Nightingales are one of the birds for which Paxton Pits has become famous. Against a national trend of decline, our nightingales are doing well, with annual increases over most of the last 15 years. Thousands of people come to Paxton Pits each spring, hoping to hear, and perhaps see, these noisy visitors from Africa.

What they look like
Length (from bill tip to tail): 16.5cm. Wing span: 23-26cm, making the species about 15% larger than a robin, a species with which it is often confused!. The nightingale’s head is proportionally smaller and it has a longer tail, suggesting a small thrush. The upperparts are a uniform russet-brown, with a reddish tail. Males and females look alike, but the juveniles are spotted buff and dark brown, recalling juvenile robins. The nightingale’s skulking habits make it difficult to see, hence the importance of its rich, fluting song.

It is their song for which they are most famous. Sometimes delivered from the top of a bush (or occasionally at Paxton, an overhead wire), but more usually from deep within scrub, the rich song starts with a series of whistles and finishes in an explosion of sound. Local sound recordist Graham Taplin recorded this nightingale at Paxton, with a song thrush in the background (download 485 Kb; Windows Media Player required).
Where they live
In summer, nightingales are found across Europe and North Africa in thickets, woods and scrub, often near water. In winter, they are found south of the Sahara, but usually north of the equator. UK breeding nightingales probably winter in West Africa where they can be found on river edges and in humid forests. Returning birds begin to move north, via Spain and Portugal, in mid to late March.

Breeding time
Nightingales nest on or near the ground, usually in brambles, scrub or nettles. They lay four or five olive-brown eggs, which the female incubates for two weeks. The young leave the nest two weeks after hatching.

What they eat
Nightingales mainly eat insects, as well as small berries, favouring open areas beneath the scrub.

The UK population
In 1980, the population was estimated at about 5000 pairs. A national survey in 1999 found that the total population has remained stable, but with a significant contraction in their range: there are fewer birds in western and northern counties, but higher densities in the south and east. It also found that a greater part of the population was now found around gravel pits than in broad-leaved woodlands.

Nightingales at Paxton Pits
Somewhat against the national trend, there has been a gradual increase in numbers of nightingales at Paxton Pits. In 2006, 28 singing males, as high as the population has been.

Nightingales return to Paxton during the first or second week of April (the earliest ever arrived on 4 April, in 1999 and 2002). Males arrive first and quickly establish territories, from which they sing to attract females. Females, which don’t sing, arrive a few days later.

Wray House Garden (near to the Kingfisher hide) and the Haul Road (between the Visitor Centre and the gravel plant) form the heartland of the breeding area. Nightingales can also be heard along the Heron Trail and the Meadow Trail. Their distribution at Paxton varies each year, with breeding sporadic around the pits nearest the village and range extending farther north as habitat becomes suitable around the quarry. The maps below show how this distribution is changing (note that not all maps are to the same scale): red circle = 1 singing male; blue circles = 2 singing males; green circle = 3 singing males.

Once mated, singing stops and the pair resume their secretive life. Unmated birds, however, sing well into June, but after the third week, even these birds are quiet. The breeding season is short, and only the lucky few people happen upon a juvenile nightingale early on a July morning. Most slip away unnoticed and, as early as mid August, begin to arrive in their West African wintering grounds.

Nightingales don’t only sing at night: at Paxton, they can be heard at almost any time of day, though dusk and dawn are the best times to really enjoy their amazing song.

Nightingales in Huntingdonshire
Paxton Pits Nature Reserve isn’t the only place to see and hear nightingales in Huntingdonshire, though it does hold the largest population. In 1999, 80 singing males were recorded in the county, but only Grafham Water nature reserve also held numbers in double figures. Populations at formerly important sites, such as Holme Fen, Woodwalton Fen, Monks Wood Castor Hanglands and Brampton Wood, have crashed. There are 32% fewer nightingales in Huntingdonshire than 20 years ago. Declines in habitat quality have probably contributed to the decline, while careful management of Paxton Pits and Grafham Water have helped to maintain numbers. Such work is essential if we are to continue to enjoy this world famous songster.