Wandering around Wheldrake Ings
Photos from a very special nature reserve in North Yorkshire, England
Wheldrake Ings is a wonderful nature reserve managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust in North Yorkshire, England. It is a place I have visited regularly for many years. There is always something interesting to see, whatever the weather or season.
The reserve is situated beside the River Derwent in the Lower Derwent Valley. It consists of large green meadows beside the river, which act as a vast floodplain in the winter. Once flooded, the reserve is visited by thousands of migrating wildfowl, and is a very important site for overwintering species.
From a small parking area a linear trail runs the length of the reserve, at first following the course of the river. This is easy walking when the trail is dry, but can be very different in winter floods (but more about that later).
The green meadows in summer are grazed by sheep. Rabbits and deer can often be seen, and I have spotted an occasional fox, while kestrels and buzzards hunt overhead.
Around the edges of the meadows there are lots of wild flowers which attract small birds and lots of insects.
There are three birdwatching hides at Wheldrake Ings, which offer great views over the meadows in summer and flooded areas in winter. Of course they are also perfect for a flask of hot coffee and a cookie.
An interesting feature is a rusty old wind pump. This makes a noisy screeching sound when it turns, and it can be quite alarming if it starts turning suddenly when you approach it. Many times I have jumped back, thinking “What the……. oh, of course, it is just the wind pump!”
Wheldrake Ings has one of the highest densities of barn owls in Europe. A few times I have seen barn owls hunting over the meadows during the day - always a lovely sight.
I once visited when the reserve was just getting dark, hoping to see and hear many more barn owls. But on that visit it was the lovely too-wit too-woo call of tawny owls that was prominent, coming from many places on the reserve.
And that wind pump sounds even more eerie after dark!
Even in late summer, there is usually some wet land towards the end of the trail.
In autumn the sheep are moved out, and soon afterwards the meadows begin to flood. This is when Wheldrake Ings is transformed into the magical winter wetland that makes it such an important site for migrant wildfowl.
Literally thousands of migrating geese and ducks arriving in the UK from Scandinavia and Siberia stop here to rest and feed. Many spend the entire winter here.
The photo below shows the same meadow as the one above, when the flooding has progressed and the birds are beginning to arrive.
The skies are alive during the migration season. I sometimes just sit in one of the hides, scanning the sky with my binoculars. Everywhere there are V-shaped skeins of geese, murmurations of lapwings, flocks of teal and wigeon, marsh harriers and peregrines attracted by the abundant prey……
It is a truly magical experience.
The trail through Wheldrake Ings is itself prone to flooding, and wellies are definitely needed in winter. Towards the end of the trail the meadows on both sides are frequently flooded, so you feel completely surrounded by water.
My partner and I have sometimes been the only people on the reserve. There is a splendid sense of isolation when there is water all around, huge skies above and only the sounds of birds. And that wind pump.
When walking through this part of the reserve, we have sometimes heard a mysterious splash, but not been able to identify the cause. It was probably just a moorhen alarmed by our presence, but perhaps it was a water vole or an otter, both of which are known to occur here.
Often in winter the trail becomes so flooded that the reserve is inaccessible. In the winter of 2023/2024 the reserve was completely inundated for over two months and we were not able to visit at all.
When I took the photo below (in the previous winter) we had been paddling through water for about half an hour, and at this point the water was literally about a centimeter below the top of my wellies. We decided to call it a day after this and reluctantly returned to the car!
Of course, with so much water around the reserve is also prone to mist and fog. I took the photo below on a calm and foggy September morning. I was captivated by the perfect reflection of the heron, and almost didn’t notice the kingfisher on the perch. Unfortunately the light conditions hid its beautiful colors, but I was still happy to capture the two species in the same photo.
Once on a visit in March I was lucky enough to capture a lovely group of whooper swans before they set off on their return journey to Iceland.
Wheldrake Ings is such a special place to visit, and so important for overwintering wildfowl. I hope my photos give at least a sense of what a wonderful and unique site this is. If ever you are in the York area and you enjoy wide open spaces, solitude, and being surrounded by nature, be sure to check it out.
Practical Information
Car park at entrance (can be flooded) and at Bank Island with a link path
Open at all times - free entry
No toilets
Linear trail (prone to flooding and can be very muddy - wellies recommended)
Three bird hides
No dogs allowed
Website: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Wheldrake Ings
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What a fabulous place! I’d love to see the barn owls hunting during the day!
This place looks so magical.