Welcome to the LDV NNR ringing blog, this blog is designed to share the experiences, findings and tales from a group of dedicated ringers. We specialise in conservation orientated research projects, largely focusing on wildfowl, waders, owls and birds of conservation concern, in and around the Vale of York NNR's.

NB - Whilst the purpose of this blog was initially designed to cover our nationally important wildfowl ringing activities, it now also features wildlife and work posts, explaining how we manage the NNR for both wildlife and people.

For daily sightings please visit our Twitter account: https://twitter.com/ldv_nnr (@LDV_NNR)

For details of events, volunteer tasks and wildlife images please visit our Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/Lower-Derwent-Valley-Skipwith-Common-NNR

Monday 2 January 2012

2011 - Year Summary

Well, where to start, it’s been a fantastic year ringing wise on the LDV for many species of birds. 2010 saw a record 3500 new birds caught, and this year the provisional total at the minute is looking in the region of over 7000! This includes the LDV itself, Skipwith Common and ringing on nearby sites in the adjacent wider LDV area such as Allerthorpe and Thorganby.

We’ve had the second best ever year for wildfowl – 1125 for the year, 2004 is the best on record with 1250. A target of 2000 has been set for 2012....watch this space...!

However, we’ve not had such a good year for waders (62), compared to 98 last year. Although we have colour ringed good numbers  of Snipe, Curlew, Redshank and Lapwing.

It’s been a bumper year for migrants/warblers/buntings – 428 Willow Warblers, 337 Chiffchaffs, 374 Sedge Warblers, 231 Reed Warblers, 508 Reed Buntings and 110 Whitethroats.

We’ll put an updated list on the blog with the final totals as soon as we’ve collected all the data from the various places/ringers!

So a big thank you goes out to everyone who’s helped contribute to ringing in the valley this year – the massive end total is fantastic but it doesn’t really relay the sheer effort of numerous early mornings, late nights, wet and muddy evenings, moving traps, setting nets, baiting traps, ferrying grain to and from sites etc etc!!

Without the ringers we have on site none of this would have been possible so a big thank you goes out to everyone who makes up the LDV Team. Also thanks to Robin Ward and Mark Fletcher for helping with the cannon netting sessions, and to visiting ringers - Chris Blakeley, Chris Brown and Eric Wood who were also involved.

Thank you to Ian Nicholson and Paul Thorpe for all the ringing they’ve done this year and to volunteers John Cahill and Ernie & Kath who have helped with habitat management, moving nets, baiting traps etc. Thanks goes to Jean Thorpe for the all the hard work and countless hours she’s put in this year rehabilitating so many birds and other wildlife of which many have been successfully released within the LDV.  

Also thank you to Steve Huddleston of www.wheatear.biz for support and provision of traps and equipment, and thanks to Pete Reid for his excellent whoosh nets which have added so many waterfowl onto the totals.

Additional thanks must also go to the landowners CCT, YWT and Escrick Park Estate and other private individuals who’ve allowed access and permission to their land.

THANK YOU!

Here’s hoping 2012 is an even better year for the Lower Derwent Valley!

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