Charlie's Blacktoft Blog

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…

Closed due to Flooding 29/10/23

Due to a large and ongoing influx of tidal water flooding the reserve this morning Blacktoft will be closed until further notice. Please check our social media channels for regular updates.

Recent Sightings Highlights 10.10.23 - 21.10.23

Raptors

Hen Harrier (Ringtail – 18.10.23)

Marsh Harrier

Peregrine

Buzzard

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Merlin

Red Kite

Barn Owl

Hobby (10.10.23)

Waders

Golden Plover (over estuary)

Snipe

Redshank

Green Shank

Curlew

Green Sandpiper

Lapwing

Spotted Redshank

Dunlin

Water Rail

Waterfowl

Pink-footed Geese (see News below)

Goldeneye

Pintail

Whooper Swan

Mute Swan

Teal

Wigeon

Sho…

After recent flooding the reserve will re-open tomorrow morning. Please bring wellingtons if you want access to all the hides as it will make it easier. 

Due to an extreme high tide this morning and those forecast for the next two days we have had to close the reserve for Safety Reasons. Closure will be for the next week at least by the looks of it but we will try to keep everyone updated as and when we re-open. Alternative sites to visit are North Cave Wetlands, Fairburn Ings/St Aidens, or Old Moor. 

Recent Sightings Highlights 25.09.23

(scroll to end for Reserve News/Events)

Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Barn Owl

Sparrowhawk

Buzzard

Kestrel

Hobby

Waders

Ruff

Curlew Sandpiper

Redshank

Spotted Redshank

Snipe

Green Sandpiper

Black-tailed Godwit

Golden Plover (200 over estuary)

Lapwing

Dunlin

Water Rail

Jack Snipe (flew over 15.09.23)

Waterfowl

Pintail

Pink-footed Geese (skeins flying over)

Garganey (juv. 14.09.23)

Teal

Wig…

Recent Sightings Highlights 06.09.23

(scroll to end for Reserve News & Events)

Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Peregrine Falcon

Hobby

Barn Owl

Buzzard

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Merlin (30.08.23)

Waders

Little Stint (31.08.23)

Wood Sandpiper (01.09.23)

Greenshank

Redshank

Spotted Redshank

Ruff

Snipe

Lapwing

Curlew

Green Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper (29.08.23)

Water Rail

Dunlin

Knot (flew over)

Black-tailed Godwit

Ringed Plover (flew…

Flood Update 05.09.2023

Please note access to all main paths is Wellington boots only today, Ousefleet hide accessible in shoes.

Flood Update 04.09.2023

Please note:

Due to tidal flooding of the reserve we are unable to open the majority of the reserve to visitors. It is unsafe to move along the trail paths even in wellington boots and we are due more high tides this morning. Our sincere apologies.

Whilst this in not good news for our visitors it is a natural process of the flood plain on which we sit and is beneficial to the habitat.

Please check…

Recent Sightings Highlights 28.08.23

(scroll to end for Reserve News & Events)

Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Peregrine Falcon

Barn Owl

Hobby

Kestrel

Sparrow Hawk

Buzzard

Waders

Curlew Sandpiper (23.08.23)

Wood Sandpiper (19.08.23)

Common Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper

Snipe

Spotted Redshank

Redshank

Greenshank

Avocet

Ruff

Black-tailed Godwit

Dunlin

Lapwing

Curlew

Water Rail

Knot (26.08.23)

Golden Plover (flew along River Ouse…

Recent Sightings Highlights 15.08.23

(scroll to end for Reserve News & Events)

Raptors

Marsh Harrier + juveniles

Peregrine Falcon

Hobby

Barn Owl

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Waders

Spotted Redshank

Ruff

Avocet

Common Redshank

Water Rail + juveniles

Lapwing

Snipe

Green Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

Black-tailed Godwit

Greenshank

Dunlin

Curlew

Waterfowl

Shelduck (juvenile)

Wigeon

Teal

Shoveler

Gadwall

Tufted Duck

Mallard

Pocha…

Recent Sightings Highlights 24.07.2023

Raptors

Marsh Harrier + juveniles

Peregrine Falcon

Hobby

Barn Owl

Red Kite

Sparrowhawk

Kestrel

Buzzard

Water Fowl

Garganey (female)

Pochard

Grey Lag

Tufted Duck

Shoveler

Teal

Wigeon

Mallard

Shelduck

Mute Swan + cygnets

Coot + Juveniles

Moorhen

Little Grebe

Waders

Wood Sandpiper (last record 12.07.23)

Common Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper

Spotted Redshank

Redshank

Greenshank

Avocet

C…

Recent Sightings Highlights 09.07.2023

(scroll to end for pics and Reserve News & Events)

Raptors

Marsh Harriers (with fledglings)

Hobby

Barn Owl

Red Kite (over Trent)

Sparrowhawk

Kestrel

Buzzard

Peregrine Falcon

Water Fowl

Shoveler

Teal

Wigeon

Gadwall (with brood)

Mallard (with brood)

Pochard (with brood)

Tufted Duck (with brood)

Mute Swan (+ cygnets)

Grey Lag

Canada Goose

Coot (with young)

Moorhen

Water Rail

Little…

Recent Sighting Highlights 07/06/23

(scroll to end for Reserve News & Events)

Raptors

Barn Owl

Marsh Harrier

Buzzard

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Hobby

Osprey (flew east 31.05.23)

Water Fowl

Pochard (with brood)

Mallard (several broods)

Shoveler

Shelduck

Gadwall

Tufted Duck

Teal

Little grebe (ousefleet lagoon feeding chick)

Wigeon

Canada goose with goslings

Greylag goose with goslings

Mute swan (2 broods with 9 cygnets each…

Sighting Highlights 24/04 to 11/05/23

(scroll to end for Reserve News & Events)

Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Hen Harrier (06.03.23)

Hobby

Tawny Owl

Buzzard

Kestrel

Sparrow Hawk

Barn Owl

Water Fowl

Garganey (03.05.23 + 07.05.23)

Wigeon

Pochard

Shoveler

Shelduck

Gadwall

Teal

Mallard

Tufted Duck

Pink-footed goose (11.05.23 in summer plumage)

Canada goose (with goslings)

Greylag goose (with goslings)

Mute swan (10.05.23 – 9…

Sighting Highlights 04/04 to 24/04/23

(scroll to end for Reserve News & Events)

Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Hen Harrier (last seen 18^th April)

Buzzard

Red Kite (flying over)

Barn Owl

Kestrel

Peregrine (15.04.23)

Water Fowl

Wigeon

Teal

Shelduck

Gadwall

Shoveler

Mallard

Tufted Duck

Pochard

Canada goose

Greylag

Mute Swan

Little Grebe

Coot

Moorhen

Goosander (passed south 16.04.23)

Waders

Green Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

Spotted…

Sighting Highlights 28/03 to 04/04/23

(scroll to end for Reserve News & Events)

Raptors

Red kite

Peregrine falcon

Marsh harrier

Buzzard

Kestrel

Barn owl

Water Fowl

Garganey

Russian white fronted goose

Pink footed goose (30+ flying north)

Pintail

Whooper swan (fields and flying through)

Mute swan

Canada goose

Greylag goose

Golden eye

Shelduck

Wigeon

Shoveler

Teal

Gadwall

Mallard

Tufted duck

Waders

Bittern (seen & booming…

**The flood waters have partially subsided enough to open the majority of the reserve. Pathways to First Hide, Townend Hide and Singleton Hide are clear as is the trail to Ousefleet Hide.**

Recent sightings of 2x bittern, marsh harrier, russian white fronted geese, pink-footed geese, 21 x avocet, 184 black-tailed godwits, ring plover and goosander!

The trail to Reedling and Marshland hides remains under a considerable…

**Please note that the reserve is still closed today Mon 27th March as the paths are still flooded. However by tomorrow with the high tide cycle gone we should be able to open 50% of the paths (First Hide to Singleton and then Ousefleet hide). We do need to repair some of the paths so please be patient, we will update later today when we are in a better position with the water levels.**

Sightings Highlights 09/03 to 16/03/23

(scroll to end for Reserve News & Events)

Raptors

Hen harrier (ringtail)

Short eared owl

Barn owl

Marsh harrier

Peregrine falcon

Sparrow hawk

Kestrel

Water Fowl

Russian white fronted goose

Pink footed goose

Black swan

Whooper swan

Golden eye

Mute swan

Wigeon

Teal

Gadwall

Tufted duck

Mallard

Shelduck

Shoveler

Canada goose

Greylag goose

Little grebe

Moorhen

Coot

Waders

Bitter…

Sightings Highlights W/C 27/02/23

(scroll to end for Reserve News & Events)

Raptors

Hen harrier (ringtail)

Short eared owl

Merlin

Barn owl

Marsh harrier

Buzzard

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Water Fowl

Whooper swan

Russian white fronted goose

Golden eye

Canada goose

Grey lag goose

Shelduck

Wigeon

Teal

Gadwall

Mallard

Shoveler

Pochard

Tufted duck

Coot

Moorhen

Little grebe (nest building)

Waders

Bittern (seen and heard booming…

Sighting Highlights W/C 13.02.23

(scroll to end for Reserve News & Events)

Raptors

Marsh harrier

Barn owl

Peregrine falcon

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Red kite (over Ouse)

Water Fowl

Russian white fronted goose (fields off reserve)

Whooper swan (fields off reserve)

Black swan (fields off reserve)

Barnacle goose

Pink footed goose

Golden eye

Pochard

Tufted duck

Wigeon

Teal

Shoveler

Shelduck

Gadwall

Mallard

Canada goose

Greylag…

Raptors

Hen harrier

Marsh harrier

Barn owl

Buzzard

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Water Fowl

Russian white fronted goose

Whooper swan (nearby fields)

Mute swan

Canada goose

Greylag goose

Pochard

Tufted duck

Shelduck

Wigeon

Teal

Shoveler

Mallard

Gadwall

Coot

Moorhen

Waders

Bittern

Curlew

Redshank

Ruff

Lapwing

Dunlin

Snipe

Golden plover (over estuary)

Water rail

Passerines

Kingfisher

Tree sparrow

Gold crest

Cetti’s warbler…