☀️3C
Sunday 6th January 2019 ~ A nice surprise during Sunday 6th's visit to Brandon Marsh was a
Great Egret, which flew over me and down onto East Marsh Pool as I walked up the track towards the hide at around 08:30.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_Wsqp6iwF6eqnGiahdm_PzBFVb599vrqN2vBWv7oHURMS6CIwRtGpHk4MN2LhHiYIxk2SU15K9Bo0HDU4fDiEThBLgID-9IU6FI4597-zVLaB6sbYgZKecLkByt-ZVJBMj9-lNMvr0U/s400/31692743927_d13765dcf2_k.jpg) |
Great Egret ~ Brandon Marsh Sunday 6th January |
☀️4C
Monday 7th January 2019 ~ A quick stop on Monday 7th to catch up with a local
Little Owl before heading off to Brandon Marsh, where a sub-adult
Caspian Gull was the highlight and Draycote Water later for the gull roost, the latter producing
Meditteranean and
Glaucous Gull.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqg4rCWSsfmuOIqUTKZGpp76JzszioJoyCiiXR8NnOfu_VFcbetzXSektXSk_90ewxSFSIDBkbJ-Jfb-nld7oFhKvVeqTZgUG0iXuFCqi8kE31ioVNEEWu3iKwYisI0_qtDd3LFrQknVY/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-01-10+at+16.43.08.png) |
Local Little Owl in his usual spot! |
ππ⛅5C
Tuesday 8th January 2019 ~ The first away-day of the year and a visit to the Norfolk coast on Tuesday in pretty challenging conditions. In fact, the early morning spring tide, accompanied by some really strong Northerlies did cause a few issues with some sea defences actually being breached. The evidence of which was apparent when we stopped off at Salthouse, where a
Seal was actually sheltering along the shingle near the old car park. Glad to say that by the time we arrived back to the car after a walk around Grandborough Hill it had in fact managed to haul itself back out to sea.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5GV2zbPxFR9zvKXQ-2CkrdIiE_1FkeU62rOYxwcVpU-xKBWwsb_01owSR7qCI2XNlbRhvluV_zrBqMbYhhhpS_m1BzJw4T5pZK6ibYvm7dxjdJCRHbPjHmCJpUc7pGH0Uii6ZYUJQkM/s400/IMG_4817-1.jpg) |
Twite in the harsh morning sun ~ Thornham Harbour |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpveS_DJjPX54ogTiYkG3Y_RnezpYSrbc2Bl-pr4MtqQ1RakY-WnFYi8v-qXzA6WdYvYN0YbEM796orWU6B3gbdbIwfNI_EjQmrzRCrSDFev3HguT0UgtTVYSLgE6Q3ji-KMTU2-ZLu1Q/s320/IMG_4824-1.jpg) |
Twite |
Stops at Thornham Harbour for
Twite and Holkham Gap for
Shorelark were successful, although the heavy showers in the afternoon were a hindrance. Of course, the large skeins of
Pink-footed Geese and big numbers of
Brent Geese are always a spectacle. RSPB Titchwell also yielded at least three
Meditteranean Gulls.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6IRWyKiNi9mIcm0zEyx7N6JEaSkOPZRGrifnKpHx-_aA_-20sm3MWy2mcKHkb9E9JtmpyEgIOjd_grH9ZNxUpU5vH9ac1NY7ES9dVx3SALdIEgDO1PVIKhV6NIA3O1UtK-KxBtnojvs/s400/IMG_5023-1.jpg) |
Shorelark ~ A challenging job getting this one in strong winds |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqGWUJ30ytO_F7i6vR4w3XHMXhx8V7jahv_Ixyb7v7Ew2Rw88TCxQVMqpBmfgGRnTJHgUbbcsLsq-428_U0TjYvxobibazgfYhBDk-2mDVP1lcbUbVseNLiTqJXlgI7vTLMSf-0BUaLE/s400/IMG_4997-1.jpg) |
One of only seven Shorelarks at Holkham |
Despite the conditions, it was a decent days birding, although sea-watching was difficult I did manage to log
Red-breasted Merganser,
Long-tailed Duck,
Gannet,
Kittiwake,
Guillemot,
Red-throated Diver, plus
Fulmars at Hunstanton.
One of the highlights on the day was a
Hen Harrier at Cholsey Barns while having lunch, this along with
Red Kite and both
Grey and
Red-legged Partridge.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MwGSngpzJn4Xs7ymJVa-CgTdjJ4fRvRi1tRcAyVFrbYVxoi5MPa_D3kJwS2-4ad059VgA5rnqtOn2pkK-niXIRC1c4WUPRluqsoMyXL40zd6z6kBWOzsaEFYT42YV_ExJKOVB8hbx1c/s400/IMG_4861-1.jpg) |
Grey Plover ay RSPB Titchwell |
Waders included
Grey Plover,
Bar-tailed and
Black-tailed Godwit,
Sanderling,
Oystercatcher,
Turnstone,
Curlew,
Redshank and
Spotted Redshank,
Ruff and
Avocet.
Many thanks to Geoff Hood, John Raven and Fred Burton for their company.