It is not often these days that the opportunity to photograph a new species come along - and not too far to drive either. A Canvasback, an American species of wildfowl had been reported at Abberton Reservoir, about  1 hour 20 minutes drive from me so a friend and I decided to have a go.

We found the bird on one of the causeways very quickly but early on when the sun was not in the right direction for good shots but we took some anyway.

That was when the fun started. There was a few other birders/photographers there, about equally split between those that said it was a Canvasback and others that said that it was a Pochard, the british version.

Having checked other photos after getting home, and with others that are far better birders than me, the balance is that these photos are of the Canvasback - if you disagree, let me know.

One surprise was an early returning female Goldeneye.

The Canvasback was still on the causeway so we left for lunch to return when the sun was better positioned. On the way to the reception, we called in at Billets farm. Nothing except these Spoonbills coming in to feed.

Returning to the causeway, at first we though that the Canvasback was still there so took some more photos. Having checked those, it was a different bird and more like the local Pochard so those photos have been discarded.

At the same end of the reservoir, there were a couple of Great White Egrets feeding - worth a shot.

and an adult Common Tern feeding a juvenile.

With little else of interest, it was time to head for home.

Well that is what a friend and I decided on Friday 30th August. My last two or three trips there have been totally fruitless, hardly switched the camera on as the water levels in front of Island Mere Hide were too high so only a few Teal were there. However, a member of staff confirmed on the phone that there was now mud in front of the hide and that was where the White-rumped Sandpiper frequented, a rare American wader that I last photographed at Grafham Water more years ago than I care to remember.

So we arrived there at 9.30 am and went straight to the hide, no-one else there, plenty of mud but no birds except a feeding Teal!!!!! Deja-Vue.

The sun was side on - not ideal anyway but then a few small birds flew in - and the first that I photographed was the White-rumped Sandpiper. Photos not really worth keeping after editing as the side sunlight was far from ideal but after a while,  when the sun had moved, some decent photos resulted.

A couple of Black-tailed Godwits looked good feeding in calm water.

and a Curlew Sandpiper eventually stopped being camera shy.

and even an unusual Ruff with an attractive white head.

Just before lunch, after a very productive morning we decided to move on to the harbours to see what we could find at low tide. Brancaster Staithe is more aften good than not and so it proved to be this time with few cars in the car park. First was a Common Gull that posed nicely next to the car and then decided to bathe.

At the same time, a Little Egret decided to bathe and give it's plumage a shake.

We then moved on to other areas that provided nothing of real interest so we moved back to Titchwell but the afternoon session was not as productive with only a colourful Avocet to tempt the trigger finger.

Still, an excellent day at Titchwell for a change!!

Yesterday, with a decent weather forecast, I opted to spend the morning at Grafham Water.

First port of call, as usual is the dam. Three Common Sandpipers were feeding on the waters edge but very flighty. Took a time but I eventually managed a decent sequence of shots for my library.

Next port of call was the harbour with a large flock of Canada Geese - not really what I came for - but Colin, the local birdwatcher, pointed out a lone Pink-footed Goose with some Greylags. After being spooked into the water by some rather noisy walkers, (well it is annual holiday time) the flock paddled to the harbour and occupied the harbour floats, the Pink-foot nicely settling to preen. It took a long time but my patience was rewarded with a drink and a final wing flap.

Moving over to the hide to eat my lunch, some cutting back of overgrown vegetation was in process in front of the hide but that made no difference as much of the water was covered by the notorious green weed  with no birds within distance.

Still it was a relaxing morning with the camera.

Another early start as we were moving from the Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti Nation Park. We travelled through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where there were opportunities for photographs - Giraffe in a typical environment. They are unable to manage the steep sides of the crater.

and a little group of juvenile Anteater Chats posed nicely.

After a couple of hours, we were approching the vast expanse of the Serengeti, seeing a pair of Cheetahs close enough for a few shots.

Heat haze was a problem and, disappointingly, these were the only Cheetahs that we saw due to the very heavy rainfall of this season. Although this was the rainy season, the rainfall had been the heaviest recorded for many years so the grass was high enough to hide them. More about that later.

We stopped for lunch at an entrance gate to the Serengeti where some interesting birds were looking to get an easy meal. African Morning Dove and Hildebrandt's Starling - very similar to the Superb Starling.

The wide expense of the Serengeti is best shown by this shot of an Eland.

but others were closer. Zebras aften pair like this apparently so that they can both check for predators.

A Greater Kestrel sat and looked  at us.

As did a Coke's Hartebeest

and a Topi (or Kongoni).

and we did get close to the obligatory Lion

Then the rains hit - an absolute deluge. Eggy, our driver tried four different ways to reach the main track but flooding prevented it but eventually we hit it. In the pouring rain, a Serval Cat showed briefly in the very low light (ISO12800) - not the best shot I have ever taken but I think a record shot is allowable in the circumstances.

and then, as we went down a flooded hill, one of the rear wheels sheared off and overtook us as we came to a grinding halt.

No to be deterred, Eggy, the driver replaced it, getting drenched in the process, and after half-an-hour or so, we were on our way again to the Serena Safari Lodge, finally checking in at 8:30pm. We were then warned not to walk in the grounds to dinner without an armed guide as predators are frequent!!!

Here's to three days in the Serengeti>

Last weekend, I returned from a family holiday in Gran Canaria - a great time was had by all. We have been to the same hotel for the past four years and one of the advantages for me is that there is a freshwater lake just a 10 minute walk from the hotel - La Charca de Maspalomas.

Previously I have had some good photos from there but not this year. The water level was so high that all the birds were on the far side - a protected nature reserve with no public access - too distant for any photography. The annoying part was that I spotted 34 species of birds in the area and three that I had not photographed before - such is life.

So, with the car needing washing after 2 weeks in the drive, I went to Fowlmere RSPB, just down the road from the car wash. I  took my new 200-800 lens with the Canon R5.

Fowlmere can be good or disappointing - it was the latter. However, I continued to try out the lens - a close-up of a Mallard

and then on to the Reedbed hide to see - a large flock of Greylags and little else.

Even common birds can do something interesting at times.

so I tried something new to see the result - first I added a 1.4 converter to the set-up making a shooting distance of 1120mm

Pleased with that so I tried the 2x converter making a shooting distance of 1600mm. I have rareley been impressed with a 2x converter but it was worth a try as there was nothing else happening.

Well that cleaned up nicely in Topaz - very pleased with that, especially since it was cloudy by then and at ISO8000.

So not a totally wasted day after all.

Now back to the remaining photos from my Tanzania trip.