I appeared to have a problem with my gear the last time I was out. I happily took some photos from the car as normal but when reviewing them on the computer, none were sharp. I was using the Canon R5, the RF 100-500 lens with a 1.4 converter and it looked that the Image Stabilisation was not working. Some later shots were fine but what went wrong.
So, yesterday, I decided to have a trial session at RSPB Fowlmere. First, a walk around the perimeter track, hoping to see Water Voles. Everyone else seems to see them regularly - me never - and this visit was no different.
In fact there was nothing to point the camera at until mere hide and then only sleeping Greylag Geese. I was hoping for another closer shot of the Marsh Harrier but nothing stirred except for one Greylag in sentry position.
![](library/Greylag-Goose60.jpg)
that is until a pair of Canada Geese paddled appeared from the reedbed and started to feed on the grass bank in front of the hide.
![](library/Canada-Goose67.jpg)
One of the Greylags took exception to the intrusion
![](library/Greylag-Goose28.jpg)
so they left and everything settled down.
Later on, the male Marsh Harrier put in a distant appearance
![](library/Marsh-Harrier73.jpg)
and that was it. Not particularly scintilating but, at least, the gear worked OK and that was the main object of the visit.