Carlton Marsh

 Never went out today, just one of those days. Had good chats with the normal crew. But also a long chat with an old employee of the trust. We had heard about each other through birding so it was good to put a face to a name. It has taken me till today the last day of the month to tick a LONG TAILED TIT. How bad is that, but also GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, GREAT WHITE EGERET as well as a flock of 10 LINNET.

Somerlyton and Lound

 Sat by the Staithe in the car to see if anything would show. We had already picked up on two RED KITE which flew over from Somerlyton Hall. We picked up on them again as they flew over Herringfleet. We also has SKYLARK, GREY HERON, BUZZARD, MEADOW PIPIT and an OTTER swam by on the other side of the Waveney.

Called in at Lound and just by the road was a GREAT WHITE EGERET again another first for the year. 

Loathingland Lake

 Call in  to see if the GREAT NORTHEREN DIVER was about and there it was right in front of me. Taking pictures was not good as light was poor. But at least a view to have. 

Pathways and Links Hill.

My regular walk and pick up track camera which did not work. ?  I am still saddened by the fact that there are only two GADWALL on the lake. The thing is this count is so low. Only real surprise was the SPARROWHAWK which put on a good show as it flew within feet of me in the hide. LITTLE GREBE 2. MUTE SWAN 2 MOORHEN 2, CARRION CROW 6, MAGPIE 1, 

At Links Hill six MEDITERAINEAN GULLS, and a single CORMORANT.

North Cove.

With a light covering of snow overnight the call of North Cove came begging. But on arrival hardly any show of snow. But the ground was really firm due to very hard frost. So no wet feet and no mud. Species list for the day was 21, with some good birds, the best being a flock of five COMMON CRANE. Calling as they went East heading for Carlton. After putting the sighting on media it seems that NWT have an active release programme. So birds could have been plastic after all. The only concern is that there was no rings viewable.

Also saw 3 TREECREEPER and about 4 MARSH TIT. REDPOLE and a small flock of SISKIN.

Lound Lakes.

 Me and the boy walked the loop through the drizzle and sun. Nothing out of the usual, but all the same good numbers of SHOVELORES a few GADWALL, WIGEON, MALLARD, MOORHEN, but as you can see from the pic below a pair of CHAFFINCH made a more than colourful job.  

Links Hill

 Call in for a few minuets with the fascination of watching TURNSTONE doing what they do so well. Finding food in the car park as well as three MEDITERANIAN  GULLS with the one legged job still around.

New Year, first day.

 After hearing that a LESSER YELLOWLEGS had been hanging around Southwold Levels behind the Harbour Inn. I had decided to leave a view of it until today to make sure I went out. After a struggle of fighting the car crowds I arrived at the gate to view and amazingly a car place was available. So a quick dive in only to find a birder from Great Yarmouth and about seven others. No one had seen it of recent so out with scope and all of us started a sweep. REDSHANK showing well, but soon out walked the LY. Put on a show for all of 3 minuets before it flew of after Peregrine flew through. This was a lifer for me so a good start to the year.

Also for the day: Blue Tit, Herring Gull, Starling, Feral Pigeon, Magpie, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Kestrel, Redshank, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Wigeon, Black headed Gull, Teal, Curlew, Mallard, Rook, Marsh Harrier, Stonechat, Pheasant, Jackdaw, Buzzard, House Sparrow, Cormorant.