Saturday, A Merlin west over East Holm, with a Peregrine in the North west fields, In the early morning, 2 Whooper swans flew east over Crossland's lake & a pair of brief Eygptian geese flying in the same direction, East Holm had 2 Black-tailed godwits, with a Grey wagtail on the approach path,

The number of Redwings this season are definitely down, which is supported by the number of Hawthorn berries that are still available. It still a please to watch these birds in the sunshine as they try & make up for this lack in numbers

Friday, Two Bitterns were in the Village lake reeds from the Turret hide, with several Bearded tits, A Green sandpiper on the Silt pond, a Dunlin on East Holm & Black-tailed godwit on Crossland's lake, About 60,000 Starlings roosted in Cell 'C', leaving north at about 8 am

Pictures of the 13 Curlews on the Island lake in the early morning, resting before departing to their feeding fields. There have only been low numbers this last month, maybe the recent wet weather will encourage them to return

Thursday, 13 Curlews on the Island lake in the early morning, 2 Grey wagtails were on East Holm, with an overflying adult Great black-backed gull also, A pair of Bullfinches by the Silt pond, with Tawny owl heard on the East path, About 60,000 Starlings roosted in Cells 'B & 'C', leaving at 8 am

Wednesday, A Bittern was roosting below the Turret hide in the late afternoon, with Bearded tits also heard, Yesterday's drake Goldeneye was on the Main lake, with 6 Eygptian geese on Crossland's lake, A Green sandpiper was seen by the Silt pond & New workings, with 3 Marsh harriers & Redpoll seen

Tuesday, A Bittern was seen in the Village lake, from the Turret hide, On the Reed-bed there was a drake Goldeneye, with a Mistle thrush in the North hedge, 80,000 Starlings roosted in Cell 'C' today

By the Reed-bed hide, there is often a Moorhen feeding under the hide, that will allow a close quiet approach (all our other Moorhens are extremely wary). As in today, where I watch it consume some type of Slug?

What must be a very lonely male Stonechat wintering in the North hedge. He seems to have lost his mate (which is what happened last year as well), but is quite happy within the are by the Reed-bed. Let's hope he finds another mate in spring

A Bittern was in the Village lake reeds, 7 Eygptian geese were in the North field, with 2 Pink-footed geese south, A flock of 23 Skylarks were over the North fields, A Green sandpiper by the Silt pond, male Stonechat in the North hedge, Jay by the Far lake & Bearded tits heard in the Reed-bed

Alder in flower on a quiet morning @northcavewet.bsky.social Elsewhere: goldfinches and siskins in the alder

One of the many Robins at YWT North Cave Wetlands, 19/12/2025 @northcavewet.bsky.social @yorkswildlife.bsky.social

Sunday, 2 Bitterns were on the Village lake from the Turret hide, 2 drakes & a female Pintail on Crossland's lake in the morning, A single Golden plover south & 2 Green sandpipers on the Silt pond, Also, single Pink-footed goose, Marsh harrier, 6 Greenfinches, Barn owl & male Stonechat (North path)

Saturday, A Bittern & 6 Bearded tits were seen below the Turret hide on the Village lake, Skeins of Pink-footed geese flew over the reserve in the mist, 18 Redpolls above the Viewing platform, 80,000+ Starlings roosted in the Reed-bed, Also, 4 Greenfinches & a Coal tit (both Maize field feeders)

A red day out at North Cave Wetlands, redpolls, redwing and red kite with a bonus cornbunting. @northcavewet.bsky.social @yorkswildlife.bsky.social #birds @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social #birdsseenin2025

Friday, About 80,000 Starlings roosted on the Reed-bed, A Peregrine stooped over Crossland's lake & then settled on the Crossland's oaks, Also seen was Coal tit (Maize field feeders), Marsh harrier, about 20 Fieldfares (North hedge) & single Curlew (East Holm)

Wednesday, A drake Pintail & brief female Goosander (later flew south) were on Crossland's lake, The Bittern was below the Turret hide, but was elusive, 5 Eygptian geese on the North fields, with a pair of Stonechats nearby, Also seen were Redpolls (Viewing platform), & 32 Redshanks on Cell 'A'.

Tuesday, 8 Whooper swans flew west over the Reed-bed, with 5 Eygptian geese still on the North fields & 37 Shelducks on East Holm, Below the Turret hide was a Bittern & Water rail, 32 Redshanks were on Cell 'A', with 6 more on Crossland's causeway, 80,000 Starlings roosted on the Reed-bed,

Monday, 2 Bittern seen from the Turret hide on the Village lake, with a Water rail & 4 Bearded tits there also, 2 Corn buntings on the poplar tree at the junction between the East & Turret hide paths, An Otter on the Island lake, About 80,000 Starlings roosted between Crossland's lake & the Reed-bed

A mild wet winter @northcavewet.bsky.social allowing a Devil’s Coach-horse (Ocypus olens) to still be on the road in December.

Hazel in flower on an overcast day @northcavewet.bsky.social. Elsewhere: Bearded Tits

Sunday, A Bittern was seen on the Village lake, 3 Marsh harriers were about West Holm & the North fields, where there were also 5 Eygptian geese, At the Maize field feeders there was a Coal tit & pair of Bullfinches, Again about 80,000 Starlings roosted in the south east corner of Crossland's lake

Saturday, 3 Whooper swans flew south in the morning, with 6 Eygptian geese on Crossland's lake, The Bittern was again seen from the Turret hide, 20 Dunlin over the Silt pond & about 30 Snipe over Crossland's lake, About 80,000 Starlings roosted in the south east reed-bed of Crossland's lake,

Friday, The Bittern was by the 'Bittern Cut' seen from the Turret hide, About 40 Pink-footed geese flew south, with a Dunlin over the Silt pond, About 20 Fieldfares flew west, along with a similar number of Redwings, The Starlings roosted in the south east corner of Crossland's lake this evening

Some bird's from a little overcast morning's walk - Redwing over Crossland's lane, the regular morning 'Bittern Cut' heron back where it belongs, Goldfinch along Dryham lane & a Morrhen from the North hide (hopefully Water rail to come next!)

Thursday, A skein of Pink-footed geese passed over the reserve in the early morning, 42 Redshanks were on Crossland's lake, with a Grey wagtail on the approach path to the hide, In the North path there was 7 Fieldfares, Curlew south, with Marsh harrier seen nearby

Always over-looked & not always fully admired is the Redshank, with currently 42 on the reserve. Very wary staying roosting on the Silt pond & feeding on Crossland's causeway, in the sunlight they give a good picture as they depart from the Silt pond to Crossland's lake

Wednesday, 25 Golden plover flew south over the reserve entrance, A Tawny owl was calling along the East path in the early morning, There were 42 Redshanks on the Silt pond, plus 22 Shelducks on East Holm, Also seen was at least 3 Marsh harriers, A Peacock butterfly was out in the mild weather

Monday, On the Village in the early morning there was 2 Bitterns, 4 Bearded tits & a Kingfisher, 12 Pink-footed geese flew north over the East ridge, A pair of Grey partridge were flushed from the side of Dryham lane, by West Holm, Also seen was Marsh harrier & 5 Redpolls (by Viewing platform)

Apparently this lichen @northcavewet.bsky.social was wearing 'sunscreen' today. Xanthoria parietina, produces a chemical (parietin) that along with giving it a yellow colouration provides it with UV protection (perhaps a bit optimistic in Yorkshire ... in December 😆) Elsewhere: goldcrests.

Sunday, A about 150 Pink-footed geese flew north west, with another of about 60 geese flying south, all in the morning, 3 Bitterns were seen (2 Village lake & 1 on Main lake), A Raven flew from the East ridge to perch in the Crossland's oaks, Over 100,000 Starlings roosted mainly on the Reed-bed,

Starlings leaving their roost at NCW 7/12/25 - great spectacle

Sightings:7th December 2025. Including WeBS Count Totals. North Cave Wetlands. @northcavewet.bsky.social

A couple of hrs @northcavewet.bsky.social With thanks and help from the local birders we managed to see a very camouflaged Bittern and Water Rail, also C30 Siskins with Goldfinches, 2 Egyptian geese, 2 possibly 3 Marsh Harriers, L+GC Greebs, Shelduck, Wigeon, teal, Shoveler, Malard and Gadwall

Quick visit to @northcavewet.bsky.social for a breath of air before Christmas shopping. Very atmospheric with the Teal and Lapwings calling and occasional glimpses of sun through the misty drizzle. Delighted to see 2 Bitterns from the Turret Hide! @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Not the easiest bird to see or photograph is the Goldcrest. Despite a good number of wintering birds, a week or so can go between each sighting. When found they are always on the move & so difficult to photograph

Saturday, There were 3 Bitterns seen in close proximity in the 'Bittern Cut' from the Turret hide, At least 80,000 Starlings roosted, with most in the Reed-bed, also Cell 'C', Single Whooper swan on East Holm & drake Pintail on Crossland's lake, Also seen Kingfisher, 2 Water rails (Viewing platform)

North Cave Wetlands starlings performing this evening @northcavewet.bsky.social @yorkswildlife.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social #birdmurmurations

A pair of Whooper swans departing from East Holm, including a 'kinky-necked' bird. This condition seems to be a lot more common than I originally thought as this is our 2nd bird of the year with this condition

Friday, East Holm, 6 Whooper swans, 3 left south east & a single west, The 2 Ravens again on the East ridge, before flying west, Again 2 Bitterns on the Village lake, from the Turret hide, plus calling Bearded tits, Also 5 Marsh harriers, Green sandpiper (Island lake) & male Stonechat (North hedge)

This morning, we were fortunate to see 2 Bitterns, one more 'outgoing' than the other (stayed well within the reeds). To see a Bittern swim across the 'cut' & then successfully catch a fish surely constitutes the highlight of the day 😀

Thursday, Again, there were 2 Bitterns in the Village lake 'Bittern Cut' this morning, On East Holm, there were 4 Whooper swans, 2 of whom left early in the morning, A Chiffchaff was by the reserve entrance, 2 Ravens were again on the East ridge, 80,000 Starlings again roosted in the Reed-bed,

About 80,000 Starlings leaving their Reed-bed roost early this morning

Bittern time this morning from the Turret hide (but, missed the 2nd bird that came out later), It did exactly what Bitterns do, which is just to stay put in the reeds & only move it's head. By the Village lake 'Bittern Cut' looks to be a favoured spot, so expect some more encounters in the future

Wednesday, On the Village lake, by the 'Bittern Cut', there were 2 Bitterns, a Water rail & 3 Bearded tits seen, 2 Ravens on the South ridge flew west over the reserve in the morning, About 80,000 Starlings left the Reed-bed roost at about 07:30, Also seen was female Goldeneye (Crossland's lake)

Bonus day off work today and rather than Christmas shopping decided I'd rather spend the day birding! Fantastic to watch the starling murmuration and the reflections on the water @northcavewet.bsky.social #ukbirding #Yorkshirebirding

Tuesday, On Crossland's lake today, a pair of Pintails, the female Red-crested pochard, plus female Goldeneye Far lake & a Whooper swan on West Holm, A Jack snipe was flushed in Cell 'B', with the Bittern seen from the Turret hide, by the Bittern Cut', Up to 80,000 Starlings roosted in the Reed-bed

Monday, 3 Barnacle geese circled the reserve several times, before flying south, with female Red-crested pochard & Goldeneyes on Crossland's lake, There was a Black-tailed godwit & 22 Dunlins on East Holm, with 35 Redshanks on Crossland's lake, 80,000+ Starlings were in the Reed-bed this evening,

A glimpse into dragonfly lifecycle today @northcavewet.bsky.social 🐉Scars on willow bark, sites where Willow Emerald Damselfly eggs were laid and overwintered. Larvae then hatched and dropped into the water below. Elsewhere: Bittern & Bullfinches @yorkswildlife.bsky.social

Very few invertebrates to see today in the 🌧️ @northcavewet.bsky.social. So this Common Wasp was a welcome splash of colour. Elsewhere: murmurating starlings.