10/04/23 - Common Cranes

Common Cranes were lost as a breeding species in the UK around 400 years ago, before a population became established in the Norfolk Broads in the 1970’s. Slowly the population has since increased, thanks to conservation management/habitat creation, coupled with a reintroduction scheme on the Somerset Levels, which has seen the population increase (record 64 pairs in 2020) – and a total UK population of 200 individuals. 

 

Thanks to the increase in the UK population, we have also seen an increase in the #LDV in the number of birds seen on the reserve. March, April and early May is a great period to encounter these majestic birds, with a group of five seen over Wheldrake Ings on the 2nd followed by four over Thorganby on the 12th.

Image: Duncan Bye 02/04/23

20/03/23 - Project Penelope

In November 2021, we teamed up with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation to help out with #ProjectPenelope - a study which aims to map the species flyway of Wigeon with fieldwork carried out across the UK, Denmark and Finland recording winter movements, flight paths and breeding sites from colour-ring re-sightings.

Since then, our team have colour-ringed around 300 birds to date, which have produced a number of re-sightings - both of birds back on the reserve in subsequent winters, but also along their migration routes to their breeding grounds in Russia. This data set includes two individuals to the Netherlands, as well as singles to Moscow, Russia and the Cherven District in Belarus. Please do keep an eye open for colour-ringed Wigeon when visiting the reserve (and other sites), to help build up greater information to help conserve our populations, thank you.

10/03/23 - Corporate Volunteering

We've got a really busy month ahead with a number of corporate days booked in March with groups from the NHS, Network Rail, Vistry Homes, Amey, Carter Jonas Estate Agents and Aviva. We’re really grateful for this extra support on the reserve and are looking forward to showcasing the LDV NNR and all it has to offer. 

Whilst the practical task is the main focus of the day, we do like to provide groups with an opportunity to experience some of our local wildlife at close range, with moth trapping and a bird ringing demonstration planned if weather conditions allow. 

Last year some of our groups were fortunate to see a Goldcrest and Kingfisher in the hand, with the very beautiful Hawk-moths delighting the invertebrate enthusiasts – not a bad way to start a working day! 

If you work for a company that offers corporate volunteering days, or if you’d just like to come along on your own then we have a friendly group that come in each week – please do get in touch if this an opportunity that you’d like to explore further, thank you. 

20/02/23 - WeBS UK February

Great WeBS count in the LDV yesterday, with a total of 50,055 birds counted inc. 20, 207 wildfowl, 9682 waders and 20,168 gulls - nice to have a mix of wintering visitors with the start of spring passage and returning breeding birds. 

Wildfowl totals inc. 144 Whooper Swans, 301 Pink-footed Geese, 9152 Wigeon and 7717 Teal, with notable counts of 657 Pintail, 495 Gadwall and 248 Shoveler. 

Counts of 7018 Lapwing, 276 Dunlin and 27 Ruff were also had, with signs of spring including 7 returning Oystercatchers, 41 Black-tailed Godwits, a Green Sandpiper and up to 69 returning Curlew.

Other birds present around the LDV this weekend inc. the long staying juvenile Hen Harrier, two redhead Smew, Great White Egret, seven Marsh Harrier, four Peregrine, a single Mediterranean Gull & four Barn Owls - the latter showing well at Bank Island at dawn/dusk recently.

13/02/23 - Peregrine success story

Birdwatchers visiting the #LDV recently have been able to enjoy good numbers of birds of prey, attracted by the thousands of wintering waterfowl - amongst them up to five wintering Peregrines have been showing well at both Wheldrake and North Duffield Carrs. 

Peregrine - Wheldrake Ings - 11/02/23 - DB

However, one individual seen recently (photographed at the weekend by local birder Duncan Bye), proved to be rather special. It was a young bird from 2021, that had fractured its collarbone – leaving it grounded and unable to fly. Fortunately, the wounded individual ended up in the expert care of Jean Thorpe, who, alongside Mark and the team at Battle Flatts Vets, were able to ensure the bone healed in the correct position. Once the bone had healed, the bird was then transferred to the National Birds of Prey Centre at Duncombe Park, where Charlie and the team flew it to help it gain its strength and fine-tuned its hunting instinct – very important for a young bird which hadn’t been fledged long, and which depends on speed and agility to survive. Once the bird was declared fit for release back into the wild, Jean brought it over to the reserve, where it was released in October 2021 - nearly three months after it was first picked up.

Peregrine release - NDC - 08/10/21

So, imagine everyone’s delight to see it at the weekend on Wheldrake Ings – not only having survived but looking so well. A huge thank you to everyone involved for their time, expertise, and hard work, in ensuring such a fantastic outcome for this bird – and adding to the enjoyment of so many who will have been able to watch and admire it hunting around the reserve.