Route: Blacktoft Sands
Area: East Yorkshire
Date of walk: 11th June 2014
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 2 miles
Weather: warm and sunny
I parked at the RSPB Reserve at Blacktoft Sands, home to 270 species of birds. I checked in at the reception hide and then visited the Ousefleet hide at the far western end of the site. From there I’d been hoping to follow a public footpath along the River Ouse to Whitgift, but the path was completely overgrown with waist high nettles and thistles. It may have improved later on, I don’t know, as I decided to stay within the reserve which had plenty to offer
I spent about 4 hours watching the wildlife from the various hides and was thrilled to see plenty of action from the marsh harriers as they hunted for food over the reedbeds
It was a morning well spent and as things turned out it didn’t matter at all that I didn’t manage to get a proper walk. I’ve included a maps page as usual, not that it’s needed for navigation, but it does give an idea of the layout of the land. The paths in the reserve are very well maintained and the only climbing involved is up the stairs to some of the hides
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Entering the RSPB reserve at Blacktoft Sands
The reception hide - and an unintentional selfie in the reflection from the window
Path linking the various hides along the way
Little Egret
Shelduck
Sedge warbler
Nesting Avocets
Black headed gull
Nesting gulls with their chicks on one of the islands
Heron
Tufted duck
Tree Sparrow - not often seen these days
Walking to the eastern end of the reserve
There were several Marsh Harriers hunting for food
Harrier being harried by a gull
Brave Black Headed Gull protecting its nest from the Harrier’s attentions
I’d really enjoyed my visit - many thanks to the RSPB
