Recent Sightings & Highlights 21.05.24 to 04.06.24
(scroll to end for Reserve News and Events)
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
Dunnock
Whitethroat
Chaffinch
Cetti’s Warbler
Goldfinch
Green Finch
Chiff Chaff
Starling (with juveniles)
Robin
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Grasshopper Warbler (24.05.24 brief)
Skylark
Blackbird
Long-tailed Tit
Wren
Willow Warbler
Stonechat
Meadow Pipit
Hirundines
Swallow
Swift
House Martin
Sand Martin
Water Fowl
Garganey (infrequent visitor)
Mallard (lots of chicks)
Tufted Duck
Gadwall (chicks)
Shoveler
Teal
Pochard
Shelduck
Wigeon
Greylag (chicks)
Coot (chicks)
Canada Goose
Moorhen
Little Grebe
Gulls and Water Birds
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Cormorant
Herring Gull (2nd winter)
Great Black-backed Gull
Herons
Glossy Ibis (30.05.24 & 01.06.24)
Bittern (seen in flight daily)
Spoonbill
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Great White Egret
Others
Stock Dove
Magpie
Wood Pigeon
Carrion Crow
Pheasant (with brood)
Mammals
Konik Ponies
Water Vole
Roe Deer
Brown Hare
Butterflies, Insects & Reptiles etc.
Orange Tip butterfly
Peacock butterfly
Speckled Wood butterfly
Tortoise Shell butterfly
Red Admiral butterfly
Four Spotted Chaser dragonfly
Black-tailed Skimmer dragonfly
Azure damselfly
Common Blue damselfly
Eyed Hawk moth
Small Magpie moth
Reserve News & Events
20 – 31 May was National Nature Reserve Week. We celebrated by delivering a guided walk at our satellite site RSPB Tetney Marshes, part of the Lincolnshire Coronation Coast National Nature Reserve. The LCCNNR was announced last year to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III, recently confirmed as the RSPB’s Patron.
The walk was well attended and it was great to extoll the virtues of this amazing stretch of coast and the wildlife we’re helping to survive and thrive there along with our partners. The LCCNNR stretches from Cleethorpes to Mablethorpe and comprises some of the best salt marshes, saline lagoons, dune systems and other habits in England.
RSPB Tetney Marshes guided walk Mike Pilsworth seen talking about rare invertebrates in the saline lagoon to some of the attendees. (Pic D.Johnson)
Spring has well and truly sprung and it’s been great to see so many young birds on the reserve, not just on the lagoons either. Blue tits, great tits and pied wagtails seem to have had a good breeding season so far at the reserve – it’s always worth while spending a few moments on the trail from the car park to reception!
Here's a few of our favourite recent pics!
Great Tit juveniles (Pic P.Short)
Mallard with chicks (Pic D.Johnson)
Blue Tit juvenile (Pic D.Johnson)
Pied Wagtail juveniles (Pic D.Johnson)
Gadwall with chicks (Pic P.Short)
Bittern female (Pic A.Hunt)
Sedge Warbler (Pic D.Johnson)
Glossy Ibis (Pic P.Short)
Little Egret (Pic P.Short)
Reed Bunting male (Pic D.Johnson)
Male & Female Pochard (Pic P.Short)
Cormorant (ringed) (Pic A.Hunt)
This cormorant was ringed in near Hale, Cheshire and has been Northumberland for 2 years. It’s been feeding onsite this week.
Grey Heron speared tench (Pic D.Johnson)
This grey heron managed to spear a sizable fish for our lagoons recently. The fish is a tench which was probably brought in on recent flood inundations (April). As we let down the lagoons into the summer in preparation for autumn migration it was destined to become food!
Male Marsh Harrier (Pic D.Johnson)
This male Marsh Harrier was surveying his patch!
Eyed Hawk Moth (Pic D.Johnson)
Star moth from this week’s trap was this Eyed Hawk moth. We’ll be trapping every Sunday night and opening the trap Monday morning (weather permitting) throughout the summer.
Bee Orchid (Pic P.Short)
Humber Sites Manager Pete Short spotted this gorgeous bee orchid recently in our wild flower meadow project. It’s a stunner!
Humber Wetlands Open Day at Blacktoft Sands – Free!
We're flinging open our gates for our annual open day! Of course it's always free for our members to enter but everyone is invited to help us celebrate Humber Wetlands. Families and young people are especially welcome.
Find out about RSPB Blacktoft and it's special wildlife with our team of dedicated volunteers and staff with activities for everyone or simply wonder around the reserve enjoying the amazing birds and wildlife that call it home.
For more information contact:-
blacktoft.sands@rspb.org.uk
01405 704665
More Details Here:-
https://events.rspb.org.uk/blacktoftsands
Happy birding everyone
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