Blacktoft Sands

Formally a favourite reserve of mine during the eighties and nineties, with it's guaranteed stream of good wading birds each July and August, Blacktoft has become a nightmare place to visit. Where once brilliant birder and chain-smoking pariah Andrew Grieve would host mouth-watering rarities such as Hudsonian Godwit and Red-necked Stint for armies of young enthusiasts to hone their skills on, the reserve now resembles a retirement camp for the bewildered and incontinent, where swapping recipes has replaced grilling calidrids.

Of course the RSPB can be proud of it's Avocets and it's Marsh Harriers, species that were always going to do well if enough habitat was made available, but what's happened to the extra magic that Blacktoft Sands had? My theory? Ever since the society's mantra started including the words 'For People' it's all gone tits up. In it's push for the million voices for nature, the RSPB has turned birdwatching at it's reserves into something akin to a mass gathering of the women's institute, whilst simultaneously running alfresco therapy sessions for the hard of thinking.

Only thirty minutes into my latest experience this weekend and the hide had to be abandoned as hearing myself think became impossible. Door-slamming, equipment-dropping, endless non-bird related gossiping, coughing, sneezing, farting and incessant mobile phone ringing (extra loud setting for the deaf of course) made any kind of concentration pointless. No sign of tomorrow's bird experts here then - the complete and utter lack of consideration for those who would want to study by those who should know better has made sure of that.

Although Blacktoft has had the monopoly on wader-watching in Yorkshire for many years, it's apparent lack of scarcities these days comes as no surprise to me anymore. It's not because they aren't there - indeed I'm convinced Britain's first Spoon-billed Sandpiper has already put in an appearance in front of Xerox. It's just that sadly there's no one left who would either know or care.

Photos from the top: Greenshank, Redshanks, Goldfinch & Southern Hawker