3rd February - Salthouse/Cley
With few birds close to home after the school run I head to Salthouse to try and see one of the few Waxwing that have turned up in Norfolk this winter. Parking near the church i knew the Waxwing had to be closeby in one of the gardens, so headed to the high ground of the church yard for a good vantage point. I soon saw the Waxwing in flight but it dived into a garden. I took the chance to look around the church and grave yard, but failed to find ant trace of relatives on my growing family tree. The Waxwing failed to reappear so I called into Cley Coastguards hoping for the Snow Bunting flock to make an appearance. A quick sea watch turned up the first Razorbill of the year and the long staying juv Caspian Gull put in an appearance along with a lone Snow Bunting. A quick jaunt down the East Bank added Bearded Tit to the year list.
19th February - Holkham
James and myself met up for one of our regular school holiday birding trips. We headed off for Holkham with a couple of stops en route, first was Bayfield Lake. A regular spot for raptors 7/8 Buzzards and at least 2 Red Kite circled over the woods, a couple of White fronted Geese the highlight by the lake. Second stop was Wiveton Church for a moth that although relatively common was new for both James and I. We would never have located the Lichen Button moth on the lichen covered flint work on the porch without the help of a kind gent who had located the moth a short while before we arrived. A quick nose in the church and we continued west. A brief stop at Wells allowed James to catch up with the long staying Rough-legged Buzzard if a little distant.
We decided to brave Holkham beach and the half term crowds but parked near the Park gates. Scanning the bay we soon located a large Scoter flock which held at least 4 Velvet Scoter, and 6+ Red-breasted Merganser flew back and forth. In the roped off area behind the sea most dune swe soon found one of our targets the Snow Bunting flock which also held 5 Shorelark which soon broke off and then showed well at close quarters. With the crowds growing we contented ourselves with a drive around the roads inland of the estate hoping for a Raven but without luck. We did however have time to look for the 'escaped' Lesser White-fronted Goose seen near Matlaske. No sign of the bird but Barningham Winter Church was delightful, a predominately ruined estate church that's central naive now forms a small chapel.
4th March - Happisburgh/Bacton
After a quiet Autumn birding and my fathers death I started spending a few hours most weeks walking the local beaches looking for fossils, walking the tide line and enjoying the isolation of the winter beaches, with a few birds for good measure. This trip offered little of the later with only the expected local residents, but a bag full of driftwood will be a future project and a large piece of fossil bone from Bacton was my largest fossil to date.
5th March - Blickling
Feeling brave I decided to take our dog out for a walk and try to bird watch at the same time something I had not attempted previously as he is still quite excitable. I dropped Agnes at nursey and by 9.30am we parked up in the Fisherman's Car Park. A clockwise loop of the lake offered little in wild fowl however two female Goosander were unexpected, but the Ruddy Shelduck had been previously reported. From the views I had I would like to think it is a 'true' bird but others believe it to be a hybrid Ruddy Shelduck x Egyptian Goose. Lots of common birds and a well behaved dog made for a pleasant morning.
154 - Norfolk Year Total
154 - Britain Year Total
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