Monday, January 13, 2025

Icy Conditions and January Webs Count at Paxton Pits

The first two images are taken during our January Wetland Birds count at the back of Rudd  Lake and a view of Hayling Lake with frosted Water Soldier - these were the only two view points with any numbers of birds and then Gulls, Coots and Swans with no Ducks or Geese. The other images were taken on a later walk round looking at the iced vegetation and puddles. Final couple from the start of my car journey at 8am as the sun was rising on a hoar-frosted landscape along the Hardwick Road.

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Technicolour Sunrise in Toft

With clear skies and minus 4 degrees, yesterday's sunrise was spectacular - bright yellow/orange skies contrasting with the heavily frosted foliage. I decided a walk across the Golf Course might give some atmospheric shots but got distracted en route to the Church Drift by the colours and light patterns in the village and some frosted fungi, berries and daisies!

Saturday, January 11, 2025

Paxton Pits Winter Birds

The south shallower end of Heronry South Lake at Paxton was frozen over yesterday morning so the birds were concentrated in the area around the Kingfisher hide and Heronry North so good opportunity to record the various duck species etc (Tufted Duck, Swan, Goldeneye, Black-headed Gull, 2 female Goosanders, Great Crested grebe, Teal, Shoveller, Gadwall, Pochard, Heron and Cormorant). A Female Kestrel was enjoying the sunshine together with Robin and flock of Goldfinches. Quite a good list for a short walk!!

Friday, January 10, 2025

Toft 2025 Survey

In 2020 our village in Cambridgeshire collected photographs of people, buildings and nature as it was in that year. The idea was that it would serve as an historical document and the intention is to repeat the exercise every 5 years. I have made a start for 2025 by recording the wild and naturalised flowers in bloom at the start of January and hope to continue through the year, together with insects etc.