Paxton Butterfly and Dragonfly Survey

Last year we found a single Grizzled Skipper on the equivalent survey, this year more than 10 so there is definitely a breeding colony. We also located one very early Green-Eyed (Norfolk) Hawker, a Scarce Chaser along with the Four-Spot Chasers, a Hairy Dragonfly, four species of 'Blue' Damselflies and also Banded Demoiselles.

Paxton Insects

A few insects found during a recent survey for Grizzled Skippers (four found but only roosting as not sunny) including this amazing Snake Fly lurking in the nettles.

Paxton Pits RPS Nature Group Outing

The weather was disappointing for our trip to Paxton to find signs of spring yesterday - cold and mainly grey. However, we did manage to find a few insects including my first damselfly of the year.

Paxton Meadow Trail Survey

Although windy and quite damp early on, later sunshine produced a few bee species - Colletes cunicularis and Adrena clarkella were present plus a couple of new hoverflies Syrphus torvus and Cheilosia grossa. The Red mite was an interesting find in the leaf litter

'Soft' Day at Paxton Pits

Paxton Pits show a dramatic rise in water level over the last couple of weeks with a lot of the islands now submerged. This has greatly reduced the numbers of birds to be seen but it certainly looked wonderful in the soft light with patches of mist over the water. Mostly shot at 1/500th except Herons at 1/60th - still experimenting with shutterspeeds and sharpness.