Baston & Langtoft Pits
by Trevor Williams
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PBC Where to Watch Birds Baston & Langtoft Pits by Trevor Williams |
| Sightings for past week: | All sightings | Excluding Common | Rare & Scarce |
| Sightings for past month: | All sightings | Excluding Common | Rare & Scarce |
| Sightings for past year: | All sightings | Excluding Common | Rare & Scarce |
Large map of the area (24kB)
Smaller map of the area (16kB)
List of species seen at this site
The various gravel workings between Langtoft and Baston, north of Peterborough have left numerous pits in varying stages of natural regeneration. These pits, and their surrounding habitats, provide good general birding with plenty of year round interest.
The pits are situated around the cross roads formed by the minor road east from Langtoft church and the north-south road from the Baston-Spalding old road to the new Deeping by-pass. The area is a mixture of and active or worked out pits many of which are given over to private angling. Visiting bird watchers are strongly advised to keep to the roadside from which good views can be obtained of the best pits.
In the north-west corner is the 'Gull Pit' with natural shelving banks and a number of islands on which a large and noisy Black-headed Gull colony has become established in recent years and amongst the breeding gulls can be found a few pairs of Common Terns. In spring and autumn Common Sandpiper can often be seen around the margins of the lake and other waders can occasionally be found resting on the islands. Winter sees an increase in duck numbers and this pit is particularly good for Goldeneye.
The next pit towards Langtoft village rarely holds much of interest, but the thick hedge that separates it from the adjacent private fishing lake is excellent for migrant warblers and flycatchers as well as finches.
The last pit of the north-western group is best observed from the white gates which give access to the minor landfill area. The rough ground, although uninspiring at first glance, is rich in weeds and attracts large flocks of finches and pipits. The shallower pit beyond is the best in the area for Wigeon and Gadwall and is a hot favourite for the rarer Pintail.
On the opposite side of the road is the main ARC pit, which is the largest expanse of open water and consequently attracts the highest concentration of wildfowl, including Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Coot and Great-crested Grebe. Cormorants from the Deeping St James colony regularly feed here, and Goosander and Smew are occasional winter visitors. The small fishing pit next to this larger pit is a favourite haunt of Kingfisher.
East of the crossroads a track leads towards the jet ski lake where there is a narrow, reed-fringed pit that is good for Sedge and Reed Warblers and the usual mixture of dabbling ducks. Scanning east from here across the fields of Langtoft Fen in mid-summer it is possible to see quartering Marsh Harrier and in winter these same fields are hunted by Barn Owls and, occasionally, Merlin.
In this same north-east corner, but best viewed from the road north, is a series of small overgrown pits which attract a wide variety of species. This is a good spot for Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and Nightingale. But beware the albino Peacock!
The south-east corner contains two mature pits, the Long Pit holds good numbers of duck, and is one of last to freeze over - at such tines the concentration of ducks can be amazing This is another good spot for Smew. In spring and autumn the flat stony margins are good for waders. Little-ringed and Ringed Plover, Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher and Dunlin are all regular visitors. In recent years there have also been records of Little Stint, Curlew, Turnstone and Knot. This is also the most reliable spot for Wheatear which regularly appear on the spoil heaps near the contractors gate. This autumn a female Stonechat took up residence in the vicinity.
The remaining corner pit, which has a couple of islands, also attracts gulls and terns and has been the collecting point this past summer for several family parties of Red-crested Pochard. This is also the best spot to look for Black-necked Grebe which have been recorded in the last three autumns.
The whole area can be worked comfortably in a couple of hours, but if you have less time to spare I suggest you concentrate on the area of the Long Pit.
Large map of the area (24kB)