Wonderful weather for a visit to Welney
This morning as I was out doing the cattle checks I saw not 1, not 2, but 5 short-eared owls. With the water at its current level, this is the perfect time of year to not only see our stunning swans and welcome their return but to also see birds of prey, waders and the hundreds of other wildfowl!
Yesterday at the 3.30pm feed a peregrine entertained the visitors as I was mid-way through my talk and a curlew flew past the main observatory. I was also very glad to have some of the Bewick's swans on the main lagoon just before the feed so that all 3 species of swan could easily be seen together. I always welcome the return of the Bewick's with their softer, almost mewing, calls and their sooty coloured young. We have seen a few families on the lagoons already which is an encouraging sign as these cygnets make a hugely demanding migration at just a few months old! Having to cover 3500km (2200miles) from Arctic Russia to the safety of their wintering sites like ours at Welney.
