Thursday 31 July 2014

Northern Pits: female Goldeneye amongst group of Tufted Ducks, 2 drake Red-crested Pochards, 2 drake Wigeon, 2 Little Grebes, c.40 Shoveler, 22 Little Egrets (mainly juveniles), 2 adult Turnstones, adult Sanderling, juvenile Ruff, juvenile Dunlin, 4 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, 2 juvenile Ringed Plovers, 3 Green Sandpipers, 7+ Common Sandpipers, single Black-tailed Godwit over, 634 Lapwing, 3 Oystercatchers, 14 Yellow-legged Gulls and a probable adult Caspian Gull.

Great Meadow river trail: Wasp Spiders discovered in the area; a new species to Paxton Pits. See: http://paxton-pits.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/wasp-spider-new-at-paxton-pits.html

Sunday 27 July 2014

Northern Pits: 27 Black-tailed Godwits (in separate groups of 14, 7, 5 and a single), Sanderling, Turnstone over, 3 Dunlin (1 juvenile), 11+ Snipe, 354 Lapwing, 4+ Little Ringed Plovers, 3 juv Ringed Plovers, 9 Common Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard, pair of Egyptian Geese and a single Hobby at dusk. No sign of yesterday's Sabs Gull. Single Painted Lady noted in evening.

Saturday 26 July 2014

Northern Pits: adult/sub-adult SABINE'S GULL for just under 15 minutes late evening. Initially feeding on Diddington Pit, the bird then flew towards Pumphouse Pit and was lost from view. Earlier in the day: 24+ Yellow-legged Gulls, eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard, 8 Black-tailed Godwits over, 2 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 10+ Common Sandpipers, 2 Dunlin, 2 juv Little Ringed Plovers, 2 juv Ringed Plovers and 3 Snipe.

2 seperate juvenile Cuckoo's seen around the complex today also.

Sunday 20 July 2014

Northern Pits: 2 drake Red-crested Pochards, 347 Tufted Ducks (including a brood of 6 Tuftlings), Pintail, 12 Shoveler, Teal, 8 Pochard, 8 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Greenshank, Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, 7+ Common Sandpipers, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Yellow Wagtails.

Island Pit: Marbled White along north end of pit.

Meadow Trail: Musk Beetle seen well near the boardwalk by Rudd Pit.




















Musk Beetle by the boardwalk at Rudd Pit © Paul Freeman

Thursday 17 July 2014

Heronry South: 2 Curlew flew SW at 21:12.

Wednesday 16 July 2014

Northern Pits: 2 Greenshanks, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Dunlin, 3 Little Ringed Plovers and 2 Ringed Plovers in evening.

Sunday 13 July 2014

Northern Pits: pair of COMMON SCOTERS still, plus adult Mediterranean Gull with Black-headed Gulls early afternoon, 6+ Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Common Gulls, Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Hobby & eclipse drake Wigeon. Purple Hairstreak also seen well, settled on a leaf in a young Oak Tree on east side of Pumphouse Pit.




















Purple Hairsteak at Pumphouse Pit.

Saturday 12 July 2014

Northern Pits: male and female COMMON SCOTER on Diddington Pit; also 2 Black-tailed Godwits, Greenshank, 2 Redshanks, 12 Little Egrets, 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, Kingfisher and 3 Yellow Wagtails.

















Common Scoters on Diddington Pit (record shot!).

Tuesday 8 July 2014

Northern Pits: 7 Black-tailed Godwits, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, moulting adult Golden Plover, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 206 Lapwing, Egyptian Goose, 3 Red-crested Pochards. Juvenile Common Terns now on the wing.

Thursday 3 July 2014

Northern Pits: Garganey, 4 Teal, 3 Red-crested Pochards, Curlew through, Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plovers and 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (2 adults and a 2nd summer).

Sailing Lake: 2-3 Tawny Owl fledglings actively calling and occasionally on view as they move between trees. Look/listen out for them from the track along the north end of the lake just before dusk.

Wednesday 2 July 2014

Northern Pits: 3 Egyptian Geese, Greenshank, Redshank, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Barn Owl, Kingfisher.

Sailing Lake: begging calls of a young Tawny Owl heard late evening on north side of lake.