At last some warm and sunny conditions have engulfed Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.
The trails and paths remain wet with some wet muddy areas (but are drying out); walking boots or wellies are recommended for long walks (especially around the moorings on Heron Trail; the paths around Sailing Lake; and Meadow Trail is wet and muddy).
Nightingale and a variety of warblers are in full voice.
The best place of the day to hear Nightingale is around Kingfisher Hide Triangle...
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY (so far): spotted flycatcher around Kingfisher Hide...
...and hobbies are hunting with vengeance over the Heronry Lakes with great views of hobby catching damselfly on the wing from the hides
...turtle doves are calling along the Ouse Valley Way
...adult greater spotted woodpecker are feeding noisy chicks on the Meadow Trail near Riverside
...there has been a mass emergence of caddis fly and damsel fly sp.
...female redpoll on Ouse Valley Walk? Out of sync with the seasons...
...red crested pochard on sailing lake
...red kite and common buzzard soaring over the reserve
It is always worth walking the public footpaths around the reserve (maps can be obtained from the Visitor Centre). From Stirtloe Lane (off Ouse Valley Way) you can watch the latter stages of tern and wader passage and you never know what you might see...
Heavy Works Vehicles are using the Haul Road to and from the Gravel Pit so please stick to the paths and take care.
Please call us with any sightings on tel: 01480 406 795 or pop into the centre and write them into our sightings book.
What is life like for the Ranger of Paxton Pits? Jim Stevenson keeps you up to date on his own blog, the inside-track on life in charge of cows, sheep, birds and volunteers.
http://www.paxton-pits.org.uk/ranger.htm
Join The Friends and you will be helping to make Paxton Pits Nature Reserve a better place for wildlife and people, for now and the future.
http://www.paxton-pits.org.uk/friendsjoin.htm
Friday, 31 May 2013
Thursday, 30 May 2013
Kite patrol...
It is another cool, overcast day at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.
The trails are wet with some wet muddy areas; therefore walking boots or wellies for long walks will be required. (especially around the mooring on Heron Trail and paths around Sailing Lake).
This cold spell has meant a slow start to the morning... however an otter was seen from Kingfisher Hide at 10.00am.
Nightingales and garden warblers only started singing late morning and this was similar for willow warbler, blackcap and chiffchaff. There are 2 chiffchaff nests on the Heron Trail, Haul Road and adults can be seen carrying insects. From the triangle before Kingfisher Hide path you can see the goldcrest nest.
Conditions and sightings are very much like yesterday...
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY (so far): 2 red kites over the Great Meadow.
We are still waiting for Martin and Jamie to find us something rare however sightings of these two top twitchers is some what of a rarity at the moment... must be the cold conditions...
It is always worth walking the public footpaths around the reserve (maps can be obtained from the Visitor Centre). From Stirtloe Lane (off Ouse Valley Way) you can watch the latter stages of tern and wader passage.
Heavy Works Vehicles are using the Haul Road to and from the Gravel Pit so please stick to the paths and take care.
Please call us with any sightings on tel: 01480 406 795 or pop into the centre and write them into our sightings book.
http://www.paxton-pits.org.uk/friendsjoin.htm
The trails are wet with some wet muddy areas; therefore walking boots or wellies for long walks will be required. (especially around the mooring on Heron Trail and paths around Sailing Lake).
This cold spell has meant a slow start to the morning... however an otter was seen from Kingfisher Hide at 10.00am.
Nightingales and garden warblers only started singing late morning and this was similar for willow warbler, blackcap and chiffchaff. There are 2 chiffchaff nests on the Heron Trail, Haul Road and adults can be seen carrying insects. From the triangle before Kingfisher Hide path you can see the goldcrest nest.
Conditions and sightings are very much like yesterday...
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY (so far): 2 red kites over the Great Meadow.
We are still waiting for Martin and Jamie to find us something rare however sightings of these two top twitchers is some what of a rarity at the moment... must be the cold conditions...
It is always worth walking the public footpaths around the reserve (maps can be obtained from the Visitor Centre). From Stirtloe Lane (off Ouse Valley Way) you can watch the latter stages of tern and wader passage.
Heavy Works Vehicles are using the Haul Road to and from the Gravel Pit so please stick to the paths and take care.
Please call us with any sightings on tel: 01480 406 795 or pop into the centre and write them into our sightings book.
What is life like for the Ranger of Paxton Pits? Jim Stevenson keeps you up to date on his own blog, the inside-track on life in charge of cows, sheep, birds and volunteers.
http://www.paxton-pits.org.uk/ranger.htm
Join The Friends and you will be helping to make Paxton Pits Nature Reserve a better place for wildlife and people, for now and the future.
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Paxton Air Show... don't be put off by RAIN!!!
It remains cool, overcast with occasional showers at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.
The trails are wet with some wet muddy areas; therefore walking boots or wellies for long walks will be required.
The trails are wet with some wet muddy areas; therefore walking boots or wellies for long walks will be required.
Despite the weather there is always something special to watch...
Common terns, black headed gulls, swifts and martins are performing some mesmerising aerial manoeuvres fly catching and this spectacle can be viewed from the Hayden and Kingfisher Hides.
Nightingales, garden warblers, whitethroats and lesser whitethroats continue to reverberate along the trails.
Kingfishers are very active and viewable with patience...
Look at the young cormorants, which are developing quickly...
Cuckoos are quite flighty at the moment and can be seen in flight almost daily...
Heron Trail:
4 (singing) Nightingales, 3 garden warblers, 2 goldcrest, 1 cuckoo, swift, house and sand martin and swallows over Heronry North & South , lesser whitethroat (in brambles at start of trail), whitethroats (at least 5 along trail this morning), common tern, black headed gull, great crested grebes, kingfisher
Meadow Trail:
Cetti's warbler singing, (dozens of) swift, 1 (singing nightingale), lesser whitethroats (in meadow scrub), whitethroats (in meadow), blackcap, garden warbler, kingfisher (pair by riverside)
Sailing Lake:
Common tern, oystercatcher (2 juvs), black headed gulls, greylag goose (with 3 goslings), 4 lesser black back gull
Ouse Valley Way: (first 0.5km N off reserve)
Turtle doves, sedge warblers, reed warblers, whitethroats, lesser whitethroats, blackcap, kingfisher, bullfinch, reed bunting
Sailing Lake:
Common tern, oystercatcher (2 juvs), black headed gulls, greylag goose (with 3 goslings), 4 lesser black back gull
Ouse Valley Way: (first 0.5km N off reserve)
Turtle doves, sedge warblers, reed warblers, whitethroats, lesser whitethroats, blackcap, kingfisher, bullfinch, reed bunting
It is always worth walking the public footpaths around the reserve (maps can be obtained from the Visitor Centre). From Stirtloe Lane (off Ouse Valley Way) you can watch the latter stages of tern and wader passage.
Please call us with any sightings on tel: 01480 406 795 or pop into the centre and write them into our sightings book.
What is life like for the Ranger of Paxton Pits? Jim Stevenson keeps you up to date on his own blog, the inside-track on life in charge of cows, sheep, birds and volunteers.
http://www.paxton-pits.org.uk/ranger.htm
Join The Friends and you will be helping to make Paxton Pits Nature Reserve a better place for wildlife and people, for now and the future.
Tuesday, 21 May 2013
Aerial acrobats
It has been cool, overcast again, with occasional showers at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.
The trails remain dry with some wet muddy areas.
The trails remain dry with some wet muddy areas.
Hobbies are hunting over the Heronary Lakes performing some spectacular aerial acrobatics...
Heron Trail:
6 (singing nightingales), 6 garden warblers, 2 goldcrest, 3 red crested pochard, 1 cuckoo, 2 hobby, house martin and swallows over Heronary North & South (sand martins numbers are low today), lesser whitethroat (in brambles at start of trail), whitethroats (at least 8 along trail this morning)
Meadow Trail:
2 bullfinch, 1 cetti's singing, (dozens of) swift, 1 (singing nightingale), lesser whitethroat (in meadow scrub), whitethroat (in meadow), blackcap, garden warbler, kingfisher (pair by riverside), 2 common buzzard, swifts hunting over meadows
Sailing Lake:
20 (sitting) common tern, 4 oystercatcher (pair with 2 juvs), greylag goose (with 3 goslings), 4 lesser black back gull
Ouse Valley Way: (first 0.5km N off reserve)
2 turtle doves, 3 sedge warblers, 1 reed warbler, 11 whitethroat, 3 lesser whitehroat, 2 blackcap, kingfisher1, 1 bullfinch (calling), 5 reed bunting
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
1 red kite flying over A1 N (good views on Diddington Public footpath)
Heron Trail:
6 (singing nightingales), 6 garden warblers, 2 goldcrest, 3 red crested pochard, 1 cuckoo, 2 hobby, house martin and swallows over Heronary North & South (sand martins numbers are low today), lesser whitethroat (in brambles at start of trail), whitethroats (at least 8 along trail this morning)
Meadow Trail:
2 bullfinch, 1 cetti's singing, (dozens of) swift, 1 (singing nightingale), lesser whitethroat (in meadow scrub), whitethroat (in meadow), blackcap, garden warbler, kingfisher (pair by riverside), 2 common buzzard, swifts hunting over meadows
Sailing Lake:
20 (sitting) common tern, 4 oystercatcher (pair with 2 juvs), greylag goose (with 3 goslings), 4 lesser black back gull
Ouse Valley Way: (first 0.5km N off reserve)
2 turtle doves, 3 sedge warblers, 1 reed warbler, 11 whitethroat, 3 lesser whitehroat, 2 blackcap, kingfisher1, 1 bullfinch (calling), 5 reed bunting
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
1 red kite flying over A1 N (good views on Diddington Public footpath)
OUSE VALLEY WAY NORTH (STIRTLOE FOOTPATH)
1 turnstone, 1 dunlin, 1 whimbrel, 1 little ringed plover, 1 ringed plover
It is well worth walking the public footpaths around the reserve (maps can be obtained from the Visitor Centre). From Stirtloe Lane (off Ouse Valley Way) you can watch the latter stages of tern and wader passage.
Please call us with any sightings on tel: 01480 406 795 or pop into the centre and write them into our sightings book.
This summer plumage Turnstone showed very well at times today.
Monday, 20 May 2013
Warble warbletastic!!!!
It is a dull, muggy overcast day at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.
The trails are mainly dry with some wet muddy areas.
Nightingales and especially garden warbler are very vocal this morning along Heron Trail.
Heron Trail:
5 (singing nightingales), 6 garden warblers, 2 goldcrest, red crested pochard (male on Heronary North), 2 cuckoo, 2 hobby, house and sand martins and swallows over Heronary North & South, marsh harrier (male) over Washout Pit, lesser whitethroat (in brambles at start of trail), whitethroats (at least 8 along trail this morning)
Meadow Trail:
4 bullfinch (2 pairs), 1 cetti's singing, (dozens of) swift, 1 (singing nightingale), lesser whitethroat (in meadow scrub), whitethroat (in meadow), blackcap, garden warbler, kingfisher (pair by riverside)
Sailing Lake:
20 (sitting) common tern, 4 oystercatcher (pair with 2 juvs), greylag goose (with 3 goslings), 4 lesser black back gull
Ouse Valley Way: (first 0.5km N off reserve)
2 turtle doves, 3 sedge warblers, 1 reed warbler, 11 whitethroat, 3 lesser whitehroat, 2 blackcap, kingfisher1, 1 bullfinch (calling), 5 reed bunting
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
1 red kite flying over A1 N (good views on Diddington footpath); plenty of butterfly species inc. orange tip, speckled wood, holly blue, small tortoise shell, large white, small white, brimstone, peacock, comma; hornet moth on meadow trail, bee fly (throughout reserve); banded demoiselle and common blue damsel flies; wood mouse in hawthorns opp. Hayden Hide; grass snake (near sailing lake), treecreepers in Rory's Wood
WADER PASSAGE:
It is well worth walking the public footpaths around the reserve (maps can be obtained from the Visitor Centre). From Stirtloe Lane (off Ouse Valley Way) you can sit and watch the latter stages of tern and wader passage.
POSSIBLE: 1st record for county of Hymenoptera sp. sphecodes spinulosa (awaiting confirmation)
Please call us with any sightings on tel: 01480 406 795 or pop into the centre and write them into our sightings book.
The trails are mainly dry with some wet muddy areas.
Nightingales and especially garden warbler are very vocal this morning along Heron Trail.
Heron Trail:
5 (singing nightingales), 6 garden warblers, 2 goldcrest, red crested pochard (male on Heronary North), 2 cuckoo, 2 hobby, house and sand martins and swallows over Heronary North & South, marsh harrier (male) over Washout Pit, lesser whitethroat (in brambles at start of trail), whitethroats (at least 8 along trail this morning)
Meadow Trail:
4 bullfinch (2 pairs), 1 cetti's singing, (dozens of) swift, 1 (singing nightingale), lesser whitethroat (in meadow scrub), whitethroat (in meadow), blackcap, garden warbler, kingfisher (pair by riverside)
Sailing Lake:
20 (sitting) common tern, 4 oystercatcher (pair with 2 juvs), greylag goose (with 3 goslings), 4 lesser black back gull
Ouse Valley Way: (first 0.5km N off reserve)
2 turtle doves, 3 sedge warblers, 1 reed warbler, 11 whitethroat, 3 lesser whitehroat, 2 blackcap, kingfisher1, 1 bullfinch (calling), 5 reed bunting
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
1 red kite flying over A1 N (good views on Diddington footpath); plenty of butterfly species inc. orange tip, speckled wood, holly blue, small tortoise shell, large white, small white, brimstone, peacock, comma; hornet moth on meadow trail, bee fly (throughout reserve); banded demoiselle and common blue damsel flies; wood mouse in hawthorns opp. Hayden Hide; grass snake (near sailing lake), treecreepers in Rory's Wood
WADER PASSAGE:
It is well worth walking the public footpaths around the reserve (maps can be obtained from the Visitor Centre). From Stirtloe Lane (off Ouse Valley Way) you can sit and watch the latter stages of tern and wader passage.
POSSIBLE: 1st record for county of Hymenoptera sp. sphecodes spinulosa (awaiting confirmation)
Please call us with any sightings on tel: 01480 406 795 or pop into the centre and write them into our sightings book.
Monday, 13 May 2013
Monday, 6 May 2013
Sunday, 5 May 2013
Thursday, 2 May 2013
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