Over the past couple of months Blacktoft Sands has been closed on two or three occasions due to flooding; high tides combined with storms and high river levels inundating the pathways. So, it was a relief that today the conditions were fine and access to all areas was easy. There were even moments of warmth when the sun came out, though it was pretty chilly by the end of our day.
The first bird on our list was the Tree Sparrow. I wasn’t quick enough to get the scope on them as they sat on the path, so was pleased that John got good views of them as they flew into the hedgerow.
Our visit was timed to watch the harrier roost at dusk, which is best viewed at the eastern end of the reserve, so we started off heading at the opposite end with our first stop being Marshland hide.
We enjoyed good views of at least 22 snipe, several shelduck, quite a few Shoveler and Wigeon (with a chance to compare the male and female plumage) and plenty of Teal.
It didn’t take long for the group to disperse as people settled in a different pace of and walking and watching. There were several small birds on the adjacent agricultural field – a few Pied Wagtails, and probably some linnets. The fungi on the path to Ousefleet hide included Glistening Inkcaps, Mycena species, Blushing Bracket and oyster species.
For a while, whilst we were lunching in Ousefleet hide we only had the Konik Ponies to watch, but just as Stuart asked “can anyone see a bird?’, a flock of Teal arrived, followed by a quartering Marsh Harrier, and then a hovering Kestrel.
We had time to have sit in each hide along the reserve. Other species we saw on the water were Gadwall, Little Grebe, Grey Heron and Little Egret. On the shrubs we saw a small flock of Fieldfare, a large flock of Starlings as well as Goldfinches and Blue and Great Tits. On the move overhead there skeins of Pink-Footed Geese, 18 or 19 Whooper Swans (p.s. fyi 3 Bewick swans recorded on the reserve on on Thurs 23rd) and Lapwings. The only sighting of Barn Owl was a possible carcass at Townend hide – it was too far away to be definite, but the size and colour suggest it was probable, though I hope we were mistaken. [Ed. more likely to have been a gull].
As we approached Singleton hide, the rest of the group were leaving with the need for a walk to warm up. As us stragglers entered 12 Marsh Harriers were visible – 5 flying and the others perched on the willow scrub. There were a further 3 or 4 on the righthand boundary, so 15 or 16 in all. We had good views of male, female and immature birds.
A couple of Redshank dropped into the water. While scanning the reeds for harriers I was aware of an egret, but didn’t pay it much attention so was pleased to get confirmation from John that it was a Great White Egret. Our fellow hide occupant told us he had seen a male Hen Harrier at about 1pm, so was hopeful he might come to roost, but we had to call it a day before that occurred, if indeed it was going to. (He was seen again today - Wedn 22nd).
For a brief moment on our journey home we wondered whether we had entered a new timezone – we saw four Christmas trees lighting up houses in Swinefleet, as well as window lights and wreaths - but we were reminded that this was our last outing of 2023, with just the Christmas meal left on the agenda. We will prepare a new programme over the next couple of weeks so please remember to send in your ideas and offers to lead so we can offer a full and diverse programme for the new year.
We are now familiar with the congestion in Bradford city centre but none of us are very well informed, so here are a couple of links to articles about the air source heating system being installed (though the work is also about improving pedestrian spaces in the city) T&A Nov 2022, Yorkshire Post Sept 2023).
There a few photos in the gallery, though not of the birds.
Julia
For a more comprehensive review of the day, here is some botanical information from Alice.
We learned that in 2017 the RSPB Blacktoft team took on the management of a 3 acre field which had grown arable crops since at least the 1940s and created a diverse wildflower meadow. In only 5 years it has developed into a rich mosaic of over 65 species which supports a large population of insects particularly bumble bees and butterflies. This is an attempt to redress the loss of 97% of Lowland Meadows lost in the last 100years and it is hoped that it will give an historical reflection of what local grasslands in marshland areas may have looked like at the beginning of the 20th century. Two plants we see only infrequently, wild clary and meadow saxifrage, are on the species list.
A few white flowers caught our attention: white dead nettles, some daises, a couple of late flowering hogweed plants, a cluster of blackberry blooms and one minute hawthorn. As usual, a dandelion made the list. Evidence of bird life was seen by the profusion of bird perch lichen with its yellow scales coating many branches, in particular elder bark. Next year’s red elder buds contrasted against the lichen. A few clumps of pendant fruticose lichens were also seen.
Mosses and liverworts were well represented too.