On another grey day, a song thrush singing from the top of a tree cheered me up as I walked down to the Visitor Centre for the work party today. The water boiler in the kitchen had decided it didn’t like the weather either and had stopped working, so I was also carrying a kettle, so we could fill our thermos flasks. A chatty crowd of nine spent most of the morning planting a mixture of hedgelings near the path to the Kingfisher Hide. It’s the only place I have seen young nightingales being fed. Let’s hope that in a few years we will have nightingales there again.
Only a few days ago the reserve was looking so pretty with the frost. The water bird survey (WeBS) was held on one of these days, so most of the lakes were frozen. The birds were concentrated on any open water, so, in a way, easier to count. The numbers of the duck were good. The highlights were a couple of Marsh harrier and Whooper Swan and a Black tailed godwit. It was also interesting to see Great White Egret. Normally they have left us by now to go further south for the winter.
This year is the 30th anniversary of The Friends of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve. One of the reasons the reserve was formed was because of the breeding gadwall. At the time we had 1% of wintering population of this attractive dabbling duck. More recently, they have become a more common bird seen on many more reserves.
Look out for a very varied selection of events going on for our 30th anniversary. If you have been a volunteer any time during this period, we will be inviting you to a BBQ in the Summer. There are also regular talks and themed walks.
Breeding season is only around the corner and the birds are starting to sing more on the milder days. Tawny Owl has been heard near the Wildlife Trust Educational Centre. Maybe they will use one of the nearby owl boxes we have put up last year.
Other wildlife is around. Like us, they are trying to stay warm. As I was digging a hole this morning for one of the hedge plants, a small mammal scurried past, either a bank vole or a wood mouse. It didn’t hang around, so I didn’t get a decent view of it.
Something I haven’t seen for a while is a fox. Have you?
And tree stumps and dead wood are also worth a look. So much lives under the bark and there are still plenty of fungi and slime moulds to be seen.
Well, wrap up and get out there and enjoy the wildlife. As always, I am always interested in your sightings.
Best wishes
Ann
Ann Thomas 16.1.25