Trip reports

Blacktoft Sands 28th September 2008

Sunday, 5 October 2008

For the group's first trip of the season we visited the RSPB reserve at Blacktoft Sands. The fields on the western part of the reserve had been allowed to dry out and so contained no birds, except for a male sparrowhawk which settled on the ground for a while. Elsewhere waders provided the main interest. There were many snipe feeding in the open on several of the pools and flocks of lapwing were seen, as were golden plover later in the day. A juvenile curlew sandpiper was present, as was a solitary knot. Other waders sighted were spotted redshank, green sandpiper and bar-tailed godwit. A water rail emerged to walk along the edge of the reedbed and a female marsh harrier made several sorties over the reedbed giving good views. Tree sparrows were readily seen on the feeder specially placed to attract them.