Oh, joy of joys the sun showed itself last weekend. Walking the Meadow Trail on the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) on Sunday, the birds were agreeing with this with their cheery songs, particularly the musical songs of the thrushes and robins. I heard my first blackcap the other day as well. The Bullace tree, on the bottom corner of Buttercup Meadow (formerly Upper Meadow), is full of blossom and look out for the blackthorn, which is also starting to flower.
The ducks are still with this for now. We counted over 50 shovelers on Rudd Lake on WeBS. As they do, they were following each other in a co-operative manner to stir up food. This rotating, collective movement brings small invertebrates, plankton, crustaceans, and seeds up from the muddy bottom, making them easier to catch. Over the years wildlife has been given local names. Google the shoveler, the Cambridgeshire Fen name given is “Spoony”. Very appropriate, but complicated as you would have thought spoonbills would be given that name!
The Foxtail Meadow, which used to be called the Lower Meadow, was quite wet and there was a large group of Moorhens. We also saw the only little egret seen around the lower lakes on the survey, looking quite disconsolate. The water levels are high again, so the egrets go elsewhere. Cormorants and herons are well into their breeding now and are easy to see on the Heronry Lakes.
It is not always the wetland birds that stand out on the WeBS count. A volunteer, walking the A1 lakes, saw hundreds of fieldfares. They will be passing through to go to their breeding grounds mainly in North Europe and Russia. Just a few stay in the north of the UK to breed.
Another sign of Spring is that the Great Crested Grebes are ‘Weed’ dancing on the Heronries. If you have never seen this, take a few moments to watch this pretty grebe. They start their courtship dance with head shaking in unison, rise up breast to breast with their feet madly paddling, then finish with a dive to bring up weed to give to each other. It is going to be interesting to see where they nest, as their usual little island is under water.
We are always looking at how to improve the habitation for our wildlife. 2300 saplings have been either bought or given to the reserve recently to fill in many open areas left by aging scrub. So, our volunteers have been very busy, even while the rain has been coming down. Well done them! I was away in wet Spain, so missed that work party.
The guided walk looking at winter trees was well attended again. It started off in the car park again, as there is a Hornbeam, which is unusual for the reserve. Many trees hybridise easily, so there is always a discussion on the poplars and willows. The walk made its way through East Scrub, one of our conservation areas. Rather muddy in places, so fortunately the 29 participants had come with suitable footwear. The Wildlife survey team will also look at trees this weekend, but in a different area. I suspect there will be even more deep discussion!
Finally, I am pleased I have at last found a scarlet elf cup fungus on the reserve. There have been plenty of reports around the county in the last month or so, but none at Paxton. Interestingly, I first saw one here at exactly the same time, about 10 years ago, when my sister was visiting in the February half-term.
I am always interested in your sightings here on the reserve. Please contact me on friends@paxton-pits.org.uk to let me know about them.
Ann
Ann Thomas 24.2.26