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Blacktoft Sands |
Recent sightingsThursday, 29 October 2009With the beautiful weather the reserve is full of Autumn colours of golds, greens and reds and also a great range of birds as the summer slowely turns to winter. The last few days has seen plenty of overhead migration with fieldfare, redwing, siskin, redpoll, skylark and wood pigeon passing over in large numbers. There has also been lots of pink footed geese with one skein including six barnacle geese which may have been from the greenland population. Interestingly we now have 3 cettis warblers wintering although they can be very difficult to see! There was also a ring tail hen harrier on Tuesday and up to 3 water pipits most days. However, most days also see a nice selection of birds around the lagoons with up to 10 marsh harriers, regular peregrine, black tailed godwits, snipe, wigeon, stonechat, spotted redshank, water rail, kingfisher to name just a few. Bearded tits however have now settled into their winter routine now so are becoming increasingly difficult to see.
Monday, 26 October 2009Golden plover, Black-tailed godwits, spotted redshank and marsh harriers are the story of the weekend. Starting with the Golden plover - numbers in the area have been building up during the last couple of weeks with a flock of some 300 offering excellent views in fields next to the reserve yesterday. They have also been seen regularly flying in front of the hides and overhead. This last week there have also been around 130 Black-tailed godwits using the lagoons along with 16 spotted redshank and good numbers of redshank, dunlin, snipe and lapwing. Towards the end of the day watch out for birds of prey coming into roost. This last week there have been up to 11 marsh harriers, sparrowhawks and a barn owl coming into spend the night in the reeds at Blacktoft.
Monday, 19 October 2009A nice selection of waders around this morning with 129 black-tailed godwits, 58 Ruff, 40 Dunlin and lots of redshank. Our marsh harriers were also up providing excellent views this morning with a spectacular marked male showing extremely well. With lots of ducks and lots of small birds around these just add to a pleasant autumn experience at blacktoft sands. Also keep an eye out for small flocks of starlings currently feeding on the berries throughout the reserve, redwings and fieldfares flying over the reserve and the cetti's warbler towards Ousefleet.
Thursday, 15 October 2009A few changes this week with Cettis warbler calling towards Ousefleet hide and a few thrushes now flying over the reserve as they arrive in the UK. At this time of year it is always worth looking at what is flying over the reserve these include geese, redpolls, siskins, brambling, redwing and song thrushes. We also had a hen harrier flying over the reserve all day on Wednesday. Snipe numbers have also increased this week with some 48 been counted recently. Ducks around at the moment include shoveler, wigeon, teal and the little grebe has returned.
Sunday, 11 October 2009Well the weekends highlight was the Bittern that flew past the reception on Saturday. Bearded tits continued to be seen in the mornings flying in groups well above the reeds. Our barn owls are still peering at us from the box on Marshland. Wigeon joins the teal and shoveler on Xerox. Our kingfisher has been seen well on both days. The spotted redshank and Black-tailed godwits are still the main waders. Flying over the reserve this weekend were golden plover, loads of geese and a few little egrets.
Friday, 9 October 2009With the leaves now changing to the yellows and oranges of Autumn comes the noise of geese overhead. Listen out for both Greylag and Pink-footed geese flying over the reserve throughout the day. Other water birds include loads of teal and now over 60 shoveler. Also listen out for the distinctive call of the kingfisher as they fly around our lagoons. Water rails continue to been seen well on both Marshland and Townend. There are also still some waders using the reserve - the count of 19 spotted redshank and up to 40 Black-tailed godwits are the highlights. Lots of bird of prey action again this week - with merlin, peregrine and our marsh harriers. Other birds of note include a few chiffchaff, a few stonechats and a few great-spotted woodpecker - one of which likes the peanuts on our feeders. The other surprise this week is the roe deer that have been appearing on a few our lagoons.
Friday, 2 October 2009It now feels like Autumn on the reserve with lots of pink-footed geese flying over us and landing in nearby fields. Ducks have also increased to some 800 teal and lots of shoveler now favouring xerox. We still see the odd curlew sandpiper with the dunlins when they drop in from time to time. On the bird of prey front, merlins continue to be seen almost daily along with sparrowhawk, kestrel and our amazing marsh harriers. We also have had an usual visitor in the form of a few Jays this week.
Monday, 28 September 2009Well another sunny but blustery day with curlew sandpipers, bearded tits and marsh harriers. Within the collection of waders present - two curlew sandpiper are still here. Marsh harriers continue to be seen well along with a female hen harrier that makes the occasional appearance some days. Our young barn owls are often seen at the enterance to the nestbox seen from Marshland. Also large flocks of goldfinches feeding throughout the reserve. But the hightlight of the day was the bearded tits which are calling throughout the reedbed and this morning I have 30 flying well above the reeds - a brillant sight.
Thursday, 24 September 2009Well this nice weather continues (will it ever rain?) and with it comes some nice birds. Lets start with the waders - 7 curlew sandpipers are still present on Marshland along with 1 little stint, around 200 Dunlin, 30 spotted redshank, snipe, redshank etc. Moving along to Ousefleet which now has some water in front of the hide - lots of ducks are feeding there at the moment. Ducks includes 5 pintail, wigeon, gadwall, teal, mallard and shoveler. Heading to the opposite extreme of the site to where singleton lagoon is or was - as it is now almost completely dry. Here is the place to watch for birds of prey - marsh harriers, sparrowhawks and a female merlin which has take to this dry landscape for hunting often perched on the mud right in front of the hide.
Monday, 21 September 2009This morning there were 10 curlew sandpipers present on the reserve along with lots of spotted redshank, redshank, dunlin and snipe. Smaller numbers of black-tailed godwit, ruff, green sandpiper and curlew are also present. The high tides over the weekend brought a little bit of water onto Ousefleet so many different types of duck have moved in to take advantage of this new are of water - wigeon, gadwall, mallard, teal and 4 pintail were using this area this morning.
Friday, 18 September 2009Curlew Sandpipers have increased to 6 birds now and the little stint is still present. Other waders include good numbers of dunlin, ruff, redshank and snipe - with high tide in the mornings a visit between 9 and 11am may be best for waders. Marsh harriers continue to show well along with the bearded tits - these are showing well all day long. Other highlights include the Water rails that seem to have been seen everywhere today - some even been chased by moorhens! Also look out for butterflies and dragonflies during this sunny weather like the migrant hawker that landed on myself today!
Tuesday, 15 September 2009There are good numbers of waders on site at the moment with two superb juvenile little stints showing well from Marshland hide. Also good numbers of Ruff, spotted redshank, black-tailed godwits, plus the more common waders such as snipe and redshank. Bearded tits are also getting rather excited with many small flocks starting to show signs of erupting in the morning. (that's spectacular high flying and sometimes moving away from the site up the river valleys to find new reedbeds). Birds of prey are becoming more visible with good numbers of Marsh harriers, plus occasional merlin, peregrine and hen harrier. Still a few yellow wagtails about and lots of chiffchaff moving through but many summer visitors are starting to disappear back to Africa. Water rail are still showing well from time to time while our barn owls still have young in the nesting box!
Friday, 11 September 2009Well the sunny weather did happen this week so what is happening on the reserve? Highlights of today include a spotted flycatcher near the reception, brief visits from two pintail onto xerox and a bittern on Townend. Also worth noting is the yellow wagtails that can be seen near the cattle at Ousefleet when they decide they like to be watched by visitors rather than wondering out of view. On the wader front the 17 spotted redshanks and around 30 Ruff are still on the reserve along with many of the other species such as the beautifully marked snipe. Ducks are starting to slowly build up with many teal and shoveler already on site joined occasionally by others such as wigeon. Keep an eye out for Water rails as they have been seen regularly at the moment. Lastly we have to mention the marsh harriers and the bearded tits which are now starting to form larger flocks. Just a note now regarding travel to the reserve on Saturday 12th September - we recommend arriving before 11am or after 2pm due to possible holdups on the road between Goole and Swinefleet between 11 and 2 as the cyclists going around the UK go through this part of the country tomorrow lunchtime.
Monday, 7 September 2009A nice start to a nice sunny week (maybe!) with loads of Ruff and Marsh harriers flying around the reserve. Lets start with the Ruff - many young along with loads of adults for this time of year so an excellent time to try and identify this tricky wader. Other waders around today include: green sandpiper, black-tailed godwit, spotted redshank, dunlin, redshank, lapwing and a bar-tailed godwit. The afternoon becomes the time to spot the marsh harriers with five birds in the air at once today. This includes a brillant marked male. Lets not forget the charm of goldfinches which has reached a total of 102 as counted on Sunday 6th of September - so come on try and count more! The sunny weather has also brought out dragonflies such as the common darter and nice fresh butterflies - comma and red admiral to name a few.
Wednesday, 2 September 2009The last few days have provided excellent bearded tit viewing from Marshland hide with amazingly no one on Sunday saying that they had'nt seen them! Also a nice assortment of waders are present and showing well in front of the hides, best of the bunch being up to 17 spotted redshank, 45 ruf, 50 Black tailed godwit but also plenty of other waders including snipe, green sandpiper, occasional greenshank, ringed plover, dunlin, curlew and for about 5 minutes on Monday a single curlew sandpiper! Unfortunately SW winds always mean less eastern waders such as little stint and curlew sandpiper and this year has had it's fair share of westerlies. However, they do bring other birds and these include yellow wagtail, grey wagtail and whinchat, all of which have been seen in better numbers than in recent years. Still plenty of Marsh harriers about plus merlin which are now returning from the moors. Other birds of note include some very obliging water rails, tree sparrows, and a mix of migrating wablers such as whitethroat, sedge, chiffchaff and willow warbler.
Friday, 28 August 2009With the southernly winds this week - the movement of waders has slowed down again. However we still have 14 spotted redshank, 40 Ruff, lots of redshank, black-tailed godwits, Green Sandpiper, snipe, dunlin and a few ringed plover using the reserve at the moment. Look out also for our marsh harriers, tree sparrows and bearded tits that continue to show really well particularly on Marshland but also from the reception hide today. Also witness our charm of Goldfinches that are constantly moving around the site at the moment - feeding on the seeds before flying off to another location elsewhere.
Friday, 21 August 2009There has being quite a change over in the last few days with some birds moving on and today with the high tide cycle new ones moving through. The first Juv curlew sandpiper appeared on Marshland lagoon today (21st aug) along with a superb summer plumaged grey plover, 7 ringed plover and than 2 whimbrel flying west. Still plenty of spotted redshanks, green sandpipers, avocet, black-tailed godwits, snipe, lapwing, and ruff on site with the odd golden plover now starting to appear on the fields nearby. Other small birds of note are bearded tits still showing well from marshland and first hide, water rail, marsh harrier and good numbers of yellow wagtail.
Friday, 14 August 2009Migration has been in full swing this week with plenty of birds to see on site. Waders have been putting on a good show with wood sandpiper (present for over a week and a half now), 2 little stints, 35 ruff, 14 spotted redshank, 20+ black tailed-godwits, 5+ green sandpipers, 3 greenshank, 18 snipe and plenty of dunlin, redshank, and lapwing plus a few curlew on the grazing marsh! Other notable sightings have been a fly over Osprey, 2 whinchat and corn bunting while a fantastic supporting cast of bearded tits, marsh harriers, hobby, peregrine, yellow wagtail, little egrets, barn owl and cuckoo make the reserve a must to visit.
Monday, 10 August 2009The wader experience continues with 2 Wood Sandpipers around, 15 spotted redshank, 40 Dunlin, 15 Ruff and lots of redshank, green sandpipers, greenshank and even a few Avocet. Marsh Harriers, hobby, sparrowhawk and the peregrines cause the occasional disturbance of these as they pass over the pools. The sun over the weekend meant that 13 species of butterfly were seen on the reserve and many different day flying moths and dragonflies so it is not just the birds that is great at the moment. There are still a few places left on this Saturdays Wandering wader walk starting at 8am. So if you want help on your waders skills then come along to this walk. Please book by tel: 01405 704665 or email: blacktoft.sands@rspb.org.uk
Wednesday, 5 August 2009It may be wet at the moment but the birds are excellent! Waders are starting to move through in numbers with wood sandpiper for the last three days plus, an exciting supporting cast of 25 ruff, 11 spotted redshank, 30 black-tailed godwit, 6 green sandpiper, plus greenshanks, dunlins, little ringed plovers and good numbers of snipe. Add to this up to 50 yellow wagtails, numerous bearded tits, hobby, peregrine, and marsh harrier and there is a real exciting mix of birds.
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Backlit reeds at Lee Valley - Andy Hay (rspb-images.com, Ref: 2000_1999_009)
Emperor dragonfly in flight - Graham Catley
Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)