| The Whooper Swans continued to arrive at Martin Mere all month... |
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Newly arrived Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
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The newly arrived birds were easily distinguished due to the reddish staining on their head and neck caused by a high concentration of iron oxide in the water and soil around their breeding grounds.
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Newly arrived Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
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| The staining is temporary, and after a couple of weeks at Martin Mere their plumage returns to a pristine white...except for the juveniles who are a silvery-grey colour. |
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Adult Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
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1st year Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
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| Shelduck and Pintail were also fairly common at Martin Mere. |
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Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
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male Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
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female Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
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| Numerous wintering Ruffs were feeding along the edge of the lake only a few metres in front of the Swan Hide. |
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Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
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Lapwing were a lot more wary of all the noise and movement inside the crowed hide, and rarely ventured close.
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Northern Lapwing (vanellus vanellus)
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