Hi,
Here is an early update this weekend of the action at Blacktoft. Today there were at least 5 spotted reshank, 3 ruff, redshank, lapwing and avocets present up at Ousefleet. Many of our warblers were quite vocal this morning including a reed warbler that can be singing a lot at the moment near reception. The marsh harriers are up and around. We have had a good catch in the moth trap over night and some are present in reception (good to see moths beginning to fly). Henry has already made an appearance and the sun has just come out.
I will leave you with a series of photos, starting with this spotted redshank taken by one of our volunteers.
I
Here is this reed warbler, on the reeds on approach to reception. It has been easy to see!
And here are our Konik ponies in front of Xerox lagoon - they seem to like it there!
Late June already and despite the strange weather the birds are starting to move with over 60 curlew west in the last couple of days and also 5 oystercatcher. Lowering the water levels on Marshland has attracted in up to four fantastic summer plumaged spotted redshank, common (or not so common this year) redshank, and a couple of green sandpipers. Still a few avocets around too particularly on Ousefleet. Black tailed godwit have been noticeable by their absence this spring so one on Sunday was welcome, even if it did'nt stay long.
Other notible sighting this week have included a single sandwich tern, the savi's warbler that continues to sing distantly (not visible) from Singleton hide, Med gull, lesser whitethroat, bittern, two little egrets, and peregrine.
Of the more common birds the marsh harriers are now feeding well grown young. The warblers particularly sedge, reed, whitethroat and blackcap are showing well and the tree sparrows are busy raising their second brood. The bearded tits continue to be elusive this year but there were at least two at First lagoon on Tuesday.
On the biodiversity front there was the first hornet sighting of the year which shows how cold its been, just think back to the enormous nest that was in the top of the gents last year! A few more moths in the moth trap too this morning including an obscure wainscot.
Below - a poor sedgie that flew into the reception centre window, luckily it recovered and flew off.
Obscure Wainscot
Dung matters! A nice fungi growing on the Konik muck
Here are some nice photographs sent in by Denise Shields after a visit last week.
Here is the shot of one of our male marsh harriers coming in with what looks like a frog or toad - yum!
And now the female has it after completing the food pass.
This is a shot of one of our warblers busy collecting insects around the reserve - our warblers seem to find them from somewhere as insects like moths are in short supply at the moment.
And here is Henry. He is often found around reception and last Wednesday he found the courage to enter the hut for a look around. He seems to be getting braver and is taking in some of the other locations on the reserve with him being seen next to marshland hide and this evening was returning along the bank from Ousefleet.
If you would like your to share your photos either email blacktoft.sands@rspb.org.uk or enter your photos on our online gallery. You will first need to register for the RSPB community at www.rspb.org.uk/community and then join the Blacktoft Sands group.
Well a brief update this evening on goings on at Blacktoft.
Ousefleet continues to be wet and ideal for seeing waders that may be around. Today there were spotted redshank, little ringed plover and green sandpiper. Yesterday there were ruff and bar-tailed godwit so each day brings a different selection.
The windy conditions meant that we had excellent views of our marsh harriers from reception to singleton.
Down at Singleton, the bittern was seen quite a few times again.
Also of note today were hobby (seem to get daily sightings right now of this), common tern, yellow wagtail and many of the warblers continue to be busy feeding young.
I don't really know or suppose care too much about the nitty gritty of world politics but I do know that I don't want the world's rainforests and all their fantastic wildlife disappear. Now is the time for us all to act to ensure they have a future.
I sometimes think pictures can speak so much more than words, so here are just a few of those beautiful reasons why.
Photo's from Pedro and Ricardo's tour of Costa Rica last year.
Purple throated mountain gem
Hoffman's two toed Sloth
Spectacled caiman
Greater-white lined bat
Fungi - species unknown
One of the worlds smallest orchids (the one growing on the leaf!)
Virgin rainforest
And finally the deadly Eyelash pit viper