A wildlife-rich mosaic of habitats with free parking and a Visitor Centre just off the A1
The ground is at long last starting to warm up, so if the weather is dry, the smaller creatures start to move around earlier in the day. The water also is warmer, which is encouraging the emergence of the dragonflies and damselflies. Today, with the weather sunny, there were blue damselflies everywhere, including banded demoiselle… 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
Haven’t we been fortunate with the weather in the last few days? The fresh lime green leaves are well out now on the blackthorn and hawthorn. Lovely to see, but it does make birdwatching more difficult, particularly for those which sing well into the scrub most of the time! Yes, they are back in. It… Read More
Image by Marilyn Peddle, CC BY-NC 2.0 Latin name: Sturnus vulgaris Adults in the breeding season look basically black, but with a shining purple and green feathering, the starling is truly a very handsome bird. It is indeed very attractive and so underrated by both birdwatchers and the general public. The starling, like all birds,… 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
