Sprotborough Flash, managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, at Sprotborough near Doncaster, was to be my first port of call today, a new reserve for me and I was looking forward to the experience.
A small car park, fit about a dozen on estimate, located near the Boat Inn, I got the gear together and off I went. There is a well tarmacked path, this being the Trans Pennine Trail route, so with this comes a few cyclists coming thru, this is next to the river, where there happened to be Cormorants, Black headed Gulls, and a Grey Heron, a few Crows flying over. I was soon at the first screen , which overlooks the flash, where I didn’t see anything. I moved on to the next hide, which I think is called the Kingfisher Hide, the hides being more of an open hide, no back but seating, on my approach, I was beckoned over by one of the locals who put me on to a Kingfisher, goes with the name of the hide, it was in view but sat in the middle of the bush, very much obscured by branches. Other delights from here were Bank Voles, a lifer for me :), very near the hide, scurrying around in the bramble patch, Robin, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Mallard, Cormorants, Grey Heron, Greylag Geese, Mute Swan and Gadwall were all seen from here.
I moved on towards the next hide, Heron Hide, same arrangement here as with the Kingfisher hide, here I saw Jay, Great Tit, Blue Tit and heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker, not much action from here, so I decided on moving on to to get to now more of the reserve, the wooded side needed to be explored. Well the woods didn’t hold my attention, I was struggling for species, only coming across Robin, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long tailed Tit and Great Tit, so on that note I moved on back towards the flash, especially the kingfisher hide, maybe better views this time.
The Kingfisher wasn’t about but the Bank Vole was more out in the open now, giving better views and better photo opportunities, also here were the Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Dunnock and on the approach to the hide a flock of Siskins.
I had a great first visit to Sprotborough Flash, some nice wildlife and friendly people, but it was now time to head north to RSPB Blacktoft Sands for the raptor roost. i checked in at the reception hide and got the necessary info on the target species, Hen Harrier, there were three birds coming thru the reserve, including a Male bird, over the last two week, was my luck going to be in?
I firstly went to the new hide, Reedling, since this was my first visit since it was put in place. A big hide, two tiers, giving great views across the whole reserve. There was very little bird action, on my visit, there was however Mute Swans, Common Snipe, Little Grebe, Mallards, and Shoveler.
Time was moving on, so I decided on moving down to Townend Hide, to settle in for the roost. I waited in anticipation for the returning Hen Harriers, but it wasn’t to be, not on my shift, it was busy however with Marsh Harrier and I had a quick glimpse of a Barn Owl.
Video of the day can be seen by pressing THIS
Sprotborough Bird List ; Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Crow, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Jackdaw, Jay, Kingfisher, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Robin, Shoveler, Siskin, Teal, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon
Blacktoft Sands Bird List ; Barn Owl, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Gadwall. Little Egret, Little Grebe, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Mute Swan, Shoveler, Snipe, Starling, Woodpigeon
Huddsbirder 