28th April - I needed some petrol so a visit to Tesco at nearby Bar Hill and, with sun shining, I could not resist a drive around Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB with camera ready. As usual, not a lot to get excited about but a Common Whitethroat was occasionally showing in the hedge along the access road so I parked up and waited.

My recent experience of this site is that there are more joggers, walkers, dog-walkers and learner drivers along this access road than there are birds and this proved to be the case this time. Every time the bird popped up to sing, it was disturbed but, after more than an hour of patientl;y waiting, my persistence was finally rewarded.

Last Thursday, 1st May I got up intending to visit Welney WWT but a flash on Birdguides confirmed that a Spotted Sandpiper had been identified on the dam at Grafham Water. All change as I had never seen one before. So parking up, I walked along the dam where a dozen or so birders were peering over the parapet. I joined them and there it was, totally unconcerned by the excitement it had created.

I spent over an hour there taking more photos than is good for the health as editing takes a long time.

Moving around Grafham to the hide at Mander, I intended to eat lunch and see what was on offer - not much so it was a case of trying to take a shot that was different. A nesting Coot and a wandering Mallard obliged.

On my way home, I called in at nearby Stirtloe to see if any Warblers were showing. Answer yes but the only photographable one was a Sedge Warbler.

Still, another the day provided a new species to add to my list. My target is decent photographs of 400 British and European species - now on 391.