Last Monday, 16th February, I had resigned myself to another day on the computer as the weather forecast was dull and rainy all day. However, early afternoon some signs of brightness appeared so I grabbed the kit and drove to my closest reserve, Fen Drayton Lakes, not expecting anything of interest as usual.

The reserve was as flooded as I can remember with water too deep for the car to negotiate, a hundred metres or so before the busway crossing. There was a flock of Greylage Geese on the adjacent field with a few White-fronted Geese intermingled although rather too distant for my liking.

Needs must so I bolted on the 1.4x converter to the 200-800 lens to see what quality of shots would result. To get good results, the sun should be showing for better light, in my experience and it appeared occasionally so these are the best of a load of shots taken.

A combination of Lightroom, Photoshop and Topaz PhotoAI combined to make these shots acceptable so not a totally wasted trip but when will we get some sun?

Last Wednesday,11th February, a couple of friends and I had booked the raptor hide at Bourne Wildlife Hides for the day but things did not turn out as expected. We were very kindly advised by Tom Robinson, the owner, that the very wet weather meant that nothing was showing so we postponed it to another day.

So we decided to take a punt and go to Norfolk for the day - rain forecast and so it proved for most of the day so, while these photos are not really up to standard, they were the best in the circumstances. First call, as usual, Hunstanton cliffs about a couple of hours before high tide. A few Oystercatchers

with the gulls loafing around, mostly Black-headed variety but one Mediterranean Gull that posed nicely.

We found nothing more of interest until driving around the Choseley loop where a couple of distant Brown Hares were getting soaked in the rain.

Next call was Brancaster with a few Brent Geese feeding close to the car park

and a Little Egret feeding in the, by now, heavy rain.

As we were driving out, I noticed what I thought was a Goosander in a channel. Stopping and reversing, it was a drake Red-breasted Merganser that proceeded to quickly paddle it's way into the distance but I managed a few shots, not the best, a record shot shall we say!!!

With nothing in the harours, we continued to drive into Holkham with only a Common Gull close enough for a shot

so, retracing our steps, we stopped at the roadside field where geese of various species often congregate. This time, there were only a couple of Egyptian Geese

and in the distance, a Chinese Water Deer minding it's own business.

Next stop of any significance was Brancaster Staithe harbour but with only the usual suspects to show. Herring Gull and Turnstone

Another day with not a lot to show for the effort. When will this wet weather change?

Frampton Marsh has undoubtledly had severe problems over the summer. The last time that I had visited, there was no water around the 360 hide and very little to photograph. Apparently, the dry summer coupled with a broken pump had left the reserve with quite substantial problems so it would be interesting to see if matters had improved.

At first site, improvements had been made and much work had been put in to stir up the ground to form new islands and provide food for the birds. Great to see but, of course, after so much disturbance, the birds had found new areas and had not returned to the expected places. Most were inhabiting the wet grassland area and were too distant and there were no birds in front of the hides - very disappointing.

From the Reedbed Hide, although distant, there were large contingents of Golden Plover that occasionally took to the air - quite a spectacle in the sunlight although I have never successfully captured it in a photo. This was the best I could manage.

Walking back to the reception area at lunchtime, a lone Mute Swan gave a wing flap

and a pair of Gadwall did a fly-past.

After relocating the car to the second car park, the entertainment was provided by small flocks of Brent Geese  commuting between the coast and the wet grassland of the reserve.

Returning to the reception car park, it was worth another look at the hides but the only birds showing was a small flock of Goldfinches feeding on the teasel along the path to the 360 hide

and providing probably my best shot of the day.

Returning to the car, the north side of the reception provided closer shots of Teal and Wigeon.

Almost perfect reflections in the calm sunny late afternoon.

So, like most places currently, photography was hard work with nothing earth shattering but still enjoyable.

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.