Our Annual Pilgrimage to Welney - Part 2

26th November 2024

After a great start with the ducks and geese, now on to the stars of Welney, the swans. There are always a few Mute Swans with the flamboyant males or cobs...............

......................and this is a juvenile with its predominantly brown plumage.

However the number of Mute Swans is dwarfed by the over-wintering Whooper Swans which gather in front of the main hide.

The adults are most distinctive with their black and yellow bills................

....................and can be very photogenic.

This is a juvenile with more of an ivory couration compared to the brown of a juvenile Mute Swan. Also notice the pale pinkish marking on the bill which will eventually become yellow.

Here is a family group.

Always a lot of to-ing and fro-ing so plenty of opportunities for flight shots.

On the wader front we only saw Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits.

The godwits spent most of their time roosting on the islands................... 

....................but when they were spooked by a potential predator all the godwits and Lapwings took to the air in unison.

Here are some returning godwits.

And of course the habitat at Welney is not confined to birds and today we were able to see come Roe Deer which can be identified by the white powder-puff on their rear.

Also out on Lady Fen were a number of Chinese Water Deer which can be identified by their stocky build and large antennae-like ears.

And now on to the other Welney speciality, the Tree Sparrow. This first shot was taken from the balcony by the cafe...............

.......................but these were taken on the south side of the centre therefore getting the benefit of the golden hour.

But the stars of the show today were the three Short-eared Owls hunting late afternoon on Lady Fen. Unfortunately they did remain fairly distant but I did mange to get some record shots.

Welney never disappoints!!!!!