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It’s been an especially good start to the week weather wise and the insects and birds have wasted no time in taking full advantage of the sunshine and lack or precipitation. The warblers are still showing off although it appears the Grasshopper and Sedge warblers have taken a back seat allowing...

Blacktoft Sands 11th May 2013 Flying from the reeds in front of the Xerox Hide Four times in an hour - great treat and my first of the year

Blacktoft Sands 11th May 2013 Flying from the reeds in front of the Xerox Hide Four times in an hour - great treat and my first of the year

Once again the week has flown by. Our aerial masters the swifts are still performing to a high standard, providing Blacktoft with the excitement and flare their presence guarantees; their displays are only enhanced by their enthusiastic comrades, swallow, house and sand martin . Another enchanting...

If it was easy to record the sound of vegetation growth, I would be spoilt for choice for this weeks audible bite from Blacktoft Sands, the flood banks and hedges seem to be greening up in leaps and bounds, butterflies and damselflies are on the wing and the birds continue to give a rousing chorus. ...

Another great week has passed us by and on Blacktoft's front line the bombardment of songs and calls shows no sign of letting up. Our returning warblers have really made the reedbed and trailside scrub come alive over the last 7 days. The little fellows featured in 'Mystery Sound F' have...

It's been another dry week at Blacktoft weather wise, but there is certainly no drought of wildlife on the reserve- birds, mammals, insects and amphibians have all put on a fantastic show through the week and the audible landscape around site continues to be augmented by arrivals and emergents soaking...

In a matter of days this week, Spring seems truly to have arrived on the Sands with our feathered summer visitors now pilling onto the reserve, many of which can now be heard singing and have even been giving some excellent views while the trees are still lacking any significant foliage and the reeds...

Visibility was less than perfect around the reserve first thing this morning, but non-the-less Blacktoft's wildlife was on form and a plethora of 'wild sounds' were audible from the mist. In the first instalment of our weekly sounds feature, can you identify the recent arrival and loitering...

Spring is here and Blacktoft’s birds are getting vocal! Many of the bird species on the reserve can often be heard, as they sing to hold their territories , to attract a mate or call to one another, even when they are not immediately obvious to the eye. Can you identify them without being able...

25 July 2012: One of two Grey Herons hanging around Xerox lagoon.

6 August 2011: Townend lagoon, Blacktoft Sands Looking as if it was dancing, this Avocet chick is flexing its tiny, stubby wings

6 August 2011: Townend lagoon, Blacktoft Sands. It looks as though the three chicks on Townend will survive - unlike most of the other Avocet chicks hatched this year. The parents have been vigorously trying to keep all other birds off the lagoon - even the poor old Mallards! Hopefully, if everything...

Whenever Marsh Harriers approached either Avocet of Black-headed Gull colonies, there was always an attack launched on the harrier by one or more gulls or Avocets. This single Black-headed Gull reckoned he was hard enough to do it on his own!

Proof that "Things Are Happening"! Marshlands Hide. Another pair were starting to excavate a nest scrape on one of the island in the lagoon.

A lot of displaying seems to be happening all around Blacktoft - from the marsh harriers busy chasing, patroling and doing a bit of skydancing to the little grebes calling and displaying on some of our lagoons. We have been watching two spectacularly marked male marsh harriers busy at work in front...

A recent request after bumping into my weasel friend outside reception at the weekend.