I appeared to have a problem with my gear the last time I was out. I happily took some photos from the car as normal but when reviewing them on the computer, none were sharp. I was using the Canon R5, the RF 100-500 lens with a 1.4 converter and it looked that the Image Stabilisation was not working. Some later shots were fine but what went wrong.

So, yesterday, I decided to have a trial session at RSPB Fowlmere. First, a walk around the perimeter track, hoping to see Water Voles. Everyone else seems to see them regularly - me never - and this visit was no different.

In fact there was nothing to point the camera at until mere hide and then only sleeping Greylag Geese. I was hoping for another closer shot of the Marsh Harrier but nothing stirred except for one Greylag in sentry position.

that is until a pair of Canada Geese paddled appeared from the reedbed and started to feed on the grass bank in front of the hide.

One of the Greylags took exception to the intrusion

so they left and everything settled down.

Later on, the male Marsh Harrier put in a distant appearance

and that was it. Not particularly scintilating but, at least, the gear worked OK and that was the main object of the visit.