December 10
The forecast rise in temperature - to +3 - saw an 8.30 start for Snettisham. Rather later than usual but we wanted to make sure road conditions were safe - they've had a lot more snow and even lower temperatures in the west. Our lowest was -6.
We had a lovely morning which included Tree Sparrows at two locations, Harpley and Flitcham, a covey of Grey Partridge, a random smattering of Fieldfare and a few Redwing. Still no sighting of Little Owl at Abbey Farm though. The pond there had thawed in places which the myriad ducks were enjoying. I always keep a day list on days out, it's the salt on my chips, makes all bird species equally important and sought after. 25 by Flitcham was a good tally.
To keep up the food analogy..... Snettisham was the cream/icing/jam on to-day's cake.
An hour past high tide, the mud was teeming with birds. The expected Knot, so many Grey Plover, Bar T Godwits, Dunlin and all the other commoner waders. The duck included Pintail and our first Goldeneye of the winter, two lovely males. The pits on the reserve were mainly ice free - unlike the lake in front of the chalets. Two Sanderling fed on the snow cum frozen froth which ringed the shore.
Now comes the dessert topping.......
Stopping politely so that we didn't disturb the only other birder on the reserve, we saw what he was looking at. A flock of 60+ Waxwings festooning the Hip strewn bushes along the path edge.
Afetr giving him enough time to take some photos, we drove as far as the first hide before turning round to return on the seaward track so that I could attempt some photographs. A very happy half hour later, we left them to feed in peace as they were easily spooked by Kestrels, Cormorants, Geese, anything large and flying.
A Selection
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Some of the Flock Waiting for Food   Dragging ourselves away, the next surprise was a Fumar cruising the cliffs at Hunstanton - we don't usually see them until the new year. Thornham creek on a fast receding tide, produced an actively feeding Spotted Redshank, racing along in the centre of the channel.  |
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