A late start, it was a very dark morning and it stayed dark all day. Not a day to brighten the spirits of one still suffering from a chest infection brought home from Australia. The paucity of birds, especially passerines, was very disappointing. It was still good to be out though.
Not much water at Abbey Farm, very distant at Snettisham. A pair of Goldeneye on the first pit near the caravan park was a highlight. The expected waders, Mallard, Teal and Wigeon the only ducks plus a large flock of Golden Plover, showing a shade lighter than the mud.
We only recorded 59 species all day, which did include Mistle Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare. The Black Brant we saw at Cley a couple of days ago and the Stonechat along Beach Road were absent.
Saturday December 6
Ludham Marshes looked splendid to-day, under the first sun of the week. Blue sky, the only car and birders in sight and 16 Cranes feeding near the windmills. Intermittently, most of the birds started to 'dance', not seriously as yet. It looked like a wing-stretching, jumping practice without the attendant bugling. Lovely to watch them through the scope.
Six distant Whooper Swans added to the month list.
Scratby cliff car park brought our first Gannet and two Fulmar were loafing on the sea.
Winterton beach was full of cars, the fine weather and a Desert Wheatear 1 mile north will have brought in the crowds.
Huge numbers of Pinkfeet swirling patterns in the sky and then filling a Horsey field on the way home. Nothing else of note.
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