Brecks and Welney

Yesterday after my first visit of the year to Whitlingham Alysia and I headed first to Long Stratton, no sign of any Waxwings there so we continued on to Lynford.

In the car park a flock of around 60 Siskin were in the trees towards the gravel pits. 

On the pits themselves a single Drk Goosander, Goldeneye and a few Tufted Ducks. I think the high number of dogs running around were keeping most birds away.

We then walked into the Arboretum, it was very quiet with regards to any calling birds, the first set of feeders were very busy though.

Around 40 Brambling were enjoying the seed and a drink.

Still very quiet by the second set of feeders by the bridge and only a handful of birds collecting food.

No sign of any Hawfinches in the paddock so we headed over the to other bridge, a lovely Little Grebe on the way.

Although the birds were quiet it was very useful to be able to hear the raining of seed husks from the large flock of around 210 silent Siskin above us.

At the second bridge this Treecreeper was moving around and two Crossbill flew over.

We then walked backed to the paddock and got lucky with 6 Hawfinches.

Next stop was Welney in the car park were House and Tree Sparrow, then from the main hide was this beast.

We arrived and the Ring-necked Duck was right in front of us, so great to see it up close. 

We then stayed in the hide for the rest of the day watching the Ring-necked Duck amongst the 100's of Pochard. 

This Ringed Teal also looked happy.

We stayed for the evening feed to and watched the many Whooper Swans coming in to roost.

January Bird Race in Numbers

Yes, as per every other year I headed out on a hunt for as many species as possible on the first day of the year.

Started at dawn at Titchwell and wriggled around Norfolk ending at Hickling. As per all recent years Adam joined me and this year we reached 118 species which was great (one more than my initial count that I posted on Twitter).

Rather than bore you about all the birds we saw as we went around Norfolk, I will bore you with stats from the last 22 years instead. (FYI all stats refer to the 1st January only and the number of years is based out of the 22 years that I have attemped a bird race)

Dawn at the beach at Titchwell

This year saw one of the mighty fallen, Little Grebe was not seen on the first, this was the first time in 22 years that it had been missed, bringing the total of birds seen every year down to 39.

Was also the first time in 8 years that Avocet wasn't recorded. Ringed Plover and Ruff were also not seen leaving all of them tied on 14 years out of 22 to be seen.

With exception of Little Grebe 85 species seen this year have all been recorded for 15 years or more

The 12th year Merlin has been recorded on the first, the 2nd time it was seen at Titchwell.

This Merlin was actually very cool as we got to watch a long chase of a Meadow Pipit.....who won who knows? They both dived into cover neither came back out, I feel it was the Merlin.

The 14th time that Water Rail has been seen

This Mottled Umber and a Winter Moth were a momentary distraction.

Also at Titchwell, on the sea the Black-throated Diver was the first for 8 years, Red-necked Grebe was the 3rd time it was recorded (we had two together and a 3rd flew past), Slavonian Grebe also made its 7th appearance. All of the above were on the sea as was a Great Northern diver before sunrise, all these birds flew off west.

My 5th record of Peregrine at Titchwell was also great as it chased around the Lapwing. Also saw my 6th Cetti's Warbler which interestingly has 5 records in the last 6 years and only one in the previous 16.

Other birds missed during the day were Great Spotted Woodpecker, Ruff and Grey Partridge also seen on 14 previous occasions.

Other gems seen.... Grey Wagtail my 2nd ever, 3rd Great White Egret and 3rd Firecrest. Also my 4th Red Kite (3rd in 4 years which would suit their recent trend in Norfolk), 5th Chiffchaff and Rock Pipit to.

This female Scaup that we found on Hickling Broad was only my 3rd record

10th time seeing Cranes

Hickling broad at sunset also the site of my 116th bird of the day...Canada Goose!!!

Best bird of the day was of course the male Hen Harrier at Hickling, but the best bird of the day in terms of stats was.......

.....the Dipper, it was my 181st (got an armchair Bean Goose tick after the split if any eagle eyed followers remembered that Greenshank last year was my 179th) 1st January bird.

The Dipper now joins the other 26 one year wonders like Western Sandpiper, Ross's Gull and Northern Harrier and some of the lesser one year wonders like Little Owl and Goosander.