Over the last week it has been fantastic to see two Smew arrive in the #LDV. A male first appeared at Wheldrake Ings where it was then joined by a female (red-head) over the weekend, with the pair spending time on both the pool and nearby Swantail Ings – make sure to visit soon to enjoy these stunning ducks if you can.
Smew are winter visitors to the UK, with most birds not arriving until at least December and leaving again by the middle of March, before spending the summer in the taiga forests of northern Scandinavia and Russia, where they nest around lakes, ponds, rivers and other water-logged places – ideally with plenty of trees where they nest in holes and cavities.
The number of Smew reaching the UK each winter has sadly decreased dramatically in recent decades, with them now considered a scarce visitor (over recent years not more than 100 individuals have wintered in the whole of Britain). This decrease has been attributed to the effects of climate change, with warmer winters reducing the distance they have to travel from their breeding grounds to escape freezing conditions. However, numbers/sightings across the reserve over the last decade have actually shown an increase in contrast to the national trend, which may reflect a shift in range from previous key sites in southern England. Other species possibly appearing as a result of the recent cold weather include several White-fronted Geese, two Tundra Beans, Hen Harrier, Scaup and a Short-eared Owl, so plenty to look out for as we head towards our World Wetlands Day celebrations at Melbourne Village Hall on Saturday 1st February.
Thanks to #LDV volunteer and artist Dominique Vassie for the wonderful sketch.
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