Winter Visitor

It is flippin' freezing out there, and as anticipated, the first Blackcap of the winter has appeared in the garden. I skewered a few apple halves on twigs, which pleased the local Blackbirds, and shortly the dapper male Blackcap returned and tucked in. Also there has been up to four Redpolls and 40 Goldfinches in the garden today. 

 

 

2026 Yorkshire Bird Race

The first Sunday in January can only mean one thing, the Mike Clegg Memorial Bird Race! I have been a regular competitor since 2011 and it is a great way to blow away some Christmassy cobwebs, get the birding year off to a good start and raise some money for conservation in Yorkshire. 

Since 2021, and following the restrictions imposed by the Covid pandemic, it has been a non-motorised event. This has led to some pretty sketchy races - see here - and really restricted the number of sites that can be covered. It is also difficult for people who are less mobile to take part, with some opting just to visit one site. Nevertheless, this year, Adam Firth, Duncan Bye and me - The Stormcocks - decided we'd do a loop of the Lower Derwent Valley by bike, taking advantage of the glut of exciting species that had turned up in recent weeks. However, as race day approached, some bitter weather arrived and we decided to use Adam's EV, as cycling looked like it would be too dangerous in the icy conditions (most of the loop is on untreated roads). We realised this would exclude us from submitting an official total, but we'd take part, raise some money for Leeds Swifts and have an enjoyable day out, with minimal carbon footprint. We heard that Tim Jones' team were also planning to use an EV, so we didn't feel too bad!

Dawn at Allerthorpe
 

Our day started stomping around a frozen field near Elvington, looking for Snipe and Jack Snipe. Unfortunately, the big freeze had forced many of the birds away, and we managed a couple of Snipe and a Woodcock, as the first glimmer of light appeared in the southeast. We made out way to Allerthorpe Common, seeing a second Woodcock on the approach road. Dawn in the woods was beautiful, as the peach light crept gradually through the pine trunks, illuminating scattered gems of frost in sheltered pockets. Another Woodcock flew in from the fields seeking a quiet spot to roost in the woods, whilst Tawny Owls noisily announced their plans to go to sleep. Redpolls and Siskins joined the predictable Robins being the first birds to wake, mostly just picked up on call. We did a circuit of the woods as the light grew, with a couple of chipping Crossbills the highlight, along with a Marsh Tit that appeared right on cue by the entrance gate, as we exited. We received the crushing news from Tim and co had seen two Twite with the finch flock at Dunnington. Adam and Duncan, who didn't need this species for their York list, were not keen to detour to look for these increasingly scarce little finches, so they would remain absent from my list.

Around Thornton and Melbourne we built our list, with a flock of 120 Skylarks and a Peregrine the highlights, though the lack of Corn Buntings and Yellowhammers would haunt us for the rest of the day. On to the LDV proper, we received news that the White-tailed Eagle was back at Aughton again - hopefully we'd bump into it during the day. East Cottingwith was lacking in finches, and the Cetti's Warbler was conserving its energy by keeping quiet, but we did see a Great Egret and a fab flock of 89 Black-tailed Godwits standing on the ice. Nearby six Egyptian Geese - still scarce round here -were cavorting on a farm pond, acting like it was spring, and not minus two degrees!

 Black-tailed Godwits roosting on the frozen refuge at Wheldrake Ings

On to Ellerton where we found our target Mistle Thrush but were gutted to hear that the eagle had flown north over Wheldrake, probably as we were driving south to Ellerton. This was galling, particularly as it had been reported by Jane and Rob Chapman, Duncan's usual race companions. We never did catch up with the eagle.

Heading south, Bubwith and North Duffield Ings were mostly frozen and all the recent waders were absent, presumably seeking better feeding conditions on the Humber Estuary. Things went from bad to worse, when we failed to find the Tundra Bean Geese at North Duffield Carrs, nor the Scaup which seems to have departed with most of the Pochards. Our spirits lifted when we met Tim and Co at the platform; it was good to compare stories and find out how they were doing.  

First-winter Caspian Gull - centre, with Herring, Common and Great Black-backed Gulls
 

Next up, we made our way north along the west side of the valley, popping into Thorganby, where we hoped we might see the eagle - we didn't. The regular Little Owl wasn't cooperating either, but we did add Ruff and Little Egret to our faltering list. Duncan suggested we try a farm track near Wheldrake for Grey Partridge on the way to Bank Island and this paid off, with a covey of six Greys sitting tight in the middle of a field. Spirits lifted, we headed to Bank Island for some food and then on to Wheldrake for what remained of the day. Time and energy ran away from us, so we didn't make it furthen than to Tower Hide, so we settled in for the gull roost. A couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (usually scarce in winter in York) revealed themselves, and whilst trying to get the boys on to the second more obvious bird, a first-winter Caspian Gull dropped in close by - which was handy. I let Tim know and they managed to get on both species for their growing list, distantly from Swantail Hide, where they had also added Cetti's Warbler. As the light fell, we resigned ourselves to not being able to pick out a Mediterranean Gull, so ambled back to the bridge and then the Wenlock Arms, for a much needed sit down and a pint. 

 

Our total was 89, which is a little below par and it was a bit disappointing to miss most of the scarcer species, especially the eagle. Neverthless, we have taken part and helped raise a good sum towards the Leeds and Sheffield Swifts projects. 

Big thanks to Yorkshire Coast Nature for sponsoring our team with a generous donation to the project.

 

 

 

 

New Year Eagle

Happy New Year! 

The year got off to a good start, when, having dropped Sol's mate off at Wheldrake, we headed down to Aughton to see if we could see the White-tailed Eagle. Sol was interested in having a look - as long we didn't have to wait too long! - so I was anxious when a birder told me that the bird had flown out of sight. I felt the bird may decide to move north, so kept an eye upriver through a gap in the trees. We entertained ourselves watching Goldeneyes on the ings, and Marsh Harriers worrying the wildfowl and waders gathered on the floodbanks. After a while, I spotted the huge form of the eagle flapping low north, as I figured it might. It quickly went out of view behind trees, so I let the other birders know, before we headed off to Ellerton. This paid off, as shortly after arrival at Ellerton churchyard, I spotted the hulking raptor sitting in a dead tree opposite the church. It sat there, being scolded by local Magpies and Carrion Crows, and even Sol was impressed. After filling our boots, we headed home.

 

Fish Eagle

Great views of the White-tailed Eagle again this morning from Aughton Church. After 20 minutes of quietly surveying the scene, it flew north, dropped over the flood bank and returned with a large and living fish.

This was quickly dispatched before it began its fishy breakfast. A small crowd of local Carrion Crows had gathered, eyeing their huge cousin with fascination. Never one to miss an opportunity, one pair of plucky corvids began to work together, taunting the raptor by pulling its tail, or a wingtip, causing the eagle to turn round to see off the nuisance. Whilst distracted, the other crow attempted to pinch the fish. After several attempts, one crow succeeded and pinched a part of the fish. Too big to fly away with, the crow landed a few meters away and the surprisingly agile eagle bounded across the grass and retrieved its breakfast. 

To add to the comical scenes, a pair of rather anxious Egyptian Geese walked past the feeding hulk very gingerly. We thought perhaps the eagle would decide to follow its fish course with some goose, but it barely seemed to notice.

Having demolished the fish, the eagle pottered down the bank for a refreshing drink of icy water. We took our cue to leave and head off round the valley in the glorious winter sunshine, to see what else we could find. 

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This is my last blog post of 2025. Happy New Year to all my friends and the readers of this blog and hopefully I'll get to do some birding with you in 2026! 

Incredible Valley Scenes

Hooked up with Adam and Dunc to do a part-loop of the Lower Derwent Valley, as a reccy for the Yorkshire Bird Race which looms at the end of the week. It was chilly, as the wind had switched to the north, but also because I'd accidentally left my coat at home. Fortunately, Dunc leant me some gloves to help me stave off frostbite and the extra pounds put on due to Christmas excess helped insulate me. 

Birding started really well, when the juvenile White-tailed Eagle cruised past us at Ellerton Church, flushing several hundred Pink-feet from the field on the opposite side. It flapped down the valley and out of sight behind the trees. We followed it down to Aughton Church, where we found the beast chilling on the riverbank, casually scanning around. A couple of feisty Lapwings gave it a bit of grief, so it flapped down to the bottom of the bank to avoid their wrath.  

 

After a bit, the eagle went back north, so we headed round to Bubwith Ings, where I located the Spotted Redshank, feeding next to the river, with a dozen Redshanks and Ruffs. Forty Black-tailed Godwits dropped onto the ings, with a big flock of Lapwings, and a couple of Golden Plovers and Dunlin. A Great Egret was feeding along the river north of the road. 

Next up, we squeezed into a packed Geoff Smith Hide at Duff, where I congratulated Alan Whitehead for persevering and getting the eagle on to his Duff list. We pottered down towards the still inundated Garganey Hide and had a look at the ten White-Fronted Geese feeding with the local Greylags. It was good to see these birds, a small part of a large nationwide influx from the Low Countries. Whilst we watched, we heard the sound of Peregrines, and above us a pair were sparring with a single male, clearly a territorial dispute with lots of talon-grappling and noisy shrieking. They disappeared to the south still fighting; we later saw the female pursuing a Lapwing over North Duffield Ings to the south. 

The eagle reappeared on the floodbank to the north as we walked back, so we could also add it to our Duff list. 

We headed back up the west side, and apart from the two Scaup and a calling Little Owl at Thorganby, with 90+ Shelducks being a notable count. We headed back to Bank Island, where after a coffee- thanks Craig! - we finally found the Glossy Ibis, which seemed to be finding a lot of food alongside the hedge which runs down to Cheesecake Hide. Quite a scruffy looking first year bird, it was nevertheless a great bird to end a fantastic morning's birding. 

 

 Glossy Ibis, Bank Island. Seems strange to see this bird feeding almost under the hedge!

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

York Sea-eagle Seconds

I still couldn't quite believe I'd seen a White-tailed Eagle in the LDV yesterday, so I got up early and went down to Wheldrake Ings, to see if it would show up there. For the first time in a few weeks, I was able to wade through to Tower Hide, though it was still too deep for wellies, so my waders were necessary.

 

Plenty of ducks and geese were present, and it was good to see the returning leucistic female Pintail among about 300 congeners. I gave it an hour, but when news came through that the eagle was feeding on the riverbank near Aughton, I decided it was unlikely to arrive at Wheldrake any time soon. When a pheasant shoot started up nearby, flushing all the ducks, along with two Great Egrets off the canal, I decided it was time to leave.  I waded back and went down to North Duffield, but the eagle was out of view there. After a while, Craig called to say it had flown north towards Ellerton, so together with Adam, I went back up to Thorganby. 

Within a minute of scanning from the platform, I picked up the hulking form of the eagle sitting on the bank top near Ellerton Landing. It was distant and unmoving, so easy to overlook. After 15 minutes, it took off and flapped steadily north up the valley, straight towards us. To our amazement, it landed in a large tree straight out from the platform, giving great views. We scarcely dared move or talk as every time we did, it fixed us with a rather intimidating stare! 

 

Adam headed off, leaving me to savour this magnificent bird, which had by now relaxed and started to do a little preening. With much closer views, it was possible to confirm the lack of rings on the whopping yellow legs. The local Buzzard pair were livid, and circled the trees calling, eyeing up the massive bird with suspicion and annoyance. The eagle watched them, but was pretty unphased. 

 

I let Alan Whitehead know, who was still down at Duff, and he headed up the valley, along with several others who had been alerted by the news. Fortunately, the bird hung out for a good few hours and gave great views to many people, before heading north at 2.50pm, presumably to roost somewhere nearby. 

Boxing Day Eagle!

The discovery of a White-tailed Eagle sitting in a tree near Aughton at lunchtime, Boxing Day, led to a rather anxious drive north towards York! Following Christmas in Hertfordshire with the in-laws, we were pootling up the A1 when news of this bird came through. I casually suggested we might go home via North Duffield, which received a rather mixed response from the family, but Vicky was up for it, so I kept my fingers crossed and eyes on my phone...

News that the bird had flown north up the LDV came through just before we planned to turn off on to the M18, so we hastily returned to Plan A and gunned north towards York. As the miles dragged by, I hatched a plan to drop off the family, grab my scope and shoot over to Thorganby, where I'd have a good view down the valley, giving me a good chance to see the eagle if it was still around. Just before I got there, Tim Jones rang to confirm he'd just seen the bird over near Ellerton Church! Minutes later, I joined Tim, and shortly, the enormous shape of the eagle got up and flapped across the floods and on to the riverbank south of Ellerton Landing. Flipping 'eck, what a beast! 

 

White-tailed Eagle is a bird I had dreamt of seeing in the LDV and often discussed with local birding mates, and to my astonishment, here it was, even bigger than I'd imagined, sitting in the familiar landscape, a few miles from home. Incredible! What a Christmas present! Every time the eagle flew, the entire avian contents of the LDV went skywards like confetti, filling the sky with panicking shapes. The bird, a juvenile, noticed some carcass or other on the opposite bank, so flapped across and grabbed it, before heading a little nearer to pick at the bones. 

More local birders arrived, including Chris Gomersall, Ollie Metcalfe and Duncan Bye, to enjoy this amazing scene. The eagle lacked a satellite tag and colour rings, so seemed not to be one of the released Isle of Wight birds, so together with the continuing easterly wind, which has brought stacks of geese across the North Sea from the low countries, this gave the bird great credentials for being wild. 

 

With time getting on, I had to get back to prepare for my folks imminent arrival, so leaving this behemoth sitting on the riverbank, I shot back home, to get Boxing Day tea ready. 

 Big thanks for Adam Firth who got the news out on this bird at lunchtime, and to Ollie Metcalfe and Tim Jones for the updates. The first wild individual seen in the York area in modern times was in 2020, with another bird seen earlier this year, which is subject to acceptance by the YNU. If that bird is accepted this would be the third modern record, but the first to be twitchable in the York area. There have been several seen and unseen records of satellite tagged birds that have passed through the area, having originated from the reintroduction program on the south coast. With the huge numbers of birds present in the valley right now and reduced disturbance due to deep flooding, I hope the eagle lingers allowing more birders to catch up with it. 

Christmas Eve Redpolls

I sometimes get a few Redpolls in the garden at the end of winter, so a flock of 13 feeding on Silver Birch seeds on Christmas Eve was a nice surprise. Although all redpoll species have been relumped taxonomically as 'Redpoll', I still looked through for a Mealy, or Arctic. All seemed to be British 'Lesser' Redpolls. Still great to see, hanging acrobatically from the tiny cones, to access the seeds. Also, 40+ Goldfinches.

 

It IS that deep!

 

Birding the Lower Derwent Valley has been challenging in the last few weeks due to deep flooding, following lots of rain and some snow last month. Wheldrake Ings and Bank Island are inaccessible as is Garganey Hide at North Duffield, which is now almost completely underwater. 

Today, the scene from Geoff Smith Hide at Duff was impressive, with virtually the entire western floodbank inundated. Despite the deep flooding, there were plenty of ducks about and a Great Crested Grebe was notable; they are scarce in the valley in winter. Several hundred Fieldfares and Redwings were gorging on Hawthorn berries around the car park where I saw a Willow Tit on Wednesday. 

 

North Duffield Lake

I headed down to Bubwith Bridge and looked south onto North Duffield Ings, where some remaining grassland had pulled in lots of waders. Most obvious were over 2,000 Lapwings, which blackened the grass with their hordes. Among these, a golden-brown streak was a group of 500 Golden Plovers. 

 

Feeding along the water's edge were 16 Ruff and over 70 Dunlin. As I counted the Ruff, I noticed another medium-sized wader - a Spotted Redshank! Not something I had expected and being rare in winter in the York area, this was a treat. It fed actively in the shallow water, exhibiting its striking head pattern and needle-fine bill. I put the news out and continued to scan, noting several Redshanks feeding on the far side of the grass. The Spotshank stuck with the Ruff, even when some of the Redshank moved on to the same shoreline. A Curlew dropped in, to add to the wader-fest, and a quick count revealed 11 Redshank in total. Out on the water, at least 50 Pintails were loafing among the hordes of Teal and Wigeon. Four Shoveler and a Great Egret were also present. The Spotshank made its way closer and allowed me to get a bit of reasonable video, despite the murky conditions. A lovely bird.

Nearby, a Grey Heron had caught a small mammal, which it was trying to swallow. Looking through my scope, I realised it was a Mole, presumably flooded out of it's tunnel.  

Spotted Redshank, most likely an adult.

 A Common Redshank by way of comparison.

 Snack Mole

 

 

Back in the Game!

I went to see Ibibio Sound Machine at The Crescent last night, a fantastic gig, and it was good to see fellow York birders Duncan Bye and Mark Fewster there. With Ibibio still ringing in my ears and a slightly fuzzy head, I headed over to Castle Howard to meet Dunc who was going to try for the Bittern. Dunc was in position on the path by the lake when I arrived not long after 8am. He'd been there since 7.30am, but hadn't seen it. A Cetti's Warbler was showing well, for once, feeding along the edge of the reeds, and the female Red-crested Pochard was hanging out with a gaggle of Gadwall, upending in the shallows. A bit of disturbance in the reedy edge proved to be an Otter, but it melted into the reeds so we only got brief views.

As we chatted, I suddenly noticed a Red-throated Diver surface ten metres away, over Dunc's shoulder! Flippin' 'eck!   I pointed this out, much to Dunc's surprise - and delight. The bird, a cracking juvenile casually swam passed us, nonchalantly glancing in our direction; I then did a little dance and high-fived Dunc. 

 

This is the first Red-throated Diver in the York area since November 2012, which I missed, having been away in Munich for the weekend, so I was delighted to find it; a York tick for us both. I had been speculating a little about the possibility of a diver turning up this weekend, due to the lousy weather of the past couple of days and it being a good time for inland divers to be found. I didn't expect this to happen though! We put the news out and then followed the diver along the lake, as it swam east. 

York's 17th Red-throated Diver, and fourth for Castle Howard. The last here was found dead in January 2008, a similar sad situation to the second here, in April 1986; the first was way back in November 1977.

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There was no sign of the Bittern at the east end, although we did see a Great Egret, so we headed back, having another long look at the diver, which was showing beautifully. Arriving back at the west end, I immediately found the Bittern sitting in the edge of the reeds, and showing a little better than on Thursday. I got Dunc on it and we then watched it for 15 minutes before it slunk away. 

Three male Pochards dropped in to the Tuftie flock, and immediately began flirting with the lone female Pochard. Eight Goosanders were fishing and the Tuftie flock was back above 100, but contained nothing of note. As more folk turned up to see the diver, I realised that time was getting on, so I headed back to York to pick up my daughter.  Two York ticks in four days; can't be bad!