Winter Visitors and Early Nest Building at Paxton Pits

Great to see winter visitors, Goosander and Golden Eye pairs, plus resident species Great Crested Grebe, Egyptian Goose, Kingfisher, Gadwell, Shoveller, Wigeon,Kestrel, Black-headed Gull, Grey Heron and Cormorant - the latter busy building the nests.

Paxton Cormorants and Ducks

The cormorants already have the white patch on the body under the wing showing they are ready for breeding. Lots of Wigeon around pestering the Coots as they dived for food (kleptoparasitism). Also Tufted Ducks including one with a very snazzy beak 'Ring'  LVC3 I think

Very Wet Morning at Wicken

Definitely weather for ducks yesterday morning. This teal took flight during one of the lighter showers but the Mallards did not look happy when the rain was at its heaviest. The Coots are already paired off and showing territorial behaviour. The hundreds of Widgeon on the pools were fairly restless giving lovely atmospheric flight images along with Mallards, Mute Swans and Geese.