Brian’s flip to drive, so we threaded by way of the frosty lanes to Holkham, pausing briefly to look in useless for the Shiny Ibis at Stiffkey. A stroll out to the fenced off a part of the seaside failed to supply any Shorelarks or Snow Buntings, however there have been a couple of waders to scrutinise: Ringed Plover and Sanderling each being yr ticks. A weird discover was a freshy-dead Sooty Shearwater: I took a few images, however you may should e-mail me to see them (bit gross!)
A half-hour seawatch revealed an unlimited flock of Scoter, amongst which have been alleged to be a number of Velvets and a Surf Scoter: as you’ll be able to see beneath, they have been too far out to separate! A scan of the grazing marsh produced the yr’s first White-fronted Goose and a well-marked Buzzard, however little else.
Subsequent cease was Stiffkey for an additional unfavorable seek for the Ibis: a number of Wigeon and Curlew didn’t make up for the dip. Carrying on, we parked at Blakeney Harbour the place we have been instructed that neither the Twite nor Glaucous Gull have been on provide. Espresso at Cley gave me respectable views of a ringtail Hen Harrier from the customer centre (digicam in Brian’s boot!)
Weybourne Seashore turned up – I believe – a duck Velvet Scoter and a potential Caspian Gull, in addition to a Stonechat. We completed the day with a completely birdless stroll round Salthouse Heath.
