Description
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 Tarlakuşu, Bataklık kirazkuşu, Çayır incirkuşu, Çıvgın and Guguk, Brown Hares, multiple different butterfly species and swathes of wildflowers. The scrape holds breeding Kızkuşu, Küçük halkalı cılıbıt and Kervançulluğu. Also during this time, Kır kırlangıcı, Ev kırlangıcı, Küçük ak balýkçýl, Gri balýkçýl and numerous gull species come to drink, bath and feed around the scrape. During Spring migration, very small numbers of Çıkrıkçın can occasionally turn up.
In Autumn, the occasional passage migrant such as Yeşil düdükçün, can pass through. During Winter, large flocks of over 1,000 Kızkuşu gather at the scrape, as well as hundreds of Altın yağmurcun. Also, large numbers of Fiyu, Çamurcun, Yeşilbaş and Kaşıkgaga can be seen. This site is one of the best nature reserves in Worcestershire for wintering Kilkuyruk, with up to 300 induviduals being recorded in some years. Scarcer species recorded during Winter include Su çulluğu, Çulluk, Küçük batağan, Boz doğan and Saz delicesi.
Details
Access
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.