Definitley not an auspicious day as far as photography was concerned.  A friend and I met up for the first time for a while and decided to begin the day at Dernford Reservoir, just south of Cambridge. It has been a couple of months or so at least since I last visited - what a disappointment!!!! Willows and scrub has been allowed (or possibly encouraged), to grow up by the water line so it was very difficult to see anything close enough for a photo. We did not stay long.

I am not able to walk any distance at present. I have a replacement knee operation booked for the new year so I am rather restricted and that reduced the options as to where to go then. So we decided to go to Welney WWT - should be some birds around and not too far to walk.

With a North-West wind , the birds were landing away from the observatory hides but gave the opportunity to take flight shots with the new gear. Pochard

Mallard

and female Wigeon.

Ok, so common species but you take what you can get.

Something different, a juvenile Great Black-backed Gull flew past

and the usual Whooper Swans put on a flying display..

We were both totally caught by surprise when a male Hen Harrier flew past, just giving the opportunity for a rear end shot - not my best but notable for me as it has been several years since my last photo of the species.

After that, we moved to the cafe for a coffee and cake, ending up on the balcony overlooking Ladyfen with nothing of note. Even the Sparrows on the feeders were in short supply until a Chinese Water Deer appeared, slowly making it's way towards us. As it was distant, I added the 1.4 Teleconverter to the 200-800 lens but now wish I hadn't as I am not impressed with the resulting quality.

Anyway, it was something different to end a disappointing day.