Dates with Nature RSPB Blacktoft Sands

Juvenile Marsh Harriers- Cameron Lee

Great field trip at RSPB Blacktoft Sands on Saturday. 8 of us did the drive up Goole to this wonderful reserve and it was well worth it.

Blacktoft Tree Sparrows- L Bimson

We watched tree sparrows, goldfinch and chaffinch feeding on the feeders by the farmland hedge while we waited for everyone at arrive and watched a hare running after a pheasant. We walked into the reception hide and were greeted by Sara the assistant warden. After a quick chat about what's about we watched 2 marsh harriers come close to the hide then one started to turn and patrol a small stretch of reedbed as if expecting to make a kill!! What emerged out of the reedbed was a large dog otter which walked towards us. A fantastic start but slightly disappointing as they have stopped putting out grit trays for the bearded tits.

A walk to the other hides and ruff, redshank, curlew, black tailed godwit and a water rail showed. A walk to the last hide and we saw a weasel run off in front of us, we stopped and watched and he came back to collect a mouse it had killed and then bounced off with it. 

Ruff  - L Bimson 

Lots of greylag geese, teal, wigeon, 6 pintail and a solitary gadwall. It might be a long drive but it always delivers something different.

Chris Tynan

Leader

RSPB Liverpool Local group
e; christtynan@aol.com

t;+44(0)7831352870

twitter: @RSPBLiverpool
website; http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/liverpool

RSPB Blacktoft recent blog

 

https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/blacktoftsands/b/blacktoftsands-blog/archive/2018/10/09/waders-wildfowl-hen-harrier-and-fieldfares-winters-arrived.aspx

https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/blacktoftsands/b/blacktoftsands-blog/archive/2018/10/05/hen-harrier-sighting-and-old-foxy-develops-a-sweet-tooth.aspx

The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring 

everyone to give nature a home. Together with our partners, we protect 

threatened birds and wildlife so our towns, coast and countryside will teem with 

life once again. We play a leading role in BirdLife International, a worldwide 

partnership of nature conservation organisations.