A wildlife-rich mosaic of habitats with free parking and a Visitor Centre just off the A1
Sedge warblers Although these are fairly nondescript, small brown birds, you can’t miss them in the Spring as they set up their territories. The males love to sit near the top of scrubby bushes and reed stems, singing their hearts out. Their song is not very musical, more a sort of random chattering, but it… Read More
Sand Martins In the spring, sand martins are the first of the swallow family to arrive from Africa. A small number nest in the gravel workings at Paxton Pits and you can see them swooping over the reserve, catching flies on the wing, especially over the water. They are similar in shape to house martins,… Read More
Sparrowhawk display flights If you have a feeder in your garden, you might have been lucky enough to see a sparrowhawk swooping through to snatch an unsuspecting blue tit. Spring is the best time of year to see sparrowhawks behaving differently. In preparation for the breeding season, they make long display flights quite high in… Read More
Linnets Farmland birds have declined dramatically in the UK over the last forty years, largely due to changing agricultural practices. At Paxton Pits, we sow seed-bearing crops to provide much-needed winter sustenance for finches and other seed-eating birds. If you look in Peter’s Field, or in the hedgerows and trees alongside, you are likely to… Read More
Gadwall The gadwall is a very easily overlooked duck. At first glance, the male is a rather dull grey but if you get close, you’ll see that it has very smart, finely speckled plumage, complementing its dark grey bill and tail. The female is very similar to a female mallard. The gadwall is one of… Read More
