Following the soggy trip to Leighton Moss it was a relief for 34 members and friends to be greeted by a sunny blue sky for the April trip to two excellent East Yorkshire reserves. It was the first society visit to Blacktoft Sands since 2006 and another calendar-based thought to ponder was the ten-year anniversary of the discovery of a Spotted Sandpiper at North Cave, one of the rarer birds on the Society list. Following glimpses of Red Grouse from the coach on the M62, and the standard stop at Ferrybridge Services, we arrived at North Cave looking forward to seeing what early migrants had arrived for the summer. Pulling in, the excitement was palpable when we realised that the butty van was open too!
The dominant impression was the sight and sound of the Black-headed Gull colony, harbouring at least one pair of Mediterranean Gull and interwoven with several feeding Avocet. Blackcaps were singing and good numbers of Sand Martin buzzed around, at times flocking up into swirling groups
before dispersing again. A few House Martin and Swallow were detected amongst them. Best of all perhaps were two Little Ringed Plover showing very well on the scrapes, out at the back of the reserve.
Water levels were quite high, and good numbers of Gadwall were noted, along with Shoveler and Teal, but muddy fringes that might have yielded Water Rail were submerged this time. Despite some patient scanning nobody reported seeing the resident Little Owls and it proved to be too early in the season for many other warblers or small waders. However, Linnet, Skylark and Red-legged Partridge were seen in the fields, Marsh Harrier and Peregrine were spotted overhead and we left having noted over 50 species.
A warming sun and exciting internet reports of Common Cranes on the reserve meant that the party was in good spirits on arrival at Blacktoft Sands. Unfortunately, the Cranes kept their heads down for the afternoon, meaning nobody saw them, but the superb tranquillity of this location was as beatific and relaxing as ever.
The assembly of species was actually nearly identical to North Cave, with Avocets and wildfowl like Shelduck, Gadwall and Shoveler much in evidence, but a few nice birds were added such as Goldeneye, Ruff and Yellow Wagtail. Some others showed more generally well, such as Cetti’s Warbler and of course the superb Marsh Harriers, surely numbering into double figures, including a couple seen over the fields rather than the reedbeds.
With patience some managed to pick up Bearded Reedlings zipping over the reeds, notably longer-tailed and shorter-winged than the Reed Buntings doing the same thing, but there were never especially close views. Somewhat easier to spot were the Tree Sparrows at the feeders by the toilet building. Again though, it was clear that some of the normal summer visitors weren’t in, or at least weren’t singing and showing well if they were skulking somewhere.
As the afternoon drew to a close, other sightings included a prowling Peregrine, distant aerial Little Egret and a pair of noisy Curlew flying downriver. The prevailing memory is likely to be the Marsh Harriers, with at least 3 male birds on the wing constantly courting a selection of female birds. Blacktoft Sands has a special relationship with this species, having been an instrumental part of the recovery of UK breeding numbers since the 1970’s. Let’s hope the Society will be able to return soon.
We left with possibly a smaller daylist than might have been expected, but considerably less cold and wet than the previous month! As the newly appointed Assistant Deputy Recorder for the Society it was an honour and a privilege to capture the sightings for the day.
Birds seen:
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Barnacle Goose
Shelduck
Mallard
Gadwall
Wigeon
Teal
Tufted Duck
Goldeneye
Pheasant
Great Northern Diver
Little Grebe
Great-crested Grebe
Cormorant
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Kestrel
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Lapwing
Dunlin
Redshank
Curlew
Ruff
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Kingfisher
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pied Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Dipper
Dunnock
Robin
Song Thrush
Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Blackbird
Goldcrest
Wren
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Willow Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Magpie
Jay
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Chaffinch
Lesser Redpoll
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Siskin
Bullfinch
Hawfinch
Reed Bunting
The dominant impression was the sight and sound of the Black-headed Gull colony, harbouring at least one pair of Mediterranean Gull and interwoven with several feeding Avocet. Blackcaps were singing and good numbers of Sand Martin buzzed around, at times flocking up into swirling groups
before dispersing again. A few House Martin and Swallow were detected amongst them. Best of all perhaps were two Little Ringed Plover showing very well on the scrapes, out at the back of the reserve.
 |
| Avocet (Alan & Glo) |
Water levels were quite high, and good numbers of Gadwall were noted, along with Shoveler and Teal, but muddy fringes that might have yielded Water Rail were submerged this time. Despite some patient scanning nobody reported seeing the resident Little Owls and it proved to be too early in the season for many other warblers or small waders. However, Linnet, Skylark and Red-legged Partridge were seen in the fields, Marsh Harrier and Peregrine were spotted overhead and we left having noted over 50 species.
A warming sun and exciting internet reports of Common Cranes on the reserve meant that the party was in good spirits on arrival at Blacktoft Sands. Unfortunately, the Cranes kept their heads down for the afternoon, meaning nobody saw them, but the superb tranquillity of this location was as beatific and relaxing as ever.
The assembly of species was actually nearly identical to North Cave, with Avocets and wildfowl like Shelduck, Gadwall and Shoveler much in evidence, but a few nice birds were added such as Goldeneye, Ruff and Yellow Wagtail. Some others showed more generally well, such as Cetti’s Warbler and of course the superb Marsh Harriers, surely numbering into double figures, including a couple seen over the fields rather than the reedbeds.
 |
| Shelduck (Alan & Glo) |
With patience some managed to pick up Bearded Reedlings zipping over the reeds, notably longer-tailed and shorter-winged than the Reed Buntings doing the same thing, but there were never especially close views. Somewhat easier to spot were the Tree Sparrows at the feeders by the toilet building. Again though, it was clear that some of the normal summer visitors weren’t in, or at least weren’t singing and showing well if they were skulking somewhere.
As the afternoon drew to a close, other sightings included a prowling Peregrine, distant aerial Little Egret and a pair of noisy Curlew flying downriver. The prevailing memory is likely to be the Marsh Harriers, with at least 3 male birds on the wing constantly courting a selection of female birds. Blacktoft Sands has a special relationship with this species, having been an instrumental part of the recovery of UK breeding numbers since the 1970’s. Let’s hope the Society will be able to return soon.
We left with possibly a smaller daylist than might have been expected, but considerably less cold and wet than the previous month! As the newly appointed Assistant Deputy Recorder for the Society it was an honour and a privilege to capture the sightings for the day.
 |
| Reed Bunting (Alan & Glo) |
Birds seen:
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Barnacle Goose
Shelduck
Mallard
Gadwall
Wigeon
Teal
Tufted Duck
Goldeneye
Pheasant
Great Northern Diver
Little Grebe
Great-crested Grebe
Cormorant
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Kestrel
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Lapwing
Dunlin
Redshank
Curlew
Ruff
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Kingfisher
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pied Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Dipper
Dunnock
Robin
Song Thrush
Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Blackbird
Goldcrest
Wren
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Willow Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Magpie
Jay
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Chaffinch
Lesser Redpoll
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Siskin
Bullfinch
Hawfinch
Reed Bunting
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