Just the Weather for (Counting) Ducks

 Sunday was the March WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey) Count at Paxton Pits. It started overcast and misty but soon the rain started and by the end was very heavy. The best 'count' was certainly the single male Smew but the large numbers of dabbling ducks (Teal, Shovellers) together with Coots, Gadwall etc and Geese on the flooded meadows will be the lasting memory

Birthday Walk at Paxton

The pits at Paxton were more or less frozen over for our Third Thursday walk at Paxton so all the waterfowl were pushed into the small open areas. Lots of Fieldfare, Wren, Tree Creeper, Green Woodpecker, Single Lapwing, Several Herons and Cormorants completed the walk.

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.

Paxton Pits Afternoon walk

Yesterday morning was too wet to do outside work at Paxton Pits so we were undercover putting nest boxes together. In the afternoon, the rain stopped and clouds cleared to give beautiful light for a walk around the reserve. There are hundreds of Gadwall and Widgeon on the Lakes at the moment together with resident Cormorants, Swans and Gulls which provided plenty of activity to photograph. The flies are still active with three species of hoverfly in one small patch together with a Sarcophagid fly on a toadstool.

Cormorants Nesting at Paxton Pits

Nesting season for the Cormorants is in full swing at Paxton.