I second visit to the drinking pool near the El Taray farm to make sure that we saw the Stone-curlew that we missed the first time because we left too early. Well it was the evening of a 5 hour drive from the north and we were both shattered. This time we were fully 'in focus'.

The usual visitors that I found very difficult to ignore. Jackdaw, Magpie and House Sparrow

A good showing of Tree Sparrows that are now becoming very scarce in East Anglia

and the usual Spotless Starlings were ever-present, keeping us amused.

A Crested Lark also came in to drink, mostly keeping to the surrounding foliage although showing to sing before departing.

One shot of one of the many Rabbits

but then a sudden comotion as a Marsh Harrier appeared and caught one for it's evening meal.

But the real star of the show was Stone-curlew that slowly made it's way to the pool before leasurely drinking and departing.

It stayed for a good half-hour so my main difficulty was which images to keep, made even more difficult when a second bird also visited later but came much closer giving the oportunity for a head shot in the evening light.

What an amazing few hours for our penultimate evening.

Once again, an early start to the day for a drive to the steppes to find Great Bustard. We drove around for a couple of hours and at last a sighted a flock - very distant - and by then, the dreaded heat haze had appeared. This is the one and only record shot worth keeping and only after some considerable editing.

So we then moved on to a Roller hide overlooking a nest hole in an upright log. A pair appeared to be feeding young in the nest so there were some comings and goings and perching to show off a beetle dinner

before heading to the nest site

and then appearing

and perching as if waiting for the applause!!!

A very showy species

In between the Roller activity, a White stork lazily flew by

and, of course, Rabbits were everywhere, presumably accounting for the many raptors in the area.

So a disappointing start to the day but the Roller hide was a really enjoyable end to the morning's session.

We were off in the boat again for the evening session, but this time to a smallish lagoon in the middle of the vast reed beds with two floating hides overlooking a perching area. This was Marsh Harrier territory but, ever the opportunist, a Magpie was the first to fly in and sample the food.

There were several Marsh Harriers flying around in the distance, both male and female, but it took quite a time before one came in - a very impressive female - that made sure that the food was for her and no-one else.

Unfortunately, she was adorned with two enormous white wing tags but with no other bird being allowed near, she was the only subject to concentrate on. It took Lightroom AI removal to do a fine job of making the images usable. Normally, I would reject any photos that needed such editing but I have made an exception to these.

She was feeding for well over an hour, protecting the food before flying off but, by then, the light was too low anyway and nothing else came in.

Another early start but this time in a smallish boat with 5 of us and the not inconsiderable bulk of Francesco, our guide. We headed across the lake into the reed beds where two floating hides were located.

Immediatley, the problem became apparent. No light at that time in the morning but we were deposited in the hide, the feeders were topped up and then left. So, with birds coming and going, and the natural instinct not to waste any opportunity, I took hundreds of photos that I have just systematically deleted bacause of the light.

After a couple of hours, the light improved as the sun came round, but illuminating the reedy background with the subjects still in heavy shade - an editing nightmare. So most of the shots were deleted again but the odd one worth keeping. First species to call was a Spanish Sparrow but did not stay long and never returned.

Great Reed Warblers came and went

but the constant visitors were the Bearded Tits (Reedlings), males

and females,

and one showing the classic pose

and with the light improving, the chance of a flight shot.

and then, a surprise appearance of a pair of the very rare Marbled Ducks

but, after clocking us inthe hide, did not stay long.

so, as with this trip, mainly due to the very hot weather, a mixed morning with successes and failures as several expected species did not show.

I still have the last three days from the trip to Spain to complete the editing so I thought that I would break it up and include some local images and from further afield.

First is from a weekend trip in mid-July to co Donegal, mainly catching up on my wife's family but one walk along the coast at Moville. A similar story to Cambs - not much showing worth photographing  except this juvenile Grey Heron

and a Great Black-backed Gull flypast.

So back to Cambs and a morning at nearby Grafham Water at the end of the month. A shot of a Black-headed Gull on the dam

and a Carrion Crow feeding on a dead fish.

finally a Yellow-legged Gull loafing on the outfall entrance path.

and to end this scintilating list of events, 6th August to Fen Drayton Lakes for a couple of hours. Weather cloudy that helped the contrast shot of a Mute Swan

and a high-key shot of a male Tufted Duck

and a sudden appearance of juvenile Great Crested Grebe

There were still a few Common Terns flying around and finally one came close enough for a shot.

Not much to show is it? Back to editing the photos from Spain.