2nd January and a visit to Welney WWT. Almost certainly my last trip out for a time as the following Monday, 6th, I was having full replacement knee surgery - and this is the reason why this blog has taken a couple of weeks to post.

So the final trip before the knife, weather sunny, light winds, the water levels reducing and not too far to walk with my deteriorating right knee. Nothing much from the observatory until a flock of Greylags flew in with one having surprisingly pale areas of plumage. Worth a shot.

rather distant but a small flock of drake Pintails did a flypast.

With my walking range limited, I headed back over the bridge to the cafe area for lunch and then a short walk into Lady Fen where a very helpful youngster (and dad) pointed out a Short-eared Owl roosting in a hedge.

Not the greatest shot in the world but while I have loads of photos of SE0'S in flight, I have very few roosting so something to add to the library.

Next back to the observatory as the sun was setting and I wanted to get flight shots of the Whoopers coming to roost in the 'Golden Hour'. Well they didn't come in until it was too dark for photos so  I looked for other subjects - always Pochards there

and then a lone Whooper Swan paddled round the corner for the afternoon feed.

So not much to excite the senses for my last day for a while. I will try to think of ways to keep this blog active until I am able to venture forth again.