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Today was an excellent example of the action from the wildlife at Blacktoft Sands during spring. Lets start with the magnificent male marsh harriers. They seemed to be in the mood for a bit of nest building this morning. I watched just one of the male marsh harriers down at townend hide today flying...

This is a typical view of a bittern at Blacktoft during the past couple of days. Despite the wind, the bitterns continue to be very active and are able to fly high over the reserve as it flies past reception as it did both today and yesterday during the afternoon. Much like in this photo taken...

The following happened in just 15 minutes from reception this afternoon. It all started with us watching the stunning little gull feeding on first lagoon as it has been for much of the day. Then came the sighting of the bittern flying low over the reeds, followed 5 minutes later by another glimpse...

Hi, This week has seen a bit of change in our marsh harrier behaviour. Just a week ago we have been watching one of our male marsh harrier taking pieces of reed into a potential nest site and now today many of our marsh harriers were taking advantage of our first dry day for a while to start building...

On Monday we had an extremely close view as a bittern flew past reception just 10 metres in front of us and ended up going into the edge of the reeds on the right hand side of first. This offered us excellent views of the wonderful marked pulmage on this rare bird. This last few weeks has seen a increase...

So what would you like? Garganey, bittern, black-tailed godwit, barn owl, spotted redshank, water rail, avocet or just a yellow wagtail? Well we have them all and even more! The pair of Garganey that turned up in the storms on Monday were still here today enjoying their time of first lagoon along...

Well today started with another sighting of our friendly hare running along the path in front of reception. Then down on marshland, we had a spotted redshank (in full summer plumage), those black-tailed godwits , the noisy avocets (and chicks), sedge and reed warblers along those reeds. This afternoon...

Today the top bird at Blacktoft was not: The osprey that flew over the reserve at 4pm The slavonian grebe on singleton (now almost two weeks) The sighting of bittern flying over the reeds (twice) and hearing it boom Over 100 avocets on marshland The spectacular male marsh harriers flying...

Our marsh harriers continue to offer an amazing display with over 10 birds often in the air at once! Look anywhere from reception down to singleton lagoon and I am sure you will see at least a few marsh harriers. It is also worth looking high into the air and you might see some of them doing somersaults...

Well we are nearing the end of another year and here is my top 5 Blacktoft moments of 2010. 1) The amazing sight of a rough-legged buzzard being chased by nine of our marsh harriers on Sunday 24 th Oct 2) The walking, flying and even climbing young bittern of Wednesday 15 th September. ...

It all started when we arrived at the reserve this morning to look accross the reeds to see that the Indians have moved in on the opposite bank. Quickly our wardening staff started a fire to open conversation via smoke signals. Ok they were burning some reed as part of habitat work in the reedbed...

As expected this week saw the return of the green sandpiper to Blacktoft Sands. She was present on marshland along with 2 redshank , 44 black-tailed godwits, avocets and a snipe . This starts the waders returning to visit Blacktoft Sands on the way south. Over the next few weeks we should see spotted...

An interesting week with a great white egret visiting us on Monday and Tuesday and a superb view of an adult mediterranean gull on xerox this morning. We have also seen both long-eared and short eared owl on the reserve this week. Wader wise our black-tailed godwits continue to be present on xerox (often...