An Early Winter Visit to Welney

1st November 2021

I wouldn't normally go to Welney this early in the Winter but the tides were all wrong for the coast, little happening inland so North it is. My first preference would have been Frampton Marsh but the weather forecast for that part of the country was heavy rain all day, so the compromise was Welney.

One of the advantages of going early in the winter is that the wash isn't flooded so there is still plenty of islands and spits above water bringing the birds a little closer. A good example of this was the large flock of Black-tailed Godwits present which gave a few good displays.

Many of the surface-feeding ducks were a little distant but on occasion did have a fly round which provided a few opportunities for some flight shots.

Most of the ducks in front of the hide were Pochard, and in fact I am pretty sure I didn't see a single Tufted Duck, which are usually present in small numbers. Perhaps they arrive later. Just look as those wonderful reddy-brown heads in the sunshine.

Today there were quite a few female Pochards which was unusual as I normally come later in the winter when most have the females have left for their winter quarters in Spain.

As usual there was a good population of Greylag Geese which were fairly active.

During the afternoon a female Marsh Harrier started quartering the wash in front of the hide..............

..................which was followed a little later by what looks like a young male. Both stunning birds.

So now on to the swans and the number of Mute Swans seems to reduce every time I come here.

The Whooper Swans have started to arrive and although there must have been a few hundred present there is still a long way to go to reach peak winter numbers.

I saw my first Whooper Swans at London Zoo and thought then that it looked as though their bills had been painted. I still think so today!!

The juveniles are particularly stunning and I just love that smokey-grey wash to their feathers and the touch of pink on the bill.

The adults are very gregarious and a fairly noisy bunch and I am never sure weather this is to do with bonding or the equivalent of "did you hear the one about............".

And then nothing else to do but sit back and snap away at some flight shots. What a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.

But despite the wonder of the Whooper Swans and the Marsh Harriers, today's star of the show was the Ringed Teal. This bird is obviously an escape from a local collection and has been coming to Welney for several years. However, it hadn't been seen for a couple of years until it suddenly popped up about half an hour before I arrived.

What a little stunner!!!