Descrição
Hill Court Farm and Blacklands nature reserve has grazing marshes, wetlands and wildlife-friendly farmland. There are three different viewing screens and one permissive path. NOTE: during Winter this site can be flooded. During Spring and Summer, the grassland, woodland and hedges becomes alive with breeding Laverca, Escrevedeira-dos-caniços, Petinha-dos-prados, Felosa-comum and Cuco-canoro, Brown Hares, multiple different butterfly species and swathes of wildflowers. The scrape holds breeding Abibe-comum, Borrelho-pequeno-de-coleira and Maçarico-real. Also during this time, Andorinha-das-chaminés, Andorinho-dos-beirais, Garça-branca-pequena, Garça-real and numerous gull species come to drink, bath and feed around the scrape. During Spring migration, very small numbers of Marreco can occasionally turn up.
In Autumn, the occasional passage migrant such as Pássaro-bique-bique, can pass through. During Winter, large flocks of over 1,000 Abibe-comum gather at the scrape, as well as hundreds of Tarambola-dourada. Also, large numbers of Piadeira, Marrequinha-comum, Pato-real and Pato-trombeteiro can be seen. This site is one of the best nature reserves in Worcestershire for wintering Arrabio, with up to 300 induviduals being recorded in some years. Scarcer species recorded during Winter include Narceja-comum, Galinhola, Mergulhão-pequeno, Esmerilhão and Tartaranhão-ruivo-dos-pauis.
Detalhes
Acesso
There is a small layby situated on Marsh Road at the main entrance of the reserve. This can take around 4 cars at a time though there is barely ever that many cars parked there. Click on the P in the map for directions. After you have parked, the main path down into the reserve is well marked and simple to follow. The path is about 700 meters long.