14/06/20 - Quail influx

The Ings meadows in the Lower Derwent Valley are important for many bird species, such as Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings, as well as our breeding waders - Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank and Snipe, as well as our small Corncrake population. However, each year the Ings flower-rich meadows are also a summer time home to a small but variable number of Quail, rarely seen, and often given away by their distinctive ‘wet my lips’ call coming from areas of dense grass and herbs.

Quail are a migratory species of gamebird, travelling as far south as Africa for the winter, then returning to the UK to breed from late spring. Three individuals were heard during the last week of May whilst a further influx of birds have seen numbers increase to 15 calling birds since the beginning of June. Others may continue to arrive throughout June and late July - these later birds may have attempted breeding in southern Europe, before having a second attempt here. Most years around 100-300 calling males are recorded throughout the UK, although national influxes can result in much larger numbers in the country, and such influxes are often mirrored in the Lower Derwent Valley - this year would appear to represent an influx year nationally, so we are expecting more across the site in the coming weeks. A staggering 91 singing males were present in the LDV back in 1997, followed by 70 in 2000, more typically 5 – 15 males are located each year. When visiting the site please let us know if you are fortunate to come across any singing birds, thank you.

08/06/20 - York Minster Peregrines

Since 2018 we’ve been fortunate to accompany Jean on her visit to York Minster to ring the Peregrine brood that nest on there each year, with four chicks ringed in both 18/19. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and social distancing requirements, we weren’t expecting to be able to visit the site this spring, however, last week Jean received a phone call to say that one of the chicks had fledged prematurely. After being found down on the ground, the young male was swiftly recovered by Minster staff and checked over by Jean, and after being deemed fit and ready to return to the nest, Jean fitted a metal and colour-ring, and sent it on its way back up the tower to its calling parents.

Later in the week its siblings, two young females, repeated the same ‘false start’ and were quickly gathered up. Jean was on hand once again to help, checking both birds over, before ringing and returning them to the top of the Minster - many thanks to Jean and Steve, and everyone at the Minster for their help in ensuring the birds safe return, and for sharing their photographs with us.

01/06/20 - Surveys

Although the lockdown has been lifted slightly, Natural England NNR staff are yet to return to normal working practices in the Lower Derwent Valley, whilst our regular volunteering activities and monitoring/surveys continue to be suspended. However, some of our volunteers have been busy carrying out individual surveys of the Pocklington Canal since the restrictions were lifted slightly. A complete breeding bird survey was first carried out along the Pocklington Canal in 1990, with a repeat survey undertaken last year - this year’s data will also add to our ability to compare the changes in bird numbers in the area over that 30-year period. Some species like Little Egrets and Cetti’s Warblers have appeared as new recent colonists, whilst others, such as Turtle Doves, have unfortunately all but disappeared now. The area still remains a stronghold for Cuckoos and Willow Tits, with good populations of both Reed and Sedge Warblers also present. Many thanks to our team for their solo efforts in helping us to continue gathering data during this time.

08/05/20 - Funding success

We are delighted to report that we have not only reached our fund-raising target in the Aviva Community Fund, but actually surpassed it, securing £2829 for our planned access improvements at Bank Island. This will allow us (with further funding), to regrade the slope behind the NNR base, remove existing gates, create hard surfaced paths and raise low points prone to extended flooding, as well as creating wheelchair access to the hides at this popular site. This follows the hard work of the Friends (with support from York Birding), in creating additional scrapes, new reed beds and the popular Sand Martin bank over recent years. Hopefully we’ll be able to undertake this work at the end of the summer and into early autumn ready for next winter – updates to follow. Many thanks to everyone who donated to the fund and supported our campaign. If Covid-19 has shown us anything, it’s how much we need to access green space and the natural environment - everyone who has contributed to the fund has helped make that possible for even more people.

01/05/20 - Terns & Hobbies return

We are delighted to report that the first pair of Common Terns arrived back in the Lower Derwent Valley last week, and since then a total of three pairs have been present around the site. Fortunately, our tern rafts were out and ready for their return, and the first pair have already shown interest in one of them, giving early encouraging signs that they will be used again this summer.

The Friends of the Lower Derwent Valley purchased the rafts thanks to a generous private donation in 2017, and in that year a single pair fledged two young. In total up to the end of 2019, a total of 13 chicks had fledged from the two rafts and the Friends, thanks to your donations and support, were able to purchase a further two rafts for this breeding season. Although we might not be able to get out and enjoy them at the moment, the terns should be with us into mid-July so there is plenty of time yet. For those that may have missed it at the time, earlier this year we were delighted to hear that one of the chicks colour-ringed on the reserve last summer was seen on its wintering grounds in The Gambia at Kartong Bird Observatory in November.

Over the last few days we have also been hearing about returning Hobbies in the Lower Derwent Valley - a nice treat for some whilst out getting their daily exercise. Hobbies are the only falcon in Britain that spend the winter months in North Africa, coming to the UK from mid-April and staying until late September/early October. Late April and early May can be a good time to see Hobbies before they become more secretive and start breeding, and they can often be spotted when hawking insects and chasing hirundines. These birds really are aerial masters with their swift shaped wings, and can expertly catch flying insects in their talons before passing them to their beaks to eat on the wing.

A close up view of a Hobby is usually rather rare, and so we were very privileged when Jean brought in a rehabilitated bird to release on the reserve in May 2017 – when visiting the reserve as part of your daily exercise/local walk please let us know if you manage to spot one – all sightings welcome.