22nd September and I decided to visit West Cambs as the weather forecas was light cloud all day and if photogrpahy proved difficult, I was not too far from home for an early finish.

First call was Grafham Water dam where I was staggered by the low water level. According to Anglia water, the reservoir is only 62% full, very low for this time of the year so the water line was some distance form the dam making photography difficult. 

However there were plenty of common birds there for a change as, at my last visit, there were none, but getting away from the usual bird on water shot to something more interesting was a challenge. I was reall yassisted when the sun broke through the clouds and, with little wind, the opportunity for some reflection shots.

Tufted Duck

Great Crested Grebe

and many Little Grebes

with one shot of a juvenile diving just a little different.

With nothing else of interest, I moved to the harbour but with nothing there at all due to the several fishing boats being readied coupled with the low water level I moved on, deciding to visit nearby Paxton Pits for the first time for several years.

Once again there were no interesting species on show but several Little Egrets were flying around

and a preening female Shoveler.

So I decide to head for home, calling in at RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes but the only bird of any interest was a Corn Bunting.

So I was home by mid-afternoon after a day of mild interest but photogrpahy in Cambs right now is exceptionally hard work to get anything of real interest.

 

With a shortage of places with anything interesting within the localish area, I decided to go back to West Norfolk to see if things had improved .

Starting off, as usual, at Thornham harbour, things began to look up as the first to show was a pair of Bar-tailed Godwits.

and there cousin, a Black-tailed Godwit, neither taking instant flight for a change.

Moving on to RSPB Titchwell, the Spotted Crake was only showing intermitently and not close, so with all the attention on it, I didn't bother as I already have better shots than anything that I could have managed there.

Moving on to the beach, the tide was out and the first to attract my eye was a Great Black-backed Gull, imperiously checking it's surroundings.

and, surprisingly, a Greenshank.

Even an Oystercatcher posed.

Moving back to the reserve, there were few waders on the freshmarsh but mainly too distant for anything earth-shattering but the Little Stint was of interest.

so I moved on to Brancaster Staithe harbour that usually produces something if the tide is right. Several Dunlin,

 a couple of Curlew Sandpipers and a Ringed Plover.

So, not too disappointing.

I did not want to be late home but a detour around Chosely was a must where a Red-legged Partridge showed well

and, on a hard standing next to the road with a puddle, a couple of Yellow Wagtails stayed long enough for a photo.

So overall a decent day. No raritities but at least opportunities for the camera.

 

While finishing off the editing of the photos from Spain, I have given my kit an airing with very mixed results.

16th August, an early start to Snettisham RSPB for the wader spectacular, except it wasn't. Cloudy conditions put a stop to anything creative but here are three as an example - far from being my best. Knot and Dunlin

and on the way back to the car, a couple of Little Terns were visible - just. A white bird against a white sky - enough said.

and that was really the sum total of the day.

With an encouraging weather forecast, 25th August to Welney WWT but with the water levels low, nothing came close enough to get excited about. These are the best, once again. Cattle Egret, Ruff and juvenile Mute Swan

But the shot of the day was provided by a Common Snipe that was feeding in the lagoon, eventually coming close enough for something interesting.

And that was it!!!

Still, not to be downhearted, once again I ventured to the Norfolk coast - 1st September. Thornham harbour - nothing - Titchwell RSPB, no opportunity for any shot at all!!! Brancaster Staithe harbour, too many people. On the way back, I called in at Holme Dunes NWT. Once again very quiet so I ambled down to the beach with a receding tide and it did not take too long before a procession of Gulls flying west to roost provided an opportunity to relieve my disappointment. To say that I filled my boots would be an understatement.

Loads of Black-headed Gulls in winter plumage

but even they were outnumbered by the Herring Gulls in varying plumages. Now I am not an expert on immature gull plumages (even adults can cause a problem) but these photos were after research with the Merlin and Obsidentify apps. Herring Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

with odd interludes with distant Black-tailed Godwits

and closer Oystercatchers.

So, after over 1000 photos, I made my way home. What a strange day.

 

For our last morning, we returned to the two floating reedbed hides, an early start again, which meant that the first couple of hours were in heavy shade until the sun rose high enough to light up the area. The set-up was that a space had been partially cleared in the reeds to put up feeders but leaving views of the water behind.

This presented it's own problems as the feeders were in heavy shade but the backdrop of reeds was in bright sunlight - a contrast nightmare.

Bearded Tits, both male and female, were regularly visiting the feeders

but this time, the main interesting activity was on the waterway behind the feeders, first with a small family of Red-crested Pochards

and a very cautious visit from a Marbled Duck, really checking us out.

before finally settling for a while.

But the surprise of the session was a rare White-headed Duck that rapidly paddled past allowing quick shots between the feeders

before paddling in the other direction half-an-hour later.

So not a vast number of images but interesting ones never-the-less.

After the long break for lunch, we were take to another pair of floating hides overlooking open water for our final session. This was not a success. A pair of juvenile Coots were almost a fixture

but the only other visitors were a family of Pochard, female and duckling, (one of five)

and the final shot of the whole trip - a Pochard duckling trying to look scary.

So, to sum up the whole trip. 16 days was too long. It could have been 10 days, 5 days in Cremenes and five days in El Taray. The guides from Aveshides really tried their level best to make it good for us, despite the really hot weather adversly affecting the wildlife so, overall, it was successful trip.

And now back to editing the latest from this area.

I second visit to the drinking pool near the El Taray farm to make sure that we saw the Stone-curlew that we missed the first time because we left too early. Well it was the evening of a 5 hour drive from the north and we were both shattered. This time we were fully 'in focus'.

The usual visitors that I found very difficult to ignore. Jackdaw, Magpie and House Sparrow

A good showing of Tree Sparrows that are now becoming very scarce in East Anglia

and the usual Spotless Starlings were ever-present, keeping us amused.

A Crested Lark also came in to drink, mostly keeping to the surrounding foliage although showing to sing before departing.

One shot of one of the many Rabbits

but then a sudden comotion as a Marsh Harrier appeared and caught one for it's evening meal.

But the real star of the show was Stone-curlew that slowly made it's way to the pool before leasurely drinking and departing.

It stayed for a good half-hour so my main difficulty was which images to keep, made even more difficult when a second bird also visited later but came much closer giving the oportunity for a head shot in the evening light.

What an amazing few hours for our penultimate evening.