Tuesday 29 December 2015

Northern Pits: GREAT WHITE EGRET feeding around islands in SE corner of Pumphouse Pit; also 4 drake Smew towards SE end of Pumphouse Pit, pair of Pintail, c.70 Golden Plover and an adult male Peregrine flew east. Adult Caspian Gull in the afternoon until 15:20 before flying off towards Grafham.

Friday 18 December 2015

Heronry South: drake Mandarin asleep in SW corner of pit.

Tuesday 15 December 2015

Northern Pits: 2 drake Red-crested Pochards, female Pintail, 4 Golden Plover with 300+ Lapwings, 2 Little Egrets, 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls and Barn Owl.

Sunday 13 December 2015

Northern Pits: adult male Peregrine, Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets and 2 drake Pintail.

Saturday 5 December 2015

Island Pit: Barn Owl roosting on east side of pit.

Thursday 26 November 2015

Island Pit: Short-eared Owl and Barn Owl still around east side of pit late afternoon.

Northern Pits: drake Red-crested Pochard, Green Sandpiper, Snipe and Little Egret.

Monday 23 November 2015

Island Pit: Short-eared Owl showing well on east side of pit mid afternoon, also Barn Owl here.

Ouse Valley Way: drake Goosander on river.

Sunday 22 November 2015

Island Pit: Woodcock flushed from field on east side of pit.

Northern Pits: 9 Red-crested Pochards (6 drakes) on Diddington Pit.

Sunday 15 November 2015

Visitors' Centre/Meadow: Bittern flew over the car park at c.08:40, heading towards Rudd Pit.

Island Pit: drake Scaup with Tufted Ducks south of island.

Northern Pits: adult Yellow-legged Gull, 3+ Little Egrets, Green Sandpiper.

Saturday 14 November 2015

Northern Pits: adult Caspian Gull on New Workings, plus Green Sandpiper, Chiffchaff and Siskin. No sign of the recent Great White Egret.

Thursday 12 November 2015

Northern Pits: GREAT WHITE EGRET again late afternoon.

Wednesday 11 November 2015

Northern Pits: GREAT WHITE EGRET on Pumphouse Pit 15:15, plus Turnstone still.

Tuesday 3 November 2015

Northern Pits: 3 Red-crested Pochards (1 drake) and Turnstone still present.

Saturday 31 October 2015

Northern Pits: 2 drake Red-crested Pochards still, Turnstone still, 15 Golden Plovers south, 3 Snipe, 2 Kingfishers and Grey Wagtail.

Island Pit: 8 Goldeneye.

Washout Pit: Little Egret, Water Rail calling and singing Cetti's Warbler.

Sunday 25 October 2015

Northern Pits: 2 drake Red-crested Pochards still, plus Pintail, Turnstone still, Green Sandpiper, immature Peregrine, Red Kite and 3 Kingfishers.

Thursday 22 October 2015

Northern Pits: Pink-footed Goose and 2 drake Red-crested Pochards still today, however no sign of the Spoonbill.

Wednesday 21 October 2015

Northern Pits: SPOONBILL still today, also Pink-footed Goose with Greylags, 2 drake Red-crested Pochards, 2 Pintail and Turnstone and Common Sandpiper still.

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.




Juvenile Spoonbill and Water Pipit at
Pumphouse Pit late this afternoon

Tuesday 13 October 2015

Visitors' Centre: juvenile GANNET flew north over the centre at 12:05. 

Saturday 3 October 2015

Northern Pits: Turnstone & 2 Ruff still, Dunlin, Green Sandpiper and 2 Snipe.

Island Pit: female Goldeneye; 8 Lesser Redpolls feeding in Silver Birch tree at far SE end of pit.

Thursday 1 October 2015

Northern Pits: 37 Pintail (a good count for Paxton), c.30 Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Ruff & 2 Dunlin still.

Wednesday 30 September 2015

Northern Pits: Turnstone still, 2 juvenile Ruff, 2 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher and a Water Rail calling.

Tuesday 29 September 2015

Northern Pits: Red-crested Pochard, Egyptian Goose, escaped drake Cape Shelduck, Black Swan still, Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 2 Common Sandpipers, c.25 Yellow-legged Gulls.

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.

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.

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

Northern Pits: AvocetTurnstone still, 6-7 Dunlin and female Red-crested Pochard on Pumphouse Pit in evening, plus the regular adult Caspian Gull amongst the pre-roosting Gulls on New Workings.

Monday 21 September 2015

Northern Pits: adult Caspian Gull again in evening pre-roost, plus Ruff still, 3+ Common Sandpipers and 2+ Dunlin.

Sunday 20 September 2015

Great Meadow: Spotted Flycatcher in trees on far W side of meadow.

A1 North Pit: male Stonechat in Brambles on east side of pit.

Northern Pits: Peregrine, Ruff still

Washout Pit: Cetti's Warbler singing briefly.

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

Northern Pits: Turnstone still, Ruff, 6 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpipers, 4 Common Sandpipers, female Red-crested Pochard, Barnacle Goose, 7 Little Egrets, c.15 Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Kingfishers, 67 Pied Wagtails, 3 Yellow Wagtails and c.40 Swallows.

Monday 14 September 2015

Northern Pits: adult Caspian Gull again, plus Turnstone, Ruff, 3 Dunlin and Barnacle Goose still.

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

Northern Pits: adult SHAG on Pumphouse Pit this afternoon, plus juv Little Stint and Turnstone still, Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Dunlin and a Marsh Harrier.

Wednesday 9 September 2015

Northern Pits: juvenile Little Stint, Turnstone, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Dunlin and a Ringed Plover in the evening.

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.

Adult Caspian Gull at New Workings.

Thursday 3 September 2015

Diddington Village/Northern Pits: PIED FLYCATCHER 100 yards north of Diddington village public car park with Tit flock in Oak tree late afternoon, but no further sign in evening.

Tuesday 1 September 2015

Northern Pits: Adult Caspian Gull, Greenshank, Snipe, 7 Egyptian Geese, eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard.

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

Northern Pits: adult Caspian Gull among pre-roosting Gulls; 2 juv Whinchats, 6 Egyptian Geese and 2 Hobbies.

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

Northern Pits: 3 Black Terns (adult & 2 juvs), 2 Turnstones, 3 Dunlin, 3+ Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 15 Swifts, Marsh Tit.

Heronry North: 2 Common Sandpipers on Tern raft.

Saturday 22 August 2015

Northern Pits: adult Caspian Gull & 45 Yellow-legged Gulls on new workings; 4 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover at Pumphouse and a Spotted Flycatcher along the Anglian Water access road.

Wednesday 19 August 2015

Northern Pits: juvenile Caspian Gull in pre-roost, Sanderling, juvenile Turnstone, 4 Little Ringed Plovers and 3-4 Swifts amongst hirrundines in evening.

Saturday 15 August 2015

Heron Trail: 2 Kingfishers and an adult Common Tern on tern raft, viewed from Kingfisher hide.

Northern Pits: 3 Red-crested Pochards still, Pintail, Peregrine, 2 Red Kites, 2 Ruff, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and a Stoat. 

Friday 14 August 2015

Northern Pits: Wood Sandpiper still, Whimbrel straight through south mid afternoon, 6 Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard.

Thursday 13 August 2015

Northern Pits: Wood Sandpiper still, Ruff, 3 Green Sandpipers, Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe, 3 Red-crested Pochards & 36 Yellow-legged Gulls.

Wednesday 12 August 2015

Northern Pits: Wood Sandpiper on Pumphouse Pit in evening, also Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank over, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Ringed Plover, 3 Oystercatchers and 4 Snipe.

Monday 10 August 2015

Northern Pits: adult Caspian Gull again, 3 Red-crested Pochards still (1 eclipse drake), Green Sandpiper, 2 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers.

Sunday 9 August 2015

Northern Pits: adult Caspian Gull and 22+ Yellow-legged Gulls in pre-roost.

Great Meadow: Wasp Spider around clump of  Rosebay Willowherb.

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

Northern Pits: Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Ruff and Red-crested Pochard.

Monday 3 August 2015

Northern Pits: Turnstone, 5+ Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, prob. Caspian Gull (with green colour ring), several Yellow-legged Gulls (2+ juveniles).


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

Northern Pits: 2 Sanderling, Curlew and Ruff still, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 4+ Dunlin, 4 juv LRP's, 3 Ringed Plover, Green Sand, 2 Common Sands, female Red-crested Pochard, 5 Egyptian Geese, 6 Little Egrets.

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.


This 'Lesser Golden Plover' (right hand bird)
was present for just a few minutes this evening
before it flew high south
with a European Golden Plover and 2 Dunlin. 


(Any comments welcome regarding its ID!)



Sunday 26 July 2015

Northern Pits: Wood Sandpiper, Knot, Turnstone, Ruff, Curlew, several Dunlin, 3 LRP's, Ringed Plover, BLACK-NECKED GREBE still.

Tuesday 21 July 2015

Northern Pits: juv BLACK-NECKED GREBE still, plus 4 Egyptian Geese, 11 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Redshank, adult Common Gull.

Juvenile Black-necked Grebe distantly
on Pumphouse Pit.

Monday 20 July 2015

Northern Pits: juvenile BLACK-NECKED GREBE still on Pumphouse Pit; also 2nd summer Caspian Gull, 11 Yellow-legged Gulls, female Red-crested Pochard still, 2 Green Sandpipers, Hobby, Red Kite and 2 Mistle Thrushes.

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

Northern Pits: 13 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Golden Plover, 2 Green Sandpipers, 3 Redshank, 339 Lapwing, 19 Yellow-legged Gulls, Meadow Pipit over.

Wednesday 15 July 2015

Little Paxton village: 2+ Common Sandpipers calling over village at c.22:30.

Tuesday 14 July 2015

Northern Pits: 4 Whimbrel flew west late evening, also LRP and 2 Dunlin.

Saturday 11 July 2015

Northern Pits: 1st summer Common Tern, 3 Egyptian Geese, 6 Yellow-legged Gulls, 13 Little Egrets, Redshank, juvenile Little Ringed Plover & 3 Red Kites.

Tuesday 7 July 2015

Northern Pits: 6 Egyptian Geese, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Hobby and 3 Little Egrets in evening.

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.

Wednesday 1 July 2015

Northern Pits: 6 Black-tailed Godwits over NE in evening, also 6 Green Sandpipers, drake Red-crested Pochard, 6 Common Pochard, drake Wigeon, Black Swan still, singing Cuckoo and singing Cetti's Warbler.

Sunday 28 June 2015

Heron Trail: Cuckoo singing, Kingfisher, 2 singing Lesser Whitethroats.

Saturday 27 June 2015

Northern Pits: 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, female Garganey, drake Teal, drake Wigeon, 7 Pochard, 3 Egyptian Geese, 7+ Yellow-legged Gulls, 8+ Little Egrets, Hobby, Red Kite and a single Siskin low over.

Garganey at Pumphouse Pit.

Tuesday 16 June 2015

Little Paxton: Spotted Flycatcher feeding in gardens at Bydand Lane late morning/early afternoon.

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.

Tuesday 9 June 2015

Northern Pits: 2 Little Egrets, 2 Redshank, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls and a Black Swan.

Sunday 7 June 2015

Heron Trail: Nuthatch calling from the sanctuary area early afternoon.

Wednesday 3 June 2015

Northern Pits: female Red-crested Pochard still, Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Little Egrets, drake Wigeon.

Tuesday 2 June 2015

Northern Pits: 3 Sanderling, 4 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, female Red-crested Pochard and 3 Little Egrets in evening.

Saturday 30 May 2015

Northern Pits: 10 Hobbies over Pumphouse Pit, 2 Red Kites, 3 Sparrohawks, several Buzzards, Redshank, Little Egret.

Thursday 28 May 2015

Northern Pits: 3-4 Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, 7 Ringed Plover, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Little Egrets and Hobby in evening.

Wednesday 27 May 2015

Northern Pits: no sign of White-winged Black Tern between 07:15-08:15 this morning. 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull, pair of Egyptian Geese with 3 goslings and 3 Ringed Plover.

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

Northern Pits: pair of Mandarins on Diddington Pit, also 1st summer Little Gull again briefly, 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull, 7 Tundra Ringed Plovers, 2+ Hobbies, 3 Little Egrets and a Painted Lady.

Thursday 21 May 2015

Northern Pits: Corn Bunting along north side of Island Pit early morning; also 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 1+ Little Egrets.

Monday 18 May 2015

Northern Pits: Sanderling, Turnstone, Dunlin, 2 Tundra Ringed Plovers, 3 Little Egrets, drake Wigeon, singing Nightingale. No sign of the Great Northern Diver since Thursday.

Thursday 14 May 2015

Northern Pits: 1st summer Little Gull, 3 Turnstones, Sanderling briefly (flew off north with 7 Dunlin at 08:40am), 12 Dunlin, 2 Redshanks, Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover in morning. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still present.

Wednesday 13 May 2015

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, pair of Red-crested Pochards, two 1st summer Little Gulls (including an all dark-winged varient), Black Tern, Turnstone, Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper,

Monday 11 May 2015

Northern Pits: 4 Black Terns, GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still.

Sunday 10 May 2015

Sailing Lake: Turtle Dove singing along west side of lake in morning.

Tuesday 5 May 2015

Northern Pits: LITTLE TERN in evening, present until 20:30 at least, also 120+ Common Terns, 1st summer Little GullGREAT 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.

Sunday 3 May 2015

Northern Pits: adult and 1st summer Little Gull, plus Whimbrel, male Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, 2 Dunlin and GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still.

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.

Island Pit: drake Pochard still.

The Great Northern Diver continues to
 show well at times, particuarly in the evening

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.

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.

Northern Pits: OSPREY seen from Pumphouse Pit, distantly to west of northern pits, plus c.10 Arctic Terns briefly early morning. Also GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, Greenshank and 2 Common Sandpipers still. 26 Dunlin in evening.


Ring Ouzel nr to post 12 of the Heron Trail

Tuesday 21 April 2015

Northern Pits: 2 Arctic Terns in evening (c.10 also reported late afternoon per bird news services), along with c.50 Common Terns. Also GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit and Greenshank still, Snipe, Little Egret and single Common Gull.

Sunday 19 April 2015

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Grey Plovers, 2 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank, 2-3 Egyptian Geese, Red Kite, singing Reed Warbler.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 2 singing Lesser Whitethroats.

Heron Trail: Cuckoo heard.

Meadow Trail: Grasshopper Warbler still and Cetti's Warbler.

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.

Friday 17 April 2015

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER again on New Workings this afternoon; also Grey Plover, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, Common Sandpiper, 3 Dunlin, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 30+ Common Terns and drake Pintail on Pumphouse Pit.


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.

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.

Thursday 9 April 2015

Heronry Trail: pair of Garganey on Heronry North (viewable from Kingfisher Hide) mid afternoon. 2 Lesser Redpolls along Haul Road, plus 6+ Blackcaps, 2+ Willow Warblers, Treecreeper nest building.

Tuesday 7 April 2015

Heron Trail: Nightingale heard singing briefly along concrete road briefly in evening.

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, pair of Red-crested Pochards, Turnstone still, Rock Pipit still, Swallow and Red Kite.

Red-crested Pochards currently around Northern Pits.

Monday 6 April 2015

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, 2cy Mediterranean Gull, Turnstone still, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, Little Egret, Rock Pipit.

A1 Pits: Red Kite, Sand Martin over.

Heron Trail: Little Ringed Plover by puddles just beyond weighbridge nr quarry offices.

2cy Med Gull with Black-headed Gulls

Friday 27 March 2015

Northern Pits: juv GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still present early pm.

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Heronry South: Marsh Tit by Hayden Hide.

Tuesday 24 March 2015

Northern Pits: male Merlin hunting Pied Wagtails (90+) late afternoon; also adult and 2nd summer Med Gull,  Egyptian Goose, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 8 Dunlin.

Monday 23 March 2015

A1 Pits: Merlin chasing small passerine above line of Poplar trees at far west end of pit mid afternoon.

Northern Pits: 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull, Rock Pipit, Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, Barnacle Goose & wing-tagged Red Kite.

2nd summer Med Gull on Pumphouse Pit.

Saturday 21 March 2015

Northern Pits: winter plumaged Knot, male Ruff still, Jack Snipe, 12 Common Snipe, 1-2 Green Sandpipers, 17 Sand Martins.

Friday 20 March 2015

Little Paxton village: Willow Warbler singing at NE end of village late afternoon.

Northern Pits: juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, adult Peregrine over, male Ruff, Barnacle Goose, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 5 Ringed Plovers, 5 Redshank, 3+ Dunlin, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Shelduck.

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.

Juvenile Great Northern Diver present for its 5th week

Sunday 15 March 2015

Northern Pits: juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, Curlew, 2 LRP's and Grey Wagtail.

Island Pit: 5 Goosander (2 drakes), plus 2 on river nearby.

Boughton Lodge Farm: 3 Red Kites.

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.

Thursday 12 March 2015

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, plus Jack Snipe, 4 Redshank, 5 Oystercatchers, 2+ Ringed Plover and c.1000 Black-headed Gulls.

Wednesday 11 March 2015

Northern Pits: juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still; also first Little Ringed Plover of the spring, 3 Ringed Plovers, 5 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshank, Little Egret and Buzzard.

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.

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.

Monday 2 March 2015

Great Meadow: female Stonechat this morning.

Female Stonechat on the Great Meadow



Sunday 1 March 2015

Heron Trail: 3 female Goosanders on Heronry North and a Marsh Tit at Heronry South just beyond the Dragonfly pond.

Island Pit: Cetti's Warbler singing along the southern bank of pit.

Northern Pits: 2 Red Kites, Buzzard.

Saturday 21 February 2015

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, also 2w Yellow-legged Gull, Dunlin, 2 Oystercatchers, Snipe, Red Kite and 3+ Buzzards.

Wednesday 18 February 2015

Little Paxton village: Barn Owl flew over south end of Great North Road, just before the A1 joining in evening.

Tuesday 17 February 2015

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still this afternoon.

Heronry Pits: 8 Goosander (2 drakes).

Sunday 15 February 2015

Northern Pits: GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, 3 Oystercatchers and Shelduck, plus c.100 Fieldfare, c.30 Redwing and a single Mistle Thrush feeding on fields south of Diddington village.

Boughton Lodge Farm: Chiffchaff and Kingfisher.

Saturday 14 February 2015

Northern Pits: juv GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still present, also 3 Egyptian Geese, 3 Oystercatchers, c.20 Golden Plover flew north and Peregrine.

Heronry Pits: 7 Goosander.

Thursday 12 February 2015

Northern Pits: Curlew still, 3 Oystercatchers and Buzzard, although no sign of Great Northern Diver this afternoon.

Monday 9 February 2015

Northern Pits: juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still present, plus male Peregrine, Curlew, 4 Dunlin, 270 Lapwing, 2 Green Sandpiper, Snipe, Shelduck and a count of 37 Meadow Pipits.

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.

Friday 30 January 2015

Northern Pits: redhead Smew, pair of Red-crested Pochards still, Pintail, Shelduck, hybrid Eurasian x American Wigeon still, Oystercatcher, 2 Dunlin, Green Sandpiper and a single Buzzard.

Tuesday 27 January 2015

Northern Pits: 5 Black-tailed Godwits, pair of Red-crested Pochards, 4 Pintail & a Red Kite.

Sunday 25 January 2015

Northern Pits: Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit flew north, plus immature male Peregrine.

A1 North Pit: male & female Red-crested Pochard still, plus male and female Stonechat.

Saturday 24 January 2015

Northern Pits: drake and redhead Smew, plus immature male Peregrine.

A1 North Pit: male and female Red-crested Pochard, single Corn Bunting.

Little Paxton village: Tawny Owl flew over the pub in evening.

Thursday 22 January 2015

Northern Pits: 1396 Wigeon and 691 Teal counted on Pumphouse Pit. Also here were a single Shelduck and 3 Dunlin.

Wednesday 21 January 2015

A1 North Pit: male and female Red-crested Pochard, Stonechat, Chiffchaff, 16 Corn Buntings and numerous Skylark, Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings and Linnets.

Sailing Lake: Single Redpoll in Alders on west side of pit.

Tuesday 20 January 2015

Northern Pits: 2 Pintail, Black-tailed Godwit & 3 Dunlin.

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

A1 North Pit: male and female Stonechat, Chiffchaff.

Sailing Lake: 14 Lesser Redpolls on west side of lake.

Saturday 10 January 2015

Northern Pits: 2 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Green Sandpipers.

Sunday 4 January 2015

Heron Trail: 6 Woodcocks around trail late afternoon, plus 2 Marsh Tits around basin area beyond education centre.

Saturday 3 January 2015

Northern Pits: Pink-footed Goose still with Greylag Geese on west bank of new workings today. Also Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Snipe over, Buzzard & Little Egret over.

Friday 2 January 2015

Island Pit: drake and redhead Goosander, Kingfisher.

Northern Pits: Pink-footed Goose with Greylag flock on Pumphouse Pit, also Peregrine,  3 Buzzards, Sparrohawk, Jack Snipe, Snipe, 4 Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Grey Wagtails.

Grey Wagtail at Pumphouse Pit.

Thursday 1 January 2015

Island Pit: Black-necked Grebe reported per RBA.

Northern Pits: drake Smew still, immature Peregrine, 3 Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, Snipe, Grey Wagtail, 2 Shelduck.