Birds in the Mist at Paxton

The thick mist at Toft had cleared a bit by the time I got to Paxton Pits this morning but the Pits still looked very atmospheric. Great to see signs that the next breeding season is not that far off -  two Great Crested Grebes are obviously a 'couple', a Heron perched on the branch next to this year's nest site and some of the Cormorants are adding a brilliant orange to the yellow facial marking indicating that the are starting to come into breeding state. Grey Wagtail reflected colours together with the Robin made great photographic subjects along with the White Egret and the dew drops in the spiders' webs.

Paxton Best of the Rest

The shallow water at some of the edges of Heronry Lake make wonderful drinking and washing areas for birds and reflection pools for photographers. Here a Grey Wagtail and Pigeon beautifully reflected. Another photographers favourite, the Otter, made a brief subject to aim the cameras as it traversed the water ahead of us. Cormorant, Llttle Egret, Grey Heron, Great Crested Grebe and pair of Teal complete the swim/flypast.

Paxton's New Generation of Grebes, Herons and Cormorants

 Beautiful autumn day for a visit to Paxton though the strong morning sunlight proved a challenge for photographing across the reflective water. It is good to record the activity of our new generation of Grebes, Cormorants and Grey Herons and that there is plenty of fish to support them at the moment. 

Paxton Pits - Rain At Last

In other years, the camera would have stayed in the camera bag with light levels as bad as they were yesterday morning, but the first rain into Heronry Lake at Paxton for many weeks had to be recorded!! The two Great Crested Grebe chicks are now as big as their parents but still being fed by them. They spend a lot of time in the shallow water - a good tactic to avoid the Cormorants. All the usual 'players' visited - Gulls, Gadwall, Coot, Heron, Egrets etc. 

Paxton Pits 4th August

The Great Crested Grebes still have their two young which are growing fast though still riding on the back of the adult some of the time. Fingers crossed they avoid predation by the many Cormorants around Heronry South Lake. I couldn't resist a few more images of the Migrant hawker though the light was not as good as on Sunday.