Saturday 25 January 2014

Northern Pits: juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL from 09:06-09:45 (when it flew north) on Pumphouse Pit east, having arrived with a small group of large white-headed Gulls from the west at 09:05. Also today, juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still on Pumphouse Pit west (New Workings), adult Bewick's Swan (late afternoon) and drake Smew on Pumphouse Pit east; 10 Pintail (5 drakes), Grey Plover over, c.350 Black-tailed Godwits, 2-3 Green Sandpipers, Redshank, Dunlin, 2-3 Little Egrets, adult Peregrine & single Siskin over. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming nearby in Diddington village.

Nearby a ring-tail HEN HARRIER flew north over the elephant grass field east of Stirtloe sewage works (north of Anglian Water access road).

Heronry North Pit: 3 Goosander (1 drake).





































Juvenile Glaucous Gull (upper two photo's) and Black-tailed Godwits in flight, Paxton Pits © Jamie Wells.

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Northern Pits: drake Smew, 4 Pintail, Shelduck, Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Golden Plover and Green Sandpiper, but no sign of the Great Northern Diver today.

Tuesday 14 January 2014

Northern Pits: juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still this afternoon; also redhead Smew, 8 Pintail, 3 Little Egrets, adult Yellow-legged Gull, c.250 Black-tailed Godwits, 1500+ Lapwing, 6 Golden Plover, 4 Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpipers, Barn Owl, Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher. A large count of 1484 Wigeon was also notable.

Sunday 12 January 2014

Northern Pits: juv GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, redhead Smew, 2 Egyptian Geese, 8 Pintail, Green Sandpiper & 2 Little Egrets.

Saturday 11 January 2014

Heronry Pits: pair of Red-crested Pochards still on Heronry South; 2 drake Goosander on Heronry North and 2 Otters reported from Kingfisher hide again.

Island Pit: female Scaup amongst large numbers of Tufted Ducks, also drake Goosander.

Northern Pits: juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still and RAVEN seen heading west towards Grafham; also Peregrine.

Washout Pit: Woodcock flushed from area near quarry workings (west of pit).

Monday 6 January 2014

Visitors' Centre: Woodcock over at dusk.

Sunday 5 January 2014

Heron Trail: Pair of Red-crested Pochards on Heronry South, plus Little Egret, redhead Smew and 2 drake Goosander on Heronry North. Two Otters were also seen in front of the Kingfisher hide earlier on this morning. 1-2 Marsh Tits were calling from the scrubby area between the two hides and the male Brambling was once again with the Chaffinch flock along Haul Road. 30+ Golden Plover over.

A1 Pits: 1st winter and adult female Scaup still on A1 North Pit, also 12 Corn Buntings around nearby stubble fields with c.100 Yellowhammers & similar numbers of Linnets.

Island Pit: redhead Smew, 2 drake Goosander and a drake Scaup x Tufted Duck hybrid.

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER and SHAG still present, plus 3 Egyptian Geese, 104 Black-tailed Godwits over, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe and 2 Green Sandpipers.

Thursday 2 January 2014

Juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still present today, as well as the 1st winter and adult female Scaup. 4 redhead Smew, 2 drake Goosanders & a drake Red-crested Pochard complete the set of interesting wildfowl around the complex. On the wader front, 77 Black-tailed Godwits (through in 2-3 groups), 31 Golden Plover, 5 Ruff, 7 Dunlin and an impressive flock of c.2000 Lapwing were all noted. The male Brambling remains with the Chaffinch flock along Haul Road and the nearby stubble fields produced 5+ Corn Buntings amongst the Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings and Linnets.

Wednesday 1 January 2014

New Years' Day highlights

Boughton Lodge Farm: GREAT WHITE EGRET flew NE at 09:55 (and was later picked up further along the Ouse Valley near Brampton).

Northern Pits: juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still on Diddington Pit, viewable from the public footpath SE of Diddington village (north of Boughton Lodge Farm); also drake Red-crested Pochard. Immature SHAG also still on Pumphouse Pit, which is viewable from public rights of way at the far NW end of the Pit (Stirtloe end). Also present were 5 redhead Smew, 5 Pintail (2 drakes) and a single Dunlin.

A1 North Pit: 2 Scaup still present, plus 4 drake Red-crested Pochard together at far west end of pit. Pair of Pintail flew over, heading north. Nearby male Brambling again with the Chaffinch flock and 9 Corn Buntings.

Heronry Pits: drake Goosander from Kingfisher Hide and a Chiffchaff along Haul Road.

Island Pit: redhead Goosander flew south; 2-3 Brown Hares.

Washout Pit: Water Rail showing briefly.