It is hard to remember such a poor summer as this year’s has been, although I am told 1984 was pretty rough. With yet more wet and chilly weather forecast this wasn’t a natural choice of day to go out birdwatching, but I had electricians round my flat doing some work, so I decided to head to Blacktoft Sands where there are at least hides to shelter from the rain in.

This turned out to be a good choice as there were good numbers of migranting waders present, as I drove into the reserve car park a Curlew flew overhead – the only one of the day. In the first hide I visited (can’t remember its name) I was surprised to see large numbers of waders feeding and roosting on the pools. Around 150 Black-tailed Godwits were loafing around with at least 12 Greenshank, 15 Ruff, 20 Redshank, around 40 Lapwings and 40-50 Dunlin. On closer inspection a single Little Stint revealed itself, spending most of its time roosting but moving around from time to time, giving good views. Right in front of the hide were 15 Snipe and a Green Sandpiper. I spent quite some time watching the Snipe as it is quite rare that I get to see them at such close range. Also on this pool were a number of Mallard and lots of Teal. Three different Marsh Harriers passed through, scaring all the birds into the air where they whirled around before coming back to their original positions.

Along at the next hide there was very little, just a few Little Grebes, a single Great Crested Grebe and a number of Ducks: Mallard, 4 Ruddy Duck, Gadwall, Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, Tufted Duck and 2 Pochard. I have read that Pochard feed at night, but these two obviously hadn’t read the same book as they were busy diving every 12 seconds or so.

I walked back along towards the reception, stopping at First Hide, which didn’t seem to be getting many visitors. Very few birds here which explained the lack of birders, with just Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Moorhen and Coot. There was a Little Grebe with 3 tiny young and on much closer inspection I spotted a Pintail in eclipse plumage – a bird which seemed to have escaped everyone else!

Further along at Xerox Hide anothe good assortment of species awaited, with a group of 12 Avocets feeding together. It was quite funny to watch them feeding in a circle together as if they were some sort of co-ordinated marching group. I got a few pictures of them through my binoculars, in the second photo it is clear to see how grim the weather got.

Also close to the hide were about 30 Ruff, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 30-40 Redshank and 4 Green Sandpiper. Lots of Teal were on the water too and a Black-headed Gull flew in followed by two immatures, calling for food. Other waders feeding included 50-60 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 6 Lapwings and 2 Knot and a Pied Wagtail was catching insects to feed a chick.

At the final hide almost nothing was present, just 2 Greenshank and a flyover Common Gull, although there was a Tree Sparrow feeding chicks in a nestbox close to the hide. With the weather getting ever worse I headed for home having seen quite a number of nice birds.

birds, birding, nature, national parks