Poor weather, family commitments and little of interest all conspired for a disappointing end to the year. Not to mention the work we are having done on the house at present.

In the meantime, I have been spending time on my project - to sort out the photos on this blog and get rid of those that are not up to standard. So far, I have deleted nearly 1000 and I am only half way through. I am also taking the opportunity to re-edit the remaining ones so they present better on this blog so it is a big time-consuming project.

But there was a chink of light last Wednesday 18th December. Sunny morning so I decided to visit Stirtloe, near Huntingdon where a Siberian Chiffchaff was found a few days before. With help from a friend, I found the area it was frequenting and waited.

I tested my camera settings on a Goldcrest.

and got excited to photograph a Chiffchaff

but then saw that is what it was - a Chiffchaff - but the Siberian Chiffchaff soon made an appearance and showed well.

and even sat on a branch in front of me and preened for a while.

A result as, despite at least a couple of other failed previous attempts, this was my first photos of one.

I then moved on to nearby Grafham Water but the only real opportunity was a Rook on the grass. Common enough but it is so east to overlook good photo opportunities if common species.

The weather was getting cloudy so I went home early afternoon, well pleased with my short trip out.

So to all readers of this blog, a very Merry Christmas and good health and fortune for 2020. See you next year.