Welcome to the LDV NNR ringing blog, this blog is designed to share the experiences, findings and tales from a group of dedicated ringers. We specialise in conservation orientated research projects, largely focusing on wildfowl, waders, owls and birds of conservation concern, in and around the Vale of York NNR's.

NB - Whilst the purpose of this blog was initially designed to cover our nationally important wildfowl ringing activities, it now also features wildlife and work posts, explaining how we manage the NNR for both wildlife and people.

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Tuesday 17 July 2018

28/06/18 - Mammal sightings

Over the last month we’ve been seeing plenty of mammals using the Ings meadows, as well as the reserve area more widely with good numbers of Brown Hares present, and the ever-present Roe Deer including the first fawn of the year at Wheldrake Ings. More unusual on the Ings has been four sightings of up to three Fallow Deer at Bank Island – this species is more usually found on Skipwith Common NNR and around the woodlands between Crockey Hill and Wheldrake, with them rarely venturing towards the Ings. Fallow Deer are usually quite scarce visitors onto the Ings, with just a couple of records annually, usually preferring the larger local woodlands such Wheldrake Woods, Skipwith Common and the Escrick Park Estate. From the cover of these woodlands they can be seen venturing onto nearby fields to graze. However, over the last two months up to three individuals have been seen regularly in the Bank Island area – feeding in the meadows, wandering through the shallow flooding and even down the public footpath towards Wheldrake Ings and Thicket Priory, including one brave individual in the reserve base garden. Fallow Deer are larger and usually lighter in colour than the more resident Roe Deer, and have rather distinctive white spots and unlike the Roe Deer’s characteristically ‘all white’ tail the Fallow Deer have black and white tails. Many thanks to local birder Duncan Bye for sending us his super photograph taken recently at Bank Island.


Along with the Fallow Deer, we have also had a sighting of a Badger in broad daylight running the whole length of the meadow at Wheldrake Ings – unusual in both location and time of day, whilst local birder and wildlife photographer Terry Weston has been watching a family of Fox cubs,  photographed below in the Kexby area – fortunately for us (or at least our breeding waders) not on the reserve.



It’s not just our breeding birds which appear to have had a good season, no doubt benefiting from the more favourable weather conditions of late than previous years, Brown Hares in particular seem to have favoured well. We commented on the relatively good numbers present earlier in the year, but recently we’ve also seen several young Hares (Leverets), including this one photographed by Duncan Bye at Wheldrake Ings as it ran along the permissive footpath towards him. Many thanks to everyone like Duncan who has kept to the permissive footpaths around the reserve this summer, along with our breeding waders it is likely Brown Hares have benefited too from the lack of disturbance, especially from keeping dogs on leads around the Ings. Many of our wildlife species are facing tough times in the wider countryside and in many parts of the country, so it’s key we do what we can to help them flourish here on our own patch, and for everyone to enjoy. Many thanks to everyone for the co-operation. 



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