Very Grey day in Norfolk 25.01.23

 Off to Norfolk and straight to Cley beach in misty and cold conditions. Very little out to sea, so a walk down the East Bank and a check for Snow buntings, but none apparent. Few obvious year listers here, along with a very showy Stonechat.

Popped into the Visitors' Centre for a coffee before heading, via Wells to Holkham Pines and Holkham Gap. As I drove towards Blakeney from Cley a Bittern flew right in front of the car and into reeds by the river.

At Holkham, a walk to find the Shore Lark and Snow Buntings, but all the birders here were reporting that they were not present. So it proved. A bouncing flock of Linnets was scant reward for a 3 mile walk, but a covey of Grey Partridge and a splendid Firecrest made the stop here worthwhile. Huge numbers of Wigeon and Teal, with 100's of Pink footed geese overhead, but no sign of the White fronted geese.

Popped into Brancaster and a quick check on the harbour, but just added Turnstone to both the day and year list. By now the light was really dark so I changed my plan and headed for Sculthorpe Moor near Fakenham rather than a wander around Titchwell.

Super reserve at Sculthorpe but the light was appalling, so left the camera in the car. Siskins and Redpolls darted around Alders and in with these, a larger Mealy Redpoll. At one of the many feeding stations, several Marsh Tits before I headed home in torrential rain.

Disappointing from the photography point of view, but good to be back in Norfolk, my first trip this year.

Species:

1. Great crested grebe
2. Little grebe
3. Cormorant
4. Grey heron
5. Little egret
6. Bittern
7. Mute swan
8. Greylag goose
9. Pink footed goose
10. Brent goose
11. Canada goose
12. Shelduck
13. Egyptian goose
14. Mallard
15. Gadwall
16. Teal
17. Wigeon
18. Pintail
19. Shoveler
20. Tufted duck
21. Common scoter
22. Red kite
23. Marsh harrier
24. Kestrel
25. Common buzzard
26. Grey partridge
27. Pheasant
28. Water rail (heard)
29. Moorhen
30. Coot
31. Avocet
32. Turnstone
33. Lapwing
34. Dunlin
35. Redshank
36. Curlew
37. Black tailed godwit
38. Snipe
39. Black headed gull
40. Common gull
41. Lesser black backed gull
42. Great black backed gull
43. Herring gull
44. Wood pigeon
45. Collared dove
46. Skylark
47. Meadow pipit
48. Pied wagtail
49. Dunnock
50. Firecrest
51. Goldcrest
52. Cetti's warbler
53. Stonechat
54. Robin
55. Blackbird
56. Song thrush
57. Fieldfare
58. Redwing
59. Long tailed tit
60. Great tit
61. Coal tit
62. Blue tit
63. Marsh tit
64. Nuthatch
65. Wren
66. Reed bunting
67. Chaffinch
68. Goldfinch
69. Greenfinch
70. Siskin
71. Lesser redpoll
72. Mealy redpoll
73. Linnet
74. House sparrow
75. Starling
76. Jay
77. Magpie
78. Rook
79. Jackdaw
80. Carrion crow.

Stonechat in very poor light

1000's of Wigeon, Holkham

Grey Partridge, Holkham

Firecrest, disappointing photo from Holme Oak at Holkham.