The First of 2011

As with every year for the last 14 I have been out on the first and this was no different, well apart from this time it was on crutches, which was a pain, as on 23rd December I had torn the ligaments in my left foot (a repeat of what I had done to my right foot in October).

Dad said he would drive for me, and Adam also joined us. The first bird was a Barn Owl at Morston at around 6.30 and the second bird was a Wood Pigeon asleep in the Car Park at Titchwell.

We normally walk out to the sea and wait for it to get light but with the slower walking conditions we were able to see more along the way. The usual duck suspects were there, Grey Partridges on the Salt Marsh, and Whooper Swan flew past. 3 Water Rails fed together on the Brackish Marsh. Whilst watching the Sea we saw very little getting Eider and Common Scoter but luckily two Long-tailed Ducks were also there. A Snow Bunting flew over us whilst we watched the sea, and a man told us about the Shorelark further down the beach that I managed to pick out.

Walking back We watched Marsh Harriers fly around and then a Hen Harrier came up, it banked and hovered over the marsh showing its dark back, then came closer to us showing the dark hood and orange under parts it was the Northern Harrier. Other birds of note on the way back were Jack Snipe and Water Pipit.

At the feeders and car park we added the usual and a Marsh Tit also.

We then headed off to Holkham via Chosley and Sculthorpe and we saw a huge flock of Brambling at around 250 a few Tree Sparrows also.

At Holkham we were lucky enough to find the Two Rough-legged Buzzards and White-fronted Geese.

We then went for a quick sea watch at Salthouse with the highlights being many Red-throated Divers and a Great Northern also flew through. The rest of the afternoon was simple get to the roost at Hickling and add a few more species. Here we saw Redwing, Sparrowhawk, Crane and Woodcock and the Woodcock was the 104th Species of the day. This was good as we had missed some really easy birds like Tufted Duck, Pochard, Golden Plover, Redpolls and many more.