Blacktoft Marsh Harriers

 Great to see so many Marsh Harriers about, must have had around 20 sightings in the three hours i was on the reserve

I gather that there may be around 18 pairs breed at Blacktoft, so must be the best site in the UK

Blacktoft Sands visit- Part 2

It was good to get down to Blacktoft with Ron during our visit south.

Trip List

Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, GT White Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Blue tit, Gt Tit, Long Tailed tit, Robin, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Snipe, Lapwing , Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Magpie, Starling, House Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Collard Dove. (46)

Part 3 - Herons to follow

Green Sandpipers

Snipe

Spotted redshank and Grey Heron
 

Greenshanks

Spotted Redshank & Lapwing

Spotted redshank, Grey Heron, Lapwing, Teal , Redshank

Greenshank

Greenshank

Spotted Redshank & Teal

Teal, Shoveler, Lapwing, Spotted Redshank

Shoveler

Marsh Harriers

Blacktoft Marsh Harriers

 We don't see too many Marsh Harriers in Shetland, just passage birds so it was good to get down to Blacktoft Sands to see about 20+ birds

Blacktoft is one of the best places in the UK to see them and we saw activity throughout the day.

About 50 years ago there was only one pair breeding in the UK , now Blacktoft has 10 breeding pairs.

Now around 695 pairs breed which is a great conservation success. This is down to creating reedbed habitats and Blacktoft is one of the biggest in the UK, also a reducing and banning of harmful pesticides.

 

Here the Harriers feed on rats, small birds and even insects

You can see Marsh, Hen and occasional Montagues Harriers in winter.