A Sortie

Monday January 3 

Not a lot of time available to-day, Pam needed to pick up her new spectacles from Specsavers in North Walsham at 11.30. Plans were changed. 

Ludham first, for the flock of swans. Not on the airfield, their usual haunt, but on a field to the north west, viewable distantly from a back lane.

 

 

Using my scope, I was able to count at least 70 birds, mostly Whoopers, some of them were hidden by trees. A later message on WhatsApp estimated 18 Bewicks and 73 Whoopers.

After a birdless visit to St Benet's Abbey, we drove to Thurne. No Cranes for us today. Nor Cattle Egrets in Martham, it would have been good to see five. Good views of a male Marsh Harrier and a Grey Heron at West Somerton. Parking in front of one other car in the Horsey layby, we recognised it as being Peter and Pauline. A well clad Pauline hopped out for a chat.They'd not found any Cranes nor Cattle Egrets either, but had enjoyed views of the swans.Whilst we were talking, a Sparrowhawk caused havoc amongst the large flock of Lapwing. There are thousands of Lapwing in Norfolk at the moment.

The last stop was at the swan flock between Sea Palling and Ingham.Most of them were Mute Swans with a group  of Bewicks, numbering in  in the early teens, amongst them. 

 

 

Good to see a healthy number of juveniles in both flocks seen to-day.