I am rapidly losing faith with West Norfolk. Few birds of real interest and people and dogs evrywhere but, with no other attractions, I revisited - weather good.

The trend of the day began at Hunstanton Cliffs where I intended to photograph the Fulmars - except there were none!!! The only bird on view was a rather tatty Linnet.

Moving on to Holme Dunes NWT, arriving about 09:30. As a member, I was advised many years ago that I could access the reserve by opening the gate, closing it after getting in and then taking the long road to the car park. This time, on parking I was politely advised that I was too early and would I please leave and not return until 10.00. So I did, but will definitely not be renewing my membership again.

On the way back, a Meadow Pipit sang from a branch before flying.

I did not return.

Moving on, my next usual call would be Thornham harbour, promising with a falling tide and a surprisingly co-operative Greenshank

but nothing else so I moved on to Titchwell RSPB. Plenty of excitement in the car park with a Wood Warbler but too high in the trees for a shot, water levels on the freshmarsh still too high for any waders except for Avocet

and on the beach, some fly-by's with my best shot of the day - Oystercatcher.

These days, Titchwell never fails to disappoint!!!

Lunch break from the car at Brancaster Staithe - too many people, dogs and no birds so I decided to give up and go home, calling in at Thornham again where a Redshank posed rather nicely

and that was it, arriving home early after a very disappointing day. 

I have lost count of the number of times that I have visited RSPB Fowlmere but only once have I seen a Water Vole, and that was a couple of weeks ago when a very nice young lady pointed one out that she had been following. One photo worth keeping.

On Facebook, the Friends of Fowlmere entries with great Water Vole photos are numerous so, 29th April, I decided to spend the afternoon there.

This time, I was successful with a load of photos taken, albeit requiring considerable editing as the Voles were usually in dark shady corners, far from ideal on a very sunny day.

The first keeper was an unusual one with the subject in the shade with a strongly sunlit back ground,

and a selection of further photos.

and the one that I like best because of the cautious look.

So, finally, a successful visit with more photos in the Recent Additions section.

Thusday 23rd April and I decided, at the last minute, to re-visit Welney WWT - perfect weather for photography.

First stop was at the observatory hide - all seemingly quiet - but a couple of Barn Swallows flying around.

and a Great White Egret did a fly-past.

and then the Coot put on a display showing their usual argumentative selves at this time of the year.

With nothing else of interest, I moved up to Lyle hide but only a few Avocets were on offer

and then to Friends Hide where there was nothing at all. Very surprising as over the years, this has been a very productive hide for photography but not in the recent couple of years. Re-tracing my steps, my first Common Whitethroat of the year was singing but against the sun. 

Back at the obervatory hide, there was more action with Shelduck squaring up to each other

causing the Shovelers to get agitated

but finally settling down.

A lone drake Wigeon was feeding close in

and that was it so I left but still unable to resist a pop at the House Sparrows on the feeders

but sadly no Tree Sparrows again.

Taking the long way home, I drove around Dambanks at Aldreth, also once very productive but not recently. however, I noticed a Corn Bunting feeding close to the road, not as close as I would have liked but pleased with the results. Still, getting much rarer here now.

So, once again, it was a case of trying to get something different but at least the Corn Bunting was the icing on the cake for me.

What's showing at RSPB Fowlmere? Not the species that I wanted - like water Vole. Everyone else seems to be seeing them regularly but last Tuesday, after an hour and a half quietly walking up and down the chalk stream path, not a sign.

Still, my time on the reserve was not totally wasted with a small herd of Fallow Deer crossing the channel from Drewer Hide. First one showing and then jumping across

follwed by  the white hart

and what could be an immature.

I finally ended up, as usual, in Reebed Hide.The Marsh Harriers were both showing, on and off, but at least I manged a half-decent shot of the female this time.

So, good and not-so-good but isn't that the story of bird photography at the moment. Let's hope there is more activity from the summer migrants.

Well, we ended up at Weeting Heath but started the day at Mayday Farm again, at a different drinking pool but after a couple of hours and only seeing a distant Woodlark, we gave up and moved to Weeting Heath.

We hoped for close views of Stone Curlew but that did not work either - too distant and heat haze - so we spent the rest of the afternoon in the drinking pool hide where there was plenty of activity. Sunny conditions that, once again, presented the usual problems of light and shade but the first to show was a Blue Tit coming in to drink

followed by Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Great Tit.

There was even a pair of Chaffinches, now becoming very scarce in my county and even this one was showing evidence of Scaly Leg.

A Nuthatch was a regular visitor, collecting mud for the nest hole somewhere off the reserve.

and we even had a visit from a Mistle Thrush.

But the star of the show was a male Sparrowhawk that treated us to a quick visit and exit before checking us out from a nearby tree and then returning to drink.

So another enjoyable day in the Brecks.