SITE STATS

THIS IS AN expanding reserve with nearly 200 acres of wetland, open water, scrub, reedbed and limestone grassland. Several footpaths run through the reserve, giving easy access to three hides. The reserve is placed between the watersheds of both the River Ure and River Nidd, with some major gravel workings on both encouraging passage birds, travelling over land, to drop in. Common Terns nest on GRID REF: SE 369 630 POSTCODE HG5 9LQ. HOW TO GET THERE: From A1M take junction 48 at Boroughbridge for A6055 towards Knarsborough through Minskip taking a right turn for Staveley WHERE TO PARK: Reserve car park TERRAIN: The paths are often solid with occasional wet areas. Best to use stout footwear ACCESSIBILITY: All-year-round FACILITIES: At Staveley and Boroughbridge PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Buses run every hour past the reserve from Boroughbridge to Harrogate, where there are mainline trains LOCAL GUIDE: ywt.org.uk/reserves/ staveley-nature-reserve ORGANISATIONS: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, tel: 01904 659570, info@ywt.org.uk CLUB CONTACT: Harrogate and District Naturalists Society hdns.org.uk/membership/, Secretary, val.smith1@talktalk.net COUNTY RECORDER: Yorkshire North (West) Steve Worwood, steve@worwood. entadsl.com Yorkshire North (East), Phil Bone, philsarab@aol.co.uk MAPS: OS Explorer 297/298, OS Landranger 104 rafts provided, showing their ability to travel well inland from the sea. More than 200 species of birds have been recorded here, with the Red Kites a great addition to breeding in an area where even a Buzzard in winter was once a big deal. Over the years, species like Green-winged Teal, Common Scoter, Ruddy Shelduck, Garganey and Scaup have appeared, to join the breeding Tufted Ducks and wintering Goldeneye, Wigeon and Teal. Glossy Ibis, White Stork, Night Heron, Spoonbill and Bittern have dropped in while nine species of warblers can breed, including Grasshopper and Reed Warbler. Savi’s Warbler was a rare find, while Osprey, Hobby and Marsh Harrier are becoming regular.