Perky Numbers of Pinky’s
Welcome to the first blog of Autumn (now that it’s officially started) and a welcome return to skeins of pink footed geese honking their way around the Humber in their classic ‘V’ formation. It’s a real spectacle to behold.
They are best viewed in the morning as they head towards their grazing grounds, often the arable fields close to the reserve.
Pink footed geese (off Church Lane Whitgift) (Pic: B.Bishop).
As dusk descends later in the afternoon they head back out to the estuary to roost. During a recent wetland bird survey one of our warden team, Julie, counted over ten thousand on Reads Island alone along with almost a thousand wigeon.
Indeed migrating wild fowl numbers continue to build with significant numbers of shelduck out on the estuary and teal around the reserve in various states of plumage.
At Marshland hide shoveler have been demonstrating the difference in plumage as they move towards breeding ‘colours’.
Male v female shoveler (Pic: D. Johnson)
This male is well advanced towards his most flamboyant, here seen alongside a female. Other males on the lagoon were dowdy by comparison.
It’s worthwhile keeping your eyes to the skies as well. This whooper swan was spotted flying over recently too.
Whooper swan (Pic: Andy)
Of course it hasn’t just been water fowl around the reserve. There’s still a number of waders dropping in. In Julie’s previously mentioned wetland bird survey she spotted 2000+ dunlin, over 500 avocets, 30 ring plover and 11 curlew out on the estuary. Whilst dotted around the site:
Redshank on Marshland lagoon (Pic: B. Bishop)
Redshank and teal (Pic: D. Johnson)
Green Shank (Pic: B.Bishop)
These golden plover dropped into the arable next to the reserve but they weren’t too easy to spot amongst the sods of mud.
Golden plover in flight (Pic: D. Johnson)
Golden plover with lapwing on arable next to reserve (Pic: D. Johnson).
Raptor wise of course marsh harriers are our usual stars of the Blacktoft nature show.
Marsh harrier cruising over Ousefleet flash (Pic: D. Johnson)
They have been a little over shadowed this week though. This rather beautiful tawny owl spent Monday roosting in the coppice on the pathway to ousefleet hide.
Tawny owl roosting (Pic: P.Short)
Tawny owl roosting (again) (Pic: D. Johnson)
There’s been lots of action from some of the UK’s more numerous birds of prey like buzzards. They are most often seen across the grazing marsh but could crop up anywhere on the reserve.
The UK’s second most common raptor is the kestrel. It is famed for it’s hovering hunting technique but it has several special traits that make it such an effective hunter. For example their extreme eyesight can spot a beetle from 50m away as they keep their head perfectly still in a stiff wind. They can also see parts of the light spectrum that we mere humans can’t. Being able to see ultraviolet light means they are able to spot the urine trails left by rodent on the ground.
Kestrel with an insect in it’s beak. (Pic: D.Johnson)
Pete (Site Manager) even reported a passage red kite in the area.
Lots of other wildlife abounds around the site. One of my highlights of the week was seeing bearded tits erupting from the reed beds around townend and singleton hides. This stunning looking male has now moulted into his adult plumage and I have to say it looks fantastic.
Bearded tit on reeds (Pic: P. Short)
It’s been great to see an influx of chaffinch this week particularly around the car park and toilet block. And as always one of our star species tree sparrows have been showing well in the same sort of areas and around reception.
I was quite surprised to hear the unmistakable drumming of a greater spotted woodpecker as I walked back from singleton hide this morning. They are not a massive rarity at the reserve but they do prefer mature woodlands. I was even more surprised to see and capture it though.
Greater spotted woodpecker. (Pic: D.Johnson)
It’s that time of year again, when the Koniks ponies are ‘released’ from the grazing marsh to range across the reserve. Our newest pony, Mac, took his first steps out into the marsh this week. Here he is with Splat enjoying the wetland in front of ousefleet hide for the first time.
Mac and Splat on Ousefleet flash (Pic: P. Short)
Whilst the ponies are free to roam the grazing marsh is still full of life. Koniks are particularly clean in that they pile their ‘waste’ into middens and over time these break down. Pete came across a particularly fertile patch of fungi on his wonderings recently. Undoubtedly the damp weather has encouraged several different types to sprout.
Fungi on grazing marsh (Pic: P.Short)
Another ‘food source’ Pete captured was this this brave little short tailed field vole. It’s mainly a seed eater and active both day and night. They are very common in grassland, heathland and moorland habitats.
Short tailed field vole (Pic: P. Short)
Another frequent spot around ousefleet and the grazing marsh is stonechat and there were several sighting of skylark too.
Stonechat (Pic: P.Short)
Reserve News
Please be aware (at time of writing) there are road closures in the area with diversions in operation. These do not affect those travelling from the west (M62) and via Goole. Roads are closed at Garthorpe village travelling from Scunthorpe direction following the Trent bank. This is likely to be in effect until 16th October.
Reception hide has now switched to winter opening times. This means the hide will be closed Monday to Friday opening from 9am until 4pm Saturday and Sunday. All other hides are open as normal along with trails, car park and toilets. Please note closing times vary as dusk descends.
Follow our social media for the latest updates.
Daz.
facebook.com/RSPBBlacktoftSands
twitter.com/Blacktoft_Sands