Folly River Wednesday walk

• The Marsh Harrier was present again at the elbow of the Folly River where it turns towards Werrington - on approaching, it flew across towards Newborough this time.
• Another egret - a Little Egret this time (I think) on the South Drain (at the junction with Brook Drain, just off North Fen Road). Another birder notes that 6 such roost at the S Lincs reserve in Deeping St James, just across the Welland, and this one flew off towards Paradise Lane and that direction.
• The fieldfares were again in the wheatfield between Folly River and Peakirk - a flock of 200+.
• Lastly, at this time last year there were (barn) owl droppings at a nest box on Maxey Cut (east end, by the railway). Analysis of one showed skulls of 5 bank voles and the lower jaws of one common shrew, complete with red-tipped teeth. No such signs this year so far - but a pellet dropped along a field edge near Folly River showed an avian diet - lots of feather ends, a leg joint and the leathery skin from a foot (?). My bird book says Barn Owls will take other birds (including Starlings) in deep winter, and this pellet looked consistent with that statement.