Migrants at Paxton Pits

Each year, we track the arrival and departure of migrants at Paxton Pits.

Departures 2007

These are the latest dates that we know about - e-mail us if you know better! The little ringed plover is one day later than the previous Paxton latest (in 2002).

  Paxton 2007 Paxton latest Cambs latest
Cuckoo 27 June 31 August 2003 4 November 1957
Nightingale 12 August 25 August 2001 6 September 1996
Willow warbler 9 September 1 October 2006 24 October 2000
Garden warbler 9 September 2 October 2005 21 November 2003
Sedge warbler 15 September 19 September 1993 10 December 2003
Lesser whitethroat 15 September 26 September 2006 25 November 2003
Turtle dove 16 September 25 September 1980 16 November 1957
Swift 21 September 15 October 1961 8 November 2001
Wheatear 22 September 18 October 2003 24 November 1957
Reed warbler 22 September 15 October 2006 12 December 1987
Blackcap 22 September 21 October 2005 overwinters
Hobby 22 September 28 October 2002 2 November 1992/2001/2002
Whitethroat 22 September 30 October 2004 22 November 2002
Yellow wagtail 23 September 19 October 2006 5 December 1982
Little ringed plover 24 September 24 September 2007 29 October 1973
Common tern 29 September 24 October 2004 6 December 1953
Swallow 2 October 29 October 2006 3 December 1953
Sand martin 2 October 20 October 2000 17 November 1968
Chiffchaff 19 October overwinters overwinters
House martin 27 October 5 November 2005 17 December 1977

 

Arrivals 2007
Exceptionally mild weather in early March brought some of the first migrants close to their earliest ever dates, but cold northerly winds slowed the arrival of April returnees. A flood arrived mid month, with the earliest ever lesser whitethroat. Remarkably, the first of all the regular migrants had arrived by the end of the third week of April.

  Paxton 2007 Paxton earliest Cambs earliest
Sand martin 17 March 2 March 1997 27 February 1994
Chiffchaff 12 March 2 March 2003 overwinters
House martin 9 April 4 March 2001 4 March 2001
Willow warbler 6 April 9 March 1997 9 March 1997
Wheatear 22 April 11 March 1996 7 March 1977/1989
Little ringed plover 16 March 12 March 2000 4 March 2003
Swallow 18 March 14 March 2001 7 March 1983
Blackcap 28 March 17 March 2004 overwinters
Sedge warbler 12 April 25 March 2002 25 March 2002
Yellow wagtail 5 April 27 March 2005 20 March 1999
Common tern 11 April 3 April 1999/2006 20 March 1997
Whitethroat 15 April 3 April 2002 29 March 1998
Cuckoo 12 April 3 April 2005 8 March 1989
Garden warbler 21 April 4 April 1997 28 March 1999
Nightingale 9 April 4 April 1999/2002 4 April 1999/2002
Reed warbler 19 April 7 April 2001 7 April 2001
Turtle dove 22 April 12 April 1998 4 April 1982
Lesser whitethroat 14 April 14 April 2007 31 March 1987
Hobby 22 April 17 April 2004/2006 31 March 1985
Swift 21 April 19 April 1996 3 April 2002