have seen, and is one of the small and declining population that still clings on in the northern part of the Peak District following reintroductions in the late 19th Century. With climate change it is likely Brown Hares will push these native hares out. 

With deep flooding in mid-December, hunting was easy for the local raptors, as voles, mice and rats fled the rising waters. These three Marsh Harriers were clearly well-fed, as they spent a while playing together with a clump of grass.  

 

Garganey Hide at North Duffield rapidly submerged, and deep water on Bubwith Ings attracted a big flock of Pochard, in turn attracting two Scaup, including this immature drake, which moved up to Ellerton later, with its female companion. 

Two Great Egrets, Castle Howard, 30/11/25. A regular sight these days, but still elegance incarnate. 

Little Grebes, hanging out at Castle Howard. There were at least nine in mid-November, dwindling to four by the end of December. Not sure if this is due to predation - Pike, Otter? - or that birds have departed.

 

With Wheldrake Ings flooding, the gull roost started, attracting good numbers of Herring, Great Black-backed, Black-headed and Common Gulls, plus a few Lesser Black-backs.

 

There have been huge numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings in the Vale of York over the last month, plundering the plentiful Hawthorn berries lining the hedges. This group were at North Duffield in mid-November. 

 

The Spotted Redshank at Bubwith Bridge/North Duffield Ings, was a pleasing find in December and was still present after Christmas, usually hanging out with the wintering Redshank and Ruff flock.