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.

For daily sightings please visit our Twitter account: https://twitter.com/ldv_nnr (@LDV_NNR)

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Monday 20 June 2016

17/06/16 - Greatest & littlest

Following on from our post earlier in the year about a young Great Crested Grebe that was released in the valley, last week Jean appeared with another GCG, this time a splendid adult male in superb breeding plumage. It had been found in a garden in York with superficial stab wounds to its face and had rather sore feet – it had likely wandered into the territory of a breeding pair on one of the nearby ponds and been attacked, forcing it to struggle on land (for which they aren’t well adapted for) or perhaps forced into crash landing in an unfortunate location. Unable to take off from land very well it was kindly rescued and sent to Battle Flatt Vets where they treated it with antibiotic’s, and deemed it fit enough to go straight back out. Jean thought it would be unwise to return it to the nearby water bodies near to where it had been picked up, for fear of it ending up in the same situation again, so she released it here onto the reserve, which following the extensive flooding still has several non-breeding Great Crests remaining.





Jean has also been busy working her magic with a Little Owl recently, from Melbourne. The unfortunate owl had been found in a local garden, after being brought in by a cat, and in the process had suffered a broken wing. However, as wing breaks go this one was in a good place for healing and was a clean simple break. Three weeks rest and TLC at Jean’s with all her skill and expertise, soon saw it fighting fit and raring to go again. Jean brought it into the NNR base on the day of release to show our two new apprentice’s, before returning it to Melbourne village where it could hopefully be reunited with its mate.


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