So why a stange week? Glorious sunny weather but cold, in fact very contrasty sunlight - not ideal for photography.

Monday 15th January - my car needed petrol so I took my camera and drove around the RSPB reserve at Fen Drayton. More flooded areas than I expected and the only photo that was worth keeping was of a Redwing feeding in a ploughed field at the reserve entrance.

Not a good start to the week.

The weather was very cold overnight so I was not really disposed to have an early start  - many road accidents reported due to frosty roads so I decided to be a wimp and stay local.

So, the next day, I decided to spend the afternoon at another local RSPB reserve - Fowlmere, my first visit to the site for many months.

First off, there were several largish flocks of Fieldfares around. They are always very wary and flighty, in my experience but, eventually, I managed a few shots worth keeping.

I stayed in the Reedbed Hide until dusk hoping for a pair of Marsh Harriers to fly in - disappointed. Most of the mere was iced over so there was nothing of real interest except for  a Grey Heron on the mere edge, sticking true to form for the species by doing very little. Eventually, with the light going, I took a few shots, and even in flight. Surprisingly, I was quite pleased with them in the circumstances.

Well, not an earth-shattering day but at least a few keepers.