18/02/17 - Lending a hand

It's been another busy time in the valley recently for our staff and volunteers, with a wide range of tasks undertaken last week. On Thursday and Friday the team were out with Reserve Manager Fallon Mahon, managing chalk grasslands on the Yorkshire Wolds at Grimthorpe Dale, thus helping the local farmer to deliver the requirements of his Agri-Environment Scheme, and bringing further environmental benefits to the site. The task involved clearing back dense and encroaching Bramble and Hawthorn to allow the chalk grassland flowers and associated butterflies and other invertebrates to flourish – always difficult work and more so on the steep sided valleys across the Wolds – so well done to the team for their efforts. 

Earlier in the week we were out locating and collecting tree stumps following a request from an infant school near Thirsk, for them to be used as seats as part of their story telling time – nice to know they are going to good use. With the reserve still flooded and access restricted, the extended team have also been busy helping to collect more of this winter’s felled timber before processing it into next year’s log supplies - hopefully ensuring a steady supply of extra budget next year to help get all the necessary work done on the reserve. Many thanks as always to our great team for such a sterling effort this week.  

13/02/17 - Green Wood

Since the turn of the year whilst out on Skipwith Common NNR, the scrub clearance team have been hearing and occasionally seeing Green Woodpeckers around the reserve. The scrub clearance, aimed at reducing the dominance of Silver Birch and Scots Pine regrowth across the open wet and dry heaths, will be helping this species as well as several others found on the NNR, which prefer the open areas of vegetation.

Green Woodpeckers, such as this one superbly photographed by local birder and wildlife photographer Terry Weston, can occasionally be seen on the ground as they search for ants nests on which to predate - although more often than not views are limited to just a flash of colour as they are seen flying away with their distinctive undulating flight. They can also be readily identified by their characteristic ‘yaffling’ call which carries far over the Common – it's always a pleasure to hear one. Whilst visiting the reserve please let us know of any sightings/records you come across by using the logbooks provided, thank you. 

10/02/17 - Hard at it

Last week our hardy volunteers got wrapped up and braved the rain and cold weather to help us repair and erect new gates and fencing, with the hope of trying to control unauthorised visitor access to sensitive parts of the site. Whilst we are keen to encourage visitors to enjoy the amazing wildlife spectacle the valley has to offer, this has to be done from a distance to avoid disturbance, so please do use the viewing points and hides provided around the reserve. This will help to minimise undue disturbance to wintering birds at the present time, and also to breeding birds and grazing livestock later in the season. The new gates and fences will also hopefully keep those livestock securely on the reserve, and help local farmers work with us to graze the site and provide the vital conditions for all our wildlife to thrive. Many thanks to the team for a great day, and for getting stuck in despite the wet and cold conditions, and thanks must also go to the local Clifton Moor branch of Jewson’s, who kindly donated some of the timber used to support the work of the Friends of the Lower Derwent Valley.

07/02/17 - Drake delight

Following on from our recent waterfowl catches which have included a number of Pintail, our success with this species continued into last week, with a catch of nine birds at dawn on Monday morning - including six males. Over the last 20 years we’ve only managed to catch and ring a total of 29 of this handsome duck, but since the turn of the year we’ve ringed 30, bringing the overall total suddenly to 59. On Monday morning we were fortunate to have clear blue skies and sunshine which really showed off the drake’s amazing plumage, so many beautiful colours which can be seen in the feather detail photographs below. We’re not sure why this month has suddenly been so successful for Pintail, after so many years of catching just one or two on average – but we’re certainly not complaining! Hopefully there may be yet more to come, with recoveries also. Following a count across the site last week along with records over recent days, numbers have shown to be steadily increasing and are now in the region of 250 birds. 

03/02/17 - New year, new tasks

This month our eager team of volunteers (or at least those who weren’t suffering with the dreaded lurgy), came in for the first tasks of the year, with plenty of variety to be had. Firstly our team were busy taking out the damaged fence line at Bank Island, and then helping to put the new one in place, which involved digging in the straining posts and then using the post knocker to secure the wooden stakes in-between. Mesh was then added followed by a top line of barbed wire – all being well this should keep the cows in place come spring. 

  

The following week the stormy weather that whipped up the North Sea causing flooding along the East Coast also blew down our bird feeding station at Bank Island – snapping the two main posts clean off at the base resulting in the frame and feeders ending up in the pond. Since our feeding station was built in 2012, the site has been a hive of activity and is now reliable for Marsh Tit, Tree Sparrows, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Bullfinch. With the colder weather approaching again at the weekend we’d hoped to get it up and running again soon, and so our team kept busy the following week digging in two new uprights and attaching the top beam, before adding the lower beam and feeders. The height of the hedge was also lowered within the vicinity of the feeding station to provide better viewing and photographic opportunities from the car park. After lunch the team then helped make a start on next season’s logs with some chopping, splitting and stacking – thanks to everyone who has placed and received their orders and have helped the Friends of the Lower Derwent Valley raise money to further our work in the area at the same time. We still have some seasoned logs in stock so let us know if you need an order – we are looking to clear out our wood shed soon in order to refill with next winter’s supply.

Despite the freezing fog that blanketed the valley last week the team were out and about again covering a range of tasks, starting with trying to keep warm sawing, splitting and stacking more of next season’s batch of logs. After delivering more of our ready to burn seasoned timber to local residents, the team headed along the floodbank of the River Derwent erecting signs. These signs are to remind people that the majority of the Ings themselves have no public rights of way and that walking in these areas, especially with dogs, can cause considerable disturbance to the vast flocks of wintering waterfowl. Which, particularly in the present conditions, need to spend as much undisturbed time feeding up as possible. However whilst protecting the wildlife from disturbance we are obviously also keen that local people and visitors can enjoy the area, which can be done from the hides provided. Several of the team were also hard at work on Skipwith Common NNR, controlling birch and pine scrub, so a productive day all round.