I took the easy way out for my first solo trip last Wednesday - Welney - just 40 minutes drive from home and the hides besides the main observatory - not too far to walk carrying my gear.

The weather was forecast to be sunny intervals - the sun must have done a runner as I did not see a glimpse of it - and there was very little in front of the observatory either. Never-the-less, I persevered with not a lot to show for it except for a pair of copulating Shelduck - distant but they were the closest birds that I saw all morning.

Returning back to the reception, I always check on the feeders for the Sparrow population. There are very few sites where Tree Sparrows are on show around here these days but there were the odd ones

among the many House Sparrows

and I even succeeded in catching one in flight, despite the wrong camera settings

So Welney was rather disappointing, not even Whooper Swans close in so I drove around and found a large flock feeding in a field right next to the road with a juvenile very much on display.

Several Bewick Swans have been regularly reported here but I did not find them so here ends a rather disappointing day for my first solo trip out.

And the good news - it can only get better!!!!!!