John and Henry have been out braving the wind and rain on the upper Derwent today. Undertaking their river condition assessment for BNG practical training as part of their accreditation. We will use baseline assessments like this to inform future river restoration projects.

Can visitors to the #LDV please be aware that due to extensive flooding throughout the site there is currently no access to either Bank Island or Wheldrake Ings York Birding Yorkshire Wildlife Trust - follow us on Bluesky 🦋 Yorkshire Wildlife Trust - North Yorkshire Yorkshire Derwent Catchment Partnership

Can visitors to the #LDV please be aware that there is currently no access to the paths and hides at Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings due to the recent flooding, with water levels still rising York Birding

Two guided walks along the Pocklington Canal will be taking place (8am and 11.30am) during our #WorldWetlandsDay event on the 1st February - contact [email protected] to book yourself a free place 🐦

We're celebrating #WorldWetlandsDay2025! We're working with North Yorkshire Council in Cayton&Flixton Carrs on a pilot project to understand which green finance opportunities make the most suitable mechanism to enhance biodiversity, restore wetlands and benefit the local economy

Black-tailed Godwit numbers have also increased (543 at Wheldrake Ings over the weekend), with 489 Dunlin remaining including 400+ at North Duffield Carrs. The Ruddy Shelduck is still present at Bank Island, associating with the Shelduck flock moving between there and Wheldrake.

Exciting news! Work has now begun on the Volunteer, Community & Nature Recovery Science Hub at Bank Island 😃 There will unfortunately be some restrictions to access from now on with updates to follow on here, however, the car park will remain open for the time being York Birding

York Birding NorthYorksBirdNews LaDolceVita Still viewable from Tower Hide. #phonescoped

Nice to hear calling Cranes from Wheldrake overnight on Wednesday and from Bank Island yesterday morning – before appearing to head north towards York. Hopefully more to follow with numbers increasing year on year during recent springs York Birding

Although Cuckoos are now more concentrated around the core of the #LDV, 26-30 singing males have been recorded this year. It has also been pleasing to catch and ring a sample this week as well as seeing a returning ringed bird from a previous year York Birding

There appears to have been a large hatching of Curlew broods in the #LDV over the last few days, with numerous chicks now present and adults chasing away every last crow and raptor with renewed vigour - thanks to Duncan Bye for sharing his superb image 📸

In May, 16 berried female and 10 male WCC were caught in an Upper Swale trib and brought to the hatchery at Flamingo Land. Since then, between 400-500 hatchlings have been counted. After a moult, adults will be released into a new Ark site, followed by the juveniles next year 🦞

Curlew are present in good numbers in the #LDV again this year and hatching success has been high. At least some of these young have now made it to a good size, with this individual colour-ringed at North Duffield Carrs – found hiding in the long grass with the thermal camera.

Please can visitors to the #LDV be aware that our car park at Bank Island will be closed and not accessible on Thursday and Friday this week whilst new cables are laid – all part of the work associated with our new building. Apologies for any inconvenience caused York Birding

New arrivals on the Derwent, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust - follow us on Bluesky 🦋 are trialling conservation goats along the river bank at their Wheldrake Ings nature reserve to help manage the willow scrub and swamp. The goats from Mossy Oaks have nofence collar technology too! LDV NNR York Birding

Build it and they will come... fantastic to see two Clouded Yellows using the new reedbed/reed fen wetland area behind our existing NNR Base at Bank Island at the weekend (created in May with thanks to our partners Britcon Limited & our volunteer team) 👏

Going angling 🎣boating ⛵️or paddling 🛶 abroad? Keep your kit clean so you don't accidentally spread invasive plants, animals or diseases which can block waterways and kill fish. After you leave the water, remember to: 🔎Check 🚿Clean ☀️Dry nonnativespecies.org/checkcleandry

A good number of raptors are present in the #LDV at the moment inc. nine Marsh Harriers (roosting at Wheldrake Ings at dusk), 20+ Red Kites (viewable from Wheldrake/Bank Island this morning), with several Buzzards, two Kestrels and two Hobbies also present York Birding