Most of the group arrived for the Swans awake event at 6.30am were rewarded with the specatcle of the full moon setting as the sun rose and a Barn Owl quartering the bank (image above and left Ann Miles. Unfortunately the wind was in the wrong direction so the swans took off away from us but a few images were taken (right: Whooper Swans by Duncan Locke)
We returned to the cafe for a welcome breakfast before returning to the reserve to explore and take more photographs. There were very obliging Kestrels close to the visitor centre (images by Duncan Locke and Maggie Bullock) and Tree Sparrows and Goldfinches in the reeds (photos by Mike Harris), Reed Bunting: Duncan Locke
In the afternoon we changed location to Lady Fen and spent several hours waiting for and then photographing two sorties of the Barn Owl(s) onto the fen to hunt voles. It was successful both times and managed to outfly the three Kestrels that have taken to pirating their prey (Images: right Mike Harris, left Lachlan French, right: Magie Bullock)
A very enjoyable day!!
(Whooper Swan flypast by Lachlan French)
For more events to attend go to Nature (rps.org)
