Adrian needed his gardening list explained first, we didn't leave until 8.30. Sculthorpe Moor is closed due to flooding, the river at Sculthorpe Mill was raging through the archway, in full spate. We did have our first Red Kite of the year here.
It was also a very dull and overcast morning which gradually became lighter as we drove west towards Snettisham.
One more stop, our farm lane where two Tree Sparrows obligingly posed on top of the big barn.
We'd earlier heard them - they hide in the dense hedge at this time of year, along with many more House Sparrows and Dunnocks.
A Red-legged Partridge posed on the apex of the same barn.
Stopping in the lay-by on the Flitcham-Sandringham road where we usually have a large flock of finches, the mistletoe clump tree was free from birds. The tree next to it had at least two male Brambling, their orange-brown chests gleaming in the watery winter sun which occasionally broke through.
A nearby hedge hid the Bullfinch we'd seen dive into it, white rump gleaming.
A field to the east of the caravan parks at Snettisham held a couple of thousand Pink-footed Geese. Amongst them, Pam picked out some Russian Whitefronts and two Tundra Bean Geese flew in.
Disappointing to arrive at Snettisham at high tide. The massed birds are very distant, dark huddles. The Oystercatchers look like an oil slick against the dark, grey, water. Again, unfortunately, the sun appeared. Trying to view the far pit from the causeway is almost impossible due to the low and blinding sun on the water. I still love it though......
In a brief bit of shadow, I picked out a Goldeneye female for the list and our first Little Grebe.
Pam had reversed down the causeway so that I could use my scope. She suddenly called Peregrine as one flashed by from right to left. I had my camera handy so I took one photo through the front windscreen as it made a return pass.
What was probably a second bird appeared briefly over the pit. Back to the path to enjoy a coffee and to view the shoreline, where the tide was on its way out and the birds beginning to disperse. Amorphous clouds of Knot rising along the shoreline, Dunlin populating the wet mud along with a few Curlew, Redshank, one Ringed Plover, one Black-tailed Godwit and a few Bar-tailed Godwit. A flight of Golden Plover made a brief appearance before disappearing and a few Grey Plover made their stiff-legged, dark, watchful-eyed, head cocked appearance. Pam thought that she'd seen a Pintail in the mass of mainly Wigeon and Teal crowding the water's edge. I failed to find it.
Are there any Shelduck anywhere else in the UK?
Always reluctant to leave but the days are so short. For the same reason, we were tempted to turn off for Sedgeford, only a mile and a half away, but we ploughed on, as the light was already fading.
We didn't have to wait long for a couple of Fulmar to make an appearance along the cliff edge at Hunstanton.
Also tempting to go for the Woodcock at Titchwell but the rain had set in by 2 p.m. as we left Brancaster.. An enormous dark grey cloud, with accompanying squally wind, was spitting large cold raindrops against the windows - and me when I tried to scope at Holkham.
The increasingly muddy pull off west of Wells only had one parked car. I ignored the rain which had eased anyway, and scanned the area. No blobs in the far trees and bushes but I found one sitting on a tussock this side of the far ridge. As I was starting to describe the juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard's position to Pam, two dog walkers appeared and it flew over the ridge and out of view.
Only a quarter to three but already darker than I would have preferred. Dark cloud cover over Stiffkey Marsh, East Hills an unclear line on the western horizon. Most of the time, I was able to use my scope, sheltered from the rain by our position. Half an hour later we left having seen one definite, probably two, female Hen Harriers and a stunning male. The latter is one of my favourite raptors.
I needed a photo for my folder - I know I'll get better when we go to North Uist - these are insurance pics. The female was as far away as she could be, flying along the beachline, barely visible over the suaeda.
We had our first Brent Geese and Little Egrets of the day too.
Time to get home after a tiring but successful day. I saw 16 new birds for the 2020 list and we saw 71 species in total. All from the car.
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