Reports 2008-
We arrived at Paxton at 09.15. As we got out of our cars, a sparrowhawk was soaring above us.
As we set off onto the reserve, the first bird that we heard was a cuckoo. A willow warbler was singing on a wire above our heads and a nightingale obliged us by singing from a nearby electricity pylon.
Continuing on our way, we saw a pair of bullfinches, whilst more nightingales were singing.
Blackcaps and chiffchaff were also present. A nightingale was singing from a nearby bush giving wonderful photographic opportunities.
At the kingfisher hide, as the name suggests, a kingfisher was flying across the lake. Stock doves were seen on one of the islands.
April 25th 2009
The cormorants seemed to have taken over the heronry as there were only a few herons to be seen. Many swallows & house martins were skimming over the water as were common and Arctic terns.
Leaving the hide a cuckoo was seen briefly.
Walking back to the car park a red-
After lunch, most of the group went to the meadow, again many swallows and house martins were seen plus an early swift.
In the visitors centre we were told of the plans to extend the reserve. In nine years it will have increased in area by three times with reed beds and scrapes being created.
It was a memorable visit, and the bird song was amazing. This is truly an exceptional reserve for hearing the nightingale and only an hour drive from Hemel Hempstead.
Dave Jones (photographs by Stuart Harrison)
Addendum by Stuart Harrison
While most of the group went on the southern loop around the reserve after lunch,
three of us headed north again passed the reserve boundary and the Washout Pit where
we had stopped in the morning. At the Island Pit we had good views of a pair of Red-
Having spoken to one of the locals, we moved over to the Diddington Pit where we saw Redshank, Greenshank, several Ringed Plover and a Little Tern but missed out on a reported Little Gull and Little Ringed Plover.
At 5.30pm we decided that it was time to be heading back. On the way we watched a Great Spotted Woodpecker hammering on a dead branch and at the car park noted House Martins over the meadow area. The “recorder” among us counted 72 species for the day. In conclusion, the very long walk to the far north was well worth it. Of restaurants it is often said “go where the locals go” and this seems to be true of what will become the extended Paxton Pits reserve.
An obliging Nightingale
near the Kingfisher Hide
Blackthorn in flower
A reminder that gravel extraction
is still going on at Paxton Pits