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Winter vistors

East Lothian is a regular destination for Whooper swans, Cygnus cygnus, who fly here non-stop from Iceland, to spend the winter in various fields across our local landscape.  The group I have been watching all winter number about 50 birds.  They seem to favour fields of rapeseed plants which must provide them with enough food to keep them going for several months, before they start their journey north again in early Spring.  In such large numbers, they are quite a sight - very handsome birds!

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