Some Birding at Last

Needing a rest from funeral arrangements, an after breakfast drive to Titchwell. Not a promising start, thick mist and then rain. The mist proved to be patchy and the rain stopped before arriving at the reserve. We then spent some time with Ray Kimber looking for the Mealy Redpoll 'it was here half an hour ago', in the alders around the Centre. Lee didn't see it yesterday despite spending all day on the reserve. It consorts with Goldfinches, found those......... A Water Rail picking up spills under the bird feeder was a bonus. I've often wondered why they don't do that here when they do at Sculthorpe and Lackford.
The Freshwater pool was well under water, many pairs of Pintail, a few Goldeneye, about 10 Avocet, a single Golden Plover (!) and the usual common ducks, didn't keep us long. We were both devoid of any hwyl and aborted the planned Gore Point walk. Choseley barns had a flock of 35+ Corn Buntings flying about and perching occasionally. The Little Owl showed well in its usual tree for the first time this year. We were pleased to find the coast road open again.
Careful scanning brought a Black Brant on Wells putting green and then a couple of female Smew on Abraham's Bosom. A drive through Holkham Park was pleasant but nothing of note.
The coastal drive ended at Salthouse Beach car park where the flock of Snow Bunting showed well on the grassy bank east of the car park. As we got nearer, black sunflower seeds sprinkled liberally on the ground there showed why. So near that photography was difficult with my 1-400 zoom lens.