Three Bird Twitch

Sunday January 2 2022

Pentney Gravel Pits used to be a favoured springtime destination. The pit viewable from the lane has been host to three good birds for the last week or so.I didn't want to miss them. They may well move on when the cold spell hits mid week.. 

Having keyed 'short route' into the SatNav, we avoided the A47, driving via Aylsham and Bawdeswell on a lovely sunny morning. 

The first grebe we saw was a Great Crested.

 

The second, a distant and very active Black-necked Grebe.

                                                                     

Goodbye

Then, the Great Northern Diver, which was on its way towards the far end of the pool, soon disappearing. The female Goosander was out on the far bank of the water in a narrow channel behind the reeds, busy preening. She made her way to the edge of the water, still preening.

 

It was a very enjoyable session with only four other birders present. One of them was Dave Holman who posted the addition of a Peregrine on the Norfolk Birds app. Not whilst we were there. One of the birders - who we know well by sight - came over to tell us that he'd had a few Grey Partridges in a nearby field. But...... they'd flown.

We also added Canada Goose and  Tufted Duck to the year list. There is a paddock plus horses beween the road and the water, viewing is quite distant and dependent on where the animals are grazing.