As anyone who was a regular visitor to Tophill Low NR over the years you’ll be aware that the site has had limited access for nearly three years, first heavy rain in October 2019 causing serious fear of the River Hull bursting its banks then just as work to prevent this had been finished Covid restrictions came in. As the attitude to the “plague” lessened, work on the site started to limit access in 2021 then total closure [apart from a few volunteers] in late winter 2022. For a more detailed narrative check the site blog. My last visit was an escorted tours in April [see here]. Of course during the last closure limited birding was still going on by volunteers working on site [see the last Tophill Low NR Blog]. I failed to see the Spotted Sandpiper but thanks to Roy I got the Great Reed Warbler on the 20th May [I have more things to say but maybe another time?] As well as a Tophill tick this was my Yorkshire bogey bird. It was present 18 May until 12 June.
Anyway thanks to Ricky I got to visit the reserve on the first day the general public were allowed on 12th September. My first surprise was how few had taken the opportunity but I suppose this was partly due to the deliberate decision to open on a working day as well as a low key announcement of the reopening. Part of the reluctance to not proclaim the reopening from the rooftops though is because access is still limited.
Started in the “members hide” by the visitors centre, currently the only way to view D res [no access further north including North Marsh and Hempholme Meadows.]
Good to see good numbers of wildfowl including Coot, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Little and Great Crested Grebe. However although a small number of Wigeon, I found no Goldeneye, which in previous years have been present by now in small numbers. There were a few hirundines over Hempholme Meadow including a single Swift, a few days short of the site latest record.
We then headed south. Had quick look from North Lagoon Hide but the lagoon was dry and overgrown awaiting dredging later this year. At South Lagoon we had at least two Kingfisher in flight but never settle din full view. Also a few Little Grebe including a juvenile.
A few Migrant Hawker were ‘patrolling’ below the hide giving me the chance to try to get a flight shot.
We had heard Cetti’s Warbler and had a brief sighting then saw two flying across the path as we left.
Finally South Marsh East which promised to be the highlight We chose to view from Izzard Hide where we immediately had a fairly distant but at least openly perched Kingfisher.
Also a Little Egret and Green Sandpiper were close up.
The bird I most wanted to see was Little Stint and I started to ‘scope the distant edge and found a Ringed Plover later joined by a Little Stint.
Had two of each later, both much closer.
Also a Dunlin.
We had missed a Water Rail earlier but heard it squeaking and as we were leaving the hide it reappeared. It was preening so had chance to sit down again and get a few images.
I had provisionally arranged to visit the reserve with Roy on Wednesday but while I was in Izzard hide he had texted to say he was coming this afternoon so I decided to meet up and go round again with him. Like me Roy was most interested in South Marsh East this time from the main hide, which gives a surprisingly different impression of the marsh than the Izzard Hide. The “distant edge” I’d mentioned above is the shore of the main broken island from the main hide. Some birds I’d seen earlier but distance came closer including a Common Sandpiper I’d earlier seen briefly.
Final totals were 3 Little Stint [including a fly over], 2 Ringed Plover, Dunlin, 4 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, c20 Snipe and a increasing flock of Lapwing.
Leaving South Marsh East we had our only Common Darter. Interesting to note despite Tophill Low NR being a good place to see Odonata it has yet to record two colonising species, Small Red-eyed and Willow Emerald Damselfly, both of which I have seen to several sites locally this year.
South Marsh West could only be seen from back-to-back hide. Possibly because of potential breeding Bittern the reedbed was over grown. You can see the mound for the new hide where L-shaped hide had been. Roy had seen a Hobby driving in and we had likely the same bird over East Scrub walking back to the car park.
No butterflies were seen, likely because although still quite warm it was overcast with occasional rain.
We made our first entries in the records book in the hut near the ticket machine and I added the first entry on the sightings board for the “new era.”
If you have a membership card it should still be valid “All members who have a membership card that is valid for the 2020/21 or 2021/22 season which are cards that have the little egret (2020/21) or the otter (2021/22) photos ARE VALID TILL MARCH 2023 and will be accepted by the ticket machine.”
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