Charlie's Blacktoft Blog

Just a quick update that although the reserve is open the paths are shallow flooded and Wellington boots are essential. 

Also please note that with the lagoons now deeply flooded the variety of birds will be until we adjust the water levels reduced a bit, so if you do visit don't expect too much in terms of waders. This may be up until a week and a half as hundreds of thousands of gallons of water take quite a lot of time…

Recent Sightings & Highlights 07/08/24 - 04/09/24

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Raptors

Hobby

Marsh Harrier

Sparrow Hawk

Kestrel

Peregrine Falcon

Barn Owl

Buzzard

Waders

Curlew Sandpiper (2 x juveniles)

Greenshank

Spotted Redshank

Redshank

Green Sandpiper

Black-tailed Godwit

Avocet

Snipe

Ringed Plover

Ruff

Curlew

Lapwing

Water Rail (adult & juveniles)

Oyster Catcher

Common Sandpiper

Dunlin

Grey …

Recent Sightings & Highlights 06.08.24

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Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Hobby

Peregrine Falcon

Barn Owl

Buzzard

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Red Kite

Waders

Ruff

Spotted Redshank

Redshank

Black-tailed Godwit

Green Sandpiper

Greenshank

Snipe

Lapwing

Bar-tailed Godwit (flying through 06.08.24)

Curlew

Common Sandpiper

Avocet

Water Rail (with juveniles)

Passerines

Bearded Tit

Corn Bunting (flying…

Recent Sightings & Highlights 21.06.24 – 03.07.24 

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Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Barn Owl

Hobby

Peregrine Falcon

Buzzard

Sparrowhawk

Waders

Spotted Redshank

Wood Sandpiper (23.06.24)

Black-tailed Godwit

Common Redshank

Green Sandpiper

Lapwing

Avocet

Water Rail + Juvenile

Curlew

Passerine

Cuckoo (heard 25.06.24)

Tree Sparrow

Bearded Tit

Common Whitethroat

Reed Bunting

Chiff…

Recent Sightings & Highlights 05.06.24 – 20.06.24 

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Raptors

Peregrine Falcon

Marsh Harrier

Hobby

Red Kite

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Buzzard

Barn Owl

Waders

Spotted Redshank

Green Sandpiper

Lapwing

Avocet

Water Rail + 4 Chicks

Oyster Catcher

Redshank

Ringed Plover

Curlew (flying through)

Passerines

Cuckoo (heard)

Corn Bunting (flying north)

Whitethroat

Tree Sparrow (lots of…

Recent Sightings & Highlights 21.05.24 to 04.06.24 

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Raptors

Marsh Harrier (food passing)

Buzzard

Barn Owl

Kestrel

Hobby

Sparrow Hawk

Red Kite

Waders

Avocet

Lapwing

Redshank

Oystercatcher

Curlew

Ringed Plover (26.05.24)

Water Rail

Passerines

Cuckoo

Tree Sparrow

Bearded Tit

Pied Wagtail (with juveniles)

Blackcap

Sedge Warbler

Reed Warbler

Reed Bunting

Yellow Wagtail

Dunnoc…

Recent Sightings & Highlights 01.05.24 to 20.05.24 

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Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Hobby

Barn Owl

Sparrowhawk

Kestrel

Buzzard

Red Kite (over reserve heading towards arable)

Waders

Avocet

Black-tailed Godwit

Lapwing

Spotted Redshank

Oyster Catcher

Redshank

Dunlin

Common Sandpiper

Greenshank

Whimbrel

Water Rail

Passerines

Kingfisher

Common Crane (occasional flights over towards Trent…

17.04 to 28.04.24 Recent Sightings & Highlights

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Raptors

Marsh Harrier (food passing)

Buzzard

Kestrel

Sparrow Hawk

Barn Owl

Peregrine Falcon

Waders

Avocet

Red Shank

Snipe

Oyster Catcher

Dunlin

Black-tailed Godwit

Curlew

Lapwing

Passerines

Grasshopper Warbler (heard distantly)

Bearded Tit

Reed Warbler

Sedge Warbler

Yellow Wagtail

White Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

White Throat

Lesser…

Great news! After some of the worst flooding since 2013 the reserve is open again. Wellington boots are essential for access to Reedling and Marshland hides but access is dry to Ousefleet, First Hide, Townend Hide and Singleton Hides. A massive thanks to the warden team for the hard work repairing pathways to make sure everyone can get around the reserve safely!

A massive tide tonight with water going into reception, and with possibly two more higher tides this week we are definitely going to be closed until next week and then possibly a lot of repairs to do.

20.03.24 Recent Sightings Highlights

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We are open again after recent tidal flooding but please be aware that wellington boots are essential to access Reedling and Marshland hides.

Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Buzzard

Sparrowhawk

Kestrel

Red Kite

Barn Owl

Waders

Avocet

Black-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Curlew

Lapwing

Snipe

Dunlin

Oyster Catcher

Golden Plover (over river Trent)

Water…

Flood Update:- We're please to announce that we will re-open tomorrow Tuesday 19th March after recent tidal floods. Please be aware that wellington boots will be required to access Reedling and Marshland hides. All other hides can be accessed with normal sturdy footwear. An alternative route will be available to ousefleet hide. Please adhere to onsite signage.

Sorry the reserve is currently closed due to tidal flooding.

We will re-open as soon as we are able.

Please check our social media channels for the latest information.

https://www.facebook.com/RSPBBlacktoftSands

https://twitter.com/Blacktoft_Sands

26.02.24 Recent Sightings Highlights

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Flood water levels have now subsided and access is open to all trails at the reserve as normal.

Raptors

Ringtail Hen Harrier x 2

Peregrine Falcon

Marsh Harrier

Sparrow hawk

Kestrel

Barn Owl

Buzzard

Red Kite

Waders

Avocet

Curlew

Black-tailed Godwit

Dunlin

Lapwing

Snipe

Passerines

Kingfisher

Bearded Tit

Tree Sparrow

Meadow Pipit

Skylark

Si…

We are pleased to announce that the reserve is open after recent tidal floods.

Please be aware that the trail to Reedling and Marshland hide still has some deep puddles which will require wellington boots to cross.

I hope to see you all at the reserve. 

14.02.24 *Closed Due To Tidal Flooding* A real humdinger of a tide last night peaking 1m above the land and flooding the reserve again, this time to the flood bank. This will mean we will be now closed until next week. We will assess water levels on Monday 19th Feb and advise via our social media channels. (Linked logos below)

13.02.24*Please Note* Blacktoft Sands is closed and will remain closed for…

12.02.24 Flood Update & Recent Sightings

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*Flood Update* Following last nights hide tide some of the pathways are partially flooded. Wellington boots will be required to access Reedling and Marshland hides. Ousefleet is accessible via alternative route and access to Singleton hide is as normal. Please adhere to signage on site. As we are expecting more high tides tonight…

Recent Sightings Highlights 29.01.24

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Reserve Fully Open

Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Merlin

Buzzard

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Barn Owl

Waders

Curlew

Black-tailed Godwit

Snipe

Dunlin

Lapwing

Green Sandpiper

Water Rail

Passerines

Bullfinch

Bearded Tit

Tree Sparrow

Water Pipit

Meadow Pipit

Stonechat

Siskin

Kingfisher

Song Thrush

Mistle Thrush

Fieldfare

Redwing

Cetti’s Warbler

Long-tailed…

Recent Sightings Highlights 17.01.24

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Please note that our Blacktoft reserve website is currently not fully working and has an issue that will take some time to repair. Please ignore any information on it for now and check our Facebook and X pages (as well as here) for all the latest information.

The reserve is OPEN as usual!

Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Hen Harrier (Ringtail)

Barn…

Recent Sightings Highlights 08.01.24

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Raptors

Hen Harrier

Marsh Harrier

Barn Owl

Buzzard

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Waders

Jack Snipe

Snipe

Dunlin

Golden Plover (over estuary)

Curlew

Redshank

Lapwing

Water Rail

Bar-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

Redshank

Passerines

Water Pipit

Bearded Tit

Blackbird

Blue Tit

Bullfinch

Cetti’s Warbler

Chaffinch

Coal Tit

Dunnock

Fieldfare

Recent Sightings Highlights 14/12/23

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Raptors

Hen Harrier

Marsh Harrier

Barn Owl

Merlin

Buzzard

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Waders

Jack Snipe

Snipe

Dunlin

Golden Plover (over estuary)

Curlew

Redshank

Lapwing

Water Rail

Passerines

Water Pipit

Fieldfare

Redwing

Kingfisher

Brambling

Meadow Pipit

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Goldcrest

Bullfinch

Tree Sparrow

Long-tailed Tit

Bearded Tit

Gol…

Recent Sightings Highlights 27/11/23

Raptors

Hen Harrier (male and ringtail)

Marsh Harrier

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Barn Owl

Peregrine (11.11.23)

Waders

Grey Phalarope (last report 19.11.23)

Redshank

Golden Plover (over estuary)

Dunlin

Curlew

Jack Snipe

Snipe

Water Rail

Passerines

Redwing

Fieldfare

Kingfisher

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Skylark

Goldcrest

Bull Finch

Meadow Pipit

Bearded Tit

Stonechat

Long-tailed Tit

Cetti’s…

With the flood waters slowly receding the reserve has now re-opened, please note that to access all the hides you still need Wellington boots (20cm plus of water!). 

We are now in winter opening times too - 9am to 4.30pm. The reception centre is not open at this time of year apart from at weekends. 

There is a reasonable selection of birds about with plenty of snipe, a range of duck and geese, marsh harriers and winter…

Flood Update 31/10/23

High tides compounded by high freshwater flow from a swollen river system three days in a row has resulted in high water levels covering all trails and pathways at the reserve. This means the reserve will remain closed for the rest of this week and possibly the weekend too. Water is currently about knee height and will take some time to dissipate especially considering the water table is likely to…