Paxton Pits Spring Walk

Yesterday morning was our monthly public nature walk at Paxton Pits, led by Mike who pointed out lots of  signs that the wildlife is waking up from the winter dormancy and making plans to reproduce whether plants or animals. The blue tits were busy in various areas collecting moss for their nest accompanied in one area by siskins. The latter may be winter visitors though there is a good breeding population in the uk (lowest in the East of England but showing a 44% increase since 2013). Lots of Chiffchaffs voicing their claims on good nesting areas with their calls. The insects are definitely getting active with the Tapered Dronefly, Early Colletes bee, the parasitic Bee Fly and Peacock Butterfly on the wing. Lots of signs of nest building, courtship and territory aggression among the birds and the Muntjac are much bolder when they need to build up body mass for breeding and territorial disputes.

 

Spring Markers 2026

Every year I record photographically what is in bloom in the garden around March 20th. Here is a composite of this year's bloomers. As expected the flowers are about as advanced as other recent years with the plum blossom out and the pear and apple well in bud.  If we look back 10 years and more, then there is a marked advancement in the opening of the flower buds with 2013 having snow on the ground in March and a late spring.

Paxton's Bees etc

Yesterday was the warmest of the year so far with temperatures around 17 degrees at Paxton Pits and the bees and other insects were on the move. Here a selection - not sure all the IDs on the final sheet are correct - still checking!!

Toft's Bees and Other Wildlife Wake Up

 The warm conditions yesterday brought a lot of species out of their winter dormancy and onto the foliage. Favourites definitely the small Weevil, Box Bug, Bee Fly, and the unusual-looking parasitic fly, Gonia picea. I recently received the new Flies book by Stephen Falk and others so looked it up. The Dark broadface visits flowers including Daisy, is parasitic on moths including Square-spot Rustic which we definitely have in the garden and is one of the first Tachinid to appear in spring. Bees more difficult to ID!

Barnwell Park Birds

Some of the birds that we photographed on Sunday at Barnwell Park. The Goldcrest was very confiding and occasionally hopped into a sunny patch for a portrait or two. The Mandarin male and female were obviously paired up and spent some time up a tree presumably nest site hunting. Heron nest and Egret at a distance and good to photograph a Carrion crow.