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.