Swans ring sightings
The evening floodlit feeds are the best ones to see good numbers of swans. Last night, though wet, was calm enough to have good numbers of swans coming close to the observatory to feed. Our Welney regular Baldur with there with his mate, U5S, and 7 cygnets in tow! Also, L6L - Toby Two was present as well as L5J, L5C, E4A and J9V, another Welney regular. The floodlit feeds are the best time to spot ring numbers on the swans at the moment as the light is better for seeing them even if they are beneath the water and proximity to the swans is increased.
One solitary Bewick's swan did actually fly in after the 3.30pm feed yesterday and was within a short distance of the hide. Due to the fact that they don't normally use this stretch of water that was quite a treat for those who were still in the observatory.
Water levels have increased on the reserve meaning that the spit of land that a flock of black-tailed godwit were clinging to yesterday has now vanished and the swans and ducks that remain on the reserve during the day are now using the banks to preen on. Lady Fen and bank farm have good numbers of lapwing and wigeon by day, whilst swans are using these areas to roost at night too.