St Neots & District

Wildlife Group Page 2019

Welcome to the Wildlife Group web page. The group meets once a month at various locations to observe whatever can be found at that time of the year. Please feel free to join us. All of our walks are taken at a steady pace with frequent pauses to ” watch” what is going on around us. Stout shoes and appropriate warm clothing are recommended, as is a pair of binoculars, if you have them. I only ask one thing, do not just turn up, call me first as I sometimes change the venue when conditions are unsuitable. So dig out those walking shoes and come along and join us, our mission is to enhance your outdoor experience.

January

In January we took a leisurely stroll around Paxton Pits Nature Reserve. We headed off in the sunshine as evidenced by John's lovely photo of the trees on Heronry South. Whilst in the Hayden Hide we had great views of Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Ducks, a Green Sandpiper, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Moorhen, Cormorant, Heron and Greater Spotted Woodpecker. Sadly after about 40 minutes it started to rain, and although we were in the dry, it really affected the visibility! However, we all elected to go onto the Kingfisher hide, where a lucky few saw the Goosander. At 15.00 we decided to give in to the weather, and we retreated to the Visitor Centre for a much needed cup of tea.

February

February we visited the Wildlife Trust Reserve in Cow Lane Godmanchester. We took an easy stroll around the reserve in glorious sunshine. The sun cast a wonderful light upon the wildlife giving us superb views of Oyster Catcher, Lapwings, Egyptian Goose, Little Egret, mating Crested Grebe, Shoveler, Wigeon, Tufted Ducks, Gadwall, Coot, Moor Hen, Black Headed Gull, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Red Kite and Common Buzzard

March

For our March meeting we visited Fen Drayton RSPB nature reserve, a first for many of us. There were signs of spring everywhere. The weather was cool but pleasant. We took a circular route that also took in good views of the guided bus route. Among the many birds we heard and saw were Green Woodpecker, Canada Geese, Wigeon, Pochard, and Great Crested Grebe on the water. Amongst the many and varied habitats we heard Willow Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Chiff Chaff and Greenfinch with nice views of Chaffinch, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Reed Bunting, and Long Tailed Tit.

April

On the 17th April 2019 we met at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve. It was a lovely mild day. There was not a great deal of wildlife in evidence, I think this is due to the “false spring” we had in February which has confused nature generally. We only have to look at the farmers crops to see that the rapeseed, for example, is blossoming far too early. However we had a great start to our walk with distant views of the Red Crested Pochard. During our walk we heard Green Woodpecker, Chiff Chaff, Blackcap , Song Thrush, and many of the usual more common birds. On the lakes we saw Heron, Cormorant, Black Headed Gull, Common and Herring Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Greylag Goose. The Common Terns had already started to occupy the rafts. We also saw a Sparrowhawk. A nice stroll ending with a nice cuppa in the visitor centre.

May

For our May meeting we took a coach trip to RSPB Titchwell. We had a lovely sunny day although a bit breezy especially near the beach. We walked to all the hides taking in some great views of Sandwich and Little Terns. There were many Black Headed and Mediterranean gulls that naturally dominated the landscape. There were not many waders, but we did see Red Shank, Dunlin and Knot. Amongst the reeds we could hear, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Bearded Tit. We all had good views of Marsh Harrier, some even saw them “passing food” mid flight. On our way back to the coach some of us watched a Heron catch an eel and then struggle to eat it! Or should I say swallow it. Once back on the coach we visited the Briarfields Hotel for a scrumptious cream tea before continuing our journey home.

June

On the 19th June we visited the Wildlife Trust Reserve at Cow Lane Godmanchester. Given all the lovely weather we had had recently, we knew it would not last, shame it chose this day to rain! Fortunately the group was near the hide and were able to take shelter. During our visit we saw Blue Tailed and Common Damselfly, Cinnabar Moth, Meadow Brown Butterfly and the caterpillar of a Peacock butterfly. Among the insect we encountered were Nettle Weevil, Scorpion Fly and Ichneumon Wasp. Needless to say, positive identifications of the insects were made after the visit by John McDonough from his excellent photos.

July

Our July visit took us back to Paxton Pits Nature Reserve. We had glorious sunshine which is great for the butterflies and dragonflies who gave us wonderful displays, flying around us, landing on the path in front of us and even posing amongst the brambles. The butterflies that we saw, and were able to identify, were Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and others! Ruddy Darter, Common Darter, Black Tailed Skimmer and Blue Tailed Emperor were amongst the dragonflies. Miscellaneous insects and even a few birds.

August

We had yet another hot and sunny day for our return visit to Paxton Pits on 21st August. The dragonflies were flying all around us, at times making it difficult to identify them! We did have positive views and identification of Brown Hawker, Common and Ruddy Darter. There were many butterflies including Red Admiral, Peacock, Tortoise Shell and Green Veined White. We also had a lovely view of a newly formed Robins Pin Cushion (Rose Gall). It was so warm we did not venture very far and meandered our way back to the visitor centre for a very welcome cuppa.

September

On the 18th of September we visited the RSPB Reserve at Fowlmere. This year the weather has been exceptionally dry and has left most of the normally wet areas very “parched”. Our visit to the “Spring Hide” demonstrated this immediately as, although there was some water to be seen, the “Springs” were not in evidence at all. We enjoyed watching the occasional Common Darter dashing about. The walk around the reserve revealed very little, until we reached the elevated hide where we saw a Roe Deer and its young walking across the area that is normally a very large lake. On the way back to the cars, the photographers among us, enjoyed taking pictures of some spectacular Fungi, Chicken in the Wood.

October

In October we visited the RSPB reserve at Sandy for a fungi expedition! What a wonderful selection we saw. One of the group was keeping count of the different specimens we saw, and the final total was over 50. We could not identify most of them, even the experts need microscopes, spore prints, and taste and smell for positive identification. Even so the highlights were Fly Agaric, Stags Horn and Earth Stars. The generic families that we saw were, Dapperlings, Lepiota, Cystolepiota, Agaricus, Parasols, Inkcaps, Roundheads, Tufts, Brownies, Bonnets, Rollrims, Puffballs and Brackets. All in a short walk of less than a mile and a half.

During our walk, and as we were passing, we looked into the bird hide where we were treated to a lovely view of a Jay, with Nuthatches dashing to and from the feeders.

November

For our November meeting we visited Paxton Pits Nature Reserve. The landscape had really changed since our last visit. The water levels in the various lakes have increased significantly given the recent rainfall and the river is fast flowing. This has had an impact on the waterfowl, with Wigeon, Gadwall and Swans all taking advantage of the deeper water. During our visits to the hides we saw Heron and Cormorant, and one stray Herring Gull. To make our walk a circular one we continued along the Heron trail and took the farm track where we saw Yellow Hammer, Linnets, Green Woodpecker and Redwings. Amongst the hedgerow a lucky few of us spotted some Candle Snuff fungi.