Sunday 30 March 2014

Northern Pits: 2 Little Ringed Plovers through during the morning, Curlew present throughout day, female Scaup still, imm. male Marsh Harrier over north, male Yellow Wagtail, singing Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, 2+ Little Egrets.

Little Paxton village: Red Kite 'hanging' above fields by Great North Road.

Saturday 29 March 2014

Heron Trail: Willow Warbler singing by Peters' Field; 3 Blackcaps singing.


Friday 28 March 2014

Northern Pits: Grey Plover circled low around Pumphouse Pit late morning, then headed off east. Female-type Marsh Harrier over Diddington Pit early afternoon. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still on new workings, female Scaup still Diddington Pit, single Swallow and Sand Martin.

Farm Pit: Barn Owl roosting in hedgerow on west side of pit, also Redpoll over.

Heron Trail: Blackcap singing between the two hides; Redpoll over Wray House Garden.

Island Pit: male and female Goosander, plus 1-2 Cetti's Warblers

Thursday 27 March 2014

Northern Pits: adult summer Mediterranean Gull with Black-headed Gulls late afternoon.

Sunday 23 March 2014

Northern Pits: the first Wheatear (a male) of the spring at Diddington Pit. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER & female Scaup still present.

Saturday 22 March 2014

Ouse Valley Way: Otter swimming downsteam along river at north end of pit complex early evening.

Heronry North: 2 redhead Goosander.

Friday 21 March 2014

Heron Trail: 2 redhead Goosander on Heronry North Pit; Green Sandpiper near main quarry workings area.

Island Pit: Cetti's Warbler singing.

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER and female Scaup still, 2 Avocets (later flew off towards Grafham Water), Little Egret, 2 Snipe, 3 Ringed Plover, 31 Sand Martins, 7 Chiffchaffs and a male Sparrohawk displaying.


















Chiffchaff, Paxton Pits.

Wednesday 19 March 2014

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still on Pumphouse Pit west, plus 6 Sand Martins over Pumphouse Pit east in the morning. Also 2 Siskins flew south.

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Boughton Lodge Farm: 140+ Fieldfare.

Northern Pits: G.N.DIVER still, drake Shelduck, 7 Redshank, Ruff, Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 6 Oystercatchers still, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Chiffchaffs and 43 Fieldfare over.

Monday 17 March 2014

Northern Pits: First passage Rock Pipit of the year at Pumphouse Pit this afternoon, also Scaup and GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, plus 2 Ringed Plover, 11 Redshank, 6 Oystercatchers, 3 male Sparrowhawks seen tussling together, 6+ Buzzards, 2+ Little Egrets, Cetti's Warbler and several singing Chiffchaffs.

Heron Trail: 2 (separate) Weasels seen: one by Heronry North Pit, and the second near Peters' Field.

Sunday 16 March 2014

WeBS count highlights and Iceland Gull

Island Pit: redhead Smew, drake Red-crested Pochard and 2 Goosander at south end of pit. Also singing Cetti's Warbler and Chiffchaff.

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER and Scaup still, plus 320 Teal counted and a pair of Shelduck. Wigeon numbers greatly reduced on recent weeks.Waders comprised of a single Avocet, 6 Redshank, 4 Ruff, Ringed Plover and 6 Oystercatchers. A 3cy ICELAND GULL was also reported flying SW over Diddington Pit.

Saturday 15 March 2014

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still on Pumphouse Pit west (aka New Workings) viewable from public footpath west or north of the Pit; female Scaup on Diddington Pit, viewable from public footpath at SW end of pit. Also a very mobile redhead Smew, 2 Egyptian Geese (flew north); singing Cetti's Warbler, Red Kite, 6 Snipe, Dunlin and 3 Redshank.

Washout Pit: Cetti's Warbler heard calling.

Sunday 9 March 2014

Heron trail: Little Egret, 2 Kingfishers, Grey Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaffs.

Boughton Lodge Farm: Barn Owl, c.50 Fieldfare.

Island Pit: redhead Smew, Chiffchaff and singing Cetti's Warbler.

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, redhead Smew, 12 Redshank.


Butterflies on the wing today: Brimstone, Comma, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell

Saturday 8 March 2014

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, 5 Egyptian Geese, redhead Smew, redhead Goosander (flew south), 4 Pintail (2 drakes), 2 Red Kites, Green Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, Little Egret, 2 Siskins & 2 Lesser Redpoll. No sign of Friday's Snow Bunting today.




















Great Northern Diver on new workings/Pumphouse Pit west.

Friday 7 March 2014

Northern Pits: SNOW BUNTING present throughout the day at Diddington Pit was an excellent record (the first at the pits since 1993). Also GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 4 Oystercatchers, possible Avocet (heard only), Green Sandpiper, 3 Snipe, Little Egret and 4 Buzzards.



















Snow Bunting, Paxton Pits.

Wednesday 5 March 2014

Cetti's Warbler singing (and fighting with a Wren!) at north east end of Washout Pit. Also redhead Goosander on Heronry North, 2 singing Chiffchaffs at the Great Meadow, Little Egret at Island Pit and 3 Kingfishers, 2 Sparrowhawks and 5 Buzzards noted around the reserve.

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, 2 redhead Smew, Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Green Sandpipers, Redshank, Dunlin, 6 Oystercatchers, Red Kite and a singing Chiffchaff.

Sunday 2 March 2014

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, 2w Yellow-legged Gull, pair of Pintail, pair of Egyptian Geese, Peregrine over, Red Kite, 6 Oystercatchers, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Snipe, Little Egret, 31 Fieldfare over, c8 Siskins.