Recent Sightings Highlights 10.10.23 - 21.10.23 - Charlie's Blacktoft Blog - Blacktoft Sands

xDarrenx

23 Oct 2023

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

Shoveler

Shelduck

Gadwall

Mallard

Tufted Duck

Greylag Goose

Canada Goose

Little Grebe

Moorhen

Herons

Bittern

Great White Egret

Little Egret

Grey Heron

Glossy Ibis (flying through)

Goosander (Sawbill)

Passerines

Kingfisher

Fieldfare

Redwing

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Bearded Tit (erupting)

Stonechat

Tree Sparrow

Reed Bunting

Siskin

Brambling

Skylark

Reed Bunting

Dunnock

Cetti’s Warbler

Wren

Starling

Blackbird

Goldfinch

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Chaffinch

Long-tailed Tit

Pied Wagtail

Robin

Gulls & Waterbirds

Cormorant

Black-headed Gull

Herring Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Hirundines

Swallow

House Martin

Others

Stock Dove

Collared Dove

Woodpigeon

Pheasant

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Butterflies, Moths and Insects

Common Darter

Migrant Hawker

Green Shield Bug

Hummingbird Hawk Moth (at our office)

Mammals and Others

Konik Ponies

Water Vole

Roe Deer

Weasel

Grey Squirrel

Reserve News & Events

It’s been a great month at Blacktoft. As a member of Visit England accreditation we receive annual inspections and we’re happy to announce this year we were awarded their Welcome Accolade. Only 91 Accolades were awarded to visitor attractions across England this year and we’re immensely proud to be one of them. Of course it’s all down to our excellent volunteer and staff team who will continue to give you all the warmest of welcomes into the future.

Another piece of great news. Our annual contribution to the National Census for pink-footed geese took place recently. Again our volunteer and staff team leapt into action around the Humber to report incredible numbers of 60,000. Only 10 years ago record numbers of 10,000 around the estuary were something to celebrate … this year absolutely smashed it. Pink-footed geese feed on wheat stubbles, waste potatoes and sugar beet so the management of arable farmland is very important to the species and is probably one of the reasons for this amazing increase. The Humber Estuary is intrinsically linked to the farmland which was once part of the natural floodplain and is vitally important for many other wetland wildfowl and waders.

Pink-footed geese over Humber (Pic P.Short)

Blacktoft Sands has been known to harbour the odd mega-rarity as well – remember the White-Tailed Lapwing in 2021? Late September saw another such visitor, a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. With less than 40 British records this was only the 4^th record for Yorkshire and the 2^nd for Blacktoft, the first one was in 1982! Sadly, it didn’t stay nearly as long as the lapwing departing on the third morning of it’s stay. Another one had previously been reported in Scotland – could it have been the same bird?