Icy Conditions and January Webs Count at Paxton Pits

The first two images are taken during our January Wetland Birds count at the back of Rudd  Lake and a view of Hayling Lake with frosted Water Soldier - these were the only two view points with any numbers of birds and then Gulls, Coots and Swans with no Ducks or Geese. The other images were taken on a later walk round looking at the iced vegetation and puddles. Final couple from the start of my car journey at 8am as the sun was rising on a hoar-frosted landscape along the Hardwick Road.

Paxton Pits

The mist cleared at Paxton on Saturday to give some wonderful reflections with the absence of wind. Cormorants, Herons, Coot and Moorhens were all getting on with building nests and setting up territories etc

 

New Year's Day at Paxton Pits

The New Year's Day Birdwatch at Paxton recorded 43 species which is about our usual for January. The Coots are definitely setting up their territories and so glad I was under the flight path of the cormorant! I also recorded any flowers in bloom - total of seven species. Very poor light in the afternoon when these were taken

Very Wet Morning at Wicken

Definitely weather for ducks yesterday morning. This teal took flight during one of the lighter showers but the Mallards did not look happy when the rain was at its heaviest. The Coots are already paired off and showing territorial behaviour. The hundreds of Widgeon on the pools were fairly restless giving lovely atmospheric flight images along with Mallards, Mute Swans and Geese.

Rutland Water Walk 2. Other Birds

The variety of birds that we saw at Rutland was great but the viewing distance and photographing into the sun for most shots means they definitely come into the 'for ID and Memories' category only. The Osprey(s) kept us entertained most of the day, soaring and hovering in the distance while Kestrel and Marsh harrier also hunted in the distance plus the usual wetland species.