Blacktoft Sands in September

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.

Other than the White-tailed Lapwing there was a lot of action on the lagoon, with Green Sandpipers close to the hide, and a Great White Egret feeding with some Little Egrets in the distance.

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!

At Blacktoft Sands

With a forecast of sunny spells and showers, and relentless wind, I headed to Blacktoft Sands, the RSPB reserve at the confluence of the Ouse and the Trent at Humberhead Levels. The reserve has six hides, plus the visitor centre, with views towards wetlands by the river Ouse. Today, there were many waders and ducks about, and of course the ever-present Marsh Harriers, at some point four could be seen quartering the reserve. The harriers flushed the birds on the wetlands several times, sending flocks of Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit into the sky. Two Buzzards, a Kestrel and a Peregrine were also present. Amongst the waders, the Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwing were the most abundant, with some Redshank, Spotted Redshank and Ruff. Plenty of Teal and Wigeon, with some Shelduck, Gadwall and Shovelers completed the duck assortment. Fieldfares fed on the fields at the other side of the flood bank.

Marsh Harrier over the reedbed.

The view towards Alkborough.

There was a pair of Little Grebes on each of the pools. This pair thrilled several times. The individual on the left appears to be holding a stickleback, having trouble swallowing it.

Two discreetly stunning species, the Gadwall, a grey and brown duck that up close shows a beautifully scaly plumage, and the Black-tailed Godwit.

a pair of Marsh Harriers did a little bit of aerial courtship, coming together several times in the air, in preparation of the food passes that they'll do later in the year.

Four Spotted redshank roosting on the island in front of Xerox hide.

A Buzzard on a fence post.

At Ousefleet, I was very entertained by the Konik ponies, used at the reserve for conservation grazing of the saltmarsh and reedbeds. Two of them galloped towards the rest and they greeted each other.

 A call alerted these Black-tailed Godwits, which were sleeping a moment before, they raised their heads, watching attentively. A few Ruff were also present.

Black-tailed Godwit resting on one leg.

Walking the Humber. Stage 1. Faxfleet Ness to Broomfleet Island

Wintry showers might not be the best forecast for a long walk, but I was eager to start this first stage of the Walking the Humber, my first proper outing of the year. I drove to Faxfleet, a remote hamlet by agricultural fields drained by deep ditches. Winter crops are greening the soil. The foreshore is fronted by a wide fringe of tidal reedbeds and mudflats with two borrow ponds. I took advantage of a clearing in between showers to walk to Faxfleet Ness by a path open in the dry reedbed. From here, there is a great view of the head of the Humber. To the right, RSPB Blacktoft Sands, at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Trent, and opposite the ridge of Alborough village and Alkborough Flats, a nature reserve by the east bank of the River Trent. The place is called Trent Falls, and although there are no falls, there can be fast flowing races at particular points during tides. A Bearded Tit pings a couple of times from the reeds, but I don't see it. The tide is ebbing. Opposite on the spit with a lighthouse a Cormorant dries its wings. A flock of Wigeon and Teal sit on the mud along the tideline.

 The wider area at the head of the Humber is part of the Humberhead Levels, an extensive low lying flat land with peat bogs and agricultural fields on what used to be a large freshwater lake during the last glaciation, the Humber Glacial Lake. The Humberhead Levels are the subject of an ambitious conservation partnership to increase the connectivity of its wetlands, improve its biodiversity value while working with the farming community. 

 I move along. Parts of the floodbank are not right of way to reduce disturbance to the birds as the floodbank is so exposed, so my next glimpse of the estuary is not until I get to Weighton Lock. This is the mouth of the Market Weighton Canal, which drains the area and also collects the water of the river Foulness, whose name has nothing to do with it smelling badly, but instead comes from fowl nest indicating the historical value of the area for birds.

From the lock there are great views of Whitton Island, a recently formed island. The Ouse and the Trent are tidal for over 100 km upstream of Trent Falls and carry a lot of sediment that is deposited in sand banks and mud flats. An old sand bank, Whitton Sands only fully emerged in the last 30 years. In 1998 it was only covered on the highest spring tides, however, the new island is now being quickly colonised by marshland and reeds. This island is now a key roosting site for waders and geese in the Humber and is fully protected. Last year, the RSPB carried out some conservation work creating a lagoon and ponds to enhance its conservation potential. Another shower starts as I look towards Whitton. A soft rainbow over the wolds. Four Greylag, some Wigeon and Teal and four Curlews are on the mudflats. A Grey Heron takes flight. A Buzzard flies over the reedbeds, mobbed by a Great Black-backed gull.

 I make my way to Broomfleet village. The right of way moves away from the floodbank. This land was reclaimed from the Humber in the 19th century, as the names Broomfleet Island and Island farm testify. The rain gets stronger and it's time to head back to the car. Although quite wet, an interesting first stage relatively easy going.

Featured bird: Bearded Tit. 

Breeding and wintering on reedbeds on the Humber. Had a striking recovery of populations from near extinction in the UK (just a few pairs in 1947) to 772 pairs in 2014. Prefers areas of extensive reedbed and the population suffers crashes after harsh winters (e.g. 2010-11), but bounces quickly as there are several broods per season. The Humber estuary is one of the strongholds, with ca 250 pairs in 2014.

The reedbeds at Faxfleet.

Trent Falls with Alkborough village in the distance.

Trent Falls.

Cormorant at Trent Falls.

A large piece of drifwood by Faxfleet ness.

road by the floodbank.

Stonechat. This species regularly winters in the area.

Path to Weighton Lock.

Dead roe deer.

Market Weighton Canal from the lock.

Weighton Lock.

Greylag and Wigeon at Whitton Island.

Buzzard on Whitton Island. The Humber Bridge in the distance.

Curlew and Wigeon on the shore at Whitton Island.

Buzzard over Whitton Island, with Shelduck on mudflats.

Rainbow.

 Path to Broomfleet.

Flooded fields on the way to Broomfleet.

Fieldfares at Broomfleet

Other bird species
Marsh Harriers are common in the area, especially in winter, with a roost at Blacktoft that includes the occasional Hen Harrier. Pink-footed Geese and Barnacle Geese roost in Whitton Island. Spoonbills can be seen during the summer months.

The stage's route. Just over 10 km.

More Information

• Blacktoft to Brough Trans Pennine way. Here.
• BTO info Humber estuary. Here.
• Whitton Island video BBC. 
• Crown Estate information on Whitton conservation work here.

Freezing at Blacktoft Sands

A bitterly cold day that felt even colder at midday due to the wind turning NW. A large and nervous flock of Fieldfares, with a few Redwing fed in the hawthorns of the car park. I surprised a stoat as it run on the grass on the car park, but it run into the hedge before I could take any photos. The Fieldfare were quite nervous and took off every time a car went pass the road by the nature reserve.

Fieldfare.

Thrush flock.

  The visitor centre/hide and was closed, as in the winter months it only opens on the weekend, so I went to Xerox hide first. A Reed Bunting fed on the path with a Wren and a Robin.

Reed Bunting.

I spent some time at Xerox. There was a large Teal flock and I went through it in search of a Green Winged Teal that had been reported at Blacktoft, but no luck. Some Dunlin fed amongst the teal.

I moved on. The Hawthorns on the long stretch to the Ousefleet hide were laden with berries, good news for the cold and hungry thrushes.

 At Ousefleet, the highlight were the six Konik ponies, which were drinking in the sun and having little squabbles. They are use for conservation grazing on the reedbeds and marsh in the nature reserve.

 The light was fantastic with mostly clear sky. This is the view from Ousefleet.

An informative panel with the Humberhead levels and nature reserves within it.

I moved to the eastern end of the reserve. There were barely any birds from the hides, but a Marsh Harrier quartered past, with the great backdrop of Alkborough.

 The view from Singleton hide.

 I ended up returning to Xerox. Found some Redshank feeding near the hide.

 More Teal.

 Three Marsh Harriers together at some point. One of them flushed all the birds (top shot). The following photos all from Xerox.

Marsh Harriers.

Dunlin.

Shovelers.

Wigeon.

A Redshank (left) and a Spotted Redshank (right) posing beautifully next to each other.

Little Egret.