Steve Huddleston

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

Our #LDV ringing team have had several early starts this week undertaking the first waterfowl catches of the autumn, inc. a small sample of Wigeon all colour-ringed as part of #ProjectPenelope – please keep an eye out for c/r birds when visiting the reserve, thank you.

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

We're delighted to say that the Friends have been recognised in this year's BTO Marsh Awards for their ornithological & conservational efforts, with #LDV Senior Reserve Manager Craig Ralston, & Chair Mike Jackson, travelling to London to collect the award on behalf of the team 🤩

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

Following the recent recovery of one of our Teal to Finland, we've just heard about another to Denmark – originally ringed as a first-year female at Bank Island on the 12/01/26 and found in Spodsbjerg, Langeland, Fyn, last week on the 12th September – 768 km east of the #LDV.

[BBC Yorkshire @BBCLookNorth]

Conservationists hopeful for corncrake comeback https://t.co/DEEYbEzKIg

[Nigel Huddleston MP @HuddlestonNigel]

It was an honour today to present a trophy at the British Grand Prix to @formula2 winners including @RafaVillagomez_.

What a wonderful event.

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

Amazing little birds to see close up and often found in small leks in the Ings meadows - please do let us know if you hear any whilst visiting the reserve - thank you.

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

Fantastic day on Tuesday with our team of volunteers who were hard at work in the #LDV putting the finishing touches to our new Corncrake pens - huge thank you to our incredible team for all the effort put in to this task, & all the others - helping to make the site what it is 👏

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

We're pleased to say that our new #LDV NNR Volunteer, Community & Nature Recovery Science Hub is coming along nicely now, ahead of completion (June all being well), & the view from the new viewing area on the roof is simply fantastic (& includes a wet weather covered area 😎).

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

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!) @nybirdnews

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

Great to hear from the RSPB team @Blacktoft_Sands this week that one of our colour-ringed Redshank (originally ringed at Bubwith Bridge in January 2023) is back at Blacktoft once again, following the last/first sighting of it there in March 2025 @YorkBirding

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

It was more of a snowy landscape for the team at #ForgeValleyWoods where time was spent coppicing hazel and clearing dead ash between the roadside and riverbank (allowing more light to reach the river and woodland floor), whilst also preventing future health and safety work 🌲

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

Not long now until our #WorldWetlandsDay event in the #LDV on January 31st at Melbourne Village Hall - 10am to 3pm. Come along and meet the team, watch a bird ringing demonstration, enjoy a guided walk & find out about our Corncrake project & all things wetland related 🦆🐸💧

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

The White-tailed Eagle was still present in the #LDV yesterday along with Tundra Beans, White-fronted Geese & a Raven. A large clear out of Golden Plover/other waders has taken place due to the freeze, whilst displaced Snipe & Woodcock have been turning up in unusual places 🐦❄️

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

After being flooded out in the #LDV since early November, it was good to take a cannon-net catch of ducks on Saturday, with a sample of 75 Teal, 13 Wigeon and 2 Mallard ringed, along with a male Wigeon re-trapped (originally ringed at the same site five years ago) 🦆

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

On Thursday 29th January, two days prior to our #WorldWetlandsDay event on Saturday 31st, #LDV Senior Reserve Manager Craig Ralston is giving a talk at Melbourne Village Hall about his new book inc. how it came about & what we know about the birds of the #LowerDerwentValley 👀🦆

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

Whilst the flooding has receded in the #LDV and most sites are accessible, surfaces are ice-covered, so please take care when visiting. The birds are also responding to the freezing/difficult conditions, so please be considerate not to disturb them by keeping to the paths 🦆❄️

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

In addition to the White-tailed Eagle, other sightings in the #LDV inc. 2 Glossy Ibis, 16 Tundra Beans, 32 White-fronted Geese, Scaup, Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 17 Ruff, 46 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Caspian Gulls & a Willow Tit + thousands of wintering wildfowl/waders 🐦🦆

[LDV NNR @LDV_NNR]

Tonight sees the last episode of the fantastic @BBC series 'Hamza's Hidden Wild Isles', and this is the episode we’ve all been waiting for (winter), when Hamza visits the #LDV and #SkipwithCommon NNR in search of the elusive Woodcock - make sure you tune into BBC One at 6:15pm 📺

[Nigel Huddleston MP @HuddlestonNigel]

🏆 Champions of the World!
Congratulations to the Red Roses.
@RedRosesRugby

[Steve Huddleston @HuddlestonSJ]

https://t.co/QFrFE2HQhA

It's been a privilege to be a small part of this project....fingers crossed for next year🤗