With July coming to an end, while some nature reserves have opened up, in the main, the hides are still closed, restricting photographic opportunities. This is not made any easier with many people still furlowed and taking stay-at-home holidays so the quiet places for wildlife are no longer quiet.

I have had a couple of trips locally to the RSPB reserves at Fen Drayton and Ouse Fen - not a shot worth keeping. Just to keep my hand in, I set up my garden feeder again for photgraphy with nothing exciting - Blackbird

and juvenile scruffy Robin moulting into it's new coat.

So, on Monday 20th, I drove to West Norfolk for the day. First call as usual was at Hunstanton Cliffs, no Fulmars but several Swifts popping up over the cliff edge.

Then to Thornham harbour but nothing around except 10 Motorhomes that had parked overnight and load of dog-walkers. Then on to Brancaster Staithe harbour - car park nearly full so too much activity for birds and the same story at Burnham Overy Staithe. Cars queuing in the road to park at Holkham told it's own story and nothing at Morston harbour either. This was proving to be a wasted day so I turned back to RSPB Titchwell that had just opened but the limited car parking area was full so back to Thornham for parking and lunch.

Just finished lunch and there in front of me in the channel was a juvenile Spoonbill making it's way up the channel and feeding. Suffice to say that, despite the people, I stayed to photograph that for nearly an hour.

Now feeling that the day was not a wasted one, I retuned to Titchwell, got parked this time, and went to see what I could find. Nothing to really excite me and, with the hides still closed, I sat down on one of the seats overlooking the scrape, evening sun behind me to see if anything occurred. I just took photos of anything moving of interest, not expecting too much as keepers. It was so relaxing and enjoyable, few people around and with the final surprise that I really liked some of the results

Flying Greylag Goose

Lapwing with a clean background

Landing Shelduck

Black-headed Gulls having a tiff

and a few shots of a very belligerant Avocet flying in to see off a Teal

So, nothing exciting but a really enjoyable afternoon - the first for quite a while.

Monday 22nd June - a day out with a friend. In view of the restrictions, we met in the car park at WWT Welney, after pre-booking, as required. They are only allowing 30 or so pre-booked visitors per day so there was no problem with social distancing. Unfortunately, the birds were social distancing too,  the only ones that were close enough to photograph were the House Martins and Swallows that were nesting around or in the observatory.

These were a test for the low light abilitiy of the 1DX MK2.

It was hot and sunny so flight shots were marred by heat haze. These are the best but nothing to be proud of.

With nothing really worth going out for, but still with an itchy trigger finger, I concentrated on my garden feeders for a couple of hours a couple of days ago.

Not bad as I was sitting in our sun lounge, drinking a beer and hand-holding the 500 lens. Wish bird photography was always this comfortable!!!

Well, my wife and I are still self-isolating as far as we can, like many others. Certainly gets to you at times although we are the lucky ones, being fully retired and with a garden to enjoy.

First trip out was to North Norfolk on 9th June, nothing particular in mind, just a day out with the new camera. I was satisfied with the last efforts but it takes a while to get used to a new camera. First call was to Hunstanton cliffs where the Fulmars were flying around. For flight shots, I used the Canon 100-400 F5.6  - perfect in sunny conditions.

A couple of Swifts flew past - just time for a quick couple of shots.

Moving on, Thornham produced nothing, the same as Brancaster Staithe harbour so on to Burnham Overy Staithe harbour where there was more activity. Plenty of House Martins buzzing around

but surprisingly, just the odd Swift and no photo opportunities.

I did notice a Little Tern diving and feeding another distantly sat on the far side of the harbour. after a few long distance shots that were not keepers, I managed to get some worthwhile shots

and the perched one eventually landed reasonably close, still waiting to be fed. A juvenile or a female being pampered - not sure!!!

Finally making my way home, with RSPB Titchwell still closed, I called in again at Thornham where a Little Egret was fishing in the harbour and very little else.

Next trip was locally, to Wicken Fen, hoping for flight shots of the Cuckoos. Depsite them flying around and calling, they were only ever distant, in fact, I did not take a keeper photo until returning to the car where a family of Whitethroats kept me entertained for a while.

I decided to move on to Burwell Fen, via Swaffham Prior where a male Yellowhammer posed well by the side of the road.

It was getting very warm now with heat haze becoming a real problem. While eating my lunch in the car, I noticed a Sedge Warbler singing in nearby cow parsley. I sat there for a while, taking a few shots as it climbed the plant to sing thankfully close enough so that heat haze was not a problem.

Moving on, I went to Aldreth to see if there were any Corn Buntings to photograph. Surprisingly, I only found three pairs with none prepared to pose for the camera so off home after a rather iffish day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the rules on lockdown being relaxed a little, I had my first full day in the field on Tuesday and the first proper test of the new camera with the 500 lens and converters.

Since Grafham Water had only just opened, I went there first to see of I could get some shots of Swallows in flight from the dam. About 100 shots later, and with an embarrasingly large proportion showing nothing but sky, I managed several shots worth keeping. Here is one of them.

Surprisingly, the reservoir was nearly full, despite the very dry weather but a walk around produced nothing of note, so I called in at a nearby village, Stirtloe, and walked the lane down to the back end of Paxton Pits.

A real hive of activity with opportunities to really test the camera. Fist a male Linnet

and a pair of Sedge Warblers feeding young.

Having a well earned drink back at the car, due to the heat, a Chiffchaff showed well

and, just afterwards, on the same branch, a male Blackcap gave me the opportunity for the photo of the day.

With the heat taking it's toll, back home to see if the photos have turned out OK. You can make up your own mind on that.

Another week under lockdown although restrictions are being eased a little. Lets hope that the idiots do not mess it up for the rest of us!!!

One trip out - last Friday, 29th, to Cambridge Research park, arriving on site at 06:15. Very quiet initially but then I heard the Cuckoos calling although very distant. A matter of waiting but nothing doing - only saw a couple very briefly and very distant.

I did notice a pair of Willow Warblers searching for food and found where the nest was. Keeping away,  I quietly positioned myself with the sun behing me and waited. Not long after, one arrived, perched just where I was hoping, and then dropped to the nest. This continued with both birds for a while giving me ample opportunity for shots.

With nothing much else around, I returned to the car, but also having a look at the main scrape. Surprisingly, almost from under my feet, there was a big splash and a Great Crested Grebe appeared carrying a large fish, probably a Tench. The light was not good but there was an opportunity to see it fighting with the fish before it swam out of sight.

I was not able to see if it actually managed to eat it.

In the afternoon, in my garden, with a beer in one hand and camera in the other, I watched a newly fledged Blackbird - very entertaining as it was learning how to fly and drink from my temporary drinking pool.

Of course, the noisy Starling families were an ever-present entertainment.

The follow up to the Blackbird is very unfortunate. It was out in the open on my front drive when I drew back the curtains yesterday morning, only to be quickly caught and dispatched by the local Sparrowhawk.