Wildlife & management

The wealth of wildlife at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve is reflected in its status as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).  The overall aim for Paxton Pits is to safeguard and enhance the value of the area for wildlife and people, and there is a always a variety of activity and colour throughout the seasons.  You can be guaranteed an enjoyable visit, whatever the time of year. 
Huntingdonshire District Council’s Countryside Service is responsible for the management of the reserve.  The Rangers are advised by the Management Group, which includes local experts, English Nature, landowners within the LNR, The Friends of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, the Volunteer Warden Coordinator and Aggregate Industries.  A Management Plan guides the management of the Reserve for the years 1999-2009.  The management objective is to retain and develop the mosaic of habitats within the SSSI and surrounding area, and specifically to encourage wetland, sand and gravel, and scrub and woody vegetation habitats which are of most significance for biodiversity, both on a local and national scale.
Essential to the success of management work is monitoring the wildlife which uses the Pits.  The Rangers and local volunteer experts carry out this work.  Breeding Bird and Wetland Bird Surveys are carried out as well as other surveys on butterflies, moths, dragonflies, plants, fungi and mammals.  Bird Reports and the results of the flora surveys are printed and are for sale in the Visitors’ Centre at Paxton Pits. 

There is a huge diversity of wildlife at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve but the area is particularly noted for its bird life including breeding cormorants, nightingales in Spring, winter wildfowl and hobbies in the Summer.  There are also bee and common spotted orchids, great dodder and purple toothwort as well as a large variety of butterflies and dragonflies.  Mammals using the reserve include otters, harvest mice, foxes, badgers as well as various voles, mice and shrews.

For up to date sightings around the reserve visit the Friends of Paxton Pits website by using the link on the right.

Bird watching

The reserve is noted for the migratory wildfowl in the winter months, and summer migrants, particularly nightingales, of which there are around 28 pairs each year.  There are two excellent hides from which you can see a variety of birds including herons, cormorants, coots and great crested grebes.  Kingfishers and hobbies can also be seen from here if you are lucky and there is a fantastic bustle of cormorants breeding on the islands opposite the Hayden Hide in the spring!

For up to date bird sightings look at the sightings book in the Visitors’ Centre at Paxton Pits or visit the Friends of Paxton Pits website by using the link on the right.