Recent Sightings & Highlights 22/03/25 – 19/04/25 - Charlie's Blacktoft Blog - Blacktoft Sands

xDarrenx

20 Apr 2025

Recent Sightings & Highlights 22/03/25 – 19/04/25

(scroll to end for Reserve News and Events)

Raptors

Marsh Harrier

Sparrow Hawk

Red Kite (flew over)

Peregrine

Barn Owl

Buzzard

Kestrel

Osprey (flew over)

Water Fowl

Garganey (have left site)

Teal

Wigeon

Shoveler

Shelduck

Barnacle Geese

Canada Geese

Greylag

Mallard

Pochard

Goldeneye

Tufted Duck

Gadwall

Pintail

Pink-footed Goose

Coot (with chicks)

Moorhen

Little Grebe

Waders

Common Crane (flew over)

Black-tailed Godwit

Bar-Tailed Godwit

Snipe

Avocet

Curlew

Little-ringed Plover (passage)

Redshank

Green Shank

Green Sandpiper

Dunlin

Lapwing

Passerines

Ring Ousel (brief visit grazing marsh)

Yellow Wagtail

Willow Warbler

Sedge Warbler

Reed Warbler

Kingfisher

Cetti’s Warbler

Chiffchaff

Long-tailed Tit

Kingfisher

Reed Bunting

Tree Sparrow

Chaffinch

Great Tit

Blue Tit

Robin

Blackbird

Fieldfare

Starling

Meadow Pipit

Wren

Linnet

Dunnock

Pied Wagtail

Bearded Tit

Skylark

Blackcap

Goldfinch

Hirundines

Sand Martin

Swallow

House Martin

Herons

Bittern (in flight & booming)

Spoonbill

Great White Egret

Little Egret

Grey Heron

Gulls and Waterbirds

Mediterranean Gull (flying through)

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Herring Gull

Common Gull

Cormorant

Black-headed Gull

Other

Stock Dove

Woodpigeon

Rook

Carrion Crow

Magpie

Pheasant

Red Legged Partridge

Mammals

Konik Ponies

Roe Deer

Water Vole

Weasel

Stoat

Brown Hare

Fox

Butterflies & Insects

Orange Tip

Peacock

Speckled Wood

Small White

Brimstone

Small Tortoise Shell

Buff-tailed Bumble Bee

Reserve News

As I write it’s Easter Sunday so happy Easter to those who celebrate. It’s seems an distant memory now to those cold frosty mornings in December when the lagoons were frozen since Spring seems to have well and truly sprung. There’s lots of blossom on the trees (it’s much harder to see the singing Cetti’s Warblers) and the meadow is now coming to life.

Of course lots of the summer migrants are coming back to us. Sedge Warblers and singing from the reed beds, sand martins, swallow and house martins have been in a feeding frenzy over the lagoons and reed warblers have arrived back too. We await the swifts to complete our usual hirundine set. Marsh harriers have been busy pairing up and lots of mating has been seen. There’s been a number of passage waders on the lagoons too, black-tailed godwits, redshank, green sandpiper, green shank, spotted redshank and dunlin have all been spotted and of course avocet have returned to site in decent numbers too.

Probably the two star birds in the last few weeks have been the garganey pair (which have now moved on) and the rare at Blacktoft bar-tailed godwit. The latter is still on site at Marshland lagoon as I type.

We hope it’s only a matter of time before cuckoo returns to us as well. I note from BTO tracking that they are well and truly on their way back with reports that some have crossed the channel in the south of England. Fingers crossed!

Some of you may have noticed a few weeks back we flooded again. Of course the major (but not only) contributor to this were high tides. It’s a natural function of the flood plain on which we sit. Thankfully then it did not affect the ground nesting birds too much but it may affect them more in the coming week or so. We’re expecting more high tides to come. Of course climate and rising sea levels has an impact so we expect more flood incidents into the future.

I would remind everyone that when the pathways are covered in water we have no option to close the reserve for safety reasons. We don’t take these decisions lightly – we try really hard to allow people to connect with the nature here at Blacktoft. We do announce when we are closed on our social media channels (including on our blog here!). Please do not ignore these. The floods regularly wash out the limestone pathways and can be potholed and dangerous, especially when you can’t see where you are placing your feet.

On a lighter note – we’re into our summer opening hours in reception. 7 days a week (staffing levels permitting). We’ve slightly amended opening hours this year so although the reserve will be open later reception will close at 4pm. Our dedicated volunteers travel miles to help you understand and enjoy the reserve so please come and say hello!

Here’s a few of our favourite pics.