Paxton Winter Water Birds

Thursday morning was dull with showers but it brightened in the afternoon so I took my camera out to see what wildfowl are around - pleased to see Goldeneye, Shoveller and Little Grebe. It was very windy so the water was choppy.

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.

Sunny Morning at Paxton Pits

After a frosty start, the sun yesterday was pleasantly warming. The Black-headed Gulls entertained us collecting food from the surface of the water together with diving cormorants and lots of ducks. A couple of habitat shots (with Great White Egret) and two 'signs' of Spring - Cormorant with nesting material and a Honey Bee.

Waders and Wildfowl at Welney

One of the most spectacular sights at Welney are the large flocks of Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings that rest of the islands on the wash, taking to the air every time a Marsh Harrier or other raptor passed overhead.

Winter Birds at Paxton Pits

After a conservation morning laying hawthorn and blackthorn trees to make low scrub for summer avian visitors, I took my camera for a walk to see what was around. As expected, Cormorants, lots of ducks  including Shoveller, Gadwall and Widgeon, Egyptian Geese and flocks of Fieldfares. All distant shots so not a lot of quality but beautiful colours in the water and plumage