Amazing August Continues
Welcome to the latest update from RSPB Blacktoft Sands as we drift into mid August.
It’s definitely been a hot one so far, not just the weather!
There’s been plenty to see at Blacktoft over the last week or so, so let’s dive straight in!
Here’s the highlights:
First off let’s start with a pectoral sandpiper.
It’s the smaller bird at the edge of the island next to the lapwing. (Pic: P.Short)
Pectoral sandpiper on its own (Pic: P.Short)
Pectoral sandpipers are scarce passage migrants from America and Siberia, the majority of sightings occurring in late summer. It’s spent time at marshland hide earlier in the week before moving down to townend. Latest sightings this morning were back at marshland (16.08.22).
Another bird drawing our attention (and delight) this week is a spotted crake.
Spotted crake on the reed edge (Pic: D.Johnson)
The Blacktoft ‘jungle drums’ started beating late on Sunday (14.08.22) so we hot footed down to townend hide. After a short wait it popped into view before demonstrating it’s speed darting back into the reeds.
You can see a short video here!
https://fb.watch/eXcqZKI7bx/.
Other fabulous passage waders around the reserve this week include:
Blacktailed godwits (in various states of plumage)
Spotted redshank
Common redshank
Green sandpiper
Greenshank
Dunlin
Snipe (showing particularly well)
Whilst they are prevalent around the Humber it was great to see a group of 24 golden plover drop into the reserve for a short while.
Golden Plover in flight (Pic: Andy)
Golden plover on Singleton (Pic: Andy)
Continuing with the great summer birds at Blacktoft just now here’s the highlights of other sighting so far this week!
2 x ringed plover and juvenile little ringed plover on Singleton (Pic: P.Short)
From Pete’s rambles down to the grazing marsh this morning for livestock checks he reported grey plover, stonechat, whinchat, hobby (mobbing a marsh harrier) and a juvenile cuckoo!
Juvenile cuckoo over grazing marsh (Pic: P.Short)
This juv. cuckoo will soon be making the long, lonely journey to Western Africa for the first time! Amazing instincts.
Other highlights this week include:
Yellow hammer (Pic: P.Short)
Juvenile whinchat (Pic: P.Short)
Yellow wagtail (Pic: P.Short)
There seems to be a fair few yellow wagtails around the reserve at the moment. As well as over the grazing marsh they have been dotted around at singleton hide.
It’s great to see an excellent number of bearded tits across the reserve too. A trend continuing on from my last blog post. Still very pleasing to see! Look out for them around the reed margins – especially where there’s a little mud.
Reed Warbler (with dinner) (Pic: P.Short)
Of course our main focus at Blacktoft is our avian wildlife but that goes hand in hand with our smaller ‘critters’.
A first for Blacktoft is willow emerald damselfly. These two were definitely ‘showing their love’ for the habitat.
Willow emerald damselfly (Pic: P.Short)
A quick pass over our intensive arable reclaimed wildflower meadow (Horseshoe Meadow), after it was hayed back in July, threw up a plethora of common blue butterflies amongst others.
Common blue butterfly (Pic: P.Short)
Peacock butterfly (Pic: D.Johnson)
For the vast majority of the UK we’ve had unprecedented weather this summer. It looks set to continue for a little while longer (at the time of writing we’re hoping for thunderstorms and rain!). Certainly in the south we’ve had the driest July since records began in 1839.
Whilst we have some control over water levels in the lagoons it has been exceptionally difficult this year as we rely tides. Having said that the warden team have done a stirling job keeping water on 3 of the lagoons.
It was great to see some tidal inundation at Tetney Marsh too. The saline lagoon there was beginning to look somewhat empty. It’s especially important for the rare shrimp it contains.
Tidal inundation at Tetney Marsh
Tetney Marsh lagoon half hour later.
Well that’s it for now. Don’t forget you can always keep up with what’s happening at the reserve via our facebook and twitter pages – check the links below.
https://twitter.com/Blacktoft_Sands
https://www.facebook.com/RSPBBlacktoftSands
Daz
(16.08.22)