The breeding season is now well and truly over with a startling lack of birdsong on Sunday morning’s walk. Nevertheless there was still something to see, with a Buzzard flying just off the ground directly up the Downslink south of Betley Bridge and good numbers of Whitethroats along the river, with at least a dozen dotted from Betley to the tank track the most notable records. A pair of Mute Swans with a young cygnet and a female Mallard with her six well developed ducklings was also nice to see.

Paul Cole, 30th July 2023