Cloudy Pit: Peregrine circling, then flew north (and later seen over A1 Pits); Chiffchaff, 3+ Goldcrests and 10 Lesser Redpolls around south end of pit.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 9 Siskins.

Island Pit: 3 Goosander (2 drakes) flew south, Chiffchaff.

Haul Road: Brambling with c.25 Chaffinches near Southoe Brook.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 7+ Siskins near kissing gate at south end of cowfields.

Heronry South: 3 WAXWINGS by Education Centre at 15:40 (per Rare Bird Alert).

Washout Pit: Bittern reported.

Island Pit: 37 Snipe around flooded areas of the fields on east side of pit.

Washout Pit: Chiffchaff.

Goldcrest at Hayling Pit and Marsh Tit at Education Centre.

c40 Black-tailed Godwits over today.

Island Pit: 13 Snipe flew up from east side of pit; Buzzard & Redpoll over.

A1 Pits: Egyptian Goose flew north mid morning, Buzzard over,  c.120 Linnets, 4 Redpolls, 5+ Corn Buntings.

Cloudy Pit: Chiffchaff at south end of pit.

Vistor Centre: Kingfisher landed briefly in bush by pond; 5+ Siskins low over.

Little Paxton village: 2 WAXWINGS around village early afternoon. Seen at berry trees in Hall Close and along Gordon Road and also briefly in tree at Chestnut Walk.

1 of 2 Waxwings at Gordon Road, Little Paxton village.

Little Paxton village: 4 WAXWINGS in trees briefly along Park Way at 3pm before flying off.

Haul Road: 3 Lesser Redpolls showing well early pm.

Washout Pit: Woodcock flushed from edge of pit this afternoon.

Little Paxton village: single WAXWING again along Gordon Road opposite River Close today.

Little Paxton village: 3 WAXWINGS again at west end of Gordon Road (opposite River Close) in Rowan and Birch trees between c.13:30-13:40.

Little Paxton village: 3 WAXWINGS along Gordon Road.

Farm Pit: 2-3 Redpolls over.

Island Pit: 35 Goldeneye, Chiffchaff.

Hayling Pit: 4000 Starlings at dusk (see: http://paxton-pits.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/starlings-great-murmuration.html), before settling down to roost in the reedbed. Up to 3 Sparrowhawks in close attendance.

Little Paxton: 6 WAXWINGS in Rowan tree briefly along Gordon Road, then flew towards river.

Cloudy Pit: 3 Lesser Redpolls in Alder tree briefly, plus Grey Wagtail flew over south.

Hayling Pit: Cetti's Warbler singing briefly.

Meadow Trail: mixed small flock of Siskin and Goldfinch.

Rudd Pit: 2 Otters (including one fishing and showing well for c.10 mins) at around 08:00.

Otter at Rudd Pit © Jamie Wells.

A1 Pits: 27 Skylarks & 100+ Linnets around weedy fields east of A1 South Pit. Water Rail showing in front of reeds at NE end of A1 North Pit.

Heronry Pits: male Sparrowhawk caught a Great Tit from the bird table at Hayden Hide; c.50 Fieldfares and c.70 Redwing over.

Little Paxton village: 3 Redpolls flew east over west end of village at c.9:00; 43 Fieldfare flew SW shortly afterwards.

Haul Road/A1 Pits: A good selection of various passerines are now being attracted to the fields between A1 South Pit and Haul Road. There are various seed producing crops & plenty of weedy areas for birds to feed in so these fields could be worth keeping an eye on this autumn/winter. Here's a tally of stuff seen in the areas this morning:

Sparrowhawk, 1, male.
Skylark, 9
Meadow Pipit, 6
Redwing, 4
Fieldfare, 2
Mistle Thrush, 1
Dunnock, 3
Jay, 8 (over)
Tree Sparrow, 1+
Goldfinch, 27
Greenfinch, 6
Chaffinch, 11
Linnet, c.60
Reed Bunting, 54
Yellowhammer, 8

Sailing Lake: c.10 Siskin along west side.

Heronry North: Grey Wagtail flew over.

Island Pit: 3 Goldeneye.

Arable fields (north of Great Meadow): 4 Grey Partridges in stubble/weedy fields opposite sheep field.

Heronry South: Single Redpoll and Siskin over.

Ouse Valley Way: Barn Owl roosting in hollow tree near river viewpoint.

Hayling Pit: Cetti's Warbler calling behind allotments.

Island Pit: 8 Fieldfare on east side.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 2 Mistle Thrushes, 3 Redwing.

Heronry North: Otter showing well for 20 mins from Kingfisher Hide around midday.

Heronry North: Otter from Kingfisher Hide.

Island Pit: Juvenile Black Tern feeding at south end late morning.

Recent records from the log-book.

13/9       Black squirrel at VC.

15/9       Two common whitethroats, Ouse Valley Way

16/9       Kingfisher over River, whitethroat, chiffchaff singing, Migrant hawker dragonfly.

17/9       2 pipistrelles at Hayden Hide.

20/9       Buzzard and Red Kite over VC

21/9       8+siskins in car park, 3 blackcaps, 3 jays, green woodpecker all on Meadow Trail.

                Male wheatear on ground in front of Hayden Hide, 2 spotted flycatchers at moorings,

chiff chaffs with tit flocks, blackcap. OTTER at Washout Pit.

23/9       Kingfisher, 6 widgeon, 6 house martins, sparrow hawk, 5 gadwall (KF Hide)

                60 siskins in birches by the education centre.

Boughton Lodge Farm: Whinchat along fence at west end of cowfields in afternoon.

Paxton Pits reserve end: 9 Whimbrel flew south in morning.

Heronry North: Siskin low south over sanctuary area late morning; Vapourer moth.

Boughton Lodge Farm: Small Tortoiseshell

Island Pit: Small Copper

Heronry North: 4 Crossbills flew south at 10:10.

Heronry South: Turtle Dove, 2+ Lesser Whitethroats & Nightingale heard calling around basin area.

Island Pit: male and female/imm Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, 2 broods of Tufted Duck, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper.

Farm Pit: 4 Turtle Doves (2 adults & 2 juveniles) on wires at north end of pit.

A1 North Pit: Common Sandpiper. Also 2 Golden Plovers in stubble/ploughed fields to north of pit.

Little Paxton village: 3 Whimbrel flew SW in evening.

Island Pit: Turtle Dove at north end of Pit.

Farm Pit: Hobby, Buzzard.

Haul Road: Crossbill over at 19:45.

Farm Pit: Whimbrel flew south in evening.

Little Paxton village: Probable Peregrine flew west through village in evening.

Little Paxton village: Whimbrel flew south early morning. Also Hobby over.

Heronry North: single Crossbill flew SW in morning.

Island Pit: Hobby hawking insects early afternoon.

Meadow Trail: male Emperor Dragonfly resting on bushes by the boardwalk this morning.

Male Emperor, Paxton Pits © Paul Freeman

A1 North Pit: 4 Hobbies and Barn Owl hunting over fields west of pit at dusk.

Heron Trail: 2 Nightingales heard calling.

Heronry South: Otter seen briefly from the Hayden Hide, swimming close to far right hand bank.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 2 Buzzards, Hobby.

Island Pit: 2 Little Egrets, 3 Green Sandpipers, Kingfisher, pair Turtle Doves.

Washout Pit: Hobby.

Little Paxton village: Red Kite low west early evening.

Quarry: Short-eared Owl accidentally flushed from a gravel bank at 2pm. Red Kite, 2 Green Sandpipers, Ringed Plover.

Heron Trail: Nightingale still singing and Cuckoo still calling.

A1 North Pit: Barn Owl hunting over fields east of pit late evening.

Heronry North: 2 Hobbies feeding at dusk.

A1 Pits: Red Kite over early afternoon.

Little Paxton village: 1+ Buzzard over.

Hayling Pit: Grasshopper Warbler reeling from field opposite pit late evening, plus Hobby over.

Little Paxton village: 2 Sparrowhawks together & Yellow Wagtail over at west end of village in evening.

Heronry South: Black Squirrel feeding on Hayden Hide.

Meadow Trail: Sparrowhawk over; male Linnet singing near Rudd Pit.

Male Linnet, Meadow Trail.

Great Meadow: female Marsh Harrier flew east at 13:22.

Heronry South: Turtle Dove on wires near Education Centre.

Heronry North: Hobby.

Ouse Valley Way: Scarce Chaser dragonfly along river, adjacent to Great Meadow.

Meadow: Hobby and Sparrowhawk.

Washout Pit: Kingfisher, pair Mute Swans with 2 cygnets.

Female/immature male Scarce Chaser © Rayna Wallis.

Heronry North: NUTHATCH heard calling from trees near Otter holt at 10:10, but not seen/heard after this time.

Meadow Trail: female Norfolk Hawker dragonfly seen sunning itself on east side of Rudd Pit between 07:10 & 07:20.


Visitors' Centre: 7+ Bee Orchids along grassy bank of the car park, opposite the visitor centre/Meadow.














Left: One of 7+ Bee Orchids by the visitor centre car park, Paxton Pits.

Heron Trail: 3 Nightingales still singing this evening.

Little Paxton village: 2 Buzzards over east end of village early afternoon.

Little Paxton village: RAVEN circling and slowly drifting west at 08:27.

Great Meadow: Hobby hawking insects at dusk.

Heron Trail: 2-3 Nightingales singing at Wray House Garden this evening, plus single singing birds near the Hayden Hide and at the Fisherman's car park.

Meadow: Sparrowhawk in evening, undoubtably attracted by the pre-roost Starling gartherings (which are now starting to build in size as juvenile birds begin to swell the numbers). 

Island Pit: Osprey circling over pit at 13:24, then drifted south towards the reserve.

Visitor Centre: 6 Hobbies overhead at 4.30pm. Nightingales still singing, Turtle Dove, Garden Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Buzzard, Swifts, GS Woodpecker etc.

Male Peregrine, female Wheatear (very tame and well marked possibly Greenland race?), Hobby, 4 Redshanks, Lapwings, Oystercatchers, Common Terns etc.

Island Pit: pair of Turtle Doves; Osprey flew north late morning.

Record video of Osprey, Paxton Pits © Jamie Wells. 

A1 North Pit: male and female Wheatear.

Heronry South: 2 Turtle Doves and Marsh Tit feeding at the Hayden Hide this evening; Nightingale in Rory's Wood.

Heronry North: Kingfisher seen from Kingfisher Hide; Nightingale by Peter's Field.

Little Paxton village: HONEY BUZZARD flew low SW over Gordon Road at 10:54.

Meadow Trail: 2 Hobbies catching insects in evening; Cuckoo singing along river.

Visitor centre/car park: Osprey flew low south at 18:35. Presumably the same bird was seen heading low north at the northern end of the Pit complex at 08:05 this morning also.

Island Pit: 8 Arctic Terns flew low north at 20:15.

Hayling Pit: Grasshopper Warbler still singing in the field south of pit this morning.

Island Pit: female Whinchat at north end, though fairly elusive; 3+ Lesser Whitethroats singing.

A1 North Pit: 3 male Wheatears.

Hayling Pit: Grasshopper Warbler singing in field immediately south of pit.

Quarry Workings: pair Little Ringed Plovers around pools in main quarry workings area at north end of Haul Road.

Little Ringed Plovers, Paxton Pits.

Cloudy Pit: 2 Turtle Doves, Nightingale.

Great Meadow: Hobby flew low north, heading towards Herony South Pit; Cetti's Warbler singing.

Hayling Pit: Kingfisher.

Island Pit: Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl, male Whinchat on east side in afternoon; 2-3 Garden Warblers, 3 Whitethroats.

Whinchat at Island Pit

Island Pit: Garden Warbler singing.

Herony North: Nightingale singing near Kingfisher Hide.

Nightingale singing near Kingfisher Hide © Phil Cadman.

Moorings: single Swift in evening.

A1 North Pit: pair Grey Partridge in weedy field east of pit again; Whitethroat singing.

Cloudy Pit: Grasshopper warbler singing SE of pit.

A1 North Pit: single Wheatear.

Heron Trail: 6 singing Nightingales.

A1 North Pit: 3 male Wheatears still present; Whitethroat singing.

Washout Pit: Reed Warbler singing.

Island Pit: male REDSTART in willows at north west end of pit in evening. Cuckoo singing also.

A1 North Pit: 3 male Wheatears still.

A1 North Pit: 3 male Wheatears in field east of pit in evening.

A1 North Pit: pair of Grey Partridge in weedy field, just east of the most northern end of pit.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 2 Green Sandpipers at 'Sand Martin Pit'.

Washout Pit: Reed Warbler singing.

A1 North Pit: male Wheatear.

Boughton Lodge Farm: Green Sandpiper around pit by the farm; Mistle Thrush in cowfields.

Heron Trail: 3 Singing Nightingales.

Great Meadow: Cuckoo.

Island Pit: Nightingale singing at southern end of pit; 3 Sedge Warblers singing.

Visitors' Centre: GOSHAWK over centre in morning (and presumably the same bird seen flying low west over the A1 at Diddington early evening).

A1 North Pit: 2 male Wheatears in field east of pit; also c.40 Linnets, including a bird with a rather white head.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 2 Green Sandpipers in pit at south end of farm.

Moorings: FIRECREST in Hawthorns at north end (just before kissing gate) in evening and singing occasionally.

Heronry North: 7 Common Terns in evening; 3 Otters together in front of Kingfisher Hide. Nightingale singing from east scrub and another bird calling at Wray House Garden.

Little Paxton village: First House Martin of the year.

Sailing Lake: 2 Common Terns this morning.

Heron trail: male Sparrowhawk sat in trees at beginning of Haul Road; up to 3 singing Nightingales around trail.

Meadow trail: female Sparrowhawk.

Washout Pit: Nightingale singing at north end of pit.

Heronry North: 2 Common Terns hawking insects with Black-headed Gulls early evening; 2 Otters seen from the Kingfisher hide in evening also.

Little Paxton village: male LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER in gardens adjoining west end of village playing fields this afternoon.

Haul Road: Nightingale heard singing briefly in Rory's Wood.

Little Paxton village: 2 Swallows on wires at entrance to village hall early morning.

Cloudy Pit: 2 singing Willow Warblers; Cetti's Warbler.

Hayling Pit: Cetti's Warbler singing.

Heronry South: Little Egret, 5 Swallows.

Meadow Trail: Bittern on Hayling Pit this afternoon, before flying a circuit of the pit and then heading off towards Rudd Pit; also 3 Cetti's Warblers singing around the trail.

Heronry South: Willow Warbler singing still around basin area.

Photo collage of the Bittern in flight over Hayling Pit © Jim Bruce.

Heronry South: Willow Warbler singing behind basin.

Island Pit: 14 Sand Martins.

Little Paxton village: wing-tagged Red Kite low over west end of village early afternoon.

A1 Pits: pair of Lapwings displaying; Kingfisher.

Heron Trail: Blackcap singing by path between the two hides early evening.

Island Pit: male and female Goosander.

Moorings: 3 Lapwings displaying over fields on opposite side of the river; 2 Redshanks.

Washout Pit: female Goosander and Green Sandpiper briefly.














Female Goosander at Washout Pit © Jamie Wells.

Island Pit: Osprey flew low west at c.13:50, before circling to height and eventually drifting off west.

Meadow Trail: Cetti's Warbler singing.

Washout Pit: Blackcap singing.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 19 Fieldfares.

A1 North Pit: Rock Pipit flew north.

A1 North Pit: Male Wheatear in arrable fields adjacent to pit.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 68 Fieldfares, 9+ Redwings and 2 Mistle Thrushes.

Island Pit: Kingfisher.

Washout Pit: Goosander.

Cloudy Pit: Cetti's Warbler.

Visitors' Centre: 2 Grey Wagtails feeding by old Lafarge quarry site; 3 Redpolls around Visitors' Centre.

Meadow Trail: 2 Cetti's Warblers singing sporadically.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 5 Siskins feeding in Alders.

Heron trail: 3 singing Chiffchaffs.

Cloudy Pit: 4 Goosander (1 drake) on river opposite the pit; Siskin flew southeast.

Washout Pit: 5 Goosander (2 drakes).

Little Paxton village: Little Egret flew east towards Paxton Pits.

Boughton Lodge Farm: Barn Owl and Little Owl around southern end of cowfields late morning.

Island Pit: 5 Buzzards together, busily 'mewing' and displaying; 1-2 Kingfishers.

Washout Pit: 10 Goosander (2 drakes); Chiffchaff singing.

Meadow: male Peregrine circling over Visitors' Centre at c.09:50, then drifted north.

Washout Pit: female Goosander, Chiffchaff flycatching.

Sailing Lake: 3 Smew (1 drake), 4 Redshanks, 2 Oystercatchers, Buzzard over, pair Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Black-headed Gull colony slowly building.

Little Paxton village: Red Kite over today.

Island Pit: Woodcock flushed on SW side of pit, 5 Golden Plovers over.

River viewpoint: Buzzard.

Island Pit: male and female Red-crested Pochard.

Washout Pit: 17 Goosanders.

Cloudy Pit: Little Egret flew over.

Heronry South: 2 Weasels chasing each other across path by Education Centre.

River viewpoint: female Goosander.

Sailing Lake: Meditarranean Gull.

Little Paxton village: Grey Wagtail flitting around rooftops (and chasing a Starling briefly!) at west end of village early morning.

A1 Pits: Red Kite west of A1 Pits early afternoon.

Heronry South: Kingfisher and Marsh Tit.

Sailing Lake: 2 Smew (1 drake), 2 Oystercatchers.

Ouse Valley Way: 3 Goosanders (1 drake), Kingfisher.

Washout Pit: 9 Goosander (2 drakes).

Island Pit: 3 Goosanders.

Sailing Lake: 2 drake Smew.

River viewpoint: 3 Goosander flew south; 2 Kingfishers.

Washout Pit: pair of Goosanders, Redshank.

Redshank at Washout Pit © Phil Cadman.

Island Pit: Short-eared Owl still, plus roosting Barn Owl.

Washout Pit: redhead Goosander.

Island Pit: White-fronted Goose with Greylags; Short-eared Owl seen again, sat in bush on east side of pit.

Ouse Valley Way: drake and redhead Goosander on river adjacent to Great Meadow.

Washout Pit: 12 Goosanders (2 drakes).

Island Pit: Short-eared Owl mobbed by Common Gull as it flew over the pit during morning.

Sailing Lake: drake and redhead Smew (also seen on Weedy Pit briefly); Oystercatcher.

Washout Pit: 5 Goosanders (1 drake).

Drake Smew, Weedy Pit © Jamie Wells.

Sailing Lake: Drake Smew.

Heronry South: Marsh Tit.

A1 North Pit: 3 Woodcocks at north end of pit.

Ouse Valley Way: Otter watched for 5 minutes at the river, viewed from south end of Island Pit.

Rudd Lake: 1 Redpoll heard.

Moorings: 2 redhead Goosanders on river; Kingfisher, Marsh Tit.

Other wildlife: 4 foxes noted around reserve.

Meadow Trail: 120 Linnets counted in a pre-roost gathering late afternoon.

Rudd Lake: Bittern flew west across lake at 12:02 and appeared to land in reeds in NW corner.

Sailing Lake: Common Sandpiper still, but then killed by a Sparrowhawk; Oystercatcher on large island.

Ouse Valley Way: drake and redhead Smew on river; Tawny Owl heard hooting briefly early pm.

Haul Road: 2 Corn Buntings with Yellowhammer flock; c.70 Golden Plovers over in 3 seperate small flocks.

Heronry North: single Water Rails from Kingfisher Hide & along Southoe Brook.

Little Paxton village: 3 Pink-footed Geese flew south at c.10:40; Grey Wagtail feeding on bread in a village garden!

Corn Bunting along Haul Road, Paxton Pits © Jamie Wells.

A1 North Pit: 6 Smew (2 drakes), drake Pintail and a single Snipe; 2CY Great Black-backed Gull with red colour ring.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 12 Barnacle Geese again with Greylags.

Island Pit: 10 Black-tailed Godwits flew south; male and female Siskin briefly in Willows at south east end of pit.

North end: adult European White-fronted Goose on ice with 2 Greylags briefly, then flew off north; adult Yellow-legged Gull.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 12 Barnacle Geese with Greylag flock.

Sailing Lake: Dunlin, Oystercatcher and Common Sandpiper still; pair Sparrowhawks displaying.

Island Pit: Short-eared Owl hunting fields on east side of pit; Common Buzzard displaying.

Heronry North: 2 redhead Smew.

Ouse Valley Way: drake flying north up river.

Sailing Lake: Dunlin.

Visitors' Centre: Blackcap around carpark.

Sailing Lake: Knot, Common Sandpiper still, 1st Oystercatcher of the year.

Ouse Valley Way: 3 Goosander on river.

Great Meadow: single Snipe.

Heronry Pits: 3 Marsh Tits.

Island Pit: redhead Smew.

Boughton Lodge Farm: Little Egret sat in Oak Tree!

Sailing Lake: 4 Egyptian Geese on the green by Sailing club mid-morning (having flown in from the north), but flew off high South; drake and redhead Smew, Common Sandpiper still.

Visitors' Centre: Bittern reported flying SW over centre.

Heronry North: Coal Tit singing nr Wray House Garden.

Island Pit: drake and redhead Smew flew south; imm. drake Goosander flew south. Buzzard over.

River viewpoint: Marsh Tit, 9 Bullfinches feeding together.

Washout Pit: drake and redhead Goosander.

Sailing Lake: redhead Smew.

Sailing Lake: drake Smew.

Heronry South: Kingfisher, 2 Marsh Tits from Hayden hide.

Sailing Lake: 2 Smew (1 drake) at 08:45 today.

Sailing Lake: 2 drake Smew.

Washout Pit: 3 Goosander (1 drk).

Island Pit: female Red-crested Pochard.

Great Meadow: Otter seen hunting and feeding under fallen willow; also drake and redhead Goosander and a Sparrowhawk.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 2 Mistle Thrushes feeding with small group of Fieldfares. First Snowdrops flowering in the small wood north of the farm.

Sailing Lake: Common Sandpiper still.

A1 North Pit: Snipe.

Heronry South: Kingfisher from first viewpoint opp Education Centre.

Sailing Lake: Common Sandpiper again.

Kingfisher, Heronry South © Jamie Wells.

Heronry South: 11 Lesser Redpolls feeding in Alder tree nr education centre; Kingfisher from post 17.

Lesser Redpoll, Heronry South nr Education Centre © Phil Cadman.

Island Pit: 1 drake Smew, 3 Goosander (1 drake).

Sailing Lake: 12 Lesser Redpolls.

Washout Pit: redhead Goosander.

A1 North Pit: 2 Whooper Swans flew low west, plus 15 Pink-footed Geese flew north at c.15:15.

Heronry South: 3 Little Egrets, Marsh Tit; Otter reported also.

Sailing Lake: drake Smew, Common Sandpiper, Snipe.

Heronry South: imm. drake Scaup reported.

Sailing Lake: 2 drake Smew.

Heronry South: 2 drake Smew.

Rudd Lake: 2 Kingfishers.

Sailing Lake: 2 drake Smew.

Ouse Valley Way: Barn Owl near river viewpoint.

Heronry Pits: 8 Little Egrets; 1, possibly 2 Otters seen from Kingfisher Hide.

Island Pit: Woodcock flew over hedgerow on east side of pit.

Sailing Lake: 2 Common Sandpipers.

Island Pit: Goosander flew south along river, Barn Owl roosting in hollow tree on east side of pit.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 2 Tree Sparrows still.

Roosting Barn Owl, Island Pit © Jamie Wells.

Heronry Pits: Little Egret, Marsh Tit near feeders at Hayden Hide.

Washout Pit: 7 Goosanders (2 drakes).

Ouse Valley Way: drake and redhead Goosander flying along river.

Marsh Tit near the Hayden Hide (upper photo), plus drake and redhead
Goosander flying along river © Eddie Mchugh.

Heronry Pits: 3 Little Egrets.

Washout Pit: 2 redhead Goosanders.

Heron Trail: immature Peregrine over fields south of main quarry workings.

Ouse Valley Way: 5 Goosanders on river.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 2 Tree Sparrows still along hedgerow at north end of the cowfields.