Faxfleet

 RSPB York Local Group Walk at Faxfleet. A fellow volunteer at RSPB Blacktoft Sands was due to lead this walk yesterday, bu unfortunately was unable to do so due to illness, so I offered to help.

This walk is along the north bank of the River Ouse, nearly opposite RSPB Blacktoft Sands. We  walked to where the Market Weighton canal joins the river.

The walk was along the top of the floodbank and views on the river side are restricted due to the height of the reeds. We stopped wherever possible to view the birds on the mud, as it was low tide.

As we walked along we came to a field that had been recently ploughed. We could hear birds calling and were treated to the spectacle of several hundred golden plover flying overhead. They circled for a while and then landed in the field.

It took us just over an hour to reach the end of the canal. We  had a slightly better view of the mud-banks on the river from here and could see cormorant, redshank, teal, mallard and wigeon. Looking up the canal we saw redwing, blackbird and a song thrush in the bushes, and 2 marsh harriers over Whitton Sands.

We walked back to the car park along the road as it was easier walking.  After lunch we walked along the footpath towards Blacktoft village, so that we could look up the River Trent and also over part of RSPB Blacktoft Sands.

The tide was coming in and lots of teal were on the water. A small pleasure boat went down the Trent which scattered the birds. We were able to see 2 marsh harriers over the reserve as well as 5 cormorants perched on the white marker posts.

A pleasant walk, with good company and a bird list of 27 species for the day.