Sunday 7 May 2017

A Trip to Blacktoft Sands RSPB and North Cave

Today was the final field trip for Leigh Ornithological Society (L.O.S.) and we were off to east Yorkshire to visit a couple of nature reserves there.  We started at Blacktoft Sands RSPB where the main attractions are the Marsh Harriers which roost and breed there and they didn't disappoint.




A female Montagu's Harrier was also seen here today, but unfortunately not by me. This bush clearly belonged to the Dunnock as he was singing from the top of it every time we passed by.


This Willow Warbler was unusually quiet however.


There were Tree Sparrows galore around much of the site.



I didn't see as many Little Egrets today aa I have done in the  past, but there were some about.


It was great to see these Spotted Redshanks in breeding plumage, even if they were a little distant.


There were more Swifts than you could shake a stick at, there's been a huge influx in the UK this week.


Large Grey Heron incoming ...

This is probably my best photograph of the day - an Exocet, sorry Avocet, mobbing the Grey Heron. Who says 'Size Matters'?


You're going down!


I'm never sure about whether we count Greylag Geese or not, as most that we see are descended from captive populations, unlike the ones on Mull which are regarded as being truly wild.





We then moved on to North Cave which was just a little further up the M62 motorway. This was a new site for most of us and I think it's fair to say that we were impressed with the variety of birds and habitats here, even if it is still being developed.

This Grey Heron was seen in one of the first pools.


There were even more Avocets here as well as two Little Ringed Plovers and a male Ruff coming into breeding plumage.



It was also nice to see four Common Tern here.


So a good trip with some great birds. Much better than I expected actually.

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