North Norfolk

Had an amazing day in North Norfolk today, had a drive and a great walk around Felbrigg Hall watching Bramblings.

Onto Kelling Heath my most fav place in the world for lots of Goldcrests, Woodpeckers, Jays, Bullfinch and Muntjack Deer. Also a great lunch here.

 

Onto Sheringham to look at the damage, quite bad in places but on the whole ok..

 

 

Onto Weybourn then Cley where the damage wasn't as severe as I first feared, but then im sure a lot of work has already gone into the clear up.

 

 

The birds at Cley were Brent Geese, Marsh Harrier,s Black tailed Godwit and Little Egrets.

Homeward bound, its great living a short distance away now.

Glossy Ibis

Once again Suffolk and the local area produces the goods. This time its a GLOSSY IBIS on the marsh at Oulton Broad, only 5 mile from the house, brilliant. It was always distant for photos but gave good scope views with a  nice fly around. otherwise a quiet day again. I've broke up from work till the 2nd now so hopefully plenty of birding action over Christmas.
Couple of Record shots.

Horsey Waterpump

We had to take the dogs for a walk, so chose Horsey Mill, we like this area and Rach loves the Tea room which disappointingly was shut. It was dull muddy n wet but still had a nice walk.
Started off at Caister on sea where the Juv Rose Coloured Starling was still showing. At Horsey itself 7 Whooper Swans and big flock of Greylag Geese and much fewer Pink footed Geese.
38 Egyptian Geese was the highest count ive ever had. It was fairly quiet otherwise but good numbers of Marsh Harriers and a single Ring-tailed Hen Harrier.  Home time...

Christmas Stuff

Yeh like the title said most of this weekend was spent doing Christmas stuff Saturday was spent at Thursford Christmas Spectacular and spectacular it certainly was, well worth going if anyone fancy's Christmas musicals..
In the morning I did take dogs out and saw 2 Firecrest in Corton Woods.
Sunday was spent on Lowestoft beach with the dogs again, an Adult Shag and a few Med Gulls was it really though, then it was onto Norwich for the Christmas Coca Cola Lorry and Christmas shopping.
Fraid that's it, pretty quiet time birding wise, break up from work Friday so maybe just maybe something good will turn up over the break.

Shore as hell like Med Gulls

So I was on the Corton patch at day break this morning but it was very very quiet so Rach picked me up on the way through to Great Yarmouth where we parked a mile North of the main area and walked the length of the beach stopping for lunch in the centre. On the walk through the dunes and shingle beach we picked up 2 SNOW BUNTINGS flying over and 9 Sanderling with a Ringed Plover. The sandbank was becoming exposed and hundreds of Cormorant were now filling the bank along with the Seals. In total a minimum count of 43 MED GULLS of varying ages and some with UK and Belgium rings.

 

We made a slow walk back to the car when I picked up 3 SHORELARK, cracking little birds.

Finally we finished at Gorleston where I had a very quick look through the 400 Scoters here, picked up 3 VELVET SCOTERS in flight then 7 together making a really nice finish to the day.

Rough Snow Buntings

Rach the dogs n I had a walk up the beach from Lowestoft to Pakefield it was fairly quiet until we reached Pakefield where I spotted a load of SNOW BUNTINGS 23 I counted. Showing quite well, then I noticed many had been Rung, I through I saw the ringers on the way through. The birds weren't happy with em and were pecking at em.
On the way back 3 Med Gulls, 1 Adult and 2 Second winters.

After this we nipped for lunch then went looking for a ROUGH LEGGED BUZZARD which we were lucky to find with the help of Rene and Dave at Waveney Woods. Views were distant but it was great to see 2 Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine and the Rough legged Buzzard all in the same scope view. The Buzzard seemed to take a Starling and pluck it on the ground. in total there were 2 Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harrier and 2 Rough Legged Buzzard but we only saw the one. A small flock of Pink Footed Geese were present but they were just too far to pick out a Bean Geese. No visible White-fronted geese.
Another great day.

Mediterranean Gulls n stuff

So Yesterday Rach n the dogs n I visited Carlton Marsh's and had a nice but muddy walk around the site watching loads of mixed Gulls, but the best things were 3 Little Egrets and a few Bearded Tits. Otherwise it was surprisingly quiet. The patch was quiet to.
Today we stayed local and walked to Lowestoft via Corton Wood where 2 great looking Firecrest were showing really nicely., otherwise it was too quiet, however I never tire of Med Gulls, 5 in total on Gunton Beach including a Belgium ringed Adult and a 2nd Winter.