This day last year we took the train and were braving the wild north-westerlies on Morecambe Bay. Today was quite different, we were back in the minibus for the first time in two and a half years, and we enjoyed a pleasant autumn day, overcast but warm.
Blacktoft Sands lies along the Ouse, and consists of a string of hides with flat easy paths connecting them. The first comments we made as we headed along the hedgerow to the Ousefleet hide, was the abundance and size of the haws on the Hawthorn. A feast in waiting.
To the left was a recently ploughed field, and we spent a while trying to locate a small flock of waders that had landed. Whilst we could pick out a few roosting Lapwing, we couldn’t see anything else so headed onwards. As we took our seats there wasn’t much to see on the water/marsh in front of Ousefleet hide, but before long we were enjoying good views of a male Marsh Harrier quartering the reeds. And, although it took a while, we did spot two Snipe before moving on.
As we retraced our steps, we noticed that other people were watching the ploughed field, so we took another look. There were now hundreds of Golden Plover, having arrived in a couple of groups of 300 to 400. Between our scope and the others focussed on the birds, we had a good view. Though in general it was the olive hue of the mud that gave away their presence. (This sighting was voted the best of the day once we were on the way home).
There was much more water at Marshland hide. The most numerous ducks were the Teal, followed by the Shovelers. We had a good opportunity to look at the characteristics of the Spotted Redshank, though they weren’t feeding while we watched, so we could not note their particular style compared to the Redshank we saw in the afternoon.
We also saw Gadwall, Wigeon and Mallard at this hide, as well as four Black Tailed Godwits and both male and female Marsh Harriers. There were a couple of moths inside the hide which John has since identified as Parsnip Moths. On the paths between the hides we spotted a couple of moth caterpillars, a Garden Tiger and a Knot Grass, and a number of active dragonflies, both Common Darter and Migrant Hawker. The other notable species along the paths was the very tall Marsh Sowthistle, some of its last remaining flowers providing sustenance for a Common Carder Bee, and the loud calls of the Cetti’s Warblers.
In Townend hide we had good views of the Redshank and a juvenile Ruff, and enjoyed a number of Pied Wagtails active on the muddy shore.
The water levels at Singleton hide were low, with just a couple of pools remaining near the hide. A small group of Gadwall were moving between them. A Grey Heron flew past the hide, and again we saw Marsh Harriers as well as a Buzzard.
We departed the reserve just as the rain started, and despite the roadworks and other holdups etc on the M62, and the chaos at Chain Bar, we got home without too much delay. The next outing to Cromwell Bottom will require your own travel, but the minibus is back in use for the November trips.
Julia