It has been weeks since there has been any 'proper' rain in the York area and the LDV, which flooded heavily in mid-January is drying out rapidly. This has concentrated birds on to North Duffield Carrs and Wheldrake Ings in particular, the floods literally hooching with birds, which attracts the attention of a steady stream of raptors.
Spring felt very much in the air on Saturday morning, with mild temperatures sparking Reed Buntings and Skylarks to sing high over the ings, and Lapwings to begin displaying. Curlews are arriving back in the area and will soon be back on territory. Ten were present at North Duffield Carrs including a male ringed at Wheldrake in April 2021, seen shortly afterwards at Bank Island, and not seen since. They really are fantastic birds and one of the icons of the Lower Derwent Valley.
The juvenile Hen Harrier zipped past at high speed, turning on a sixpence effortlessly, before heading on down the Derwent. It was seen a little later upriver at Wheldrake.
Twenty something Redshanks were hanging out, doing their best to avoid the attention of two hunting Peregrines.
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