Fab morning in the York area, with an Osprey fishing along the Pocklington Canal at East Cottingwith, two showy Cuckoos, two Whimbrels and two Common Sandpipers, all new for the year. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

Swift nestbox #61 now up as part of the York Swifts project. North facing, so will hopefully stay cool, and not far from our mini colony.

These Sand Martins, sheltering from the wind at Wheldrake Ings, give me that #FridayFeeling @yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social

In position! The first few Swifts are arriving back in Yorkshire after a winter exploring the vast skies of Africa. Hopefully, our pair will find their way home.

Nature is flipping awesome! A Sycamore sapling growing out of a crack next to the @yorkswildlife.bsky.social office, in York.

One of two female Common Scoters at Wheldrake Ings this evening. c300 hirundines feeding over the refuge including my first House Martins of the year. @yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social

The RSPB has urged the public to take simple steps to protect ground-nesting birds during the spring and summer breeding season, as increased recreational activity risks disturbing vulnerable species:

Seven Greenshanks at Wheldrake Ings were unexpected and presumably dumped by the strong winds and squally downpours. Nice find by @duncbye.bsky.social Elsewhere, Little Ringed Plover at North Duffield Carrs. @yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social

Grey Plover -honest- at North Duffield Carrs late morning. In the huge vista from the hide, it had chosen the only spot obscured by a willow, so I almost missed it. Thanks to the couple who told me about it! @yorkbirding.bsky.social

Pleasant morning at Wheldrake Ings partly with @birdingdad.bsky.social 110 Pinks N at 0750, my FOY's Swallow & W Warbler, F Scaup (pic), Marsh Harrier pair, 20 Whoopers dropped in 0830, 6 Pochard and Water Rail squealing. @yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social

Found this balloon tangled in hedgerow during a bird survey today. What goes up doesn’t just “disappear” it comes down as litter, often in habitats wildlife depend on. This one says “with great power comes great responsibility.” Let’s take that seriously. Think B4 Release🌍🕊️

Still 40 or so Pintail around Wheldrake Ings, though most will soon go. They are an elegant species, the Clark Gable of ducks! @yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social

Female Scaup still at Wheldrake Ings this morning, plus Swallow, Willow Warbler and 20 Whooper Swans @yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social

First Tansy Beetle of the year for me, by the Ouse in Bishopthorpe yesterday. This spectacular and rare beetle is the jewel of York, and it is important we treasure it.

The Spotted Redshank is still present at North Duffield Carrs and starting to moult to breeding plumage. It narrowly avoided being a late breakfast for this young Peregrine. Also, two female Common Scoters. @ldvnnr.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

Female Scaup still at Wheldrake Ings this morning. Also, c400 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Ruff. @yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social @yorkswildlife.bsky.social

Lots of Common Scoters moving overland at night currently, with a few stopping off in the York area. This female is at Castle Howard this morning @yorkbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Cracking views of 7 Cranes circling over Aughton @ldvnnr.bsky.social before they drifted north. Thx @ollie333.bsky.social for the call. Spotted Redshank, 7 White-fronted Geese & 150 Black-tailed Godwits at North Duffield, 305 at Wheldrake. 6 Whitefronts E Cottingwith pond. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

Foggy in the forest yesterday for our @yorkscoastnature.bsky.social tour, but still managed three Goshawks when it lifted at lunchtime. A Hawfinch in Troutsdale was a bonus, plus four Bramblings.

The #LDV February sightings are now available to read online on our NNR blog - ldvnnr.blogspot.com/p/feb-26.html. Many thanks to everyone who contributed records and counts throughout the month, in particular to members of @yorkbirding.bsky.social and regular patch birder @duncbye.bsky.social

Breeding seabird numbers increased on Coquet Island in 2025, offering renewed hope for one of the UK's most important island reserves after the heavy losses caused by bird flu in 2022:

Brilliant result from our legal challenge about overgrazing on Dartmoor ⚖️ Now the Dartmoor Commoners' Council must fulfil its statutory duty & urgently make appropriate assessments of stocking densities & reduce the number of sheep where overgrazing is apparent. wildjustice.org.uk/dartmoor/wil...

Lots of Goshawk action today on our @yorkscoastnature.bsky.social tour, including this second calendar-year male, that eyeballed us, as it circled overhead.

Egrets, I've had a few... birdingdad.blogspot.com/2026/03/ebb-...

Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem, Field 84, Bishopthorpe, today. Such a beautiful sight and hopefully will be there for future Bishy folk to enjoy.

Bar-tailed Godwit in the morning mist at Ellerton Ings @ldvnnr.bsky.social, the highlight of a cracking day birding locally, with Cattle Egret, 860 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Scaup, 80 White-fronted Geese, 5 Great Egrets, Peregrine etc. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

A Bucket List Species! Read the full story here: buff.ly/3qHKQ5Q Photo by Sanne This is an encounter from 2022 #WhaleTales #BeakedWhales

A Dolphin Hunt. Read the full story here: buff.ly/HdH8a5K Photo by Brittany This is an encounter from 2025 #WhaleTales

An unseen raptor flushed the gulls through the rainbow at Wheldrake this afternoon @yorkswildlife.bsky.social

Great to be able to get back on to Wheldrake Ings now that water levels have dropped. Absolute wader fest, with 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 200 Dunlin, 9 Ruff, 500 Lapwings and 100 Golden Plovers. A male Merlin zipped through, Chiffchaff singing and two Coot back on the ings. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

Interesting hybrid duck, probably Euro Wigeon x Shoveler. What a cracker! At Heslington East, York earlier. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

Whooper Swans heading northwest over our house in Bishopthorpe this morning, the first of the spring migrants starting their journey back to Iceland @yorkbirding.bsky.social

Tundra Bean Goose showing well at Newburgh Priory Lake with a single Pink-footed Goose this morning @yorkbirding.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Definitely a touch of spring in the air, and these Grey Herons are getting on with nesting. Check out how red the rear bird, the male's, beak is! @yorkbirding.bsky.social

Adult Shag still at Castle Howard this morning @yorkbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Always a treat to see a Kingfisher. This one at East Cottingwith seeking breakfast in the Pocklington Canal. @ldvnnr.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

The Slavonian Grebe has reappeared at North Duffield Carrs and is showing loads better than Friday! @ldvnnr.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

Shotgun shot Buzzard found nr Wigginton York. Reluctant to use shot leg , getting there, gently gently up,on a perch this morning. Any info to police and rspb investigations unit so it continues....

Surprised when this Slavonian Grebe swam into my scope view whilst checking out the 3 drake Scaup at North Duffield Carrs early afternoon today. Always distant in bad light but still a wee cracker. @ldvnnr.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

A very wet day for our @yorkscoastnature.bsky.social Winter Wetlands tour in the Lower Derwent Valley, but these gorgeous Barnacle Geese with 320+!! White-fronted Geese at North Duffield Carrs really brightened our morning. Nice find by Tim Jones @ldvnnr.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

@ynuorg.bsky.social @plantlifeuk.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @palustris.bsky.social @bsbiscience.bsky.social @yorkpress.bsky.social @amyjanebeer.bsky.social Hoping you lovely folk will share. :-)

Bishopthorpe Parish Council want to sell a small wildlife oasis hosting rare wildflowers like Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem to a developer. This field belongs to the people of Bish who cherish its wildlife. Please sign this petition to stop them doing this. Thanks 😊 c.org/syGKBRcGBY

Channel 4 News exposed the smokescreen of trail hunting. https://leagueacs.co.uk/p8W9F Drone footage from our Field Ops shows Middleton Hunt hounds flushing a fox with no attempt to call the dogs off.

Seven species of goose close to home...plus Shag seconds - more here: birdingdad.blogspot.com

Three of the five Shags still at Castle Howard this morning. Watched fishing in among the reeds, I guess similar to a kelp forest! @yorkbirding.bsky.social

13 Tundra Bean Geese at Morth Duffield Carrs this afternoon plus Spotted Redshank and 3 Scaup. @yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social

19 Russian White-fronted Geese showing well in front of Ellerton Church this morning @yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social

The RSPB has reported that seven satellite-tagged Hen Harriers are suspected or confirmed to have been illegally killed in England during 2025, all on or close to land managed for grouse shooting:

BREAKING NEWS....Gamekeeper Racster Dingwall pleads guilty to conspiracy to kill a Hen Harrier on a grouse moor in Yorkshire Dales National Park ⚖️ New blog ⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/29/g...