Wheldrake Ings. 15 May 2025.
Several warblers were in excellent voice as six members of our bird group paid a visit to Wheldrake Ings, a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve just south of York. In previous years, flooded fields have prevented access, but this year it was extremely dry and the water in the river and pools was low.
Wheldrake Ings Display Board. Photo K Goodings
Wheldrake Ings access bridge. Photo K Goodings
The sounds of whitethroat and garden warbler greeted us in the car park, Cetti’s warbler soon joined in, followed by sedge warbler which seemed determined to be both heard and seen throughout the day. The willow warbler, too, was singing continuously, and the reed warbler also could be heard, although there was not much contribution from the blackcap, unusually. Chiffchaff sang of course, and the elusive garden warbler was actually seen, along with the whitethroat.
A few ducks were on the pools, and a pair of common terns. We watched a pair of swallows going to a nest, swifts were in the air, and we had very good views of a pair of marsh harriers. A hobby was seen flying, as well as red kite and buzzard.
In spite of the unexpectedly very cold day, for which most of us were unprepared, I think we all enjoyed the 45 species that we saw and heard.
Clare Dunn
