One swallow does not a summer make

We are all aware of Aristotle's remark ... how about half a dozen?

Cormorant Upper Tamar Lake

Today was the date set for the Wetlands Bird Survey organised by the British Ornithological Trust.  So, I dutifully visited Tamar Lakes to record my two sites.  It was a grey and misty morning and the birds had begun to desert the open water for cover and breeding sites.  I saw a very few gulls but no Black-headed Gulls formerly so common.  Although, there was a good number or Cormorants totaling 11 and a species count of 10 at the Upper Lake.

Marsh and Coal Tit - Lower Tamar Lake

It was a similar picture at the Lower Lake although the bird hide feeders, freshly replenished, were in great demand.  I saw all four tits, Marsh, Great, Blue and Long-tailed as well as Reed Bunting, a male Bullfinch and in the trees, a Jay.

But the sighting of the month, just as I was about to call it a day and leave, must go to the half dozen or so Swallows hawking over the lake.

Reed Bunting

The mist, dim light and the fact that none of them had tail streamers made positive identification difficult.  That is, until I was able to see the chestnut band under their chins.

Not quite "Summer is acumin" (Summer is here from a 13th Century song) but certainly a promise of summer in the air over Lower Tamar Lake.