Paxton Pits NewYear Birds

Spent an enjoyable couple of hours  yesterday afternoon in the Cobham Hide just watching the birds - the light was very poor but managed a few images of the action including this Long-tailed Tit, one of a party of 4 or 5 who landed in the bush in front of the hide. The Marsh Harrier paid 'its' (female or juvenile) usual visit. The Cormorants are coming into breeding plumage as their nesting season can start early January.

Fun with Fungi at Paxton

We had to abandon the Conservation Work Party at Paxton Pits early when the heavy rain arrived  but, after a revitalising drink,  four of the younger members of the group joined me in a fungi hunt in Rory's Wood. We got soaked through but the woods looked and smelt wonderful and we even found a few loose twigs with interesting fungi to take back to photograph at the visitor centre in the outside shelter. Tom had some small light cubes that took colour filters - I went for a blue one and then discovered that the visitor centre itself made an interesting back drop. It is unusual to see a hexagonal full moon but otherwise quite convincing - even got some surface detail one shot!!

Wet Woodland Fungi

Paxton Pits has areas of wet woodland where mosses, lichens and, at this time of year, am interesting mix of small fungi can be found. 

(Taken with compact Fuji X100V plus Raynox 250)

Insect Life Paxton Moorings

A very enjoyable morning in the area of Paxton Reserve that borders the river hunting out insects - some very small and many well camouflaged like this Bulrush Veneer Moth. Mostly cloudy so not many butterflies or Dragons on the wing but Small Copper and Common Blue always favourites.

Dragonfly Day at Paxton Pits

 We have not been at all lucky with the weather for events this year. Our Annual Dragonfly Day in July with the Dragonfly Society (Paxton is a Dragonfly Hotspot ) had to be cancelled because of rain. Our replacement day yesterday was dry but overcast, breezy and cool so not the variety of dragonflies that we hoped plus the Dragonfly Society could not attend the amended date. However, over 30 people turned up for the event and took part in one or both of the walks. Here a few images from the day (Willow Emerald plus the Emerald Damselfly that we hoped but failed to see, Common Darter, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Migrant hawker plus other insects including the very spiky Comma caterpillar and the Darwin Wasp (Ichneumon in old terms!)).