Blacktoft Sands

I decided to take a trip to Blacktoft Sands this evening on my way home from work, as it is only a short detour, and it is something I keep promising myself I will do.

In fact, I was going to yesterday evening, but forgot to take my gear to work. As it was, the heavens opened in an almighty downpour yesterday, so forgetting wasn't such a bad thing after all!

Anyway, I arrived this evening at about 5.20, to be greeted by a Tree Sparrow calling from the hedge at the side of the car park. Wood Pigeons were calling and would be ubiquitous, and as I made my way onto the reserve, an old favourite Sedge Warbler was giving its all in the way only a Sedge Warbler can.

As the reception was closed, I made my way to the hides, today calling in at the Townend hide first.

I wasn’t expecting too much activity to be honest, another hot day in the height of summer, but in fact there were quite a few birds, mostly waders, around.

There were perhaps a dozen or more Greenshank, and at least eight Snipe feeding on the lagoon. Now waders are far from my area of expertise and so I might well have missed one or two of the more tricky ones!

Another birder in the hide was calling Ruff, but he did try to make the Snipe into Woodcock, and the Greenshank into Redshank, so without wishing to be unduly critical, I think his expertise was less than mine, and I’m not at all comfortable claiming that particular bird.

There were dozens and dozens of Lapwings (well into three figures over the whole reserve), maybe a dozen Grey Heron feeding, and indeed plenty of bona fide Redshank, along with Dunlin and Common Sandpiper.

Large numbers of Mallard were hunkered on the islands, with one or two feeding, and a Pheasant was roaming in front of the hide. A Moorhen was also feeding to one side of the water. I spent a good time in Townend, but the air was very calm and I was very hot and bothered, and decided to move on to Singleton.

There were loads of insects, butterflies on the teasels in particular, as well as some green-eyed monsters that wouldn’t leave me alone!!!

Arriving at Singleton (less than 100 metres further on) and the wind was beginning to pick up, and would become quite pleasant.

More of the same from Singleton, but additions were some overflying Black-headed Gulls, Wrens calling and a couple of Shovelers shovelling.

As nothing much else was happening, I made my way back to the reception, stopping off first at First hide.

Again, quieter here, although more Grey Herons were present, along with a juvenile Great Crested Grebe, an adult Little Grebe and loads of Coot. A short stay here too, though a check of the time showed I had now been here two hours, so I decided I would call in at Xerox and make that the last for today. Just before leaving, far to the east of the reserve, one of the Marsh Harriers emerged, and flew off to do whatever it is Marsh Harriers do at that time of an evening.

Xerox rewarded my visit. A couple of Greylag Geese were raucously obvious, but the waders were in force again. This time, though, in excess of 50 were Black-tailed Godwits, although all the shanks etc. from the previous pools were also in evidence in similarly large numbers.

A few Swallows were making feeding runs, the geese left, disturbing a hitherto hidden Cormorant, a small party of mischievous Magpies called in, and a sweep of the Mallards turned a pair into Gadwall.

Xerox took an hour itself, and so it was time to go home.

Leaving the reserve I was able to add Yellowhammer calling, and the journey through Garthorpe brought screaming Swifts, whilst Carrion Crow and Collared Dove were picked up before journey’s end.

Not a bad way to spend the evening!

Oh… did I mention the Spoonbills?