Sighting Highlights 04/04 to 24/04/23
(scroll to end for Reserve News & Events)
Raptors
Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier (last seen 18th April)
Buzzard
Red Kite (flying over)
Barn Owl
Kestrel
Peregrine (15.04.23)
Water Fowl
Wigeon
Teal
Shelduck
Gadwall
Shoveler
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Pochard
Canada goose
Greylag
Mute Swan
Little Grebe
Coot
Moorhen
Goosander (passed south 16.04.23)
Waders
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Spotted Redshank
Redshank
Black-tailed Godwit
Dunlin
Avocet
Oystercatcher
Snipe
Curlew
Passerines
Wheatear (grazing marsh 22.04.23)
Bearded Tit
Black cap
Willow Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Whitethroat (22.04.23)
Yellow Wagtail
Cettis Warbler
Chiffchaff
Dunnock
Reed Bunting
Meadow Pipit
Skylark
Wren
Linnet (20.04.23)
Long-tailed tit
Blackbird
Robin
Blue tit
Great tit
Gold Finch
Starling
Pied Wagtail
Chaffinch
Gulls & Terns
Little Gull
Black Tern (23.04.23)
Arctic Tern (passed through 23.04.23)
Lesser Black Backed gull
Mediterranean gull (passing over 16.04.23)
Black-headed Gull
Herons
Crane (x3 passing over 17.04.23)
Bittern (seen and booming)
Spoonbill
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Hirundines
Swallow
House martin
Sand Martin
Swift (23.04.23)
Other
Stock Dove
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Wood Pigeon
Pheasant
Mammals
Weasel
Stoat
Water vole
Butterflies
Peacock
Brimstone
Large White
Orange tip
Speckled Wood
Reserve News & Events
It’s been an exciting (and immensely proud) couple of weeks for Blacktoft Sands and the Humber. You may have caught it on the news! As part of the East Coast Wetlands the Humber Estuary has been added to the Tentative List to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As one of my colleagues aptly put it recently “it’s like receiving an Oscar nomination for the landscape!”. As part of the East Atlantic Flyway major bird migration route (1 of 8 major migration routes around the world) it goes to show just how important the Humber Estuary is for feeding, breeding and roosting birds at all times of the year. Of course there’s lots of work still to do, but we are one step closer to being held in the same regard as the Galapagos Islands and the Great Barrier Reef to name but two.
To find out more about the East Coast Wetlands click here:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/rspb-news-stories/east-coast-wetlands/
Here’s a few of our favourite pics from recent weeks!
Spoonbill (Pic: P.Short)
Cranes passing over (Pic: Andy H.)
Black Tern (Pic: P.Short)
Little Gull (Pic: P.Short)
Little Gull in flight (Pic: D.Johnson)
Hen Harrier (ringtail) (Pic: Andy H.)
Common Sandpiper (Pic: P.Short)
Green Sandpiper (Pic: D.Johnson)
Mallard with chicks (Pic: P.Short)
Green Wing Orchid (Pic: P.Short)
Snakes Head Fritillary (Pic: P.Short)
Having lost 97% of our wild flower meadows since the 1930’s it was great to see a few snakes head fritillaries and green wing orchids emerge in recent times. It’s really encouraging to see these once plentiful flowers on Horseshoe Meadow restoration – now into it’s 6th year. Please don’t walk into the area at the moment. You never know what you’re trampling on!
Dawn Chorus Festival Exclusive Event – Saturday 15th April 7.30am – 10.30am
Join our experienced guides and enjoy exclusive early morning access exploring the sights and sounds of spring at Blacktoft Sands.
Spend a while at our marsh harrier hotspot as they rise from the reed bed or perform aerial displays and food passes. Booming bitterns are regularly sighted from here too! Then take in the rest of the reserve along with our guide helping you to spot, listen and enjoy singing birds like reed warblers, sedge warblers, cettis warblers, reed buntings, willow warblers and a plethora of wildlife along the trails and on the lagoons from our numerous hides.
New to birding, or looking to build your birding knowledge and ID skills then this is the tour for you!
Learn about the wildlife rich history of RSPB Blacktoft during our 50th Anniversary year and the importance of the Humber Estuary and East Coast Wetlands along the way.
Enjoy:
https://events.rspb.org.uk/blacktoftsands
email blacktoft.sands@rspb.org.uk
Tel. 01405 704665
Happy birding!
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