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.

Flight of the Bittern

Bitterns are secretive, solitary marsh birds known for their stealthy hunting, cryptic camouflage and distinctive booming calls. Bittern sightings at Paxton Pits are not common so I was delighted when this one decided to take off and fly close to the water looking like a Sea Eagle! Not great quality to the photos but happy with the sequence as it flew along the lake edge. The final entry shows the entire flight. 

Paxton Pits October

Ellie requested seeing a Kingfisher on her visit to Paxton Pits today - request fulfilled plus the bonus of two sitting together for a time (too far into the leaves and branches to capture on the camera) and one of them capturing a large fish which it banged on a branch (unfortunately behind a lot of foliage) before swallowing. We also managed several duck species and a Great Crested Grebe teaching its humbug youngster what to do with a fish after capturing it - not a very successful lesson so the adult ate the fish. Very cute Blue tit and flying Swan and Grey Heron completed the sightings.

Meadow Trail Paxton Pits

Friday  was a beautiful sunny autumn day for a walk round the shortened Meadow Trail at Paxton Pits and I decided to document the various features along the route starting with Cloudy Lake, Buttercup Meadow with view of Visitor Centre, the Board Walk by Rudd Lake, the Ramp, the path along Hayling Lake to the Ouse Way, another view of Cloudy Lake, the Gully, a panorama of Redlands, the Dragonfly notice and ending with a view of Heronry South from Bill's Bench.