Trip reports

Fieldtrip - Blacktoft Sands

Saturday, 13 September 2008

The weather was distinctly unpromising as we gathered at the usual assembly point to catch the bus at 8 am; however, the more optimistic of us were buoyed by a promising weather forecast, which seemed to imply that the further south one went, the better the chances of good weather.
The journey south was fairly uneventful. I saw a few corvids, a flock of Starlings and another one of Lapwings, and that was about it. We had a stop at Ferrybridge services, and lo and behold! the sun started to come out. It stayed that way for the rest of the day, and was really warm - almost like summer, if I remember rightly.
We arrived at Blacktoft Sands RSPB Reserve at about 11 am. For those who don't know it, it is at the confluence of the rivers Trent and Yorkshire Ouse, and is the largest tidal reedbed in Britain; specialities are breeding Bearded Tits, Bitterns and Marsh Harriers, while it is also a hot spot for migrating waders at this time of year. There are six hides, quite close together, with another at Ousefleet, which I didn't visit.
There was a small feeding station on the way into the reserve, where it was possible to see Tree Sparrow and Blue Tit. I also saw a couple of Wrens close by. On a nearby pool were some Common Darter dragonflies.
Reporting at the visitor centre, we were given our visitor tags, and off we went. I started at Singleton Hide, the most Easterly one. It was very productive, with Avocet, Black- and Bar- tailed Godwit, Ruff, Lapwing, Redshank, Shoveler, Wigeon, Shelduck, Gadwall, Snipe, Teal, Spotted Redshank, Heron, Mallard and Mute Swan on the water or on the small islands dotted about. The were also excellent views of Marsh Harriers quartering the reedbeds, and a very distant view of what I took to be a Buzzard (I would like to think that the latter was a Honey Buzzard, as I later learnt that there had been a large influx of these, all down the East Coast, but it was much too far away for me, at least, to identify as such).
It was now time for lunch, which I spent sitting on a bench in the sun. There were a few things flying about: Long-tailed Tits, Woodpigeons, Goldfinches, Black-headed and Herring Gulls and a Sparrowhawk being the ones I saw.
I then made my way along to the other hides, but it was not until I got to the furthest west, the Marshland Hide, that I was able to appreciably add to my score, with Barn Owl, Bearded Tit, Reed Warbler and some Starlings. I found the Bearded Tits the most problematical: everyone seemed to be able to spot them except me! I finally got a look through Brian's telescope, and just caught one before it vanished into the reeds; I probably wouldn't have recognised it if I hadn't known beforehand what it was, so strictly speaking, by the Birdwatchers' Code, I shouldn't really count it, but I'm going to anyway.
There was also a "Mystery Bird" at that spot: I tentatively identified it as a Curlew Sandpiper, having observed several at Cresswell a couple of days before. Brian agreed, but dissenting voices said "Dunlin". We called in a chap who appeared to be a Blacktoft regular, who said that a Curlew Sand had been reported, but even he was not absolutely certain. I still stick to my original view, however, but it just goes to show how difficult identification can be, especially at this time of year, as birds move from summer to winter plumage.
Finally, just before I left that hide, a Barn Owl, which had been seen, not very well, just inside the entrance to a box opposite the hide, came out for a bit of fresh air, affording excellent views.
My own list is just over thirty species, although I'm sure others will have seen more. I know I dipped out on Peregrine and Merlin, which were seen by other members of the group, and I believe that the group total was about fifty, but for me it was a truly enjoyable day's birding, and our thanks are due to Graham, who organised the trip, but was unable to be there, and Brian, who led it.

Derek Younger.

Bird List

Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Shelduck
Mallard
Gadwall
Shoveller
Teal
Marsh Harrier
Common Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
Peregrine Falcon
Kestrel
Merlin
Water Rail
Moorhen
Coot
Avocet
Lapwing
Curlew Sandpiper/Dunlin
Green Sandpiper
Redshank
Spotted Redshank
Black Tailed Godwit
Snipe
Ruff
Black Headed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black Backed Gull
Feral Pigeon
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Barn Owl
Pied Wagtail
Wren (H)
Robin
Blackbird
Reed Warbler
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Bearded Tit
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Reed Bunting (H)

Other

Water Vole
Stoat
Emperor Dragonfly
Southern Hawker Dragonfly
Common Darter Dragonfly
Large White Butterfly
Small White Butterfly
Small Tortoiseshell
Red Admiral
Spotted Wood