This weekend we held our last Dragonfly and Butterfly survey of the year. The fact that it was also one of the hottest days meant we did not linger as long and only walked the morning transect around the Meadow Trail. There were countless white butterflies flying around, which led to more than a few discussions! Most were small white, but there were good numbers of green veined and large ones as well. Brown argus and small heath are still on the wing, as well as red admirals and the odd comma and peacock. Tortoiseshells were definitely lacking. Surely, they haven’t already gone into hibernation, as they do in September. We may have been counting dragons and butterflies, but we always keep an eye on other wildlife and we saw our first ivy mining bees of the year.(see photo by Ann Miles)
There seem to be a lot of day flying moths around. Ranger, Robyn saw the colourful Jersey Tiger moth in the Visitor Centre Garden the other day. This is a moth that is rapidly extending its range. I was recently given a link to the Huntingdonshire Moths and Butterfly group- https://www.hmbg.org/ . Worth a look to see what you might see in the area.
You may wonder what we do with our survey results. Both the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) and i-record receive our records and if you click on the Wildlife dropdown on the webpage you will find the Annual report summarising the results. 2022 report was added recently.
On 10th November 7p.m., come and listen to some of results of the Bird Ringers, the Bat and Mammal Group and the Wildlife Survey group. We are hoping to run a similar event in February where you can hear about the Breeding Bird Survey results and the Wetland Bird Survey.
The 1st Wetland Bird Survey on 17th September will be interesting. Don’t forget you can always come and help the count and learn a little. Let me know at friends@paxton-pits.org.uk if you are interested or want to know more about it. Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler are coming in slowly. They may still be in eclipse plumage, so more difficult to identify. Migrants are passing through, such as Hobbies and an Osprey that had no ring(therefore probably from Scotland) has been moving between Grafham Water and Paxton Pits. Green sandpipers are also around.
Finally, otters are being regularly seen both on the trail cameras as well as sightings, mainly on the Heronries.
As usual if you have anything to report about the wildlife at Paxton Pits, please let me know.
Happy wildlife hunting
Ann Thomas