25/01/16 - GCG

Last week whilst working with us at the NNR Base (on her 64^th birthday – what a trooper!), Jean received a call about a grebe which had been brought into care at Minster Vets in York. With it being an unusual bird for the vets to deal with, they phoned Jean for her advice and expertise.

The grebe (a great crest), had been found in a field on the outskirts of York unable to stand or walk, with the presumption that it had been stranded in the field once the flood water had receded. Jean went straight off to collect the grebe with the inkling that nothing would be wrong with it - knowing that grebes are excellently adapted for life on the water with their legs and feet placed so far back on their bodies, thus not ideal for land. As Jean had suspected, on arrival there appeared to be little wrong with the grebe, soon returning at the base with a beautiful immature Great Crested Grebe in the passenger seat. Jean had checked over the bird at the vets, other than a few scuffs from being in confinement – it was in good condition, and was a good weight and rather feisty. Following the check over, the bird was ringed (aged as a first winter due to the buff colouration on the greater coverts), and sexed as a female on bill length.  

The grebe was taken down on to Bank Island to be released, as soon as it could see the flooded Ings it wanted to be off, with plenty of loud calling as we walked with it towards the water’s edge. As we placed it on the flood water behind the base it paddled off quite happily, drinking, preening and diving like nothing had happened – a happy ending for a beautiful bird.

17/01/16 - SEO

Recently a Short-eared Owl has taken up residence at North Duffield Carrs, showing well and hunting at close range in the field behind the car park - one of the few dry grassy areas left above the floodline. The local small mammal population has been concentrated into the few remaining areas, so it was no surprise that the owl appeared to be hunting quite successfully. At the weekend an individual was also found at Thornton, roosting in a large Oak tree. Short-eared Owls are a medium sized largely brown owl, although they appear to be quite long winged as they quarter their hunting sites with a rather buoyant flight – seen well they appear stunning with their bright yellow eyes and piercing gaze, as pictured here

Large numbers of SEO’s can reach the UK in autumn as birds move out of Iceland and Europe to avoid the colder weather, many were seen last autumn arriving on the Yorkshire coast at Spurn Point, Flamborough and Filey during October. Many of these birds will now have moved further inland to winter before heading back again to their breeding sites in spring. Many thanks to local photographer Stephen Jones who supplied us with following images of the NDC bird hunting over the field adjacent to the car park.

06/01/16 - High waters & a winter warmer

With much of the north of England, including Yorkshire, currently experiencing a considerable amount of flooding, it will come as no surprise that the LDV is presently underwater. Rising water levels since just before Christmas saw the river banks at North Duffield Carrs finally overtopped on the 27^th, by the 29^th the site had all but disappeared – leaving just the odd fence posts, gates and bushes only just visible around the vast sheets of water, (along with the roof top of Garganey Hide). Access onto the NNR is currently restricted to views from Bank Island, Thorganby Village Hall viewing platform, the Geoff Smith Hide at North Duffield Carrs and Ellerton churchyard. The wintering waterfowl (including 8000+ Wigeon, 6000 Teal and 2000 Greylags) are well scattered throughout the vast flooded landscape, however not all of the wildlife on the NNR will be finding the conditions so easy – including the mole which swam past the hide at North Duffield Carrs last week – a sight you don’t see every day… 

 Bank Island

 Bubwith

 Footpath to Wheldrake Ings 

Getting out and about on our NNR’s is a great way of having some fresh air, exercise and a chance to see some of the special wildlife which shares our local area. If this appeals then why not join Natural England’s NNR Reserve Manager Fallon Mahon for a New Year’s ‘Winter Warmer’ walk on Skipwith Common NNR this Sunday (10^th January), starting at 11 am from the King Rudding Lane car park (off the A19). The event, arranged by the Friends of Skipwith Common is free (with donations welcome), and will last approximately an hour and a half, starting with a warming drink of Mulled Wine. Come along and find out about the management of the site, the recent works that have taken place over the last few months and the grazing livestock, whilst looking out for Green Woodpeckers, Woodcock, Jays and other wildlife, such as this Roe Deer which was photographed on the Common.

 Roe Deer