It has been several years since I visited Barnwell CP and a friend suggested that we returned to see if is had changed. It has, but not for the better unfortunately but that is a common story these days.

We took food and went to the first hide - rather a mess - with odd perches screwed together and no clean background - not set up by a photographer!!! Anyway, we put out the food and waited.

We recalled that the last time we visited, the visitations were non-stop. This time the number of bird and species had noticeably declined but we persevered. Surprisingly, I had not photographed common woodland birds for some time co here are some. Great Tit

Blackbird

Reed Bunting

and Robin.

Of course, the usual Brown Rat put in an appearence.

But the star of the show was a drake Mandarin Duck that just posed before helping itself to the food.

By lunchtime little was happening so we moved to the other hide in the park.

A Nuthatch made a couple of fleeting visits

a Moorhen showed well on the lake.

and a pair of Mandarin Ducks also showed with the female posing nicely.

These were not the only species visiting but nothing more of note. What really surprised us was that on previous visits, Nuthatch were very prevalent, not just one, and Marsh Tits were common but we did not see or even hear one.

As I said, compared with what the site offered on previous visits some years ago, it was disappointing.

Last Wednesday, a friend offered to drive me to photograph some birds to preserve my sanity. Some of you may recall that I have had my right knee replaced and driving medium to long distance is not within my capabilities so far.

So we did the usual, (for us), trip starting at Hunstanton Cliffs (for the loos as we are a couple of elderly gentlemen) and looking for the Fulmars on the cliffs but we drew a blank there. None appear to have arrived so far but a lone Dunnock was singing away so I could not resist a shot.

Moving on, we hit my favourite Norfolk site - Thornham harbour - about an hour after high tide. A common Gull was occupying one off the posts but rapidly took off, but not before I managed a couple of shots.

and the usual Curlew showed nicely in the morning sun.

There was also a small flock of feeding Brent Geese and a few fly-byes. They must be getting ready to migrate back to the Continent shortly.

And then moving on to Brancaster Staithe harbour but the main interest was also fly-byes - Black-tailed Godwit

and an early Avocet.

The next stop with anything of interest was Holkham Park with some close Fallow Deer grazing but little else

so then we retraced our steps with a diversion around Choseley where there was a surprising number of Red-legged Partidges, although showing the usual flightiness.

Ignoring RSPB Titchwell as I had checked and the water levels were still too high for anything meaningful, we called in again at Thornham harbour where an Oystercatcher was feeding in the channel.

But this time, nothing else of interest. So overall, an enjoyable day for me, just getting out, but the net result of the photography was 'nothing startling'.

I took the easy way out for my first solo trip last Wednesday - Welney - just 40 minutes drive from home and the hides besides the main observatory - not too far to walk carrying my gear.

The weather was forecast to be sunny intervals - the sun must have done a runner as I did not see a glimpse of it - and there was very little in front of the observatory either. Never-the-less, I persevered with not a lot to show for it except for a pair of copulating Shelduck - distant but they were the closest birds that I saw all morning.

Returning back to the reception, I always check on the feeders for the Sparrow population. There are very few sites where Tree Sparrows are on show around here these days but there were the odd ones

among the many House Sparrows

and I even succeeded in catching one in flight, despite the wrong camera settings

So Welney was rather disappointing, not even Whooper Swans close in so I drove around and found a large flock feeding in a field right next to the road with a juvenile very much on display.

Several Bewick Swans have been regularly reported here but I did not find them so here ends a rather disappointing day for my first solo trip out.

And the good news - it can only get better!!!!!!

I was very fortunate that a friend - Howard - asked me and another friend -Nigel - to join him at Tom Robinson's Pond Hide near Bourne, Lincolnshire. It was rather early in my reuperation from my knee operation but I was collected from home - at 05:15 - an unearthly hour for me - and there was not far to walk to the hide from the car.

A sunny morning was forecast - wrong again - cloudy but as the morning progressed the light became acceptable. What was surprising was that the pond was frozen over but Tom broke up the closest area and spread mealworms and fish as bait. I deleted most of my early shots - high ISO - but later on, it was possible to get decent shots of the regular visitors.

Stonechat

Water Rail

and a Wren in typical pose

I tried the pre-capture on the Canon R5 MK2 and managed to catch the Wren in flight.

The last time I visited, Tom had arranged for a diving Kingfishers set-up but not this time so while they visited occasionally, perched shots were only possible but I like this shot as being different.

As the morning progressed, a Little Egret cautiously visited , even posed for a close-up and then caught by precapture when leaving.

Moorhen occasionally visited without doing much of interest but, once again, I liked this shot

But the star of the morning for me, as it is one of my favourite birds, was the Grey Wagtail. It fluttered from perch to perch and then over the water for a mealworm.

While there was still activity at the pond side in the afternoon, the main activity moved to the side where road-kill Pheasant had been placed. Carrion Crow visited a couple of times but the main attraction was a very cautious Common Buzzard that eventually flew in to check things out and then feeding but still keeping a very wary eye out.

So for me, despite being rather rusty, it was a very successful and enjoyable day. Thanks to the the other members of the 'Last of the summer wine' contingent!!!

As I am currently immobile, I decided to re-edit some of my old photos to the current size for my web pages. Previously they were very low resolution but improvements to the back end of the site means that I can now post photos at a much higher resolution - better presentation.

It will be a mammoth task but I have made a start and the odd ones are now in the Home Page and Recent Additions.

With the absence of anything new to post for the time being, I thought that that would, at least, keep the site interesting.

In the meantime, thank you to those that keep visiting - your patience is appreciated.