A wildlife-rich mosaic of habitats with free parking and a Visitor Centre just off the A1
Ringlet butterflies Ringlets started to appear at Paxton Pits in mid-June and there should be plenty around in July. Look for them over the long grass in the meadows and around bramble flowers, one of their favourite nectar sources. They seem a rather dull dark brown at first glance but if you get a chance… Read More
We are pleased to announce that our latest Annual Wildlife Report is now available on the website: you can find it here, along with our previous reports. The report provides species-by-species accounts of all the birds recorded on the reserve, based on our annual breeding bird surveys, WEBs counts and casual records. There is a… Read More
Scarce chasers One of the most common dragonflies at Paxton Pits in early summer is the scarce chaser. They are a local speciality, the Great Ouse valley being their stronghold. The male has a powder blue abdomen and is often seen perched on a tall reed or grass stem on the riverbank, aggressively defending its… Read More
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
