Blacktoft Sands

Photo by Delia Todd
Blacktoft Sands looking from Marshland Hide over the reedbed and lagoon

Overview

At the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Trent, this reserve lies on the Inner Humber estuary and consists of extensive tidal reedbeds and saltmarsh with artificially created brackish lagoons. The brackish reedswamp here is one of the largest remaining areas of this declining habitat in the country. Some rough grassland occurs and areas of willow scrub have been established to provide extra habitat, a recent acquisition has brought extra grazing marshes into the reserve. More than 170 species are recorded annually at Blacktoft Sands.

Birds

Notable Species

Breeding waders include Little Ringed Plover and Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe and Common Redshank and of the waterfowl, Mute Swan, Common Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Common Teal, Northern Shoveler and Common Pochard breed. Feral Greylag Goose and Canada Goose breed and Ruddy Duck has nested in recent years. The reedbeds hold Little Grebe, Water Rail and Bearded Tit, Reed Bunting and warblers. There is a large Reed Warbler population, more than 300 pairs breed here, unusual numbers so far north.

The area is of national importance for waterfowl and a wide variety of waders occurs during passage periods. These include all the regular northern European species and scarcer birds such as Pied Avocet, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper. Short-eared Owl, Hen Harrier and Merlin hunt over the area in winter and waterfowl occur in large numbers. Pink-footed Goose can often be seen on the Humber or overhead and other waterfowl present in autumn and winter include Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal and Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Common Goldeneye and Goosander. Several other species, such as the more maritime Greater Scaup and Red-breasted Merganser, occur on occasion. Great Bittern is a scarce regular visitor, usually in winter. Although this is about 60km from the sea each autumn and winter brings a few seabirds to Blacktoft Sands. Northern Fulmar and Northern Gannet, skuas, Kittiwake and auks have all been recorded. The five commoner gulls can all be seen in autumn, winter and spring, joined by the occasional Mediterranean Gull and Little Gull. Common Tern, Arctic Tern and Black Terns are regular in spring.

The cultivated fields around the village of Swinefleet are a reliable area for Eurasian Dotterel on spring passage. From the village keep right towards Eastoft and Crowle, rather than left for Blacktoft Sands, and search the pea-fields carefully. This is a regular site but the number of Dotterel present varies.

Rarities

Rarities recorded at Blacktoft Sands include Eurasian Spoonbill and Little Egret, Blue-winged Teal and Montagu's Harrier and waders such as Black-winged Stilt, Temminck's Stints and Baird's Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Broad-billed Sandpipers. Two extremely rare waders in Britain have been recorded here, Hudsonian Godwit and Red-necked Stint and in March 2002 a Ross's Gull was present.

Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Great Bittern, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Bewick's Swan, Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye, Goosander, Ruddy Duck, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Osprey, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Hobby, Red-legged Partridge, Grey Partridge, Common Pheasant, Water Rail, Common Coot, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Pied Avocet, Little Ringed Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Eurasian Dotterel, Eurasian or European Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Northern Lapwing, Red Knot, Sanderling, Little Stint, Temminck's Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Red-necked Phalarope, Little Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Black Tern, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, European Turtle Dove, Common Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Northern House Martin, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Common Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Whinchat, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Eurasian Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Bearded Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Eurasian Linnet, Northern Redpoll, Lesser Redpoll, Twite, Eurasian Bullfinch, Snow Bunting, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting

Other Wildlife

Mammals found at Blacktoft Sands include both Water Vole Arvicola terrestris and Water Shrew Neomys fodiens, Brown Hare Lepus europaeus and Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus.

Site Information

History and Use

To do

Areas of Interest

To do

Access and Facilities

The reserve has six hides (mostly accessible to wheelchairs) overlooking the lagoons and reedbeds and can be reached from Goole heading west on the A161 to Swinefleet, then left towards Reedness and Ousefleet and the reserve car-park is 1km further on. Bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation on the edge of the Wolds within easy reach of Bempton Cliffs, Blacktoft Sands and Spurn Point.

Contact Details

To do

External Links

• The RSPB: Blacktoft Sands
• BirdForum's Yorkshire Birding Thread

Content originally posted by Steve

Reviews

yorkshire83's review

Good reserve in a fairly accessible location. Offers good views of Marsh Harriers, Barn and Short-eared Owls, all of which you are more than likely going to see. Really good variety of species and a good chance to spot some rarer migrants too!!! Dotterel can also be picked up in the nearby villages in spring.

Pros

• Excellent facilities
• great viewing and a good range of species.

Cons

• Can be deserted at low tides with very little on the lagoons.

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mikealison's review

I haven't been birding long, but had a great day here. This was the first time I have seen marsh harriers and I had an amazing view. Will be going again as there is to much to take in one visit

Pros

• great place to see marsh harriers

Cons

• can get busy

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jenza88's review

I visited Blacktoft Sands for the first time yesterday hoping to see Bearded Tits and Avocets, both of which breed at the reserve. Unfortunately that avocets had departed a week or two previously but the birds that I did see more than made up for the avocet disappointment. The highlight of the day was the sighting of a Spotted Crake alongside a Water Rail - if only I'd had my camera! Despite warnings that the Bearded Tits were quite elusive I had an excellent view of several flying in and out of the reeds not too far from the most popular hide - Marshland. Other sightings included a Wood Sandpiper, green and common sandpipers, many Redshanks, numerous Ruffs, a Marsh Harrier, two Black tailed Godwits, 5 snipe, numerous teal and lapwings. All in all it was a very successful visit and I shall definitely be returning.

The reserve has 5 hides which are spread along a straight path with several hundred metres between each one. The most popular hide is Marshland which can get quite busy and is situated approximately 400m from the reception hide. There are no cafe or food facilities there.

Pros

• A wide variety of birds

Cons

• None

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Hotspur's review

Regular here, seen many waders including Pec Sand, Curlew Sand, Avocet, Ruff, Spotshank, Greenshank, Green Sand. Also Spoonbill, Barn Owl, SE Owl, Merlin, Marsh Harrier, Barnacle Goose, Garganey and lots of common species. Still not seen the bearded tits!!!

Pros

• Good variety of waders

Cons

• quiet in high summer

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gbh1812's review

I have graded this as a 6 and taking into account the fact that the majority of England has been fog bound for the last 2 days you will understand why.

My friend and I had planned 2 days birding around Blacktoft and boy were we gutted with the weather! However, we had booked two nights at the Reeds Hotel (Best Western) at Barton on Humber and after a hazardous drive through the fog we were not disappointed!!

The hotel has the Humber Estuary on one side and several lakes on the other. We woke up each morning to a pair of GC Grebes, Goldeneyes, Marsh Harriers, Long Tailed tits to name but a few! How happy were we.

Great walks around the Far-Ings Nature Reserve - hotel is on doorstep.

Also good for Bullfinch and we are currently arguing over whether we saw a Blackcap/Stonechat! Going back in the Spring.

A fab place for birders. If your partner is NOT a birder then leave them at The Reeds Hotel - it has its own Spa Complex attached so they will be well occupied!

Pros

• Proximity of Hides & Walking In Reeds

Cons

• No Visitor Centre

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deatheagle's review

I went to Blacktoft at the weekend. It was a fantastic place. I saw some amazing birds such as a Marsh Harrier hunting over the reeds, Shoveler, Wigeon, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Goldeneye, Gadwalls and a Whooper Swan.

Pros

• A good place to see some great species

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barry stone's review

Visited April 07. Up to 100 Black-tailed Godwits, a large number of Avocets, Marsh Harriers over the reed beds most of the day and a Barn Owl flew within 20 yds of the hide.

Great venue