SUMMARY OF BIRD RECORDS FOR THORNE MOORS 2015

 

Bryan P. Wainwright

Out of 12190 records there were 171 species (which includes White Wagtail and Common Redpoll). There was also one species from just beyond the recording area (by a third of a mile) Thrush Nightingale, which was new for the area. The breeding status after name if present and any records broken refers to Thorne Moors site only.

 

Mute Swan

Mainly outside the breeding season, maximum of seven on two dates.

 

Whooper Swan

Maximum was 21 on 23rd November. The new latest spring record was of a single on 23rd April.

 

Pink-footed Goose

Recorded in first three months and from September on. New all time maximum was 5000 on 3rd January (MW, CK, JK, BPW, RS).

 

White-fronted Goose (European)

The only record was of two on 26th October (TL).

 

Greylag Goose (domestic)

All months often in large groups. Maximum 638 on 11th September.

 

Canada Goose

Seen most months, maximum was 140 on 20th August.

 

Barnacle Goose

Two records of two in November on 10th and 16th both records were with Pink-footed Geese (TL).

 

Egyptian Goose

Two on 6th April at Crowle North Marsh from 13.50 and later in flight from there (2nd record for Throne Moors) (RS, BPW, BS).

 

Shelduck      rare breeder            

Recorded most months maximum eight on 26th April. On 25th June there was the first confirmed breeding record ever for Thorne Moors when a pair with four unfledged young were seen at Crowle North Marsh (BPW).

 

Wigeon

Recorded mainly outside the breeding season with a new maximum record of 200+ on 28th January (SH).

 

Gadwall         rare breeder

Continues to increase and recorded every month with a new maximum record of 89 on 26th March (MW).

           

Teal    rare breeder            

Recorded every month with numbers greatly increasing post breeding with a new all-time maximum of 800 recorded on 9th November (WP, GF) and six other counts at 500 or above. At least four pairs were noted with young, but the breeding for this secretive species is poorly recorded.

 

Mallard          scarce breeder

Recorded every month with numbers greatly increasing post breeding with a maximum of 550 recorded on 29th December.

 

Pintail

Six records with one or two only.

                                   

Garganey      rare breeder                        

Six records all of a single male in April.

 

Shoveler       rare breeder                        

Recorded every month with maximum of 70 on 25th August.

 

Red-crested Pochard

A male at Will Pits Scrape on 3rd November was the fourth record (MW).

 

Pochard

Reported in nine of months with the maximum being five on five dates.

 

Tufted Duck             rare breeder            

Recorded every month, with the new all-time maximum being of 25 on 16th February (SH). Bred at Will Pits Scrape with possibly two pairs involved.

 

Common Scoter

Two records representing the fourth and fifth records for Thorne Moors: a female on floods 19th March (BPW et al.) and a juvenile Will Pits Scrape on 11th October (BPW, MW).

 

Goldeneye

Seen on 2nd May and then four dates 20th November to 29th December, with no more than one except two on 21st December.

 

Goosander

A winter visitor, the last spring record was the latest ever on 5th May (MW). Maximum 25 on 22nd February.

 

Quail

A single calling bird on Goole Fields on 9th June.

 

Red-legged Partridge

Up to a pair at Priory Farm in spring.

 

Grey Partridge        uncommon/rare breeder              BAP   

Recorded every month from surrounding fields but few records with a maximum of 10 on 16th January.

 

Pheasant

Maximum 50 on 24th January; several pairs bred. A record of a single male Green Pheasant on 23rd April.

Cormorant

Seen outside the breeding season, usually as singletons, maximum was six E over floods on 21st April.

 

Bittern           rare breeder?                      BAP   

Heard from 1st April until 10th April, breeding not proven.

 

Little Egret

Sixteen records all of singles except two on 10th October.

 

Great White Egret

Two over Goole Fields on 27th May (TL) and one feeding Will Pits Scrape on 12th November (MW) later seen in flight (GF, WP). Fifth and sixth records.

 

Grey Heron

Recorded every month with a maximum of six on 14th July, a new all time maximum (WP, GF).

 

Little Grebe  rare breeder            

Seen from March to early November. Probably four breeding pairs but no evidence recorded this year, maximum five on 26th September.

 

Great Crested Grebe        

One record of a single on 24th March.

 

Black-necked Grebe          rare breeder >1% UK                    

Present from 7th April to 10th August, up to three present on several dates but no evidence of breeding.

 

Honey-buzzard

A single on 10th over Pony Bridge Wood (SH) and 13th September from Johnny Moor Long to Paraffin Cuttings area 16.30 (JS). Sixth and seventh records.

 

Red Kite

Eight records all of single birds outside the breeding season. On 1st January an adult from N side of colliery tip went S over Bell's then SE over Middle Moor, Will Pits Scrape and Pony Bridge Wood 08.45 to 08.55. On 17th February, one passed S over limestone road at 11.50 (WP, GF). On 10th April one went high over Will Pits Scrape going E around 14.00. (RP, DP). This was followed by two further April records possibly of the same bird on 21st: one was soaring with Marsh Harriers and Buzzards over E end Goole Moor going N (DH, BPW) and the following day one was soaring over the east end Goole Moor with four Buzzards at 11.30 (BW, DH). In September on 13th a juvenile was on W side heading S and later over Hatfield Moors (RJS, DH, BW). The rest were in October, on 4th: one NNE over middle of moors at 17.25 (BW, RS, MW) and on 6th one N at 13.10 flushing gulls off Goole Fields (TL).

 

Marsh Harrier          rare breeder >1% UK                               

Over 500 records on 286 days with maximum of nine on 12th November (MW) being a new maximum. Probably three pairs bred with juveniles seen. Also seen, on 5th August was a juvenile with a green wing tag. On 17th June a female caught and carried off a Water Vole.

 

Hen Harrier

There were 90 records on 72 days. No more than two birds but mainly one. Latest was 26 April and first back was 25 August. Prey noted taken involved a male quartering Inkle Flatts from 15.40 on 27th December that was chased by Short-eared Owl, which later caught a (Field) vole and ate it and continued hunting.

 

Montagu's Harrier

A single record on 13th May of a male going SW over W side of moors at 11.30 and seen well (IP). Eighth record since modern recording.

 

Sparrowhawk

Recorded all months, generally one or two rarely three. On 31st May one caught a Swift and ate it on the limestone road; surely an opportunistic catch. On 20th December a large female had caught and was eating a Wood Pigeon on the track at Creyke’s gate.

 

Buzzard

Recorded all months, five double figure counts the best being 16 on 26th April a new all time maximum (BPW, RJS). On 23rd May one had half eaten a Water Vole on Shoulder o’ Mutton Tram. On 7th July one was over West side Pools carrying a snake.

 

Osprey

On 9th April one possibly, distant moving N 08.30 (GF, WP).

 

Water Rail                                        

Recorded all months, maximum seven on 18th October.

 

Moorhen

Recorded all months, maximum 18 on 19th April.

 

Coot

Not recorded in January or after August, seemingly leaving site in winter to local reservoirs. Maximum four on two dates.

 

Crane             rare breeder >1% UK                               

Not recorded in January or October-November. Two pairs bred, one young raised to fledging.

 

Oystercatcher

Eight records maximum three on 4th June.

 

Grey Plover

Five records in autumn-winter with a remarkable record count of 20 3rd October a new maximum (GF, WP).

 

Golden Plover

Not seen May or June and winter flocks larger, maximum was 500 early October.

 

American Golden Plover

A juvenile on Goole Fields on 25th November was a new species for Thorne Moors (TL also photographed).

 

Ringed Plover         rare breeder

Encounter April to October maximum five.

           

Little Ringed Plover                                             

Present from 25th March (joint earliest ever with 2006 TL) till 20th August.

 

Lapwing        rare breeder BirdLife VUN in EU           BAP   

Recorded all months, maximum 630 with 9th November. Breeding took place with five pairs W Pools: one with four tiny young, one with two small young, one with three well-grown young until one taken by a Fox. Survival was low or nil.

 

Whimbrel

Four spring records of singles in April and May.

 

Curlew           rare breeder             BAP   

Fourteen records, the only double figure count being 20 on 23rd June.

 

Black-tailed Godwit

Seven records max 35 on 17th April.

 

Bar-tailed Godwit

One on W side floods on 29th July (WP, GF) the ninth site record.

 

Ruff

With about 48 records the maximum was 17 on 31st August (all juveniles).

 

Dunlin

With about 36 records the maximum was 17 on 12th May.

 

Little Stint

One juvenile on 1st August.

 

Pectoral Sandpiper

An adult with well-marked braces or juvenile was seen feeding on West side Pools on 1st August (MW, BPW) (2nd record for Thorne Moors) and again on 7th August (MW, JK).

 

Common Sandpiper

One on 17th July.

 

Green Sandpiper

Around 40 records maximum was nine on 6th August.

 

Greenshank

Seven was the maximum on 2nd September.

 

Wood Sandpiper

Eight records the maximum being three on 6th August.

 

Redshank     rare breeder

Maximum 10 on 24th April. A very young bird was noted on 21st July.

 

Jack Snipe

Eleven records of one or two along New Mill Drain and at Paraffin floods mainly.

                       

Woodcock    rare breeder            

A good number of records the maximum being seven flushed from stubble on 31st January to Paraffin (JH) which equals the previous maximum of 29th November 2013. Roding birds were reported from at least three areas.

           

Snipe             rare breeder

Four counts were over 50, the first being 58 on 11th September only being surpassed by 59 on 3rd October. At least six areas of drumming birds were located.  

           

Black-headed Gull             LC but declining/scarce breeder          

Generally less than 100 present with a poor showing for breeding and very few if any fledged young. Maximum was 350 post breeding.

 

Mediterranean Gull

An adult on 24th November at Goole Fields (TL).

 

Common Gull

Not seen late spring and early summer, maximum 90 on one date and 100 on 5th August and 24th November all on the N and E fields and edges. These are the highest ever counts.

 

Caspian Gull

One or two reported from late July generally from or to roosts at the Goole Fields area. Ninth to 14 records for site.

 

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Not recorded December and generally very scarce in winter post breeding flocks reached 700 on 14th September.

 

Yellow-legged Gull

Seen late July to November a new maximum was 32 on 14th September (TL).

 

Herring Gull

The dramatic declines continue with double figures uncommon and the maximum being only 41 on 17th August.

 

Great Black-backed Gull

Low counts peaked at only 20 on 29th August.

 

Feral Pigeon

A couple of records of single birds.

 

Stock Dove              LC/scarce breeder

Up to low 40s recorded with an exceptional number being 500 on 8th February (GF, WP).

 

Woodpigeon

Over 1500 in early January was the maximum.

 

Collared Dove

All records came from Creyke’s Sidings except one which flew over the main Canals on 25th September.

 

Turtle Dove              scarce breeder        BirdLife VUN in EU            BAP

Purring males reported from 15 areas with four at Bell’s/Green Belt/Durham’s Garden area and four Crowle Moor and singles then at Goole Moor E side, Will Pits Scrape, Red House Farm, Old Peat Works (disused), Limberlost Tram, Collis’s Tram and Will Pits. The latter area almost certainly held more.

 

Cuckoo         rare breeder             BAP   

Present from mid-April to third week of August, generally two or three but on several occasions six.

           

Barn Owl       rare breeder

Several pairs located in the area, with one and sometimes two seen.          

 

Little Owl

Few records from two areas on the edges.

 

Tawny Owl

One or two generally, with a family of four being noted on Goole Moor on 4th June.

 

Long-eared Owl                                         

One or two generally, with two squeaking juveniles and possibly an adult briefly in flight N of Will Pits being noted on Goole Moor on 3rd June.

 

Short-eared Owl

One or two and once three seen, with a remarkable record of seven reported by farmer (JJ?) on Goole Fields N of Creyke’s gate on 10th October.

 

Nightjar         uncommon breeder >1% UK                  BAP   

A total of 47 ‘churring’ male nightjars were located during the survey of Thorne.

 

Swift

Maximum was 570 on 7th July.

 

Kingfisher

Two records outside the breeding season; one from Bell’s area and the other from Thorne Waste Drain at Woodpecker Corner.

 

Wryneck

One was flushed from side of Fison's Road North near the S bend on25th August (5th record for Thorne Moors WP, GF).

 

Green Woodpecker           rare breeder

Only 14 records for this vastly declined species.

                       

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Recorded all months maximum was three.

 

Kestrel           rare breeder

Recorded all months, maximum and only double figure count was 10 on 24th April.         

 

Merlin

The latest ever was on 9th May (BPW), 47 records in total, generally single occasionally two.

 

Hobby                                              

First record on 9th April (joint earliest ever with 2011 MW), with 17 on 12th May and a maximum of 18 on 25th May and last record 11th October.

 

Peregrine

Not recorded June and the maximum was four on 19th January.

 

Rose-ringed Parakeet

A male watched perched in poplars at the back of Moorends Recreation Ground on 14th January and present till 17th this was a new species for Thorne Moors (BPW, IP, GF, WP).

 

Great Grey Shrike

The same bird was reported on 41 dates between 3rd January and 7th April in the central area of the moors.

 

Red-backed Shrike

The same juvenile was reported on three dates between 11th and 14th September (seventh record for Thorne Moors BPW et al.).

 

Magpie

Not reported in September; maximum 20 on 14th February.

 

Jay

Recorded all months maximum was six on 10th and 11th October.

 

Jackdaw

Maximum 10 on 2th October.

 

Rook

Up to 106 were present post breeding mainly in the fields at the NE end of the moors.

 

Carrion Crow

Recorded every month with 420 being the maximum on 1st October.

 

Goldcrest

Mostly single figure counts in winter and autumn, maximum being 19 on 15th October.

 

Blue Tit

Recorded every month with 27 being the maximum on 13th January.

 

Great Tit

Recorded every month with 13 being the maximum on 1st January.

 

Coal Tit

Mainly reported in winter maximum two on several occasions.

Willow Tit     rare breeder             BAP   

Recorded every month with four on two dates being the maximum (11th and 21st October).

 

Bearded Tit

One heard at Blue Bridge on 4th November was the only record (MW).

 

Woodlark      scarce breeder                    BAP   

Three records in May all from Crowle Moor: one singing two dates and two singing one date.

 

Skylark          scarce breeder                    BAP   

Recorded every month with 80 being the maximum on 25th October and around 11 males held territory on the peripheral fields, with three fledged young being seen on 17th June.

 

Sand Martin

Present mid-March to mid-September. Over 40 was exceptional the maximum being 60 on 16th April.

 

Swallow        rare breeder            

Present first week of April to mid-October. Over 40 was exceptional the maximum being 60 on 16th April. Arrivals peaked with c300 on 2nd May and the maximum was 1500 on 8th September which is a joint maximum.

 

House Martin

Present mid-April to late September. No counts exceed 100 in spring and the maximum was 300 on 8th September.

           

Cetti's Warbler        possible                               

A male was present in December from 7th, at E end Goole Moor Tram.

 

Long-tailed Tit

Recorded every month with 28 being the maximum on 8th February, with a few other counts over 20.

 

Wood Warbler

One seen well S side Will Pits on 4th May. The fourth modern record (RB).

 

Chiffchaff

Present from mid-March to late October with birds overwintering to the end of the year at least. At least 25 males held territory.

 

Willow Warbler        LC but declining/fairly common breeder       

Present April to September, maximum males counted was 79 on 19th April, but this only covered the area N of the limestone road.

 

Blackcap

Present from second week of April to late October, maximum was 24 on 22nd May.

 

Garden Warbler     

Present from third week of April to late August, maximum was 18 on 26th May.

 

 

Lesser Whitethroat

Present from second week of May to third week of June at least with up to three males present all in the colliery area.

 

Whitethroat              LC but declining/uncommon breeder 

Present from third week of April to late September, maximum was 32 on 22nd May.

           

Grasshopper Warbler       scarce breeder                    BAP   

Present from second week of April to early August, maximum was 8 on 25th April.

 

Sedge Warbler

Present from second week of April to second week September, maximum was 15 on 13th May.

 

Reed Warbler

Present from third week of April to third week September, maximum was 12 on 23rd May.

 

Treecreeper

Recorded most months; present in Will Pits and N edge of Goole Moor, two or more pairs.

 

Wren

Recorded every month the maximum being 31 on 19th April.

 

Starling         rare breeder             BAP   

Not present April and May, maximum was at roost in October-November of 6600 on 7th November. Roosts on moors depended on weather and were usually at the reedbed at Woodside.

 

Ring Ouzel

Recorded just outwith the recording area at Top House Farm (W of railway) from 14th to 16th April with a pair present, this was followed on 18th April with a pair in the goat field, Crowle Moor and another pair at E end Goole Moor Tram and another male E end N edge. These five are a site maximum (BPW, RP, DP, GF, BP).

 

Blackbird

Recorded every month the maximum being 100 on 18th March.

 

Fieldfare

The maximum for the first half of the year was on 1 January when 378 were present and the latter half of the year exceeded this with 1170 on 10th November.

 

Song Thrush           LC but declining/rare breeder                BAP   

Recorded every month the maximum being 8 on 12th June.

 

Redwing

Present until 5th April and returned 3 October maximum 123 on 3rd October.

 

Mistle Thrush          LC but declining/rare breeder   

Not reported in November, maximum was nine on 25th September.

                       

Spotted Flycatcher            rare breeder?                      BAP   

Five records all in latter part of year, with two on two dates.

 

Robin

Recorded every month the maximum being 52 on 29th September.

 

(Thrush Nightingale

One trapped early morning on 24th August just outside the recording area at Top House Farm, East Yorkshire was a new record for the area. The bird almost certainly crossed the recording area from the E to get here (BB, BPW and photographed and measured). This is possibly the only inland record in Britain.)

 

Pied Flycatcher

An immature on 25th August on N edge, the fifth record of modern recording (TL).

 

Black Redstart

A female/immature SW side Will Pits seen well on 3rd March, the seventh record for site (SH).

 

Redstart

Five records all of singles.

                       

Whinchat      rare and lost breeder       

Twelve records of one or two birds April, May and August to September.

 

Stonechat                

Recorded every month the maximum being 11 on many dates. At least five pairs bred with good numbers of fledged young being seen.

 

Wheatear

Present from late March to late May then late July to early October, with a maximum five on three dates.

 

Dunnock       scarce breeder                    BAP   

Recorded every month the maximum being seven on two January dates.

 

House Sparrow

Present (though not always recorded) all year at Creyke’s Crossing, where 30 to 60 can easily be found.

 

Tree Sparrow          rare breeder             BAP   

Present and recorded all year at Creyke’s Crossing, maximum 35 on 15th February. Breeds here and nearby in good numbers.

 

Yellow Wagtail        scarce breeder                    BAP   

Recorded from second week in April to third week of September, maximum was 14 on 15th August, though more could be found on Goole Fields as on 21st May when 16 were seen.

 

Grey Wagtail

Six records all of singles.

 

White Wagtail (alba)

Two records of one on 15th April and two on 13th September.

 

Pied Wagtail (yarrellii)

Recorded every month with the maximum being 41 on 30th August. Bred with six fledged young being seen on 7th July.

 

Tree Pipit      rare breeder             BAP   

Seen from third week of April to the third week of June. Five being maximum on 9th June all on Crowle Moor. Other single territorial birds were present at midway across Goole Moor N edge and one at Lonesome Pine Tram.

 

Meadow Pipit           uncommon breeder           BirdLife NT in EU  

Recorded every month with the maximum in spring being 120 on 7th April and in latter half of year 130 on 17th September.

 

Water Pipit

One was flushed from Swinefleet Warping Drain near Goole Moor Tram pump on 21st December, then flew east over fields, this is the second record for site (TL).

 

Chaffinch

In the early part of the year the maximum was 416 from the colliery roost on 15th January and in the latter part of the year from the same roost 735 on 26th December.

 

Brambling

Four records all from the latter part of the year with two records of single birds and two records of two birds.

 

Greenfinch

Not recorded in June or July, maximum was only 16 on 5th January.

 

Goldfinch

Recorded every month with the maximum in spring being 120 on 26th August with one other count surpassing 100.

 

Siskin

Not many records from the early part of the year most from summer on, maximum was 30 on 19th November.

 

Linnet                        scarce breeder                    BAP   

Higher counts were in winter with the highest being of 300 on two dates in October.

 

Twite

Two records, the first from just outside the recording area at Top House Farm where it was caught and ringed on 22nd March (BB, WMc, RM). The other was on Fison’s Road North on 13th April (SH).

 

Lesser Redpoll       LC but declining/rare breeder                BAP

Not present every month in the earlier part of the year, maximum 42 on 1st January and more frequent later in the year with a maximum of 60 on 1st October.

 

Common Redpoll (Mealy)

Three records with 18 on 7th and a single on 13th January in the colliery area, then two at Swinefleet gate on 23rd November (all BPW).

Common Crossbill

Two records with two at Will Pits on 18th August (GF, WP) and a male and four female/immatures alighting in some birch at the E end Goole Moor Tram on 3rd October (BPW).

 

Bullfinch       uncommon declining/rare breeder                   BAP   

Recorded every month with the maximum being 13 on 1st January and the only other double figure count being of 10 on 5th November.

 

(Snow Bunting

One on 10th November at Goole Fields at bottom of Helena Farm was just outside the recording area (TL).)

 

Yellowhammer        scarce breeder                    BAP   

Recorded every month with the maximum being 20 at Crowle Moor goat field on both 9th February and 19th April.

 

Reed Bunting          LC/uncommon breeder                BAP   

Recorded every month with the maximum being 60 on 1st October.

 

Corn Bunting

Seven records including summer, still breeds in the surrounding area.

Mammals and herptiles to come.

 

 

OBSERVERS 2015: Rob Adams, Alan Bamford, Steve Bamford, Richard Barnard, Bev Baxter, M Beevers, Robert Broch, Mick Bruin, Ashley Buchan, Janet Canning, Kevin Clarke, Graham Cook, Carl Cornish, John Durrant, Louise Eaton, Gary Featherstone, Keith and Sandra Hannam, Keith Heywood, James Hinchliffe, Steve Hiner, Peter Hinks, Tom Jackson, Janet Jackson, Jim Johnson, Peter Kendall, Callum King, Jason King, Helen Kirk, Phil Lee, Tom Lowe, Alan Marshall, Simone Maw, Wendy McKay, Des Parmenter, Irvin Payne, Bill Priestley, Diane Priestley, Ray Priestley, John Rampling, Dirk Rigby, Lucy Ryan, Adrian Scutt, David Slack, Julian Small, Brian Smith, Mark Smith, Richard Smith, Jim Snowden, Richard J Sprakes, Ben Steel, Barry Thompson, Bryan P Wainwright, Colin Wall, Martin Warne, Rob Watson, Darren Whitaker.