The latest bird and wildlife news from Paxton Pits. Paxton Pits Local Nature Reserve is managed by Huntingdonshire District Council in partnership with The Friends of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.
Tuesday 29 December 2015
Friday 18 December 2015
Tuesday 15 December 2015
Sunday 13 December 2015
Saturday 5 December 2015
Thursday 26 November 2015
Monday 23 November 2015
Sunday 22 November 2015
Sunday 15 November 2015
Saturday 14 November 2015
Thursday 12 November 2015
Wednesday 11 November 2015
Tuesday 3 November 2015
Saturday 31 October 2015
Sunday 25 October 2015
Thursday 22 October 2015
Wednesday 21 October 2015
Tuesday 20 October 2015
Great Meadow: Short-eared Owl late afternoon, mobbed by corvids, before rising to height and drifting off.
Northern Pits: juvenile SPOONBILL late afternoon around Pumphouse Pit. Also Water Pipit associating with 2 Rock Pipits along the bund at Pumphouse, plus Common Sandpiper and 6+ Yellow-legged Gulls.
Northern Pits: juvenile SPOONBILL late afternoon around Pumphouse Pit. Also Water Pipit associating with 2 Rock Pipits along the bund at Pumphouse, plus Common Sandpiper and 6+ Yellow-legged Gulls.
Juvenile Spoonbill and Water Pipit at Pumphouse Pit late this afternoon |
Tuesday 13 October 2015
Saturday 3 October 2015
Thursday 1 October 2015
Wednesday 30 September 2015
Tuesday 29 September 2015
Sunday 27 September 2015
Hayling Pit/Meadow Trail: 2 Hobbies hawking dragonflies early afternoon, also 8+ Buzzards.
Heron Trail: 2 Coal Tits.
Northern Pits: Turnstone still, plus juvenile female Ruff, 2 Dunlin and Snipe. 20+ Yellow Wagtails in nearby cowfields on north west side of Diddington village. No sign of yesterday's Yellow-browed Warbler today.
Heron Trail: 2 Coal Tits.
Northern Pits: Turnstone still, plus juvenile female Ruff, 2 Dunlin and Snipe. 20+ Yellow Wagtails in nearby cowfields on north west side of Diddington village. No sign of yesterday's Yellow-browed Warbler today.
Saturday 26 September 2015
Northern Pits/Diddington: YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER found early morning in the wood by Diddington village car park and present throughout the day, although it was often elusive and only calling occasionally. It showed well on a few occasions on the east side (New Workings side) of the wood in the morning and also on the west side of the wood from the car park.
Also present this morning was the Turnstone still, 4 Pintail, 1+ Golden Plover over, 2 Green Sandpipers and a pair of Stonechats, whilst several small groups of Redpoll and Siskin were passing overhead throughout the morning.
Also present this morning was the Turnstone still, 4 Pintail, 1+ Golden Plover over, 2 Green Sandpipers and a pair of Stonechats, whilst several small groups of Redpoll and Siskin were passing overhead throughout the morning.
Very bad record shot of the Yellow-browed Warbler present today. You can just about make out one of the wing-bars on it's right wing! |
Wednesday 23 September 2015
Monday 21 September 2015
Sunday 20 September 2015
Saturday 19 September 2015
Northern Pits: Marsh Harrier high over, plus Turnstone still and 2 Spotted Flycatchers along footpath at far NE end of pit. Also Marsh Tit calling, Grey Wagtail over and several Yellow Wagtails still around Cowfields at north end of Diddington village. Small groups of Siskin over all morning, plus c.10 Redpoll flew low west.
Thursday 17 September 2015
Monday 14 September 2015
Sunday 13 September 2015
Northern Pits: WeBS count highlights included a female Red-crested Pochard, single Barnacle Goose, 2 Egyptian Geese, Turnstone still, Ruff, Greenshank, Dunlin, Green Sand, 7 Snipe, Hobby, 3 Kingfishers, 2 Grey Wagtails and a Cetti's Warbler. 49 Yellow-legged Gulls counted late afternoon in the pre-roost.
Thursday 10 September 2015
Wednesday 9 September 2015
Saturday 5 September 2015
Heronry South: single Swift over; groups of 6 and c.10 Siskin over.
Northern Pits: adult Caspian Gull again, Greenshank, Redshank, 3-4 Common Sands, 3 Dunlin, Ringed Plover, LRP, Hobby, Spotted Flycatcher with tit flock, Reed Warbler family (juvs still being fed by adults), Sedge Warbler, 2 groups of 5 Siskin over.
Northern Pits: adult Caspian Gull again, Greenshank, Redshank, 3-4 Common Sands, 3 Dunlin, Ringed Plover, LRP, Hobby, Spotted Flycatcher with tit flock, Reed Warbler family (juvs still being fed by adults), Sedge Warbler, 2 groups of 5 Siskin over.
Adult Caspian Gull at New Workings. |
Thursday 3 September 2015
Tuesday 1 September 2015
Monday 31 August 2015
Northern Pits: 5 Curlew flew west mid-afternoon, 7 Red-crested Pochards in two separate groups (3 drakes in total), adult Caspian Gull again, 24 Swifts among 100's of hirundines, Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Green Sandpiper, several Common Sandpipers and 4 Snipe.
4 (2 drakes on the left) of 7 Red-crested Pochards on site today |
Friday 28 August 2015
Tuesday 25 August 2015
Northern Pits: 1st summer Caspian Gull in pre-roost; several Yellow-legged Gulls including a poorly looking juvenile hanging around close to the shoreline. 8 Common Sandpipers, 4 Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover and a Hobby chasing Swifts and hirundines.
(a rather sickly looking) juvenile Yellow-legged Gull at new workings. |
Sunday 23 August 2015
Saturday 22 August 2015
Wednesday 19 August 2015
Saturday 15 August 2015
Friday 14 August 2015
Thursday 13 August 2015
Wednesday 12 August 2015
Monday 10 August 2015
Sunday 9 August 2015
Saturday 8 August 2015
Northern Pits: Osprey circling west of pits at 11:00. Also adult summer Grey Plover still, juvenile Goosander (then flew off north), juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Red Kite, 2 Hobbies, 3 Little Grebes, 4 Egyptian Geese, 3 Teal, juv LRP, Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sands, 1-2 Green Sands, 2 Dunlin, Redshank and Oystercatcher.
Adult summer Grey Plover at Pumphouse Pit |
Friday 7 August 2015
Monday 3 August 2015
Saturday 1 August 2015
Ouse Valley Way: juvenile Cuckoo being fed by its foster parent (a Dunnock).
Northern Pits: juvenile BLACK-NECKED GREBE again on Pumphouse Pit; also Red-crested Pochard, 2 Wigeon, Sanderling, 3 Dunlin, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 2+ Common Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, c.20 Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Hobbies and a single Red Kite. Painted Lady noted.
Juvenile Cuckoo being fed by its foster parent (a Dunnock) © Pete Marshall Judging by the state of the Dunnock, it is a very demanding role! |
Tuesday 28 July 2015
Monday 27 July 2015
Probable PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER present for just a few minutes at around 19:45, before flying high south with a European Golden Plover (pictured with the 'Lesser' below) and 2 Dunlin. Also Ruff and Curlew still, Black-tailed Godwit, 3 juv LRP's, 3 Dunlin, female Red-crested Pochard and 2 Hobbies.
Sunday 26 July 2015
Tuesday 21 July 2015
Monday 20 July 2015
Sunday 19 July 2015
Northern Pits: juvenile BLACK-NECKED GREBE on Pumphouse Pit; also female Red-crested Pochard, 2 Avocets, groups of 12 & then 16 Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpipers, 6 Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, 8 Little Egrets, 3 Hobbies, 3 Red Kites, 12+ Yellow-legged Gulls.
Thursday 16 July 2015
Wednesday 15 July 2015
Tuesday 14 July 2015
Saturday 11 July 2015
Tuesday 7 July 2015
Sunday 5 July 2015
Northern Pits: eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard, 2 Egyptian Geese, 5+ Black-tailed Godwits, Greenshank, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Hobby & 7 Yellow-legged Gulls.
Sailing Lake: Pair of Lapwing with chick, Redshank and a Weasel seen running across the road on south side of lake.
Little Paxton village: Red Kite feeding on roadkill by A1 (northbound) slip road.
Sailing Lake: Pair of Lapwing with chick, Redshank and a Weasel seen running across the road on south side of lake.
Little Paxton village: Red Kite feeding on roadkill by A1 (northbound) slip road.
Wednesday 1 July 2015
Sunday 28 June 2015
Saturday 27 June 2015
Tuesday 16 June 2015
Monday 15 June 2015
Northern Pits: 5 Black Terns on Diddington Pit from mid-am and present until 19:30. Also 2 Avocets, Green Sandpiper, 3 Redshank, drake Red-crested Pochard, Black Swan, 2 Egyptian Geese, Ringed Plover and c.5 Little Egrets, plus Painted Lady.
Diddington/Stirtloe: Turtle Dove singing along between the two villages.
Diddington/Stirtloe: Turtle Dove singing along between the two villages.
Tuesday 9 June 2015
Sunday 7 June 2015
Wednesday 3 June 2015
Tuesday 2 June 2015
Saturday 30 May 2015
Thursday 28 May 2015
Wednesday 27 May 2015
Tuesday 26 May 2015
Northern Pits: adult WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN from 1pm until at 7pm at least, mostly frequenting the north end of Island Pit (hawking insects), but fairly mobile and occasionally moving to Diddington Pit and nearby Pumphouse Pits. Also 2 Avocets and Greenshank.
Adult White-winged Black Tern resting & preening on Diddington Pit island. |
Monday 25 May 2015
Thursday 21 May 2015
Monday 18 May 2015
Thursday 14 May 2015
Wednesday 13 May 2015
Monday 11 May 2015
Sunday 10 May 2015
Tuesday 5 May 2015
Northern Pits: LITTLE TERN in evening, present until 20:30 at least, also 120+ Common Terns, 1st summer Little Gull, GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, male Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel and 2 Greenshank still, 5 Dunlin, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 drake Wigeon, 3 drake Shoveler, c.6 Yellow Wagtails and a single Wheatear.
Monday 4 May 2015
A1 Pits: female Wheatear, Grey Wagtail over, plus Hobby.
Meadow Trail: male Wheatear at Little Meadow in morning, plus Yellow Wagtail over Great Meadow.
Heron Trail: Spotted Flycatcher around Wray House Garden throughout the day; pair of Marsh Tits near the Hayden Hide.
Island Pit: drake Pochard still, Hobby over
Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit and 1st summer Little Gull all still present, plus 2-3 Dunlin, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Ringed Plover, 2-3 Hobbies and c.80 Common Terns.
Little Paxton village: Red Kite, Hobby, Coal Tit & Grey Wagtail.
Meadow Trail: male Wheatear at Little Meadow in morning, plus Yellow Wagtail over Great Meadow.
Heron Trail: Spotted Flycatcher around Wray House Garden throughout the day; pair of Marsh Tits near the Hayden Hide.
Island Pit: drake Pochard still, Hobby over
Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit and 1st summer Little Gull all still present, plus 2-3 Dunlin, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Ringed Plover, 2-3 Hobbies and c.80 Common Terns.
Little Paxton village: Red Kite, Hobby, Coal Tit & Grey Wagtail.
Sunday 3 May 2015
Tuesday 28 April 2015
Heron Trail: RING OUZEL still along track immediately south from SE end of Washout Pit in morning; also Marsh Tit again at Hayden Hide.
A1 North Pit: 3 Wheatears (2 males) still on east side of northern end of pit.
Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, male Bar-tailed Godwit still, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 7 Dunlin, Snipe, 2 Arctic Terns.
Monday 27 April 2015
A1 North Pit: 3 Wheatears (2 males) on east side of northern section of pit, Cuckoo.
Heron Trail: female RING OUZEL still present in same area today, Cukoo singing.
Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, Turnstone, Whimbrel, male and female Bar-tailed Godwit still, Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, several Dunlin, 1-2 Hobbies, 2 Red Kites, singing Cuckoo.
Heron Trail: female RING OUZEL still present in same area today, Cukoo singing.
Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, Turnstone, Whimbrel, male and female Bar-tailed Godwit still, Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, several Dunlin, 1-2 Hobbies, 2 Red Kites, singing Cuckoo.
Sunday 26 April 2015
Heron Trail: female RING OUZEL along grassy track running south from SE corner of Washout Pit (post 12) in morning and showing well on and off. Also Marsh Harrier over, 4 Hobbies and a Marsh Tit from the Hayden Hide.
Island Pit: drake Pochard still, 3 singing Cetti's Warblers.
Meadow Trail: singing Cetti's Warbler.
Tuesday 21 April 2015
Sunday 19 April 2015
Saturday 18 April 2015
Meadow Trail: adult Mediterranean Gull in flight and calling over river, south of Hayling Pit; also singing Grasshopper Warbler at south west end of Cloudy Pit, singing Whitethroat and Cetti's Warbler, plus Lesser Whitethroat singing by the Visitors Centre.
Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, 2 Grey Plovers, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, Greenshank, 2 Dunlin.
Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, 2 Grey Plovers, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, Greenshank, 2 Dunlin.
Friday 17 April 2015
Monday 13 April 2015
Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still present, plus drake Pintail, Ruff & Turnstone still, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 6 Ringed Plovers, 10 Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 5 Dunlin, 5 Oystercatchers, 5 Common Terns, Kingfisher, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 5 White Wagtails, 14 Swallows, 3 House Martins, Sedge Warbler.
Sunday 12 April 2015
Heron Trail: singing male Whitethroat half way along moorings; Nightingale singing from hedgerow opposite Peter's Field. Good numbers of Blackcaps and Willow Warblers around trail.
Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, 2 Red Kites, drake Pintail, 9 Dunlin, Ruff, Green Sandpiper, 1+ Common Tern, 2 White Wagtails, 1+ Yellow Wagtail.
Island Pit: Sedge Warbler singing at far SW end of pit.
Washout Pit: Cetti's Warbler.
Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, 2 Red Kites, drake Pintail, 9 Dunlin, Ruff, Green Sandpiper, 1+ Common Tern, 2 White Wagtails, 1+ Yellow Wagtail.
Island Pit: Sedge Warbler singing at far SW end of pit.
Washout Pit: Cetti's Warbler.
Saturday 11 April 2015
Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, Turnstone still, Ruff, 2 Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover, 5 Ringed Plover, 5 Common Terns, 2 Egyptian Geese, Rock Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtails, singing Sedge Warbler, 8 Swallows, Sand Martin. A Stoat showed very well late morning also.
Heron Trail and Meadow Trail: Up to 4 singing Nightingales now in.
Little Paxton village: single House Martin at NW end of village.
Heron Trail and Meadow Trail: Up to 4 singing Nightingales now in.
Little Paxton village: single House Martin at NW end of village.
Thursday 9 April 2015
Tuesday 7 April 2015
Monday 6 April 2015
Friday 27 March 2015
Wednesday 25 March 2015
Tuesday 24 March 2015
Monday 23 March 2015
Saturday 21 March 2015
Friday 20 March 2015
Monday 16 March 2015
Northern Pits: juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still; also 8 Sand Martins, Little Ringed Plover, 3 Ringed Plover, 8 Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, 8 Snipe, 3 singing Chiffchaffs.
Heron Trail: 2 Chiffchaffs singing, Mistle Thrush singing, Coal Tit singing.
Heron Trail: 2 Chiffchaffs singing, Mistle Thrush singing, Coal Tit singing.
Juvenile Great Northern Diver present for its 5th week |
Sunday 15 March 2015
Saturday 14 March 2015
Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, 5 Curlew, Little Ringed Plover, 4 Ringed Plover, 4 Oystercatchers, 9 Dunlin, 10 Sand Martins, 2 singing Chiffchaffs; also 2 Brown Hares.
A1 North Pit: 4 Sand Martins briefly.
Island Pit: 4 Goosander (2 drakes) and singing Cetti's Warbler.
Washout Pit: Cetti's Warbler singing.
A1 North Pit: 4 Sand Martins briefly.
Island Pit: 4 Goosander (2 drakes) and singing Cetti's Warbler.
Washout Pit: Cetti's Warbler singing.
Thursday 12 March 2015
Wednesday 11 March 2015
Sunday 8 March 2015
Island Pit: male and female Goosander.
Ouse Valley Way: 4 Goosander on river.
Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, female Merlin hunting around Diddington Pit mid-morning, 2 Avocets, 5 Oystercatchers, Ringed Plover over, Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 15+ Lapwing, 2 Red Kites, 8+ Buzzards, 2 Sparrohawks & 1400+ Wigeon.
Washout Pit: Water Rail and 2 Cetti's Warblers.
Ouse Valley Way: 4 Goosander on river.
Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, female Merlin hunting around Diddington Pit mid-morning, 2 Avocets, 5 Oystercatchers, Ringed Plover over, Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 15+ Lapwing, 2 Red Kites, 8+ Buzzards, 2 Sparrohawks & 1400+ Wigeon.
Washout Pit: Water Rail and 2 Cetti's Warblers.
Wednesday 4 March 2015
Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER again on New Workings late afternoon; also 2 Ringed Plovers.
Click here for Great Northern Diver photos.
Click here for Great Northern Diver photos.
Monday 2 March 2015
Sunday 1 March 2015
Saturday 21 February 2015
Wednesday 18 February 2015
Tuesday 17 February 2015
Sunday 15 February 2015
Saturday 14 February 2015
Thursday 12 February 2015
Monday 9 February 2015
Sunday 8 February 2015
A1 North Pit: pair of Red-crested Pochards still.
Heron Trail: 6 Goosander (2 drakes) along river at moorings.
Island Pit: drake Scaup with Tufted ducks at north end of pit, also redhead Goosander.
Northern Pits: juv GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still on New Workings, plus 2 Egyptian Geese again, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, 3 Green Sandpipers 4+ Buzzards, Sparrohawk
Saturday 7 February 2015
Northern Pits: juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER on New Workings, viewable from the public footpath running along north side of the pit, plus 2 Egyptian Geese, 4 Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Green Sandpiper and 3 Snipe. Also a probable Siberian Chiffchaff calling frequently along Anglian Water access road at north end of Pumphouse Pit.
Sunday 1 February 2015
Northern Pits: cream-crown male Marsh Harrier.
A1 North Pit: male and female Red-crested Pochard and pair of Stonechats still.
Island Pit: Peregrine over, plus 2 redhead Goosanders flew north.
Heron Trail: drake Goosander flew north along river at moorings; 3 redhead Goosander on Heronry North/South Pits also.
A1 North Pit: male and female Red-crested Pochard and pair of Stonechats still.
Island Pit: Peregrine over, plus 2 redhead Goosanders flew north.
Heron Trail: drake Goosander flew north along river at moorings; 3 redhead Goosander on Heronry North/South Pits also.
Friday 30 January 2015
Tuesday 27 January 2015
Sunday 25 January 2015
Saturday 24 January 2015
Thursday 22 January 2015
Wednesday 21 January 2015
Tuesday 20 January 2015
Sunday 18 January 2015
A1 North Pit: male and female Stonechat again.
Island Pit: Green Sandpiper, Sparrowhawk and 2 Kingfishers.
Northern Pits: 4 Pintail (2 drakes), c.1500 Wigeon (including the hybrid drake again), 2 Green Sandpipers, Snipe, 2 Dunlin, 2 Stonechats and Chiffchaff.
Little Paxton village: female Blackcap in garden at NW end of village.
Saturday 17 January 2015
Saturday 10 January 2015
Sunday 4 January 2015
Saturday 3 January 2015
Friday 2 January 2015
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