Typical Winters Day in Norfolk - Awesome

Firstly I will start with yesterday, I finished work in Bacton and headed to Walcott I had had a tip off about some sea birds so went looking. After about 30mins of scanning I finally found what I was looking for a Black-throated Diver, an adult in winter plumage clearly showing the distinctive White Flash, Dark Back, Dark Neck and peaked forehead. It seemed to dive much longer than the Red-throated Divers that were also around. I also saw the Mediterranean Gull and an Eider flew through. I also had two Bewick's flyover Witton so a good patch tick.

Now for today, it started not all that early arriving at Salthouse at about 9.30, the Snow Buntings were flying around and a flock of Turnstone were also about. I went and stood near the ditch to the West of the car park and waited.

The best part of 30 seconds past before the Turnstone flock came and landed next to me, it really was amazing as they and a very brave Sanderling came within inches of my feet looking for food. I guess that after a week of really bad weather they are just to hungry to worry. Knot and a Dunlin also joined the flock as the looked for food. The Snow Buntings also came in every now and then.

After this I had a look on the Sea and the Slavonian Grebe was showing in the Weyborne direction and always swimming away East.

From Salthouse I went to Wells and went to look at the Smew and Goosander that had been present. At least three Goosander were there.

There were also four Smew all redhead but as this picture shows one of them is a first winter drake.

The above clearly show's the dark eye patch compared to the below female that doesn't.

Pintail and Teal were also on the lake and a Waterail was running along the far bank.

I left Wells and headed for Holkham I walked out into the bay watching the large flock of Skylark and Linnets (the tourist Twite as I heard someone say 'there go the Twite' but these were clearly Linnets). Heading further East a couple called me over as they had found the Shorelark. Whilst watching these the Skylark came and landed next to us, as did the Linnets and a flurry of Snow Buntings. A Rock Pipit also sat near us briefly.

Over the Marsh there were many Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Knot and Redshank.

Walking back I saw the Snow Buntings again and a flock of smaller birds in the West of the bay.
I continued walking to get a closer look, eventually I could see the other birds and these were indeed Twite. A Lapland Bunting had now also joined the Snow Bunting flock.

After here I walked back to the car and flying to the East of the Lady Ann's Drive was a Rough-legged Buzzard in the distance, the Ross's Goose was also in the fields to the West. I saw a second Rough-legged Buzzard over the road at Warham as I was driving home.

One last stop as I pulled in at Sheringham to see the Purple Sandpiper, I walked along the promenade and could see a Purple Sandpiper at the end of the next groyne, I kept walking and as I arrived at the next groyne the Purple Sandpiper flew back to the previous groyne.

I walked back and re-found the bird the Purple Sandpiper then flew towards me and was joined by two others sat only a few metres away, totally amazing.

Before I left a Long-tailed Duck flew West.