The Faintest Sniff of Autumn
There’s nothing like the smell of freshly mown wet grass to stir the soul as far as I’m concerned. While it hasn’t rained that much it has certainly refreshed the air and the greenery.
It’s certainly revived Horseshoe Meadow somewhat. It was great to see a kestrel hunting over it yesterday. As ever I didn’t have a camera to hand to capture it but it brought back mental images of smock wearing farm labourers wandering through a meadow for me.
It certainly hasn’t been the only bird of prey around the reserve this week either.
Regular picture contributor Andy sent us this rather excellent shot of a sparrow hawk adult dropping food to a juvenile on the floor.
Sparrow Hawk adult & juv. (Pic: Andy)
My favourite marsh harriers have of course continued to display nicely wowing first time and occasional visitors and I never tire of them. Now that chicks have fledged they do tend to disperse out looking for pastures new at this time of year but there’s still a good number onsite.
Other sightings include peregrine falcon. Known to roost around the pylons at the other side of the grazing marsh they do flash across the reserve pretty often.
Perhaps the best sighting this week came from our ‘eagle eyed’ site manager Pete who spotted an osprey passing in the distance. There’s a high chance it’s on it’s way south to Africa from Scotland.
Osprey heading south (Pic: P.Short)
Going back to my opening paragraph, yes we’ve have had some wet grass. Water has been at a premium this summer as I’m sure you’re all aware. And whilst we’ve had a couple of strong rain stroms and more infrequent showers it hasn’t really made that much difference to water levels at the reserve. The extended (and record breaking) hot weather has certainly been challenging but the warden team at Blacktoft has worked tirelessly to keep water on marshland, townend and ousefleet lagoons. And it seems the waders are definitely appreciating it. We’re eagerly awaiting some big high tides to helps replenish our drier areas – and it seems we’ll have to wait a little longer.
The pectoral sandpiper has hung around, mainly at marshland lagoon with the occasional sojourn down to townend (usually when flushed by the raptors).
Pectoral sandpiper (Pic: D.Johnson)
It’s pleasing (and a little unusual at this time of year) to have avocet back on site too. I counted 16 this morning (25.08.22) at marshland, with a few juvs amongst them.
Avocet at marshland (Pic: D.Johnson)
Spotted redshanks have also featured too.
Spotted redshank in plumage transition (Pic: D.Johnson)
One of the most asked questions we get at reception is “is there any water on ousefleet”. The simple answer yes. The viewing screen to the right of the hide has a very product lagoon in front of it. It’s rapidly becoming my favourite place at Blacktoft. Whenever time allows I’ll scurry off down there. I had a perfectly good excuse (honest!) to go down there this week and spent 20 minutes or so at the viewing screen. Weasel and water vole both seen as well as red shanks, green sandpiper and several snipe which were pretty closeup.
Snipe at ousefleet lagoon (Pic: D.Johnson)
Juv little grebe at ousefleet (Pic: D.Johnson)
Widgeon (Pic: D.Johnson)
Other waterfowl included teal and mallard. Also seen down there this morning (25.08.22) was a garganey (seen by site manager Pete Short). I must have had my blinkers on when I was there – or maybe it was out of sight!
I did have a few intimate moments with this water rail though!
Water rail on freshly cut area (Pic: D.Johnson)
2 of the 13 curlew on the scrubland in front of ousefleet hide (Pic. D.Johnson)
You’ll notice (and it’s well worth looking as yellow wagtails have abounded) that in the drier areas of the reserve the team have spent a lot of time and energy cutting the vegetation and reeds back. It seemed the perfect opportunity to prepare the views ready for autumn and winter. Taking the reeds and vegetation back not only enhances the views but it allows for fresh growth next year as well as becoming a haven for insect and other food sources. It’s allowed the team to get our soft track all terrain vehicle out to some of the lagoon edges and islands too. Places it wouldn’t necessarily be able to get to. The other advantage is that whilst these areas have not contained many (if any) waders it has minimised any disturbance. We’ll all definitely benefit from the teams hard work (human and wildlife).
While you’re down at ousefleet don’t forget to have some time over looking the grazing marsh. Buzzards, stonechat and whinchat definitely prefer this area. You’ll notice too our newest Konik pony ‘Mack’ has now been integrated into the main (all male) herd – now six!
Mack the konik (the light coloured one) (Pic: D.Johnson)
I guess you’re wondering about this blogs title “The Slightest Sniff of Autumn”. Well on my walk down to ousefleet I noted the berries (hawthorn and elder) are plentiful and I wonder how long it will be before the spectacle of fieldfare raiding the trees arrives.
Hawthorn on ousefleet track (Pic: D.Johnson)
Be observant as you walk around it’s amazing what you’ll see! Blue tits, tree sparrows, goldfinches and a volery (yes this is the collective noun) of long tailed tits flitting through the coppices and reeds, always a joy. And this little lemon beauty was a joy too.
Willow warbler (Pic: Andy)
Willow Warbler (Pic: Andy)
Weasel (in grass) (Pic: D.Johnson)
This weasel was spotted between singleton and townend before I spooked it and it shot off back into the tree line.
Before I finish I’ll just mention Pete’s finds on a recent work trip to Tetney Marshes. As well as well as the salt marsh flora looking and smelling great he found some outstanding bees – adding to the plethora of reasons as to why it is such an important area for some amazing wildlife.
Sea aster mining bee (Pic: P.Short)
Epeolus cuckoo bees (Pic: P.Short)
Don’t forget to check our facebook and twitter pages for the latest news from around the reserve!
Daz
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