The lakes are starting to fill up with brown ducks, which are moving south from their breeding areas. Most are in their eclipse plumage, so it is very easy to think there are just a lot of female mallards. Look closer and compare their shapes and sizes. Their beaks are also a good giveaway. One of these ducks is one of my favourites, the shoveler. They have massive spatula shaped bills which act as a built-in sieve for filter feeding their diet of insects and plant matter. Evolution is amazing!
This eclipse plumage makes the first Water Bird Survey (WeBS) of the Autumn, a little challenging! It is lovely to hear the whistling wigeon again. There were a few teal in. This is a bird we have seen less of in the last few years. It will be interesting how many visit the Pits this season. Lapwing were noted in good numbers and there are a few snipe around. Both common and green sandpipers were also seen. The great crested grebes have had successful second broods. The ‘humbug’ chicks are still being fed by their parents, something that is fun to watch from Cobham Hide. Sit, there for a while you should also see the young kingfishers chasing each other or perched very close. It is also a good place to see great egrets, like this one, which Jacqui Hill took recently.
A kingfisher was the last bird of the season that the bird ringers caught. Not an easy bird to have in the hand! They’ve had a busy season. I wish all the youngsters they’ve ringed good luck and hopefully we will see them again.
Volunteers were short in numbers last weekend on the survey, as there was also a work party and some were on holiday. We are always after more volunteers, so please contact me if you can help in any way. No wildlife knowledge required.
The work party was the first of the regular Autumn/Winter programme, clearing around the anniversary black poplar trees, which are doing well, even with all the summer dry weather. We tried to dig up as many of the blackberry roots close by. Work stopped for a while, to inspect the wildlife under one of them. I am not sure who was more surprised, a sleepy smooth newt wasn’t sure whether to move or not! We also pulled the Himalayan balsam that was sneaking up the ditch.
The dragonfly and butterfly survey on Saturday was the last of the year. Once the day warmed up a bit, migrant hawkers, willow emerald and common darter were all around in good numbers. Southern hawkers are still around but not seen on the survey. Butterflies were in short supply. However, the transect finished well with clouded yellows. Like the painted lady, a migrant butterfly that have done well this year.
Similarly, the ivy mining bee is having a good year. A bee that has only been in this country since the turn of the century. As its name suggests it flies when the ivy is in flower and nests in the ground, often in dense groups.
Roe deer sightings are becoming more common and 4 were seen in Foxtail meadow, on the Meadow trail, in the middle of the day.
When you come for your walk, don’t forget to pop into the Visitor Centre for a drink. We also have other items on sale, such as Paxton Pits hats and local honey
As usual, please contact me with any of your Paxton Pits Wildlife sightings at friends@paxton-pits.org.uk.
Best wishes
Ann
Ann Thomas 15.9.26