Have you seen flying ants this year? I was sitting in the garden with family a couple of days ago and up they came. I expected to see the gulls come in for a feast, but no signs of them at all. Did you know that flying ants are called Alates? This is the nuptial… Read More
In July and August, Look out for
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
Ann’s Blog 27.6.22
It is a while since I last wrote my blog. One of the reasons is that Mike and I have been away in the south-west, where the wildlife is a little different and we see new species for us. However, it is also rather exciting when we have a new species for the reserve and… Read More
Annual Report for 2021 published
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
In June, Look Out for …
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