Its not been a bad week weather-wise and today we have wall to wall sunshine with barely a cloud visible in the valley or on the fell tops.

I set off yesterday to drive over to Clapham and part way down the lane came across a small flock of birds that I took to be young pheasant.  They panicked and flew over the wall towards the river so I had little more than a fleeting glimpse not wishing to follow them through the wall in the vehicle.

On my way up to the Tarn first thing this morning I once again came across this flock marching up the road.  Slowing to a crawl I herded them for some 2 hundred yards before they lost interest in the game and flew over the wall towards Fawber barn.  This time I got a rather better look at them and I'm puzzled as to what they are.  They are mid brown, about the size of a pheasant poult, have red legs and a white mark behind each eye.  They fly well keeping close to the ground and seem very keen to stay close to each other. 

A further surprise awaited at the Tarn.  For a few days now I have been watching on the webcam what I took to be a trio of Whooper swans on the Tarn.  Approaching the water this morning it was immediately obvious that these are mute swans, a male and female and a large cygnet.  As I walked out on the boardwalk all three came charging across towards me with the pen making grunting noises which is about as much as a mute can manage.  The adults are clearly older birds judging by the wear along the beak edge and their size.  I'm wondering if these two are our original residents who for some reason have bred away from the Tarn this summer.  They seem very relaxed and very much at home.  Far more than the pair that were resident this summer.

We have a club Council meeting here at Horton next Saturday to plan for next season so more on this next Sunday and I will update the website with any news.

Ian