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.

Reports of interesting birds at Welney WWT attracted me to visit. White-fronted Geese, Tundra Bean Geese, Common Cranes, Bewick's Swans, Goldeneye - a very interesting selection.

Except that I did not see any of them during a four hour stretch. So what does one do? Make the best of it and try to get different shots of the usual. Several flocks of Greylag Geese were circulating around the observatory.

The usual Pochard.

The occasional Tufted Duck

and from Lyle Hide, many Wigeon.

So not a great selection but an enjoyable time never-the-less.

Between Christmas  and the start of 2026 - 30th December to be precise (yes it has taken me a while to edit them), with an afternoon to spare and clear blue skies, I decided to drive the short distance to the RSPB reserve at Fen Drayton Lakes, just to drive up and down the access road to see if any winter thrushes were feeding on the abundance of berries.

I was not the only one as I came across Nigel Blake (wildlife photographer of repute) doing the same thing. I had not seen Nigel for several years so it was great to catch up.

Anyway, as the sun was setting, I eventually found a hedge close to the road where a small flock of Redwings were feeding.

Always flighty, they finally accepted me to carry on feeding.

The setting sun really brought out the plumage colours but with nothing else on show, I decided to head home, not before the car developing quite a major problem that entails a visit to the garage next Wednesday (7th January) with no driving before then and the possiblity of it being off the road until the end of the month.

A great start to 2026!!!

A week last Wednesday (10th December), I was feeling bored and fed up so I decided to take a quick trip to Welney WWT for a couple of hours or so. Weather bright and sunny with a southerly wind - ideal for photography at Welney.

The last time I was there, the water level of the River Ouse was low but much higher this time when I arrived due to the recent heavy rains and there was a lot of water fowl on the Lagoon although mostly distant but that was a start - something to aim the camera at.

I am not one of the rarity brigade, chasing all over the country to see the next tick on a list. I just enjoy taking photos of wildlife, whether rare or common. I get as much pleasure from taking a really good shot of a common species as a half-decent shot of a rarity which was just as well as only common wildfowl was on show on this occasion. There were several Whooper Swans, mostly injured birds that could not fly but one came close as the sun rose over the observatory.

On an island, there was a large flock of Black-tailed Godwits that occasionally took to the air - impressive in the morning sun.

I could not resist a few quick shots of a small group of fly-by Feral Pigeons 

and Pintails that were rather distant but worth some shots as they are my favourite duck.

That left me with the predominate species - Mallards and Pochard. I just concentrate on trying to achieve better shots than I already have. That usually results in loads of wasted frames but occasionally something different results - mating Mallards

and a really close fly-by by a drake Pochard.

In fact, I managed a few keepers that were an improvement to my library so the day was not at all wasted.

Wednesday 3rd December and a friend and I decided to visit Norfolk to see what was around.

As usual, first visit was to Thornham where a Curlew was feeding in the harbour

and a Reed Bunting posed nicely on a gorse bush.

Moving on to Brancaster Staithe, there was the odd subject worth excercising the trigger finger for. Common Gull

and a Curlew again feeding close in.

Holkham only produced a relatively close Pink-footed Goose from Lady Anne Drive

and then returning the way we came, a visit to Titchwell where, predictably, the water levels on the fresh marsh were still too high for anything close but we did find a few Chiffchaffs feeding around a tree.

Finally, we called in at Snettisham  as there was a rather beautiful sunset to see if it was possible to photograph birds flying to roost. No Pink-footed Geese but a small flock of Curlews made up for that.

So not a great day but just about worth the trip overall.