Wednesday 26th November and I was itching to take some photos. So I decided to visit Grafham Water - I had not been there for a while so it was about time.

My usual first visit is to the dam, but not much there except for a Common Sandpiper that was quietly feeding amongst the usual wildfowl. The water levels were probably as low as I can remember so the tide line was some way out and any birds were rather distant.

Moving on to the harbour area, the only bird of note was an adult Great Black-backed Gull. Unusual to find it there mid-morning.

But the main reason for going was for the Bewick's Swans that had been reported there and there they were roosting in front of the hide at Mander but, because of the low water levels, still probably 70 to 80 metres out.

After a few shots with the 200-800 lens, I realised that special measures were required to make this trip worthwhile. So I added the RF 2x converter to the 200-800 lens - effectively at 1600mm - but the sun was shining and the light good - worth a try.

First off was roosting pair.

and then rather more adventurous.

It is not really possible to judge photos from the back of the camera but these looked OK. A sleeping Lapwing caught my attention.

and I also noticed a Great Black-backed Gull that did not look at all well - probably the same one that I had photographed previously from the harbour - unsteady on it's feet before it lay down and went to sleep near the tide line. It was still there, unmoving, over an hour later when I left. Bird Flu?

Then a few more shots of the Bewick's

until I left as the cloud came in that made photography at this distance much more difficult.

Checking out the results,I must confess that I was pleased with the long distance shots with the 2x converter - much better that I expected.