Last Thursday, 2nd April, with time on my hands for a change, I grabbed the kit and drove to nearby Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB to see if any migrants had arrived. Probably too early in the season but there was activity.

First, a very elusive Blackcap finally settled on a shady perch to allow a couple of photos.

Not the best I have ever taken but then a Chiffchaff appeared, quite high up in a tree but, with patience, I managed a shot of it singing

and even being distracted by a close flying insect.

Movement to my right proved to be a Long-tailed Tit that perched for a few seconds

but no recently arrived migrants.

Heading home, along the access road, there was a small mixed flock of Greylag and Egyptian Geese. A pair of Egyptian Geese showed signs of alarm at me stopping

and that was the sum total of the visit. 

Cambridgeshire appears, to me at any rate, suffering from a drastic reduction in the overall avian population. Wood Pigeons, Corvids and Gulls seem to be the predominant species, but other species in steep decline. Well that is my personal observation that others may not agree with but an opinion arrived at over 20 years of bird photography.

Anyway, last Thursday, 30th March I spent in the county, beginning with a visit to a local site for Peregrine Falcon. The site is very sensitive as the pair have not successfully bred for the past two or three years and disturbance may be a contibuting factor so I am not disclosing it's location but a pair were present, unfortunately not doing anything but perch for the couple of hours or so that I was there.

So, moving on, I called in to Burwell Fen from the Swaffham Prior end. Result - zilch - but, surprisingly, on the way back, there was a small flock of Peacocks in a roadside field, obviously domesticated although they did not appear so as they proved to be very wary of my camera from the car. Interest in my attention rapidly turned into nervousness until they either disappeared into a hedge or flew over it.

So why are photos of a domesticated species appearing on this website? Well, my apologies for that but the opportunity of showing photos of a namesake in the avian world is unlikely to occur again so I am indulging myself!!!

It was then time to move to the Burwell end of Wicken Fen where a rather tatty looking Roe Deer gave me the once over

before moving on to Charlies Hide that I used to visit often a couple of years ago but the reeds had overgrown the water at my last visit so nothing to see. This time the reeds had been cut back and still showing a lovely backdrop to the water. as shown by this shot of a Coot.

Further out, a small group of Coot decided to do what Coot do best - fight.

A Mallard gave a flypast

and a Gadwall showed well against the colourful backdrop

and finally, a Little Grebe appeared from the reeds to feed just in front of the hide.

So, not a bad day overall although the evidence still confirms, in my opinion, that the local bird population has suffered a steep decline in recent years.

Lat Wednesday, late evening, I decided to go to the Norfolk coast the next day with the weather forecast to be bright and sunny with light winds. High tide was around mid-day - not ideal - so I decided to begin at RSPB Titchwell rather than the tail end of the day.  

The water level on the freshmarsh is still much too high for any waders, in fact there was not much there at all, except for a few Black-headed Gulls bathing.

So I walked up to the beach and also found nothing of interest except for a small flock of Sanderling on the tide line. Now I love photographing Sanderling taking a few long distant shots before trying to get closer.

and at that they all took off and flew out of sight. Time to retrace my steps.

This time, there were a number of Brent Geese on the freshmarsh bathing and flying around

and a pair of Gadwall in front of the hide.

A pair of Shoveler managed a fly-past

and that was about it. Time to move on.

Next was the harbour at Burnham Overy Staithe where a Jackdaw showed some interest,

but nothing at all at Holkham so, once again, I retraced my steps and called in at Brancaster Staithe harbour. By this time the tide had ebbed so there was some mud showing and a couple of drake Shelduck showed well in the sunlight.

and a brief visit by the usual Turnstone.

but, once again, nothing of real interest. Next visit was to Thornham harbour where a few Teal showed well in the late afternoon sun

and that was it. Time to head home.

A morning at nearby Grafham Water 18th March - well it should have been a day but sightings were so limited that it was not worth staying any longer. I drew a blank on the dam, in the harbour and the only birds worth switching the camera on for were from thje hide. - a Carrion Crow picking it;s way throught the waters edge and a pair of mating Mallards

So I went home and cut the lawn!!!!

The next day, a friend and I drove to Willow Tree Fen in south Lincolnshire to see if we could manage any better photos of the Cranes than we managed last week, arriving around mid-day.

A strange phenomenon as it was warm and sunny, although not excessively hot, but it was not until later afternoon that any photos taken were worth keeping due to heat haze (or heat shimmer). I thought that only occured in hot conditions but apparently not - it can happen in any conditions where the air temperature if warmer than the ground. We live and learn!!!

Anyway, I started of with a trio of Little Egrets

a female Marsh Harrier

And Wigeon flying around.

There appeared to be three pairs of Cranes on the reserve but none showing close enough for a photo but eventually one pair flew into the open, although still distant.

but the shot I like best was when they were flying in over a lone Muntjac.

In fact they pair did not really settle, probably due to the close proximity of the Muntjac so, with nothing else of interest, it was time to call it a day.

Friday 13th. I am not particularly superstitious but the weather was bright and reasonably sunny so, on the spot, I decided to go to Welney WWT, just half-an-hours drive on a good day.

Friday 13th hit as soon as I reached the reserve - a strong south westerly wind that kept everything hunkered down. Nothing flying or photographable in front of the obervatory so I walked up to Lyle Hide and there was a small selection of birds on the northern side, sheltering from the wind. Lapwing, Redshank and Tufted Ducks

Nothing exciting but worth getting the camera out for.

On the way back to the car, I stopped at the feeders for the usual House Sparrows

but, again, no Tree Sparrows. This used to be a regular spot for them so very disappointing.

There is a concrete hard standing on the edge of a field to the north of the reserve so I decamped there for lunch in the car. A pair of Mute Swans were feeding close in that was worth a shot

and then pairs of Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits flew in to feed on the large compost heap in the corner.

That brightened my day up a little and driving home, there were still large flocks of Whooper Swans feeding in the fields, some close in so just another photo of the species as a parting shot as they will very soon be on their way north for the summer breeding.

And that was the sum total for the few hours out. Nothing exciting but still enjoyable and that it what really matters.