As last year came to a close, our team were busy submitting all of the records gathered on the reserve throughout the year to the various data record centres, county recorders and organisations that we work with. This included our moth data, Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) counts, Rare Breeding Bird Panel (RBBP) submission, BTO heronry census and more.
We have also finished compiling our end of year ringing data which saw over 5,000 birds ringed in the area during 2025. The top three amongst the 91 species ringed during the year were Swallow (810), Lesser Redpoll (710) and Chiffchaff (626) – although it was our work on waders that proved particularly successful. Of the 19 Black-tailed Godwits ringed (a species rapidly increasing on the reserve), 15 were seen again and reported at sites across the UK as well as in Iceland, whilst a motus-tagged Jack Snipe was the first BTO-ringed bird of its kind reported in Germany on spring passage, and we got a better understanding of Woodcock movements around the site day and night from using GPS tags. One of our Corncrakes made it to Spain, and a Willow Warbler to Morocco was a first for us.
It’s also been really rewarding to be able to train a few new ringers along the way, as well as hosting various ringing displays and publishing some of the data collected in our new book ‘The Birds of the Lower Derwent Valley’. A huge thank you must go to everyone who has helped to collect all of this data, along with all of the people who have supported our work throughout the year, including those doing the hard work day and night, and those that have kindly granted permission to use their land – it takes a massive team effort to make the Lower Derwent Valley what it is – a truly remarkable place to live, work and enjoy – thanks to all.
If you're yet to order yourself or someone you know a copy of our new book ‘The Birds of the Lower Derwent Valley’ - please send an e-mail to Lucy.Murgatroyd@naturalengland.org.uk
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