Paxton Pits Bird and Wildlife Sightings

2012-01-29T09:43:00.000Z

Heronry Pits: 3 Marsh Tits.

Island Pit: redhead Smew.

Boughton Lodge Farm: Little Egret sat in Oak Tree!

2012-01-28T09:41:00.000Z

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.

2012-01-27T21:24:00.001Z

Sailing Lake: redhead Smew.

2012-01-25T11:24:00.000Z

Sailing Lake: drake Smew.

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

2012-01-24T15:53:00.001Z

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

2012-01-23T15:51:00.000Z

Sailing Lake: 2 drake Smew.

Washout Pit: 3 Goosander (1 drk).

2012-01-22T21:02:00.002Z

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.

2012-01-21T21:41:00.000Z

A1 North Pit: Snipe.

Heronry South: Kingfisher from first viewpoint opp Education Centre.

Sailing Lake: Common Sandpiper again.

Kingfisher, Heronry South © Jamie Wells.

2012-01-17T21:49:00.000Z

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.

2012-01-15T09:44:00.000Z

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

Sailing Lake: 12 Lesser Redpolls.

Washout Pit: redhead Goosander.

2012-01-14T20:32:00.001Z

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.

2012-01-12T20:34:00.000Z

Heronry South: imm. drake Scaup reported.

Sailing Lake: 2 drake Smew.

2012-01-11T20:33:00.000Z

Heronry South: 2 drake Smew.

2012-01-10T20:33:00.000Z

Rudd Lake: 2 Kingfishers.

Sailing Lake: 2 drake Smew.

2012-01-09T20:32:00.000Z

Ouse Valley Way: Barn Owl near river viewpoint.

2012-01-08T21:18:00.000Z

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.

2012-01-07T21:16:00.000Z

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.

2012-01-04T13:42:00.000Z

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.

2012-01-03T18:08:00.001Z

Heronry Pits: 3 Little Egrets.

Washout Pit: 2 redhead Goosanders.

2012-01-01T11:54:00.000Z

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.

2011-12-31T18:34:00.000Z

Boughton Lodge Farm: 2 Tree Sparrows with small group of Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers along hedgerow at north end of cowfields.

Tree Sparrows, Boughton Lodge Farm © Jamie Wells.

2011-12-27T18:50:00.000Z

Heronry South: Little Egret, female Grey Wagtail, 2 Marsh Tits.

Marsh Tit, Heronry South © Phil Cadman.

2011-12-24T23:10:00.001Z

Heronry South: 2 Marsh Tits.

Sailing Lake: 9 Lesser Redpolls feeding in Alder trees on west side of lake.

2011-12-23T23:07:00.000Z

Ouse Valley Way: 8 Goosander (3 drakes) on river by Great Meadow.

2011-12-22T23:06:00.000Z

Heronry South: drake Smew from Hayden Hide.

2011-12-18T11:07:00.000Z

Island Pit: redhead Smew, Bar-headed Goose, Kingfisher.

2011-12-17T23:08:00.000Z

Heron Trail: Corn Bunting with Yellowhammers nr quarry workings.

2011-12-16T22:33:00.004Z

Great Meadow: 2 Woodcocks flew towards river at dusk, plus a hunting Barn Owl.

2011-12-13T16:23:00.002Z

Heron Trail: Woodcock in field west of Haul Road, plus still 100+ strong flock of Buntings in same area.

2011-12-11T09:56:00.000Z

A1 North: No sign of yesterday's Ruddy Duck, but a single Shelduck present. c.400 winter Thrushes (85-90% Fieldfare) in berry laden bushes along southern end of pit.

Heron Trail: c.100 Yellowhammers and a single Corn Bunting in fields immediately west of Haul Road, just south of main quarry workings. Also small numbers of Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Linnets and Reed Buntings. Melanistic Grey Squirrel ('Black Squirrel') along Haul road.

Ouse Valley Way: Otter swimming along river, east of Great Meadow.

2011-12-10T09:54:00.000Z

Sailing Lake: redhead Smew in afternoon, plus Chiffchaff with a Tit flock on west side of lake. Common Buzzard over.

A1 North Pit: female Ruddy Duck asleep amongst Pochard.

2011-12-08T15:58:00.000Z

Heronry Pits: Little Egret, Little Grebe, female Tufted Duck on Education pond (!); female Sparrowhawk, 15+ Redwings (one of which taken by the female Sparrowhawk). Good numbers of Mute Swan, Gadwall, Wigeon and Coots.

2011-12-06T11:57:00.000Z

Heronry Pits: Little Grebe, female Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtails, 20+ Redwing, 2 Marsh Tits, 3 Siskins.

2011-12-02T15:45:00.001Z

Washout Pit: 1 drake and 3 redhead Goosanders.

Heron Trail: Otter, Marsh Tit, Goldcrest, Kingfisher, good numbers of Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Tufted Duck & Shoveller. Redwings murmuring like Starlings, 2 Song Thrushes singing, Woodpigeon singing, Grey Heron, Moorhen, Coots etc; 3-4 Yellowhammers along Haul Road, nr quarry workings.

Meadow Trail: Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Snipe, Bullfinches and several Wrens. Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker.

Meadow Below Visitors' Centre: Woodcock.

Car Park: Grey Wagtail, Little Egret (over).

2011-11-27T16:00:00.000Z

Heronry Pits: Common Darter still on the wing along Haul Road, nr Rory's Wood.

2011-11-26T22:02:00.001Z

Island Pit: redhead Goosander briefly, Kingfisher.

2011-11-22T12:34:00.000Z

Heronry South: Little Egret, plus a Grey Wagtail seen bathing.

2011-11-15T17:21:00.000Z

Heronry Pits: Sparrowhawk over Heronry North; single Coal and Marsh Tits, plus 2+ Long-tailed Tits at Education Centre feeding station.

River viewpoint: Red Kite over, also 11 Reed Buntings in area.

Washout Pit: Otter crossed path.

2011-11-14T16:35:00.000Z

Little Paxton village: Chiffchaff in Hawthorn Close garden early am.

2011-11-13T10:54:00.000Z

Heronry North: Otter showing well on and off from Kingfisher hide during day. Also fox on promontory in front of hide.

2011-11-12T09:27:00.002Z

Heronry North: 2 drake Pintail.

Island Pit: 11 Pintail over, heading south; Water Rail calling, Redpoll over.

Insects: A few Common Darters and a Peacock butterfly still on the wing.

2011-11-09T10:22:00.001Z

Island Pit: 6 Whooper Swans over, c15 Goldeneyes, Fieldfares, Redwings & lots of continental Blackbirds.

Rudd Pit: Kingfisher.

Cloudy Pit: Shovellers, Gadwall, Mallards, Sparrowhawk & 4 Siskins.

2011-11-07T10:05:00.001Z

Kingfisher Hide: Kingfisher at post 17, also 2 Otter sightings from the hide today.

Island Pit: 15 Goldeneyes, 30 Fieldfares.

2011-11-06T10:09:00.001Z

Heronry Lakes: 78 Mute Swans, 677 Wigeon, 85 Gadwall, 5 Goldeneye, 12 Teal, 6 Shovellers, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpeckers, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, 2 Bullfinches and 2 Siskins.

Other wildlife: Fox and a Black Squirrel.

2011-11-03T17:27:00.001Z

Little Paxton village: a late Hobby seen heading south west.

2011-11-02T11:56:00.002Z

Heronry North: Merlin seen several times from Kingfisher Hide, plus Otter sighted at least 3 times.

Otter photographed from Kingfisher Hide © Kevin Loader.

2011-10-29T09:01:00.000+01:00

Heronry North: Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Redpoll and Crossbill over during morning.

2011-10-18T11:47:00.001+01:00

Washout Pit: male Otter showing well along footpath mid morning, then moved off in to the river.

2011-10-15T11:48:00.001+01:00

Great Meadow: single Brambling over, heading south.

Heronry Pits: 6 Little Grebes and an Otter seen from Kingfisher Hide.

2011-10-13T20:28:00.001+01:00

Heronry Pits: 27+ Crossbills over south (groups of 20, 6 and 1+), 5 Swallows south, 5 Redpoll south, Kingfisher, Chiffchaff, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit.

Island Pit: drake Scaup still.

Great Meadow: Grey Wagtail over.

Meadow trail: Golden Plover north over.

2011-10-12T17:58:00.001+01:00

Island Pit: drake Scaup amongst 1460+ Tufted Ducks. 5 Buzzards, 2 Redwings, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 16 Redpolls over SW.

Heronry Pits: Kingfisher, Redwing, Chiffchaff, 4+ Goldcrests, 2+ Marsh Tits, 1-2 Coal Tits, 3+ Siskins and 4 Redpolls over.

Sailing Lake: 2 Buzzards, Chiffchaff.

Washout Pit: Redwing, Goldcrest.

Other wildlife: Grass Snake at Island Pit, plus 4 Migrant Hawkers, 5 Red Admirals and Vapourer Moth noted around reserve.

2011-09-29T12:22:00.001+01:00

Heronry Lakes: Large number of Wigeon, probably due to lack of water at Ouse Washes. 3 Shovelers and Bar-headed Goose, Little Grebe. Swallows coming through in twos and threes, also a few Blackaps still. Frequent Kingfisher sightings. Hobby last seen on the 26th.

2011-09-18T14:23:00.000+01:00

Heronry Pits: 2 Kingfishers and Stoat seen.

Island Pit: 4 Cetti's Warblers singing/calling around pit.

2011-09-11T13:02:00.000+01:00

Island Pit: Whinchat on east side of pit, also 2 Hobbies.

2011-09-10T13:05:00.001+01:00

Heronry Pits: Cuckoo seen near the moorings, c.100 House Martins, 5 Siskins over.

Little Paxton village: 2 Siskins north.

2011-09-08T12:47:00.006+01:00

Visitors Centre: Swift with large flock of hirundines.

2011-09-07T12:47:00.002+01:00

Heronry North: Two juv. Common Terns, Kingfisher, Bullfinch, Wigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Heronry South: Turtle dove on wires, Buzzard.

2011-08-29T12:59:00.001+01:00

Ouse Valley Way: 2 possible Honey Buzzards heading south along river at 11:00; Marsh Tit from river viewpoint.

Island Pit: Green Sandpiper.

Heronry South: 2 Kingfishers.

2011-08-28T13:07:00.002+01:00

Heronry North: Osprey circling over pit at 06:30. Spotted Flycatcher around 'snake pit' area. Escaped grey Cockatiel around Heronry Pits throughout day.

2011-08-20T09:59:00.000+01:00

Heronry North: Kingfisher, Nightingale (seen bathing in puddle), 2 Marsh Tits.

2011-08-19T22:37:00.002+01:00

Heronry Pits: 6 Wigeon, 2 Kingfishers.

2011-08-18T13:45:00.001+01:00

Island Pit: A leucistic Swallow with group of c.60 hirrundines feeding over north end of pit. Also male Sparrowhawk.

2011-08-17T13:46:00.000+01:00

Little Paxton village: adult Hobby hunting over NW end of village, also Buzzard over.

2011-08-13T09:58:00.001+01:00

Heronry South: Little Egret & 2 Kingfishers.

2011-08-10T12:20:00.000+01:00

Washout Pit: single Greenshank in evening.

2011-07-24T09:41:00.004+01:00

Meadow trail: Lesser Emperor dragonfly seen patrolling the north end of the meadow between 17:15-17:35. Also at least 5 Six-belted Clearwings to lure around Bird's Foot Trefoil between the boardwalk and visitors' centre late morning.

Hayling Pit: Kingfisher fishing from an overhanging Willow.

Six-belted Clearwing Moth attracted to pheromone lure, Paxton Pits.

2011-07-19T20:54:00.001+01:00

Washout Pit: 4 Green Sandpipers.

Turtle Dove's calling around Heron Trail, especially near Hayden Hide, Kingfisher Hide and Moorings.

2011-07-14T20:54:00.008+01:00

Hayling Pit: Norfolk Hawker seen for about an hour holding territory until a Brown Hawker saw it off.

Heronry Lakes: 3 Little Egrets, Turtle doves singing, Water Rail heard near Dodder Fen. Hobby.

2011-07-11T11:17:00.001+01:00

Heronry South: Turtle Dove showing well at basin.

Ouse Valley Way: pair of Kingfishers with young, Hobby.

Little Paxton village: Whimbrel heard calling and heading south at 22:55.

2011-07-10T12:14:00.005+01:00

A1 North Pit: Green Sandpiper, c.30 Linnets.

Hayling Pit: Norfolk Hawker seen again and photographed.

Heronry Pits: Wigeon from Hayden Hide, Marsh Tit and Goldcrest near Wray House Garden. 4+ Six-spot Burnet moths along Haul Road.

Great Meadow: 2 Buzzards over.

Meadow Trail: Six-belted Clearwing moth to lure late morning.

Norfolk Hawker, Hayling Pit © Martin Shadbolt (click photo's to enlarge)

2011-07-09T12:17:00.000+01:00

Island Pit: Green Sandpiper.

Sailing Lake: Turtle Dove 'purring'.

2011-07-03T11:11:00.000+01:00

Washout Pit: Hobby, 3 Siskins flew south and nearby a Red-belted Clearwing moth to lure briefly.

Heronry Pits: female Tufted Duck with 6 ducklings, Cuckoo singing and 2 Siskins north over Haul Road.

2011-07-02T11:06:00.001+01:00

Hayling Pit: Norfolk Hawker dragonfly seen on water soldier.

Also Hummingbird Hawk-moth recorded today.

2011-07-01T19:21:00.002+01:00

Heronry Trail: Hobby, 5 Turtle Doves crooing around the trail (there are others near the sailing lake). 2 Foxes and many butterflies and bees on the blackberry flowers. Mainly Red Admiral, Small Skipper, Comma, Meadow Brown and Ringlet. Don't forget to check for Essex Skipper here.

Cloudy Pit: adult Mink with 2 cubs crossing the track at south end of pit.

2011-06-30T09:31:00.001+01:00

Meadow Trail: Grasshopper Warbler 'reeling' and showing well at 8pm. Also 1+ Cetti's Warbler singing. Purple Hairstreak pair mating along south side of Cloudy Pit.

2011-06-26T09:48:00.002+01:00

Heronry Pits: 2 Kingfishers; Turtle Dove and Coal Tit along Haul Road.

Boughton Lodge Farm: dead adult Tawny Owl.

Little Paxton village: Hobby hawking insects early evening, and 2+ Sparrowhawks. Yellow Wagtail over, Lesser Whitethroat singing.

2011-06-25T09:32:00.005+01:00

Heronry North: Orange-tailed Clearwing attracted to pheremone lure in afternoon.

Orange-tailed Clearwing moth, Paxton Pits.

2011-06-20T11:11:00.019+01:00

Heron Trail: 3 Nightingales seen, 1 heard, 1 trapped and ringed. Turtle Doves singing, Lesser Whitethroats singing (incl. Car Park). Yellowhammers singing x 2 near gravel works, Bullfinches. Sparrowhawk (breeding, seen carrying food to nest). 2 Little Egrets seen at dusk flying from Heronry Pit towards the Meadow. Blackcaps singing. House Sparrows at bird tables.

Meadow Trail: Cuckoo calling, Kingfisher at Rudd Pit.

Note: Otters seen on 12th and 14th along river.

2011-06-06T12:24:00.001+01:00

Island Pit: 4 Black Terns, Cuckoo, plus singing Grasshopper Warbler and Cetti's Warbler.

2011-06-04T15:43:00.000+01:00

Heronry South: 2 Turtle Doves, Cuckoo, still 6+ Nightingales singing, Treecreeper family.

Rudd Pit: Cetti's Warbler.

2011-05-28T13:35:00.001+01:00

Heronry South: Hobby, Kingfisher, Turtle Dove, c.40 House Martins, 4 Nightingales singing, family party of Marsh Tits.

Cloudy Pit: Nightingale singing.

Marsh Tit recently fledged around basin area, Heronry South.

2011-05-19T21:40:00.001+01:00

Hayling Pit: drake Mandarin Duck on the river, opposite Hayling Pit this morning.

2011-05-13T22:09:00.002+01:00

Heronry South: drake Red-crested Pochard.

Great Meadow: 2+ Hobbies.

Meadow Trail: male and female Cuckoo, Cetti's Warbler.

Sailing Lake: Red Kite over.

Drake Red-crested Pochard, Paxton Pits.

2011-05-11T13:31:00.001+01:00

Island Pit: single Black Tern at the south end of Island Pit this morning.

2011-05-08T14:13:00.001+01:00

Cloudy Pit: 3 Cuckoo's together.

2011-05-07T21:05:00.000+01:00

Heronry South: 1st summer male RED-FOOTED FALCON feeding over Heronry North at 13:15, but then flew towards moorings and not relocated. Female Marsh Harrier over, heading NE at 15:30. Also 2 Hobbies and 4 Cuckoos.

Island Pit: 1st summer Little Gull in evening. Also 3 Grasshopper Warblers and Cetti's Warbler all still singing.

2011-05-04T17:14:00.001+01:00

Great Meadow: Whinchat around NW end.

2011-05-02T13:57:00.002+01:00

Island Pit: female Whinchat along east side of pit in evening.

2011-05-01T22:05:00.003+01:00

Again, another excellent day for passage waders (many passing straight through north or northeast). Some totals for today:

Tundra Ringed Plover, 4+
Grey Plover, up to 7
Knot, 6
Dunlin, 8
Ruff, 1
Snipe, 1
Bar-tailed Godwit, 50
Greenshank, 15+
Wood Sandpiper, up to 6 birds
Common Sandpiper, 2
Turnstone, 4+

Other birds around today include 3 Little Egrets, drake Red-crested Pochard, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Hobbies, Turtle Dove, 5 Swifts, 2 Yellow Wagtails and male Wheatear.

2011-04-30T21:54:00.000+01:00

Some excellent northbound passage today, mostly during the first part of the morning. Highlights include: probable Marsh Harrier heading north (distant), 2 Hobbies, 2 Avocets, 6+ Grey Plovers, 8 Knot, 3 Sanderling, 30+ Bar-tailed Godwits, 7+ Whimbrel, 20+ Greenshank, up to 8 Green Sandpipers, up to 5 Wood Sandpipers, Common Sandpiper and 10 Little Gulls. At least one Grasshopper Warbler still singing along east side of Island Pit.

2011-04-29T22:16:00.004+01:00

Island Pit: Cetti's Warbler, 3 Grasshopper Warblers.

Heronry South: 2 drake Red-crested Pochards, drake Pochard, Marsh Tit.

2011-04-27T22:55:00.005+01:00

Great Meadow: male Whinchat still.

2011-04-26T19:51:00.001+01:00

Great Meadow: male Whinchat around scrubby area at NW end of meadow.

Heronry Pits: 2 Egyptian Geese over, drake Red-crested Pochard, several House Martins, Kingfisher.

Island Pit: Cetti's Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warblers.

Male Whinchat at the Great Meadow, Paxton Pits.

2011-04-25T14:59:00.002+01:00

Sightings today include: 4 Goldeneye (2 drakes), Red Kite, 2 Hobbies, 2 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank, 2 Wood Sandpipers (briefly at 07:55), Swift and singing Grasshopper Warbler.

Wood Sandpiper, Paxton Pits.

2011-04-24T21:38:00.006+01:00

Boughton Lodge Farm: Turtle Dove singing.

Island Pit: Red Kite, Hobby.

Washout Pit: pair Sparrowhawks displaying.

2011-04-23T21:31:00.002+01:00

Little Paxton village: SANDWICH TERN over north at 11:30; single Swift noted.

2011-04-22T21:29:00.001+01:00

Island Pit: 3 Grasshopper Warblers.

2011-04-20T09:52:00.005+01:00

Little Paxton village: 5 House Martins. Also female Emperor Moth caught in a Little Paxton garden early afternoon.

Female Emperor Moth, Little Paxton (ok, so it's not a bird, but this moth was too smart to miss off today's news!).

2011-04-19T09:52:00.003+01:00

Heron Trail: At least 8 singing Nightingales; 11 Swallows over education centre.

Island Pit: Cetti's Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler still.

2011-04-18T22:42:00.007+01:00

Diddington & Pumphouse Pits: 2 Little Egrets, 9 Little Ringed Plovers, 3+ Ringed Plovers, 4+ Redshank, Green Sandpiper over, heading north, adult Yellow-legged Gull, 2+ Yellow Wagtails, 2 Wheatears, Cetti's Warbler, 2-3 Grasshopper Warblers.

Meadow Trail: Grasshopper Warbler singing and showing well.

Wheatears at Diddington Pit, Paxton Pits.