LDV_NNR
@ldvnnr.bsky.social
News, events and recent sightings from the #LowerDerwentValley, #SkipwithCommon and #ForgeValleyWoods National Nature Reserves
Doors open! Come along and join in with our family fun day and hear about our work across the #LDV, inc. our Corncrake/responsible recreation projects, and how you can get involved through volunteering - all whilst having a look through our new book! 📖🐦🦆🦉🪶 #WorldWetlandsDay @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Today our team are at Melbourne Village Hall for our #WorldWetlandsDay event between 10am-3pm – come along & join in with making wildflower bombs, take part in arts/crafts/quizzes, owl pellet dissection & find out about our Corncrake project + refreshments available ☕️🍪
January 31, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Doors open! Come along and join in with our family fun day and hear about our work across the #LDV, inc. our Corncrake/responsible recreation projects, and how you can get involved through volunteering - all whilst having a look through our new book! 📖🐦🦆🦉🪶 #WorldWetlandsDay @yorkbirding.bsky.social
A copy of our new book 'Birds of the Lower Derwent Valley' will also be available to look at/pre-order today 📖 100% of the proceeds from this book will go to the Friends of the Lower Derwent Valley charitable trust, to help with conservation projects across the reserve @yorkbirding.bsky.social
January 31, 2026 at 8:09 AM
A copy of our new book 'Birds of the Lower Derwent Valley' will also be available to look at/pre-order today 📖 100% of the proceeds from this book will go to the Friends of the Lower Derwent Valley charitable trust, to help with conservation projects across the reserve @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Today our team are at Melbourne Village Hall for our #WorldWetlandsDay event between 10am-3pm – come along & join in with making wildflower bombs, take part in arts/crafts/quizzes, owl pellet dissection & find out about our Corncrake project + refreshments available ☕️🍪
January 31, 2026 at 7:49 AM
Today our team are at Melbourne Village Hall for our #WorldWetlandsDay event between 10am-3pm – come along & join in with making wildflower bombs, take part in arts/crafts/quizzes, owl pellet dissection & find out about our Corncrake project + refreshments available ☕️🍪
We’ve also been in Melbourne Primary School this week delivering activities based on the #LDV inc. our Corncrake reintroduction project – great to see the children so enthusiastic and engaged, and fantastic to have the support of the local schools and communities🪶🦆🦢💦
January 31, 2026 at 7:48 AM
We’ve also been in Melbourne Primary School this week delivering activities based on the #LDV inc. our Corncrake reintroduction project – great to see the children so enthusiastic and engaged, and fantastic to have the support of the local schools and communities🪶🦆🦢💦
Great to sell out Melbourne Village Hall on Thursday evening with 💯 people attending our new talk ‘Birds of the #LDV’ to kick off our #WorldWetlandsDay celebrations - thank you for turning out & helping us to celebrate this rather special nature reserve and its incredible wildlife 🦆🦢🪶💦
January 31, 2026 at 7:24 AM
Great to sell out Melbourne Village Hall on Thursday evening with 💯 people attending our new talk ‘Birds of the #LDV’ to kick off our #WorldWetlandsDay celebrations - thank you for turning out & helping us to celebrate this rather special nature reserve and its incredible wildlife 🦆🦢🪶💦
This week we've also been working at #ForgeValleyWoods NNR opening up the quarry faces for their geological interest & valuable invertebrate habitat, whilst strimming the calcareous grassland pockets - nice to see Spurge Laurel & Wild Garlic, with the first Snowdrops also starting to appear.
January 29, 2026 at 6:09 PM
This week we've also been working at #ForgeValleyWoods NNR opening up the quarry faces for their geological interest & valuable invertebrate habitat, whilst strimming the calcareous grassland pockets - nice to see Spurge Laurel & Wild Garlic, with the first Snowdrops also starting to appear.
Huge thank you to all involved – the extra help that we receive from corporate groups really makes a massive difference to the amount of work that we can achieve across our NNRs 👏 If you'd like to join our team or attend a task day with your colleagues, please do get in touch 😁
Earlier in the week our team were busy carrying on with our heathland management work on #SkipwithCommon NNR, this time supported by staff from FPCR Ecology - with time also spent looking for and finding evidence of Water Voles.
January 29, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Huge thank you to all involved – the extra help that we receive from corporate groups really makes a massive difference to the amount of work that we can achieve across our NNRs 👏 If you'd like to join our team or attend a task day with your colleagues, please do get in touch 😁
Earlier in the week our team were busy carrying on with our heathland management work on #SkipwithCommon NNR, this time supported by staff from FPCR Ecology - with time also spent looking for and finding evidence of Water Voles.
January 29, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Earlier in the week our team were busy carrying on with our heathland management work on #SkipwithCommon NNR, this time supported by staff from FPCR Ecology - with time also spent looking for and finding evidence of Water Voles.
Can visitors to the #LDV please note that water levels are once again very high, with limited access to Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings. The White-tailed Eagle is still present at Aughton (yesterday) and 248 Black-tailed Godwits are at North Duffield Carrs @yorkbirding.bsky.social
January 29, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Can visitors to the #LDV please note that water levels are once again very high, with limited access to Bank Island and Wheldrake Ings. The White-tailed Eagle is still present at Aughton (yesterday) and 248 Black-tailed Godwits are at North Duffield Carrs @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Reposted by LDV_NNR
The White-tailed Eagle reported from Aughton church this morning & then flew north
2 Scaup still at North Duffield Carrs
@nybirdnews.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social
2 Scaup still at North Duffield Carrs
@nybirdnews.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social
January 28, 2026 at 7:39 PM
The White-tailed Eagle reported from Aughton church this morning & then flew north
2 Scaup still at North Duffield Carrs
@nybirdnews.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social
2 Scaup still at North Duffield Carrs
@nybirdnews.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social
This talk is now fully booked with 💯 free tickets 'sold' - sorry to those who have been left disappointed, but we cannot exceed village hall capacity - watch this space for other talk dates to follow 👀 @yorkbirding.bsky.social
With over 80 tickets now booked, we have less than 20 left for our #WorldWetlandsDay event this Thursday (29th), when Senior Reserve Manager Craig Ralston will be talking all things #LDV related – if you’d like to book yourself a free ticket please contact Lucy.Murgatroyd@naturalengland.org.uk 🐦🦆🪶
January 28, 2026 at 4:35 PM
This talk is now fully booked with 💯 free tickets 'sold' - sorry to those who have been left disappointed, but we cannot exceed village hall capacity - watch this space for other talk dates to follow 👀 @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Log buyers - we now have seasoned/part-seasoned timber for sale once again, with proceeds going to the Friends of the #LDV charitable trust. The price remains an incredible £80 per load, with free delivery to the local area - contact Lucy.Murgatroyd@naturalengland.org.uk 🪵 @yorkbirding.bsky.social
January 26, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Log buyers - we now have seasoned/part-seasoned timber for sale once again, with proceeds going to the Friends of the #LDV charitable trust. The price remains an incredible £80 per load, with free delivery to the local area - contact Lucy.Murgatroyd@naturalengland.org.uk 🪵 @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Or, if you'd like to pre-order a copy of our new book 'Birds of the Lower Derwent Valley' which contains 550 pages of everything we know about the 295 bird species that have occurred in the #LDV & surrounding area, please use the email address below to secure yourself a copy @yorkbirding.bsky.social
January 26, 2026 at 10:39 AM
Or, if you'd like to pre-order a copy of our new book 'Birds of the Lower Derwent Valley' which contains 550 pages of everything we know about the 295 bird species that have occurred in the #LDV & surrounding area, please use the email address below to secure yourself a copy @yorkbirding.bsky.social
With over 80 tickets now booked, we have less than 20 left for our #WorldWetlandsDay event this Thursday (29th), when Senior Reserve Manager Craig Ralston will be talking all things #LDV related – if you’d like to book yourself a free ticket please contact Lucy.Murgatroyd@naturalengland.org.uk 🐦🦆🪶
January 26, 2026 at 10:26 AM
With over 80 tickets now booked, we have less than 20 left for our #WorldWetlandsDay event this Thursday (29th), when Senior Reserve Manager Craig Ralston will be talking all things #LDV related – if you’d like to book yourself a free ticket please contact Lucy.Murgatroyd@naturalengland.org.uk 🐦🦆🪶
Thanks to local birder Stuart Masheder for the image below - taken in his York garden last year, and to local wildlife photographer Terry Weston for his image of one feeding on an apple in Dunnington recently 📸 Any other records welcome 🐦 @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Thank you to everyone who has sent in Blackcap records recently – there appears to be good numbers wintering in the #LDV and surrounding area at present, with at least ten others wintering in local gardens (and presumably others we don’t know about too!) @yorkbirding.bsky.social
January 26, 2026 at 10:20 AM
Thanks to local birder Stuart Masheder for the image below - taken in his York garden last year, and to local wildlife photographer Terry Weston for his image of one feeding on an apple in Dunnington recently 📸 Any other records welcome 🐦 @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Thank you to everyone who has sent in Blackcap records recently – there appears to be good numbers wintering in the #LDV and surrounding area at present, with at least ten others wintering in local gardens (and presumably others we don’t know about too!) @yorkbirding.bsky.social
January 26, 2026 at 10:20 AM
Thank you to everyone who has sent in Blackcap records recently – there appears to be good numbers wintering in the #LDV and surrounding area at present, with at least ten others wintering in local gardens (and presumably others we don’t know about too!) @yorkbirding.bsky.social
After last being seen in the #LDV on the 22nd, the White-tailed Eagle was seen briefly at RSPB Aire Valley on the 23rd, before heading south. However, it looks like it might be back on the reserve here now, with a report coming in from Ellerton/Thorganby yesterday morning @yorkbirding.bsky.social
January 26, 2026 at 10:19 AM
After last being seen in the #LDV on the 22nd, the White-tailed Eagle was seen briefly at RSPB Aire Valley on the 23rd, before heading south. However, it looks like it might be back on the reserve here now, with a report coming in from Ellerton/Thorganby yesterday morning @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Great weekend for a 'wild goose chase' in the #LDV, with up to 21 White-fronts, 15 Tundra Beans, 4 Barnacles and 2,000+ Pink-feet seen from Ellerton Churchyard and elsewhere around the reserve + a red-head Smew at Wheldrake Ings and 3 Scaup at North Duffield Carrs @yorkbirding.bsky.social
January 26, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Great weekend for a 'wild goose chase' in the #LDV, with up to 21 White-fronts, 15 Tundra Beans, 4 Barnacles and 2,000+ Pink-feet seen from Ellerton Churchyard and elsewhere around the reserve + a red-head Smew at Wheldrake Ings and 3 Scaup at North Duffield Carrs @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Reposted by LDV_NNR
A male Green Woodpecker showed well on Skipwith Common this morning. A species seemingly on the increase again in the York area following recent declines? @yorkbirding.bsky.social
January 23, 2026 at 12:20 PM
A male Green Woodpecker showed well on Skipwith Common this morning. A species seemingly on the increase again in the York area following recent declines? @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Reposted by LDV_NNR
Really enjoyable couple of hours at Ellerton Church LDV this morning. Great, prolonged views of Tundra Beans & Russian Whitefronts mixed in with the Pinkies and Greylags. 😁 @northyorksbirds.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social
January 24, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Really enjoyable couple of hours at Ellerton Church LDV this morning. Great, prolonged views of Tundra Beans & Russian Whitefronts mixed in with the Pinkies and Greylags. 😁 @northyorksbirds.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Reposted by LDV_NNR
4 Barnacle Geese from the Thorganby viewing platform
There were 3 Scaup at North Duffield Carrs
@ldvnnr.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social
There were 3 Scaup at North Duffield Carrs
@ldvnnr.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social
January 25, 2026 at 1:17 PM
4 Barnacle Geese from the Thorganby viewing platform
There were 3 Scaup at North Duffield Carrs
@ldvnnr.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social
There were 3 Scaup at North Duffield Carrs
@ldvnnr.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Reposted by LDV_NNR
2 Scaup (a drake & a first winter drake) at North Duffield Carrs
@yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
@yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
January 25, 2026 at 12:14 PM
2 Scaup (a drake & a first winter drake) at North Duffield Carrs
@yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
@yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
Reposted by LDV_NNR
19 White-fronted Geese from Ellerton church this morning along with 1000 Pink-footed Geese & 198 Whooper Swan
@ldvnnr.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social
@ldvnnr.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social
January 25, 2026 at 11:13 AM
19 White-fronted Geese from Ellerton church this morning along with 1000 Pink-footed Geese & 198 Whooper Swan
@ldvnnr.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social
@ldvnnr.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Reposted by LDV_NNR
Cracking goose flock to go through this morning on Ellerton ings. Thousands of pink feet, with white-fronted and Bean geese to pick out amongst them. Merlin nearby as well. What a place the LDV is.
January 24, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Cracking goose flock to go through this morning on Ellerton ings. Thousands of pink feet, with white-fronted and Bean geese to pick out amongst them. Merlin nearby as well. What a place the LDV is.
Reposted by LDV_NNR
Classic winter wetands day in the @ldvnnr.bsky.social on our @yorkscoastnature.bsky.social tour. Two White-fronted Geese, several Marsh Harriers, Peregrine, c100 Black-tailed Godwits, 160 Whooper Swans and 90 Redpolls at Skipwith Common.
January 23, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Classic winter wetands day in the @ldvnnr.bsky.social on our @yorkscoastnature.bsky.social tour. Two White-fronted Geese, several Marsh Harriers, Peregrine, c100 Black-tailed Godwits, 160 Whooper Swans and 90 Redpolls at Skipwith Common.