Pakefield Beach.

After the storm the cold wind still comes in. Johnathan gave me a call as he thought he had some EIDER ON the beach so as we were going shopping we set out and sure enough three birds. One male and two female. Floating reasonably close inshore but only with bins I took a chance and phone binned them. Not so bad.

Breydon, South Wall.

Bright day with slight cold wind from the West.

List still increasing and now at 65. Still not pushing the boat out so ok with that. But best bird today was a BEARDED TIT, only one along the South Wall. Also a single male STONECHAT and plenty of GREY and GOLDEN PLOVER on the flats. AVOCETS running up and down as were the DUNLIN and REDSHANK. B-T-GODWIT, CURLEW, MARSH HARRIER, PINK FOOTED GEESE flock on far bank. LAPWING, CURLEW, with MALLARD, SHOVELORE, WIGEON, SHELLDUCK,

Kessingland Sewer Works.

Spent an hour yesterday and the same today looking for the reported Pallas Warbler with no joy. Would have been a good bird for the start of a year tick.

Kessingland: Plenty of CHIFFCHAF all feeding on flies from the works. I would think there must be at least five birds in all. But the most did concerting thing are the WRENS who have taken to feeding the same way as have DUNNOCK. Other birds are the major level of PIED WAGTAIL that are chasing feed behind the outlet pipes. LONG TAILED TIT, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, BLACKBIRD with a female rung bird. SONG THRUSH, CHAFFINCH, GOLDFINCH. ROBIN.
Pakefield: A COMMON BUZZARD was waiting for a game of football at Pontins. Might be waiting for a while.

Drive to Norwich.

Dull and overcast.

But managed to increase my list by two. The best being a flock of REDWING which flew my daughters house and came down for a rest in a tree across the road. The other bird was a single LITTLE EGERET which was in a small dyke near the Acle roundabout.

Nees Point, Links Hill and Gunton Wood.

Bright with a distinct chill in the air.

Gunton Wood: I was unable to catch up with any reported nuthatch so no joy here but plenty of the Tit family and GOLDCREST as well as GOLDFINCH.

Links Hill: Several large gulls in the car park but only one MED GULL which was ringed. Also two COMMON GULL and BLACK HEADED GULL. Just one CROW and CORMORANT out at sea.

Ness Point: The sad conclusion here is that there was only two PURPLE SANDPIPER. When you think that I can remember over 30 birds here in the winter. TURNSTONE numbered out at 9. With just one RED-THROATED-DIVER sitting on the water, obviously not feeding. But a reasonable movement of CORMORANT heading North. But a surprise was a pair of SHOVELORE heading South.

Oulton Marsh, Lowestoft.

Cold night with little sun during the day, but all the same a good day to be out.

Increased the list for the year by ten, so now stands at 44. With nothing out of the ordinary. But with two SNIPE and nine MEADOW PIPIT feeding together in a meadow. But how it they disappear when they land I have no idea. They flitter in the air, hang there and then just drop to earth and they might as well not be there. I did have a good view of a SONG THRUSH and an odd calling bird in a bush which never did show itself. Several KESTREL with an assumed six birds in all. Around 50 WIGEON and only two TEAL and two pairs of SHOVELORE. A single GREY HERON and only two GOLDCREST. I followed a party on the move of LONG TAILED TITS about 10 birds in all and withy them three blue tit.

The first two days without trying.

Happy 2017 to all as we start again our blog for this year.

With the first day of the year overcast and rain and the second a contrast with blue sky and cold.

The year list only stands at 34 but  this is no surprise as I have not ventured out except for a few minuets. The best being 2 COMMON BUZZARD along Acle Strait and a fly over the house job in the shape of a PEREGRINE this evening. A lovely GOLDFINCH at the Ham, with ducks showing well. GADWALL, TUFTED, MALLARD, PINTAIL,WIGEON, COOT, MORHEN, G-B-B-GULL as well as HERRING GULL.
Home:  RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE and the usual garden birds.