January 2019 so far . . . .

Bird Race - 1st January

The 1st January was the 10th Year that I have joined Gary for an informal bird race, (informal as we are not racing anyone else) aiming to start the year with as many species as possible. Arriving at Titchwell RSPB in the dark the birds started to emerge from the darkness. Sea watching at first light was very productive with 36 species seen as we turn back inland. Highlights being 3 Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe and a Black-throated Diver. The Fresh Marsh had high water levels so wader numbers were rather limited but we still arrived back at Reception, after picking up some woodland birds along the Meadow Trail with 70 species. A female Merlin chasing a Meadow Pipit over our heads was probably the best bird on the reserve. Fuelling up with a Bacon Bap. Dunnock, Greenfinch and Coal Tit were on the feeders and on a second attempt a Water Rail was found in its regular dyke nearby, before we left Titchwell Reserve.

Choseley Drying Barns in recent years have been disappointing, but we added 10 more species here including Brambling, Mistle Thrush and Yellowhammer, before moving on. Thornham Harbour gave up a Spotted Redshank and Rock Pipit before we eventually saw the c14 Twite that make the area home most winters. A few more common species were added in the Gun Hill/Holkham area so that our 100th bird of the day was Tree Sparrow, at an old site I've not visited for a number of years.

We tried Holt Sewage works on a whim a few years back, and visiting it again this year proved fruitful, with birds including Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff and Firecrest. The Holkham became our was over run with New Year walkers, so Felbrigg became our favoured site to top up on woodland species. Nuthatch was expected but Marsh Tit was a nice addition.

Our only 'target' bird of the day was the Dipper near North Walsham, a bird neither of us had seen on the 1st January and a uncommon visitor to Norfolk. With the bird located by other birders, it was little more than a drive by sighting as the bird frequented the old lock at Briggate. The day was passing by fast but the Dipper was bird 112 for the day, so we headed towards Hickling and the Stubb Mill roost our traditional days end. On route the Whooper and Bewick's Swan were seen near Ludham, and female Scaup was seen on Hickling Broad. As well as viewing the expected Harriers from the Roost Canada Goose  was belatedly added to the day's list, 2 Common Crane fed in front of the view point and in the very last of the days light a Woodcock flew overhead. A grand total of 118 species seen, a good start to the year, if not our highest January 1st total with a few species suspicious by their absence.

Alderfen - 6th January

Laura, Agnes and I had decided on a Sunday walk and with the opportunity of a few birds we headed for Barton Broad. The car park was the full with people obviously walking off thier excesses of Christmas and the New Year, with cars even parked on grass. I'm not one for crowds so we drove onto Alderfen, one of NWT's oldest reserves and one much under visited (we were the only people there). The Broad held c60 Wigeon, plus good numbers Teal and Tufted Duck, as well as the expected waterfowl. Walking the wet woodland surprisingly few birds were seen and none specialised to the habitat. Driving home I decided to call in at Briggate and Ebridge I the hope the recently departed Dark-bellied Dipper may have returned. It hadn't but we did stumble upon a mixed finch flock including c50 Brambling.

Barton Broad - 10th January

After abandoning my visit a few days earlier and with Agnes spending her first full day at her new nursery I had some free time to visit Barton Broad again. Sadly the Black-necked Grebe of previous days had departed, but 2 female Scaup, c60 Goldeneye and a handful of Pochard were on the Broad. Surprisingly a Little Grebe was new for the year being missed on January 1st, along with Great Spotted Woodpecker and Lesser Redpoll also mist on the 1st. Driving on towards Potter Heigham and the coast a Green Woodpecker was another year tick, seen in Neatisthead.

Hickling/Potter Heigham - 10th January

I had planned to look for the Heigham Holmes Cattle Egret from Martham Ferry and then look through the geese near Horsey/Waxham, traffic was queued up and not moving near Potter Heigham so I decided on a walk around the Rush Hill area of Hickling NWT. Parking near Potter Church the walk to Rush Hills was uneventful with a few common birds, but generally quiet. I then stumbled across a mixed Tit flock, holding 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Treecreeper, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit and a Goldcrest.

Spurred on by this or maybe just being blindly optimistic I deiced to walk on to Potter Heigham Marshes, marking my walk quite long. The walk was worth it however when a Great White Egret was found, and then my realisation I could view the area of Heigham Holmes from near Candle Dyke. 3 Otter swam along Candle Dyke oblivious to my presence and after a short while the Cattle Egret was seen distantly by the farm buildings. Also nearby were c80 White-fronted Geese and my second Merlin of the year. Driving home I called by Ludham for a brief look at the wild swan flock although they were rather distant.

Paston Cliffs - 14th January

Having dropped Agnes in Southrepps for Nursery and called in to pay my mechanics bill in Mundesley, it would have been rude not to call in on this section of my patch for the first time this year. The expected Gulls loafed on the beach and a distant Gannet was off shore. A lone Fieldfare fed with a small group of Blackbird on the edge of the set-a-side field joined by a few Linnet and Skylark. Suddenly many more birds erupted from the field c20 Skylark, 3/4 Meadow Pipit, c20 Linnet and a family of Goldfinch, most of whom were hidden from view sent skyward by the resident female Sparrowhawk. The Sparrowhawk left without breakfast and the birds settled again a Mistle Thrush had appeared in the middle of the throng. With a mild NW breeze I had a short 15 minute sea watch, a few birds were closer in than usual with 5/6 Guillemot and numerous Red-throated Diver joining the earlier mentioned Gannet. But the best, two Long-tailed Duck were a new Patch Tick.

East Ruston/Happisburgh - 15th January

A brief stop at East Ruston Common to check for waterfowl on the pools proved fruitless. However in the road side Gorse 6+ Goldcrest were joined by at least 1 Firecrest a bird I will never tire of seeing, and by the water treatment site 2 Marsh Tit were showing well.

Happisburgh was my destination, and although quite a long walk was surprisingly quite with no geese seen in the area or any of the hoped for Snow or Lapland Bunting that often frequent the area in the winter. A mixed Chaffinch/Brambling flock were seen between the water tower and Grubb Street before I parked by the village hall and wandered off through the village. The garden feeders in Blacksmiths Lane only held House Sparrow and Great Tit and I was on Beach Road before i encountered more birds. The Manors orchard held a large number of Blackbird feeding on the fallen apples, and a good number of House Sparrow and Linnet in the boundary hedge but nothing stand out. I walked the cliff top from here to Doggett's Lane, with on 8 Turnstone and 4 Linnet seen in the Lighthouse Field. Rather surprisingly though I watched a Great Northern Diver come in off the sea and fly over my head, heading inland! To complete my lap I walked the clifftop towards the Old Coastguard Lookout and took the track back towards the village hall. I had noticed a few distant Red-throated Diver distantly passing so paused by the old lookout to look out to sea. c40 RTD could be seen with probable other more distant, but also 10+ Guillemot, a Razorbill, Red-necked Grebe and a Shag also seen. The later two additions to the Year List, belatedly giving the walk some credibility.