Paxton Ducks

Mallards pair up in October and November and courtship was in full flow at Paxton. Other ducks included Wigeon, Shoveller, Tufted and Teal

Paxton Cormorants, Herons and Egrets

Beautiful sunny morning for a visit to Paxton to test my telephoto lenses that has dried out after a couple of weeks in a warm airing cupboard. It appears to be functioning as before. The Cormorants, Herons and Little and Great Egrets were very active chasing each other around and very vocal!!

September Dragonflies at Paxton

Saturday was our monthly Dragonfly and Butterfly survey at Paxton - it was sunny but quite chilly so we were not expecting a large number of records.There were lots of Common Darter and Willow Emeralds, Speckled Wood and Small and Large Whites. 

RPS Nature Group Outing to Paxton

We had to cancel the arranged date for our trip to Paxton due to the extreme heat warning so yesterday was one of the two replacement dates and we hit lucky with the weather and the birds but not so successful with the insects, which are in very short supply along with (and caused by?) lack of their prey. This Egret gave us a good display landing so close it doesn't allow a Facebook format crop. The highlight was watching hundred or more cormorants fly in to feed on what must have been a fish swarm and also the confiding Snipe. There were also large numbers of Gadwall just about out of eclipse.

Paxton Pits Birds

I was to have run a macrophotography  workshop at Paxton today but it would have been too hot out on the open areas so made an early morning visit just to see what birds are around. Very large numbers of Cormorants many in moult and just sitting around. Fewer Herons thanI expected but varied Waders - Lapwings, Green Sandpipers, Snipe etc and of course Ducks - in eclipse and difficult to distinguish. Kingfishers heard and seen briefly.