Bewick`s Swans

Lydd- 1100hrs - mild, cloudy, w 5 - Another blustery day although the wind did ease up through the afternoon with the sun eventually breaking through. In between painting out the guests rooms a couple of forays out today paid off handsomely with good views of a Little Owl on the chicken sheds in Caldecote Lane, while in the field opposite the Bewick`s Swan flock numbered 44 and was closer to the road than last time I looked. I could hear that evocative tinkling call they make - it was as if they were talking to one another, and they probably were. Fabulous birds, and if the mild weather continues they`ll probably be the only ones we`ll get on the Marsh this winter.
On the debit side a scan of the surrounding fields revealed not one single passerine.

                                Bewick`s Swans with the `lost` church of Midley in the background

                                Little Owl, Caldecote Lane

Tower Pits - After a quick natter with CT we strolled down to the pines and around the back of the pits adjacent to the railway track. Once again passerines were in short supply with only single figures of Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinch, Song Thrush and Blackbird in the sea buckthorn scrub. Water Rail and Cetti`s warbler called from the reedbeds and two Marsh Harriers drifted over.
ARC - All the expected wildfowl on the water including two each of Smew and Goldeneye, plus three Great White Egrets. In the car park the usual gang of Tree Sparrows were going about their business and from the causeway road a Black-throated Diver was fishing over by the far bank.