Marsh Harrier and Cormorant Versus Perch at Paxton Pits

This Cormorant caught and eventually swallowed a large perch while the very smart female Marsh Harrier spent quite a few minutes flying around looking for prey. 

Paxton Miscellany

A mix of images from an enjoyable day at Paxton looking for fungi (Mycena species and Winter Stalkball) in the morning and walk with friends looking at birds etc in the afternoon 

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Very Wet Thursday

 Yesterday was the monthly walk at Paxton Pits and, unsurprisingly, only a small group ventured round the reserve. We did manage to record 37 bird species including Garden warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Terns hopefully nesting on the rafts,  adult Cormorant ?teaching young about fishing and Great Crested Grebe pair. Back in the garden in the afternoon, many insects were sheltering on leaves and flowers while the spiders continued to monitor their webs.

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

 

Early Morning Paxton Pits

One of those special moments when you arrive on a scene just as the lighting conditions are perfect - a mist had settled over one of the lakes at Paxton as the sun rose high enough to illuminate the scene and what better subject than a Great Crested Grebe in full display plumage. The Tufted Ducks played their part while flying Mallard and Cormorant added to the scene.