Birding with Sue

Friday February 18
Another dull, uniformly dark, grey cloud  cover, start to a day. The poor visibility improved but, was never good.
First stop was at Sculthorpe Fen nature reserve where we walked directly to Whitley Hide, after showing our permits and being asked to look out for ringed Willow Tits.
Shortly before arriving at Whitley, I saw a very active group of tits zipping about the riverside treetops. Two of them were Willow Tits, playing chase me, so, difficult to get good views. Pam saw a yellow ring and Sue a white one on the left leg of these two birds. They were also calling, which is the only really sure ID feature in distinguishing them from Marsh Tit. A recent research article I read stated that previous ID features known to all birders i.e shiny cap , black bib size, no pale wing panel = Marsh. Dull cap, bull-necked appearance, pale wing panel =Willow Tit are all unsafe as both species can exhibit all or some of these features!
Apart from call/song, the only absolutely safe ID feature is that Marsh Tit has a white mark on the upper mandible where it meets the face whereas Willow always has a totally black  beak. All armed with this information, we waited for a Marsh to visit the feeder at Whitley so that we could test it out - they've always done so previously.........not one in the 45 minutes we spent there !! We'll have to try at home where they always do a quick visit to the feeders and then clear off to eat their booty.
The hide feeders did come up with the 'usual' Bullfinches, the two males were very different in the depth of breast colour, one rather pale. Must look it up. Seven Brambling coming into good spring colour, a myriad Chaffinches, a few Blackbirds, a pair of Reed Buntings but no Water Rail to-day. No sign of the reported Goshawk either, not unexpected on such a gloomy day.
Near the giant riverside Niger feeder on the way back, we came across a small mixed flock of Siskin and Redpoll amongst the Goldfinches. The Siskin were coming down to drink from the small river's banks.
After a comforting beaker of hot chocolate - very cold and damp again to-day - we set off for Holme. My intention had been to walk to Gore Point but Pam, very firmly, put the kybosh on this. She was much too cold.
The planned tick for Sue, a Pale-bellied Brent from the NOA car park hide quickly ticked off, we found three Stonechats on the return lurch down the rough entry track.
No sign of the Northern Harrier at Thornham. I admired the wintering Spotted Redshank, feeding avidly in the creek below, whilst Sue and Pam ate their lunch.
Five Corn Buntings at Choseley and a few yellowhammers. Nowhere to park - four cars present.
Several of our other usual birding stops along the coast were unproductive to-day. The 700 Brent on the pitch and putt flew off over the bank before we could look for a Black Brant and the road to the Wells car park and Abraham's Bosom was closed after the caravan site due to the, much needed,  re-surfacing of the car park paths.
Morston had a Rock Pipit for Sue's list, feeding along a creek's muddy verge.

Looks paler in this photo than it actually was, maybe my editing programme ! Pam is convinced but I'm not happy. I was at the time.....

Brainwave.
Park over-looking Cley/ Salthouse Marsh from Salthouse Heath. The approach track is becoming increasingly overhung by gorse which made some rather concerning scratching noises along the car. No damage though. Scanning for white blobs in the increasing gloom, all three scopes in use, Sue found the Spoonbill present for several weeks. Usually reported as being on the Sea Pool, it was on a pool further inland. A lot of standing water so it has a good choice of feeding area.
Via Salthouse beach for the ever present flock of Snow Buntings, some lovely plumaged males now, before we drove home to some welcome warmth.