Back to Wednesday 14th January and a trip to Abberton Reservoir for the first time for quite a while. Cold but sunny and White-fronted Geese, Tundra Bean Geese, Smew etc all having been recorded and photographed.

Arriving at the main reseption and looking at Layer-de-la Haye causeway,it was very surprising to see that the western part of the reservoir was frozen solid, hence no birds and anything on the eastern side was much too distant for photos. Move on to see what was available from Layer Breton causeway. The eastern shore was also frozen but the other side was free from ice and there were birds available.

Loads of Shovelers but almost entirely asleep on the water but one drake finally moved.

One of my targets, Smew were distantly feeding but eventually a couple of drakes came just a little closer.

Several female Goldeneye's were close but no drakes - very odd.

and there were several Black-headed Gulls on the water making interesting side lit subjects.

A Carrion Crow was feeding on the ice on the other side of the causeway.

Back to the centre for a coffee and a wander around the adjacent scrub where flocks of Fieldfares were very jittery so after a couple of hundred or so flight shots, I eventually managed a couple that were worth keeping.

Returning to Layer Breton causeway, a lone Egyptian Goose was on the tideline

and several female Smew were feeding close in.

But, once again, no geese came in view so not an entirely successful trip but that appears to be the norm.