Flight of whooper swans

There was a cutting wind at the Nene Washes, but the fen landscape was bathed in low golden sunlight. There's such a feeling of space here, even though this means that most of the birds are very distant. Nevertheless we saw large flocks of lapwing and golden plover, several hunting kestrels, a marsh harrier and several flights of whooper swans coming into the washes to roost for the night, after feeding on the neighbouring arable fields during the day. Not to mention four roe deer, hunkered down in the grass and a large herd of tough looking ponies.

We'd come in the hope of seeing short-eared owls and we weren't disappointed. But by the time they appeared the sun had sunk into a cloud bank and it was very gloomy. Still wonderful to see them drifting over the washes, the highlight being a tussle with a kestrel over a food item. And on the way back to the car we saw a barn owl in the distance, gliding silently over the arable margins.