Saturday 8 October 2016

Northern Pits: YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER late morning on north east side of Pumphouse Pit, but no sign thereafter. Also 8+ White-fronted Geese flew north late afternoon, 2-3 Rock Pipits, GREAT WHITE EGRET still, 3+ Ruff, Green Sandpiper, Marsh and Coal Tits, plus single Lesser Redpoll. Small movement of Redwing throughout the morning.

Saturday 1 October 2016

Northern Pits: GREAT WHITE EGRET on Pumphouse Pit mid-afternoon, then flew south; also adult Caspian Gull on new workings, 2 Pintail, 7 Little Egrets, juv Ruff, 3 juv Dunlin, juv Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, 7+ Snipe, 2 Rock Pipits, Marsh Tit, 1+ Redpoll over.

Sunday 18 September 2016

Northern Pits: juvenile Marsh Harrier, 9 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3+ Snipe, 3 Little Egrets, 13 Yellow-legged Gulls.

Saturday 17 September 2016

Northern Pits: 2 Hobbies, juvenile Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Snipe, Barnacle Goose and Wheatear.

Friday 16 September 2016

Northern Pits: juvenile Whinchat, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Dunlin and Hobby.

Thursday 15 September 2016

Little Paxton village: Green Sandpiper heard calling overhead at 8:30pm.

Wednesday 14 September 2016

Heronry South: GREAT WHITE EGRET again today and showing well.

Tuesday 13 September 2016

Northern Pits: 2 juvenile Black Terns, c.12 Yellow-legged Gulls, 3 juvenile Ruff, Common Sandpiper and 3 Little Grebes on new workings; 9 Common Terns flew high east & 44 Yellow Wagtails flew north in one flock.

Monday 12 September 2016

Northern Pits: juvenile Black Tern this evening; also Egyptian Goose, adult Hobby, 2 Greenshank, 4 Common Sandpipers, 3+ Little Egrets, 2 Kingfishers, single Swift, c.60 Yellow Wagtails over & 2 Cetti's Warblers.

Juvenile Black Tern at the new workings
  this evening © Martin Davis

Sunday 11 September 2016

Little Paxton village: Hobby flew low west in evening.

Hayling Pit: Water Rail calling.

Friday 9 September 2016

Heronry South: GREAT WHITE EGRET with 4 Little Egrets this evening, viewable from the Kingfisher hide.

Great White (right) and Little Egrets feeding
 at Heronry South Pit © John Cheney.




Thursday 8 September 2016

Heronry South: GREAT WHITE EGRET at 19:35.

Great White Egret, Heronry South © Stuart Elsom

Wednesday 7 September 2016

Northern Pits: Little Stint with 4+ Common Sandpipers in evening, plus Greenshank, 3 Snipe, female Pintail, 2 Kingfishers, 3 juvenile Little Grebes and 12+ Yellow Wagtails.

Great Meadow: juvenile Hobby in evening, then flew east.

Tuesday 6 September 2016

Heronry South: 2 Spotted Flycatchers in dead trees near the dragonfly pond.

Friday 2 September 2016

Northern Pits: Osprey and 2 Whinchats around north end in afternoon.

Friday 26 August 2016

Northern Pits: single female/immature CROSSBILL flew low north mid morning; also GREAT WHITE EGRET still, Whimbrel, 3 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, Barnacle Goose and 6+ Yellow Wagtails.

Wednesday 24 August 2016

Northern Pits: Turnstone heard calling, 2 Greeshank, Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, plus 9 Hobbies hunting together low over new workings just before dusk.

Tuesday 23 August 2016

Northern Pits: GREAT WHITE EGRET still; also Ruff, 4 Redshank, Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, Common Sandpiper, 2 juv Little Ringed Plovers, Ringed Plover and 2 Kingfishers busy fishing.

Monday 22 August 2016

Northern Pits: 2 GREAT WHITE EGRETS at SE end of Pumphouse Pit at 13:15, per RBA.

Friday 19 August 2016

Northern Pits: juvenile SHAG on islands at new workings in afternoon. Also GREAT WHITE EGRET in SE corner of Pumphouse Pit.

Tuesday 16 August 2016

Northern Pits: sub-adult SPOONBILL on new workings, viewable from the public footpath along north side of pit mid afternoon until mid evening at least. Also 2cy and sub-adult Caspian Gull, 9 Yellow-legged Gulls, 4 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 6 Teal, 7 Pochard, Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpipers and Ringed Plover.

Monday 8 August 2016

Northern Pits: a large flock of 52 Redshank around Pumphouse east and west pits mid afternoon. Also female Ruff, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Shoveler, 2 Teal and a single Wigeon.

Thursday 4 August 2016

Northern Pits: sub-adult Caspian Gull early evening, then flew off NW; also 3 Yellow-legged Gulls, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, Snipe, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 7 Little Egrets and 5 Egyptian Geese.

Tuesday 2 August 2016

Northern Pits: GREAT WHITE EGRET in SW corner of Pumphouse Pit mid evening, then flew north and appeared to drop on to pit immediately north of Pumphouse. Also, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, 2-3 Common Sandpipers and 4+ Little Egrets.

Saturday 30 July 2016

Northern Pits: 4 Black-tailed Godwits, adult female LRP with 2 now fully flight capable young/juvs, 17+ Yellow-legged Gulls, Hobby, 2 Red Kites, c.10 Buzzards.

Tuesday 19 July 2016

Northern Pits: 2 Green Sandpipers, 1+ Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, female LRP with 2 chicks, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Hobby, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Yellow-legged Gulls, Common Gull, Pochard.

Sunday 17 July 2016

Northern Pits: Sanderling, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls and 3 Egyptian Geese.

Monday 11 July 2016

Little Paxton village: 3 Hobbies hunting Cockchafers at west end of village late evening.

Saturday 9 July 2016

Rudd Pit: 6 Grass Snakes around Pit.

Northern Pits: 2 Egyptian Geese, 3 Little Egrets, Ringed Plover, Lapwing with 3 chicks, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (2nd summer and 2 adults).

Saturday 18 June 2016

Heronry South: 2 Turtle Doves in dead tree around basin area opposite Hayden Hide access track.

Thursday 16 June 2016

Washout Pit: GREAT REED WARBLER singing on and off still this evening, per Rare Bird Alert.

Friday 3 June 2016

Washout Pit: GREAT REED WARBLER singing still this morning at SE end of reedbed.

Thursday 2 June 2016

Northern Pits: Turnstone still this evening, plus pair of Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Little Egrets and 2 Teal.

Wednesday 1 June 2016

Washout Pit: GREAT REED WARBLER singing still this morning.

Tuesday 31 May 2016

Heron Trail: GREAT REED WARBLER still singing at Washout Pit, plus Hobby and many 100's of hirundines, but no sign of yesterday's Red-footed Falcon today. 23 Common Tern pairs using the Tern rafts on Heronry North.

Northern Pits: Turnstone on new workings in evening. c.40 Common Terns.

Monday 30 May 2016

Heron Trail: female RED-FOOTED FALCON aerial feeding over Heronry North and sanctuary area mid afternoon to early evening, but no sign after 6pm. Also 2 Hobbies. Turtle Dove singing by Hayden Hide late afternoon, plus adult KITTIWAKE flew south.

Some record shots of the falcon by James Hanlon here: http://cambsbirdclub.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/red-footed-falcon.html

Washout Pit: GREAT REED WARBLER singing still mid afternoon.

Thursday 26 May 2016

Heron Trail: Turtle Dove reported near Education Centre at 9am, per RBA.

Washout Pit: GREAT REED WARBLER singing still today.

Tuesday 24 May 2016

Washout Pit: GREAT REED WARBLER still singing this morning.

Monday 23 May 2016

Northern Pits: Two 2nd-cal year Caspian Gulls in evening, 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull still, single Dunlin and pair of Little Ringed Plovers.

Sunday 22 May 2016

Northern Pits: 7 Hobbies over Pumphouse Pit, 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull still.

Washout Pit: GREAT REED WARBLER still singing and showing well in the morning, but elusive during the afternoon.

Friday 20 May 2016

Washout Pit: GREAT REED WARBLER still singing and showing well on and off this morning.

Wednesday 18 May 2016

Northern Pits: 5 Shelduck, Little Ringed Plover, 2+ Cuckoo's.

Washout Pit: GREAT REED WARBLER still singing at southern end of reedbed today.

Tuesday 17 May 2016

Washout Pit: GREAT REED WARBLER still early morning.

Monday 16 May 2016

Washout Pit: GREAT REED WARBLER still singing and showing well at times in at southern end of reedbed. Also Water Rail calling, Kingfisher and singing Cetti's Warbler.

Northern Pits: 2 Greenshank, 2 Tundra Ringed Plover, 4 Hobbies.


            Great Reed Warbler by Steve Blain

Sunday 15 May 2016

Washout Pit: GREAT REED WARBLER still at southern end of Washout Pit reedbed. Also Otter early morning.

Northern Pits: Adult KITTIWAKE on new workings (Pumphouse Pit west) mid morning briefly; 2cy Caspian Gull, 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull, 2cy Common Gull, Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, RAVEN over & 2 Hobbies.



Thursday 5 May 2016

Northern Pits: adult KITTIWAKE through north late morning; also 37 Black Terns (16 straight through, 21 lingering), 4 Greenshank, 4 Dunlin, 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull, Hobby & 3 Cuckoo's.

21 Black Terns on Pumphouse Pit













Heronry North: 2 Black Terns early morning. No sign of yesterday's Wood Warbler. Good numbers of Garden Warblers.

Wednesday 4 May 2016

Heron Trail: WOOD WARBLER singing at north end of haul road by main quarry plant workings this morning.

Friday 29 April 2016

Northern Pits: adult dark morph ARCTIC SKUA on Pumphouse briefly at 13:51, but chased off north soon afterwards by Black-headed Gulls. Also Wood Sandpiper still, Greenshank, 6 Common Sandpipers, 16-18 Dunlin, 4 LRP's and a Wheatear.

Cloudy Pit: pair of RAVEN flew north late morning, plus Siskin over.

Monday 25 April 2016

Poor weather, but still plenty of birds around...

Over 100 species recorded across the pit complex today, with the follow highlights seen at various localities: Wood Sandpiper still, 9 Arctic Terns, male Peregrine, 2 male Whinchats, 2 male Wheatears, 5 Common Sandpipers, 9 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plovers, Greenshank and Snipe.

No sign of yesterday's Firecrest.

Sunday 24 April 2016

Heronry South: FIRECREST by the Kingfisher hide at 08:20. Also 3 singing Nightingales in the area.

Northern Pits: 2 Whinchats, Wheatear, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, 5 Common Sandpipers and Cuckoo.

Firecrest by the Kingfisher Hide this morning © Felix Bird.

Saturday 23 April 2016

Northern Pits: pair of RAVEN over in morning, plus Wood Sandpiper, Sanderling, 2 Greenshank and 1+ Swift and Garden Warbler at Pumphouse Pit

Friday 22 April 2016

Heronry South: Turtle Dove reported nr education centre at 13:40.

Northern Pits: 3 Whinchats, fem-type Marsh Harrier through north, 2 Arctic TernsSanderling, 2 Greenshank, 2 LRP's and 3cy Yellow-legged Gull.

Thursday 21 April 2016

Heronry South: polish ringed White Stork flew over at 12:30 (it had earlier been seen in neighbouring Bedfordshire in the morning). The bird has escaped from a rehabilitation centre in norfolk, see: White Stork info

Sunday 17 April 2016

A1 North Pit: Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat singing from hedgerow around northernmost field.

Boughton Lodge Farm Pit: pair of Little Ringed Plovers and Green Sandpiper, plus 3 Red Kites over.

Island Pit: Lesser Whitethroat singing and 3 singing Cetti's Warblers.

Northern Pits: 6 Whimbrel, 2 Ruff, 7 Dunlin, 2 LRP's, 2 Red Kites.

Washout Pit: singing Reed Warbler.

Friday 15 April 2016

Hayling Pit/allotments area: singing Cuckoo early morning.

Wednesday 13 April 2016

Heron Trail: Nightingale singing by Peter's Field

Meadow Trail: Nightingale singing by the steps at Hayling Pit, leading to meadow.

Northern Pits: drake Red-crested Pochard, 3+ Little Egrets, Avocet, Curlew, Ruff still, 2 LRP's, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Terns, 2+ Yellow Wagtails.

Tuesday 12 April 2016

Northern Pits: 11 Little Gulls (8 adults, 2 second-cal year, 1 3rd cal-yr) mid-afternoon, plus 2 Common Terns, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, Greenshank, Avocet, Dunlin, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 8 Oystercatchers and 6 Redshank.

Monday 11 April 2016

Northern Pits: 2 drake Red-crested Pochards, 2 Little Egrets, Red Kite, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruff still, Dunlin, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, c.40 Sand Martins, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Sedge Warblers.

Sunday 10 April 2016

Northern Pits: drake Red-crested Pochard, Ruff, 2 singing Sedge Warblers.

Boughton Lodge Farm Pit: 2 Little Ringed Plovers.

Saturday 9 April 2016

Northern Pits: female Goosander, 2 Avocets, Curlew, Green Sandpiper, 4 Redshank, 3 Oystercatchers, Red Kite, 14 Sand Martins, 5 Swallows, 3 Fieldfare & 3 Cetti's Warblers.

Sunday 3 April 2016

Heronry South: Egyptian Goose sat in tree amongst Cormorant colony (!), 2 singing Blackcaps.

Meadow Trail: 3+ singing Cetti's Warblers, singing Blackcap.

Northern Pits: Grey Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, displaying Little Ringed Plover, 2 singing Blackcaps, singing Willow Warbler.

Wednesday 30 March 2016

Washout Pit: pair of Garganey again, plus singing Cetti's Warbler.

Monday 28 March 2016

Northern Pits: 2 Avocets, Curlew, groups of c.80 and 18 Black-tailed Godwits over, Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, 5 Dunlin, Common Tern, c.30 Sand Martins, Kingfisher.

Sunday 27 March 2016

Island Pit: c.30 Sand Martins and 3 Swallows.

Washout Pit: pair of Garganey again early morning, but then flew south.

Drake Garganey at Washout Pit

Saturday 26 March 2016

Heron Trail: 2 Swallows over Heronry North Pit, plus 2 Lesser Redpolls (including a singing male)  near new hide.

Northern Pits: Little Ringed Plover over.

Washout Pit: pair of Garganey at south end of pit all morning, before flying off south around 11:30.

Friday 25 March 2016

Northern Pits: 1-2 Rock Pipits, 4 Black-tailed Godwits over, Green Sandpiper.

Monday 21 March 2016

Heron Trail: Chiffchaff singing at Rory's Wood.

Northern Pits: GREAT WHITE EGRET flew north at 08:35. Also drake Smew, 5 Pintail (4 drakes), 2 Curlew, 2-3 Dunlin & Red Kite.

Sailing Lake: 2 Red Kites over and 2 Oystercatchers on the islands.

Visitors' Centre: Marsh Tit, 3 Siskins (2 males), 6 Lesser Redpolls.

Sunday 20 March 2016

Northern Pits: 10 drake COMMON SCOTERS throughout day on new workings (viewable from public footpath on the north and west sides of pit); also Rock Pipit.

Common Scoters on New Workings today


Friday 18 March 2016

Northern Pits: Grey Plover on Pumphouse Pit, 3 Pintail, Dunlin, 6 Oystercatchers and Kingfisher.

Sunday 13 March 2016

WeBS count highlights

Northern Pits: c.4000 Black-tailed Godwits flew south late morning, followed by smaller groups (totalling c.1000 birds) visiting Pumphouse Pit on and off, although highly mobile. Also 1+ Golden Plover, Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshank and 2 Snipe. A single Rock Pipit at south west end of Pumphouse Pit showed well briefly early afternoon. Wigeon on Pumphouse Pit numbered 797 and amongst them were 3 Pintail (2 drakes).

Island Pit: 2 Cetti's Warblers singing.

Saturday 12 March 2016

Northern Pits: drake Red-crested Pochard, 10 Pintail (5 drakes), 3 Little Egrets, Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, 5 Siskins.

Friday 26 February 2016

Northern Pits: 2 RAVEN over calling, heading SE at 13:20. Also Water Rail, 16 Snipe, Redshank, 2+ Oystercatchers, 6 Buzzards, 25 Meadow Pipits and a female Siskin.

Sunday 21 February 2016

Northern Pits: WeBS count highlights were a single immature Peregrine, 5 Green Sandpipers and a female Pintail on the drained pit by Boughton Lodge Farm, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshanks and a Little Egret.

Monday 15 February 2016

A1 Pits: 16 Golden Plover flew north, pair of Mistle Thrushes by Water Ski Centre and c.30 Linnet, c.40 Reed Buntings & 5 Yellowhammer feeding in ploughed field.

Sailing Lake: 2 Oystercatchers.

Sunday 14 February 2016

Northern Pits: pair of Pintail, c.30 Goldeneye, 2 Red Kites, 4 Buzzards, 2 Kestrel, Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, 9 Snipe, c.70 Lapwing and single Grey Wagtail again.

Visitors' Centre: escaped Gouldian Finch seen near to the centre today.

The escaped Gouldian Finch seen today

Saturday 13 February 2016

Northern Pits: 29+ Siskin in Alders along Anglian Water access Road (north side of Pumphouse Pit); also 2 Redshank, Snipe and Grey Wagtail.

Sunday 31 January 2016

Northern Pits: Short-eared Owl early afternoon, plus Oystercatcher and Little Egret.

Saturday 30 January 2016

Visitors' Centre: c.10 Redpolls visiting feeding station.

Northern Pits: Grey Partridge, pair of Egyptian Geese, Shelduck and 2 Lesser Redpolls

Sunday 17 January 2016

Island Pit: drake Goosander at south end of pit.

Northern Pits: 2 Little Egrets, 2 Dunlin & Grey Wagtail.

Tuesday 12 January 2016

Northern Pits: c70 Black-tailed Godwits, Green Sandpiper and Kingfisher all late afterooon.

Sunday 10 January 2016

Island Pit: drake Goosander, Green Sandpiper.

Northern Pits: 2 Red Kites, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Green Sandpipers, Grey Wagtail, c.6 Siskins.

Sailing Lake: 1+ Siskin.

Wednesday 6 January 2016

Northern Pits: at least one adult Little Gull still on Pumphouse Pit this afternoon.

Adult Little Gull on Pumphouse Pit this afternoon


Tuesday 5 January 2016

Northern Pits: 6 adult Little Gulls and adult Yellow-legged Gull on Pumphouse Pit at 13:30 (per RBA).

Monday 4 January 2016

Northern Pits: Short-eared Owl on SE side of Pumphouse Pit; also pair of Red-crested Pochards, drake Smew, 6+ Dunlin, Green Sandpiper still, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Little Egrets, Kingfisher and Chiffchaff.

Sunday 3 January 2016

Northern Pits: 4 Pintail (2 drakes) and Dunlin on Pumphouse Pit.

Saturday 2 January 2016

Northern Pits: Pink-footed Goose with c.100 Greylags on Diddington Pit mid-morning, plus 2 drake Smew and 4cy Caspian Gull on new workings.

Island Pit: Woodcock flushed from track on east side, plus roosting Barn Owl.

Heronry Pits: drake and redhead Goosander.

Visitors' Centre: 8 Lesser Redpolls at niger seed feeder.

Friday 1 January 2016

Northern Pits: GREAT WHITE EGRET again mid afternoon, but then flew off north; also 9 Black-tailed Godwits, Green Sandpiper and 2 Egyptian Geese.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 12 Siskin feeding in Alders at south end of farm.