Charlie's Blacktoft Blog

Recent Sightings & Highlights 22/03/25 – 19/04/25

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Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Sparrow Hawk

Red Kite (flew over)

Peregrine

Barn Owl

Buzzard

Kestrel

Osprey (flew over)

Water Fowl

Garganey (have left site)

Teal

Wigeon

Shoveler

Shelduck

Barnacle Geese

Canada Geese

Greylag

Mallard

Pochard

Goldeneye

Tufted Duck

Gadwall

Pintail

Pink-footed Goose

Coot (with chicks)

Moorhen

Little…

A quick update after our flooding on the Spring tides we are now happy to say that all the water has receded and the paths are dry enough for shoes, how quickly it changes here on the floodplain! 

Plenty of birds to see too with Marsh harrier displaying, Bitterns booming at at times chasing each other around, Avocets getting all excited about the breeding season and a few summer migrants arriving with now records of Sedge…

Reserve Closed due to Tidal Flooding 02.04.25

*Reserve Closed. Due to tidal flooding all main trails are currently underwater. We are assessing pathways daily and will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so. Please check back here or our social media channels (links below) for the latest updates.

                                        

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Recent Sightings & Highlights 01/02/2025 – 02/03/2025

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Raptors

Hen Harrier (Ringtail)

Marsh Harrier

Red Kite

Buzzard

Sparrow Hawk

Kestrel

Barn Owl

Water Fowl

White-fronted Goose

Pink-footed Goose

Scaup (02.03.25)

Whooper Swan

Goldeneye

Pintail

Pochard

Shelduck

Shoveler

Tufted Duck

Mute Swan

Wigeon

Teal

Gadwall

Mallard

Greylag Goose

Canada Goose

Coot

Moorhen

Little …

Recent Sightings & Highlights 10.01.2025 – 30.01.2025

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Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Peregrine

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Barn Owl

Merlin

Water Fowl

Pintail

Pochard

Wigeon

Teal

Shoveler

Shelduck

Mallard

Gadwall

Tufted Duck

Pink-footed Goose

Barnacle Goose

Greylag Goose

Canada Goose

Whooper Swan

Mute Swan

Moorhen

Coot

Little Grebe

Waders

Curlew

Dunlin

Lapwing

Water Rail

Snipe

Pass…

Recent Sightings & Highlights 21.12.24 – 09.01.25

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Raptors

Peregrine Falcon

Marsh Harrier

Buzzard

Barn Owl

Merlin

Sparrowhawk

Kestrel

Water Fowl

Wigeon

Teal

Tufted Duck

Pintail

Shoveler

Mallard

Gadwall

Shelduck

Whooper Swan

Mute Swan

Greylag

Pink-footed Goose

Moorhen

Little Grebe

Waders

Curlew

Snipe

Dunlin

Golden Plover (over estuary)

Water Rail

Lapwing

Passerines

…

Wishing all our friends, and supporters old and new a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We've had an amazing 2024 and look forward to sharing an equally amazing 2025 with you all. From the Volunteer and Staff Team here at Blacktoft Sands.

Check our opening hours below

(Pic A.Hunt)

Recent Sightings & Highlights 07.11.24 – 04.12.24

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Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Sparrowhawk

Kestrel

Peregrine

Buzzard

Barn Owl

Water Fowl

Whooper Swan

Mute Swan

Goldeneye

Pink-footed Goose

Wigeon

Teal

Shoveler

Gadwall

Mallard

Canada Goose

Tufted Duck

Little Grebe

Moorhen

Waders

Curlew

Redshank

Spotted Redshank

Dunlin

Golden Plover (over estuary)

Water Rail

Snipe

Jack Snip…

Recent Sightings & Highlights 17.10.24 – 07.11.24

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Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Buzzard

Merlin

Peregrine Falcon

Barn Owl

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Water Fowl

Slavonian Grebe

Whooper Swan

Goldeneye

Tufted Duck

Shoveler

Gadwall

Teal

Wigeon

Mallard

Shelduck

Canada Goose

Pink-footed Goose

Greylag

Little Grebe

Moorhen

Mute Swan

Waders

Snipe

Curlew

Dunlin

Lapwing

Black-tailed Godwit

…

We're pleased to announce the water levels have now dropped enough for us to re-open the reserve.

Please note parts of the trail to Reedling/Marshland hide may have some persistently deep puddles requiring wellingtons/waterproof walking.

An alternative dry route is in operation to access Ousefleet Hide and all other trails are now dry.

Closed Until Further Notice.

A huge tide has flooded the reserve. This will mean we will be closed as from today for several days. 

We will update further here and via our other social channels below when we will re-open.
Please do not telephone - our office is not always manned.

https://www.facebook.com/RSPBBlacktoftSands

https://x.com/Blacktoft_Sands

Recent Sightings & Highlights 28/09/24 – 16/10/24

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Raptors

Merlin

Marsh Harrier

Hobby

Barn Owl

Buzzard

Kestrel

Sparrow Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Hen Harrier (ringtail)

Waterfowl

Pink-footed Goose (up to 23000 on Humber)

Pintail

Whooper Swan

Teal

Wigeon

Gadwall

Greylag

Mallard

Shoveler

Shelduck

Pochard

Canada Goose

Mute Swan

Little Grebe

Moorhen

Waders

Golden Plover (over…

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