A dry day at last. One with sunshine too, enhancing the Autumn colours of the trees - which still retain a good covering of leaves. Our Liquidambar has been particularly colourful this year, shades of yellow and brown with some red. I have a love of Acers and they too add to the colour palette of the garden. The Acer griseum's copper coloured peeling bark is becoming exposed and will be a joy in the bare months of winter. The Sangokaku next to it has red branches in the new growth.
Again, a late start. Saturday traffic is greater too. The roadwork traffic lights at White Horse Common changed to green as we approached, a boon. It's a lengthy piece of work in progress, so the lights are slow to change.
Inspecting the Phaselia field on the outskirts of Flitcham, a very large flock of finches flew around in multi-sized groups, landing in the tall trees, including the one containing an impressive growth of Mistletoe. Mostly Linnets with some Chaffinches and Greenfinches. Too retless and, silhouetted against a strong light, to persist with ID.
It was a day of numbers. Sculthorpe Mill had 26 Collared Doves lined up on the wires or, washing in the car park puddle. Many Great Tits fed on the ivy-clad trees in the car park and a Goldcrest appeared briefly in front of us.
The tide was well out at Snettisham so the enormous flock of Golden Plover - I estimated 2,000 plus, could have been more - stretched in a broad swathe on the far tideline, gleaming in the sun as though they'd been Brasso'd.
No sign of the reported Short-eared Owls, they'd probably been seen on the walk-in fields.
All the expected waders apart from Turnstone. One male Pintail, preening busily was a welcome sight. The dead seal on the foreshore has not yet attracted any hungry birds.
Approaching Hunstanton cliffs, where we ate lunch, we discussed the lack of Fulmars in recent months, me saying that they'd soon be back prospecting the cliffs. As soon as I said that, two Fulmars cruised along the hedge tops which edge the cliff, cutting off the grass from the sea.
We'd had enough bone-shaking roughness for the day so decided not to drive out to Holme. Later, I remembered that two Waxwings had been reported there...........
The Yellow-browed Warbler at Titchwell car park had only been seen once and very briefly during the morning. With the short daylight hours already well on, we drove to Brancaster Staithe for a coffee whilst viewing the marsh and harbour.
Most of the boats have been removed for the winter, A fisherman digging for bait and another walking back accompanied by a prancing puppy - he had to carry it across the water - entertained us whilst adding Turnstone and Brent Geese for the day.
Two Marsh Harriers and Egyptian Geese at Holkham before driving down Lady Anne's,
where the entry field had three young Belted Galloway bulls.
Turning into Wells, a group of cars and birders stood scoping brought us to a halt. No room for us to park so we tucked in as best we could. They appeared to be looking up the cart track towards the dunes. All I could see was a Magpie and a brown blob in the grass on the rise. When it was convenient, I asked the classic question 'What are you looking at?'. ''Rough-legged Buzzard'', was the reply. ''On the ground'' I said. ''Yes''. The brown blob explained.
Apart from the fact that it seems to be the week when I take ridiculous photographs, expecting far too much of my 400mm lens, I have become aware that I haven't added to my 2019 bird portfolio for months. When I got home, I added that of the Velvet Scoter and the photos below.
We turned inland at Blakeney, driving home in twilight.
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