A relatively short early morning visit to Blacktoft Sands with Robert. We were hoping for two ticks: the White-tailed Lapwing that has been in the reserve since the end of August for a lifer and the Bluethroat, which would be a country tick (my previous sighting a lifetime away in Spain's Ebro Delta in 1996!).
It didn't take long to connect with the White-tailed Lapwing (or Plover). It is a vagrant bird from Eastern Europe and a rarity in the UK, with just about a dozen records. At Townend the White-tailed Lapwing was only visible from the right-hand corner of the hide. There were not too many people and we quickly had a turn to watch it. It was preening and dozing on an island. Its long leges and sandy, uniform upper parts were distinctive.
Great White Egret.
Green Sandpiper.
Green Sandpiper.
A group of Bearded Tits put also a show on the reeds nearby. I was surprised to find later that they were also a reserve tick for me, having missed them for years!
We moved onto the western side of the reserve, to Marshland hide, to try and connect with the Bluethroat, which apparently had been seen earlier. It is amazing how many passerines were about on the open muddy shores of the scrape and bathing on the newly created islands. As I scanned for any moving bird near the reeds where the Bluethroat was hiding, Bearded tits landed on the mud, and a Sedge warbler and Cetti's passed through. The Bluethroat made quick appearances, skulking on the bushes the rest of the time. They were distant views, but they allowed us to see it was a 1st winter male, the blue feathers already visitble at the bottom of its chest.
Bearded tit
Bluethroat.
Cetti's warbler
Water Rail.
Sedge Warbler.
Bluethroat.
I would have liked to stay much longer in the reserve, but it was time to head back, a wonderful couple of hours at Blacktoft!
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