Family visitors have kept me too busy to update the blog from last Thusday and Friday although I did manage to post the few images worth keeping on the Recent Additions section.

Thursday 14th February started with an abortive hour or so trying to get close enough to some gulls in a field to get some shots from the car, then on to Fowlmere RSPB for the Hen Harrier only to find the reserve seemingly covered in smoke from shrub burning due to reserve maintenance - a hasty exit as smoke and photography are not good bedfellows.

So I decided to go to Welney to see if there were any Owls quartering the roadside due to the floods. Four were showing but very wary. I followed one in the car, trying to get ahead of it and wait. It arrived rather quicker than I thought and perched on a post just by the wrong side of the car. Quick hand held shots out of the car window at IDO640, f4 and at 1/100th second. Not expecting too much but pleased with the results overall as the bird flew after just 10 shots.

The next day, I went to Fowlmere RSPB again only to find that the car park was full with a waiting queue to get in - well it was half term. Anyway, gave that up again as there would have been too many in the hides for photography and called in at Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB to see what was about before going home.

There was a large flock of corvids feeding in a trackside stubble field - some opportunities for unusual shots and that was it for the day.

Not entirely wasted trips out but let's hope that things improve shortly.