Acle Strait, Norfolk.

On the way to work turned into lay-by to look through large flocks of geese. Conclusion of visite was as follows. BARNACLE GEESE (2) with good numbers of BEAN GEESE also just flowen in was PINK-FOOTED-GEESE. The best however was a pair of WHITE-FRONTED-GEESE. Also a good scattering of GOLDEN PLOVER and LAPWING. One GREY HERON put in an apperance.

Links Hill

At last a little while to spend birding. First off Ness Point, with an immediate PURPLE SANDPIPER  altogether three birds  feeding around boulders with TURNSTONE as friendly as ever. Fed the gulls who enjoyed there meal but nothing to write home about. Then off to Links Hill and caught up with the ICELAND GULL. Sitting on the groyn passing his day. Not the best photo in the world but that's not everything. Met up with other birders from Norwich and enjoyed the brief conversation. Also MED GULL put in an appearance. Late afternoon of to Loathingland Lake and Oulton Broad. Plenty of DABCHICK  but best of all was pair of GOLDENEYE adjacent to the Wherry Hotel. Close view as they can be a bit scatty.

First day out Leaths Ham

First bird in view was when leaving work in Norwich, at the unearthly hour of 2:30 am. BLACKBIRDS 4 of them, feeding close to the old city wall. In real terms the best of the day is not what was seen, but what was heard. In the few short minutes before sunset, if that's what you call it a Blackbird in the garden was singing his head off to his mate, only feet away. No sooner is the new year in and it all changes. The weather has broken and although we are bound to get some more bad stuff our way birds are already again on the move. With WIDGEON out at sea moving North at Gorleston. Some 80 birds in all way off shore. So today was not the easiest of starts seeing out of bed was not till 10:50am.  So for the best birds of the day were SCAUP (3) at Leathes and a flock of PINK-FOOTED-GEESE (80?) flying between Belton and Breydon. I also managed a pick up on an adult MED GULL at Gorleston and a hybridised HOODED CROW at Hopton. So start list is a meagre 36 no  worry.

Breydon water,South Side.

Walk along to Roman fort and then along wall for about 2 miles and return to car. Still with ice under foot and not the best walking environment. Although still overcast with sun trying hard to make show it seems that WIGEON however were to put in a big appearance with what I should imagine is about 800 birds up and down the river. Best bird was a male MARSH HARRIER which decided to put an appearance by soaring right over our heads. Also a good sighting for the Breydon was a pair of GOLDENEYE other than the fleeting view of a BULLFINCH female under the fort. So that brings out the rest. MALLARD,GREAT-CRESTED-GREBE,HOODED CROW,CURLEW,REDSHANK,LONG-TAILED-TIT,GREAT-SPOTTED WOOD,MAGPIE,FIELDFARE,BLUE TIT,GREAT TIT. One unusual occurrence was the sound of ice crashing against itself while coming down the Breydon, like being in the Artic.

Dunwich Forest

Rather cold at the start of this trek through to the hide over reed bed. Ice and frozen snow made it rough going under foot, but what a picture. Best bird was NUTHATCH which must be feeding near to the houses that overlook Dingle Marsh. Altogether an interesting walk with some ponies from Dartmoor. Most of them very black and all with small  hooves unlike the ones that are out on the march from Poland. WOODCOCK (1) GREAT-S-WOODPECKER (1) MARSH HARRIER (2) One bird had wing feathers on right wing gone. Best view of a bird however was COAL TIT. At one point a mixed flock of GOLDCREST,COAL TIT, BLUE TIT,GREAT TIT,LONG-T-TIT of about 50 birds feeding as moving flock. CHAFFINCH, BLACKBIRD, and on the way back through Haw Wood Farm a BUZZARD with another at Wangford. When returning over reed bed a Bavits after leaving Southwold and a flock of pale bellied Barnacle feral Geese. A large deer ran in front of the car oh dear me.

Loathingland Lake.

Jonathan (my boy) seems to like the cold and set of for a walk round much of Lowestoft today. Picked up with a LITTLE AUK in Lake Loathingland around mid-day. Yours trully missed out herebecuase by the time I got there it had gone. Picked up a nice KINGFISHER and SHAG as well as REDSHANK,TURMSTONE,RINGED PLOVER.

Fisher Roe, Oulton

Walk out with Jonathan today was rather cold with snow about. We managed to put WOODCOCK to flight (4) birds in all. One was very obliging and shew a typical. the other joy was BARN OWL (2) birds one very dark and small the other very large and very white. What a good display they made on a cold day over the marsh. MEADOW PIPIT (9) GREAT-SPOTTED WOOD (2) BULLFINCH male (1) LAPWING as single birds (3) A KESTREL flew through at the bend of the river and settled in atree to keep watch. Near to St Michaels church a group of GREENFINCH (12) and GOLDFINCH (6) also about several WREN and ROBIN. On the way back home I took a look at the silo and on his normal perch our wintering PEREGRINE.