50 Wild Years at Blacktoft
Happy New Year to everyone from all the team here at Blacktoft and we hope you had a brilliant Christmas.
It’s an auspicious year for RSPB Blacktoft Sands and the Humber. It’s 50 years since the RSPB began managing the habitat at the head of the Humber. It’s way back in the misty marshes of 1973 that our first nesting pair of marsh harriers were discovered by local birders (anecdotally rumoured to be the father of the Gilleard brothers who later established their hide building and installation company).
Back in those days there was very little in the way of infrastructure but things have come a long way since. The lagoons have been created, habitat expanded and a plethora of species have taken up residence, visit or breed around the upper Humber that perhaps would not have been here otherwise! We’ve helped establish SSSI and SPA status from our humble beginnings too.
Our reedbed, at 122 hectares, is the still second largest tidal reedbed in the UK.
Originally we managed around 200 hectares had no hides or facilities and welcomed visitors from a wooden shed close to where our toilet block currently stands.
Now we can boast looking after around 1600 hectares, a wide variety of habitat including marshland, 6 brackish lagoons, meadows, 7 hides (including reception hide) and farmland with big plans for the future. Our low disturbance sites around the estuary link up with other reserves providing a safe haven for all manor of wild creatures.
Keep your eyes peeled, not just for the superb wildlife here, later in the year towards summer we’re planning a wild open weekend celebrating everything that makes Blacktoft a special place for people and for wildlife.
We’re kicking off this year with a brand new hide. It’s replaced Xerox hide, originally built in 1989, possibly the first trend setting double decker hide built by the famous Gilleard brothers . Having survived 33 years of Humber weather Xerox has provided hundreds of thousands of visitors superb views across the reed bed and lagoon sighting our icon species including marsh harriers, bearded tits, bittern and avocets.
It’s been a labour of love for the Blacktoft team. From demolishing the old xerox hide in the 30 degrees heat of summer to the point we’re at today has not been an easy task. Even before the build began there was lots to plan and consider, not least of which our Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Protection Area status, visitor safety and accessibility and disturbance of schedule 1 protected wildlife. There’s just one last hurdle to clear before we can all enjoy it’s increased capacity and enhanced views, it’s final building regulation and safety inspection. We’re confident you’ll be getting fantastic views from the afternoon of Friday 20th January until around 2050!
Who knows, we could even encounter some of the rare and special birds seen here over the last 50 years; ross’s gull, white rumped sandpiper, ring necked duck, red necked stint, hudsonian godwit and (in more recent times) white tailed lapwing to name but a few.
Whilst we patiently wait for our next show stopper here’s what’s been showing recently.
Of course we have to start our first sightings blog of our 50th year with marsh harriers.
Male marsh harrier (Pic: D.Johnson)
The roost over the last few days has been a real spectacle with reports of 30 harriers in the air at any one time from viewed from singleton.
Solid reports of hen harrier crossing the river Trent to Blacktoft from Alkborough on Tuesday later in the afternoon but sadly evading pictorial evidence. Two have been seen at Alkborough in recent days.
Barn owls have been exciting visitors of late. Pete spotted one this very morning but up to 3 individuals have been seen over the last week or so.
Barn owl late afternoon (Pic: Andy H)
Not to be out done this pair of peregrine’s garnered our attention. I spotted them heading down towards ousefleet yesterday whilst Pete managed this shot of them hunting lapwing!
2 x peregrine falcon (bottom) (Pic: P.Short)
Another regular spot from singleton has been buzzard. It has been particular persistent in the face of regular mobbing from the marsh harriers.
Buzzard (Pic: D.Johnson)
Kestrel (Pic: D.Johnson)
This kestrel kept a very close watch on me from his post perch as I viewed from the grazing marsh gate. It did move off a little way before returning and dropping to the ground where it retrieved it’s breakfast – a small rodent. It moved out of view into a dip to finish it’s meal.
Hunting seems to be a bit of a theme at the moment.
Kingfisher (Pic: D.Johnson)
The kingfisher seems to have taken up residence at singleton with regular sightings of it darting into the water, often returning with a small fish supper.
Grey Heron (Pic: D.Johnson)
Little egret (Pic: D.Johnson)
It was good to see grey heron and little egret back on site after the freeze towards the latter end of December.
Since the lagoons thawed out there’s been a little more on the water.
A little grebe put in an appearance this morning at singleton this morning but hid from view before I managed to train the lens on it.
Mallard (Pic: D.Johnson)
This mallard could be resident, but we do have a large proportion of birds that over winter here from northern Europe and Iceland – I often wonder if mallards (like some other birds) quack with a regional accent?
Tufted duck (Pic: D.Johnson)
Nice to see a few tufted duck around too.
Other water fowl around the lagoons include:
Shelduck (Pic: D.Johnson)
Shoveler (Pic: D.Johnson)
Wigeon (Pic: D.Johnson)
Teal (Pic: D.Johnson)
Although numbers have been relatively small (possibly due to the mild winter conditions on the continent) it’s nice to see the males moving towards breeding plumage.
Dunlin (Pic: D.Johnson)
Dunlin have been roosting on ousefleet of late – I counted 14 yesterday morning amongst the shelduck.
Just one more errrrm ugly duckling to report!
Cygnet (Pic: D.Johnson)
The swan family have made singleton there own the last few days. 3 cygnets have been cruising around but not getting to close to their parents. One belligerent parent is driving them away making them fend for themselves. It’s also being very territorial at the moment driving away anything and everything. Here’s a pic of it victimising a canada goose the other day. It even swam past 3 other canada geese to chase this one off!
Swan chasing canada goose (Pic: D.Johnson)
Snipe (Pic D.Johnson)
18 snipe counted on marshland recently.
Lapwings avoiding peregrine (Pic: D.Johnson)
As well as this flock of lapwing avoiding peregrines a flock of around 20 curlew have been moving around the estuary and frequenting the grazing marsh.
Female stonechat
Pink Footed Geese (Pic: D.Johnson)
There’s still plenty of pink footed geese flying over at the moment. They are using our low disturbance areas around the estuary to roost. This group were tracking along the river Ouse heading towards Swinefleet. Other flocks are staying around the wolds often seen in the far distance where on a clear day you can see the Humber Bridge!
Top of Humber Bridge (Pic: D.Johnson)
From the car park and pathways:-
Fieldfare
Redwing
Blackbird
Tree Sparrow
Great tit
Wren
Chaffinch
Cettis Warbler (heard but not seen ho hum!)
Long tailed tit
Reed Bunting
Gold Finch
And, although a common garden sighting, lots of flamboyant blue tits.
Blue tits (Pic: D.Johnson)
Just now and again I’m unchained from my computer and sent on the odd errand (don’t feel sorry for me I have my dream job). On a recent journey I passed along Church Lane into Whitgift. I glanced to my left to be confronted with this image of fantasticness (is this a word?)
Corn bunting taking flight (Pic: D.Johnson)
They were pretty easy to spot it has to be said – there’s was around 100-150 making use of the winter feed crop there.
Everyday is a learning day. I’ve documented my attempts at moth-ery in the past and will again in the future. In the winter months when there’s not too many moths around I’ve been trying to learn about fungi. I thought moths were hard to ID – fungi is a complete minefield of complexity. But there are some beautiful examples (please don’t touch them if you’re not really experienced as many can be unpleasant or harmful).
Bension bracket (Pic: P.Short)
Unidentified (but very pretty) (Pic: P.Short)
Fungi plays a vital role in our ecosystems and varied in their appearance. My advice – enjoy and appreciate them for what they are.
Mac the Konik (Pic: P.Short)
In closing here’s an update on Mac the Konik. He’s had a recent hair cut! Koniks ponies ‘fringe’ hair helps protect their eyes from rain but Mac had managed to get his matted with burdock which was restricting it’s growth. So until it does grow back he’ll just have to put up with the konik version of a mullet!
Up Coming Events:
Sunrise Marsh Harriers
Pull on your winter togs and join us for an exhilarating experience watching harriers leave their overnight roost.
Get exclusive early access to the best views of amazing raptors as they rise from the reeds, at the heart of the Humber.
This VIP event is a must for photographers and new enthusiasts alike. Our friendly and experienced guides will help you spot, identify and capture magnificent wildlife as it emerges. Take in the amazing sunrise vista across the marsh, weather permitting of course!
Check here for details :-
https://events.rspb.org.uk/blacktoftsands
Or book direct
Blacktoft.sands@rspb.org.uk
Tel. 01405 704665
Well that’s all for now – hope to see you all in 2023!
facebook.com/RSPBBlacktoftSands
twitter.com/Blacktoft_Sands