Thursday 29 May 2014

Northern Pits: 1st summer Little Gull throughout afternoon and evening; also Whimbrel still, 3 Dunlin, Tundra Ringed Plover, 2 Red-crested Pochards (1 drake), pair of Egyptian Geese and c.150 Swifts.


















1st summer Little Gull, Paxton Pits.

Monday 26 May 2014

Northern Pits: drake Mandarin Duck on Diddington Pit in evening, although elusive around island. Also 3 Red-crested Pochards (2 drakes), 6 Pochards, 3 Egyptian Geese, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, 14 Oystercatchers and 4+ Little Egrets.

Saturday 24 May 2014

Northern Pits: 2 summer plumage Knot today, plus 2 Whimbrel still, Sanderling, 7+ Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, plus 1st summer and adult Hobby.

Thursday 22 May 2014

Northern Pits: Summer plumage Knot in evening, 2 Whimbrel, 4+ Sanderling during day, 2+ Dunlin, 5 Tundra Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Common Sandpiper, drake Red-crested Pochard and 13 drake Common Pochard.




















Knot and Sanderling on Pumphouse Pit this evening.

Wednesday 21 May 2014

Northern Pits: 2 Sanderling, Greenshank, 2 pairs of Egyptian Geese, 10 Pochard and Little Egret.

Tuesday 20 May 2014

Northern Pits: 4 Black Terns, Grey Plover flew east, 7 Sanderling briefly (before departing north), 2 Whimbrel in evening, 5+ Tundra Ringed Plovers, Little Ringed Plover, 2 drake Red-crested Pochards still, 3+ Little Egrets and 1-2 Yellow Wagtails over.

Monday 19 May 2014

Northern Pits: SANDWICH TERN & 2 Black Terns around north end during evening. Also 2 Tundra Ringed Plovers, 2 drake Red-crested Pochards and 2 Common Pochards.



















Sandwich Tern (centre bird, with two Black-headed Gulls), Paxton Pits.

Sunday 18 May 2014

Northern Pits: 2nd summer-type Arctic Tern in evening, plus 2 Sanderlings briefly and a single drake Red-crested Pochard.




















Arctic Tern: presumed 2nd summer (with Sanderling in background in 1st photo) on Pumphouse Pit in evening.

Saturday 17 May 2014

Northern Pits: adult Arctic Tern on Pumphouse Pit mid morning. Also female Goldeneye still, 2 drake Red-crested Pochards, drake Wigeon, drake Shoveler, drake Pochard, Egyptian Goose, Little Ringed Plover, Tundra Ringed Plover and Red Kite.

Sailing Lake: Common Sand around lake. Also Turtle Dove singing in area between Sailing Lake and Little Paxton playing fields.

Friday 16 May 2014

Northern Pits: 2 BLACK-WINGED STILTS flew south through Pumphouse Pit and Diddington Pit at c.07:05, and were not seen subsequently. Also female Goldeneye in evening, plus 2 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plovers.

Sailing Lake: Turtle Dove still west of the lake.

Heron Trail: Honey Bee swarm around tree by reed screen at start of haul road. Also Little Egret on Heronry South.

























Honey Bee swarm, Heronry South.

Wednesday 14 May 2014

Heron Trail: dark-morph Honey Buzzard reported circling to height over river viewpoint at 10:15 am, then drifted east. Also Turtle Dove around trail.

Meadow Trail: Common Sandpiper & Cetti's Warbler at Hayling Pit. Hairy Hawker on the wing also.

Sailing Lake: Turtle Dove still in area to west of lake this morning.

Monday 12 May 2014

Northern Pits: Rock Pipit showing well at the west end of Diddington Pit was the latest ever spring record for Cambridgeshire (beating the previous record by a day). Also today, male Whinchat on south side of Pumphouse Pit, plus Hobby, pair of Sparrohawks displaying, 16+ Dunlin and 5 Tundra Ringed Plovers.


















Rock Pipit today at Paxton Pits.

Tuesday 6 May 2014

Heronry South: Barn Owl in flight around pit this evening.

Northern Pits: TEMMINCK'S STINT this evening between 20:00-20:20, but not again by dusk following heavy rain shower. Also this evening single Bar-tailed Godwit & 5 Black-tailed Godwits briefly, 8 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper and 4 Ringed Plovers. Pair of Teal still remaining.

Island Pit: 2 Pochards still.

Saturday 3 May 2014

Northern Pits: female Whinchat, Wheatear, 1-2 Turtle Doves and 2 drake Red-crested Pochards still.





















Female Whinchat, Paxton Pits.

Friday 2 May 2014

Northern Pits: 2 drake Red-crested Pochards still, plus 3 Arctic Terns briefly this evening. 14 Swifts and a small number of Swallows present this evening.