With my mirrorless Canon RF and the RF 100-500 lens, I have been pleased with the results (and easier portability), even with the 1.4 x converter attached. That made little difference to the operation, despite dropping the aperture from F7.1 to F10. My Topax software easily coped with the resulting extra noise.

However, the 2x converter was a different matter. The aperture drops to F14 and I was not happy with the results, despite a freind of mine being successful with the combination. So I set up in my garden with the 2x converter on and all on my tripod to see if the sharpness was improved.

The usuals turned up - Greenfinch

bathing Blue Tit

and the return of the House Sparrow flock despit an absence after my holiday break.

I am happy with the results, at a focal length of 1000mm. So nothing wrong with the equipment. So time to test it all out in the field.

So 13th of the month and I was on the north Norfolk coast.

Uusual first visit was to Thornham - WOW , could not get there as the high tide was the highest I have ever seen so turn round to Holme Dunes NWT - disappointing except for a small flock of Stonechats and Whinchats but so flighty I could not get to within a couple of hundred metres.

Back to Thornham where the tide had receded but the only bird in the harbour was a Curlew.

My usual other harbour visits produced nothing due to the crowds of people so I aimed back to Titchwell RSPB, taking the Chosely diversion to see if anything was in the fields - a lone Brown Hare hiding in the stubble.

Then to Titchwell - usual problem, water levels on the fresh marsh much too high for any close photography from the hide. It is almost a waste of time going there.

So on to the beach where there must have been a dozen or so photographers around so the birds were flighty but I did manage one keeper - a pair of Little Egrets.

Back to the freshmarsh where a flock of Golden Plovers was reasonably close. No tripod but a 2x converter, hand held. This will be a real test of the gear and me.

Happy with that so problem solved - I think!!!

With not much else about, I left earlier than had planned, calling in at Thornham again on the way - this time a Greenshank.

So encouraging with the gear set-up but a really disappointing day otherwise. I think I will give Norfolk a pass until the visitors have gone.