Black-wined Stilt: Working close to Doncaster I shout it would be rude not to stop off at Potteric Carr to see their breeding black-winged stilts.
Thought to be the most northerly breeding success for this species ever in the UK. Four eggs were laid about a month ago and news surpassed until they had hatched. The parent birds arrived on the reserve on the 16th of May and started to prospect for suitable nesting sites on the mudflats.
They settled on Piper Marsh and have successfully reared our chicks. although I only saw two when I arrived.
The parents were very aggressive and protective of their young chasing away and attacking the resident mallards, herons and egrets which dared to stray too close. This is probably the main reason why they have been so successful, as ground nesting birds they are vulnerable to predators.
There seems to be a bit of an influx of of black-winged stilt this year, with them breeding in Norfolk and several individuals seen throughout the season across the country.
This was my first visit to Potteric Carr and I was toughly impressed, its a real wildlife paradise, a green jewel in an others built up urban area surrounded by industry. The place was huge and offered a wide variety of habitats to explore.
