Last Wednesday,11th February, a couple of friends and I had booked the raptor hide at Bourne Wildlife Hides for the day but things did not turn out as expected. We were very kindly advised by Tom Robinson, the owner, that the very wet weather meant that nothing was showing so we postponed it to another day.

So we decided to take a punt and go to Norfolk for the day - rain forecast and so it proved for most of the day so, while these photos are not really up to standard, they were the best in the circumstances. First call, as usual, Hunstanton cliffs about a couple of hours before high tide. A few Oystercatchers

with the gulls loafing around, mostly Black-headed variety but one Mediterranean Gull that posed nicely.

We found nothing more of interest until driving around the Choseley loop where a couple of distant Brown Hares were getting soaked in the rain.

Next call was Brancaster with a few Brent Geese feeding close to the car park

and a Little Egret feeding in the, by now, heavy rain.

As we were driving out, I noticed what I thought was a Goosander in a channel. Stopping and reversing, it was a drake Red-breasted Merganser that proceeded to quickly paddle it's way into the distance but I managed a few shots, not the best, a record shot shall we say!!!

With nothing in the harours, we continued to drive into Holkham with only a Common Gull close enough for a shot

so, retracing our steps, we stopped at the roadside field where geese of various species often congregate. This time, there were only a couple of Egyptian Geese

and in the distance, a Chinese Water Deer minding it's own business.

Next stop of any significance was Brancaster Staithe harbour but with only the usual suspects to show. Herring Gull and Turnstone

Another day with not a lot to show for the effort. When will this wet weather change?

Frampton Marsh has undoubtledly had severe problems over the summer. The last time that I had visited, there was no water around the 360 hide and very little to photograph. Apparently, the dry summer coupled with a broken pump had left the reserve with quite substantial problems so it would be interesting to see if matters had improved.

At first site, improvements had been made and much work had been put in to stir up the ground to form new islands and provide food for the birds. Great to see but, of course, after so much disturbance, the birds had found new areas and had not returned to the expected places. Most were inhabiting the wet grassland area and were too distant and there were no birds in front of the hides - very disappointing.

From the Reedbed Hide, although distant, there were large contingents of Golden Plover that occasionally took to the air - quite a spectacle in the sunlight although I have never successfully captured it in a photo. This was the best I could manage.

Walking back to the reception area at lunchtime, a lone Mute Swan gave a wing flap

and a pair of Gadwall did a fly-past.

After relocating the car to the second car park, the entertainment was provided by small flocks of Brent Geese  commuting between the coast and the wet grassland of the reserve.

Returning to the reception car park, it was worth another look at the hides but the only birds showing was a small flock of Goldfinches feeding on the teasel along the path to the 360 hide

and providing probably my best shot of the day.

Returning to the car, the north side of the reception provided closer shots of Teal and Wigeon.

Almost perfect reflections in the calm sunny late afternoon.

So, like most places currently, photography was hard work with nothing earth shattering but still enjoyable.

Back to Wednesday 14th January and a trip to Abberton Reservoir for the first time for quite a while. Cold but sunny and White-fronted Geese, Tundra Bean Geese, Smew etc all having been recorded and photographed.

Arriving at the main reseption and looking at Layer-de-la Haye causeway,it was very surprising to see that the western part of the reservoir was frozen solid, hence no birds and anything on the eastern side was much too distant for photos. Move on to see what was available from Layer Breton causeway. The eastern shore was also frozen but the other side was free from ice and there were birds available.

Loads of Shovelers but almost entirely asleep on the water but one drake finally moved.

One of my targets, Smew were distantly feeding but eventually a couple of drakes came just a little closer.

Several female Goldeneye's were close but no drakes - very odd.

and there were several Black-headed Gulls on the water making interesting side lit subjects.

A Carrion Crow was feeding on the ice on the other side of the causeway.

Back to the centre for a coffee and a wander around the adjacent scrub where flocks of Fieldfares were very jittery so after a couple of hundred or so flight shots, I eventually managed a couple that were worth keeping.

Returning to Layer Breton causeway, a lone Egyptian Goose was on the tideline

and several female Smew were feeding close in.

But, once again, no geese came in view so not an entirely successful trip but that appears to be the norm.

Reports of interesting birds at Welney WWT attracted me to visit. White-fronted Geese, Tundra Bean Geese, Common Cranes, Bewick's Swans, Goldeneye - a very interesting selection.

Except that I did not see any of them during a four hour stretch. So what does one do? Make the best of it and try to get different shots of the usual. Several flocks of Greylag Geese were circulating around the observatory.

The usual Pochard.

The occasional Tufted Duck

and from Lyle Hide, many Wigeon.

So not a great selection but an enjoyable time never-the-less.

Between Christmas  and the start of 2026 - 30th December to be precise (yes it has taken me a while to edit them), with an afternoon to spare and clear blue skies, I decided to drive the short distance to the RSPB reserve at Fen Drayton Lakes, just to drive up and down the access road to see if any winter thrushes were feeding on the abundance of berries.

I was not the only one as I came across Nigel Blake (wildlife photographer of repute) doing the same thing. I had not seen Nigel for several years so it was great to catch up.

Anyway, as the sun was setting, I eventually found a hedge close to the road where a small flock of Redwings were feeding.

Always flighty, they finally accepted me to carry on feeding.

The setting sun really brought out the plumage colours but with nothing else on show, I decided to head home, not before the car developing quite a major problem that entails a visit to the garage next Wednesday (7th January) with no driving before then and the possiblity of it being off the road until the end of the month.

A great start to 2026!!!