Unlike most keen birders who were heading up to twitch the Little Bustard near Bridlington, I decided on something a bit more sedate to kick the New Year off. I needed it, but there is some talk of the recent influx maybe pertaining to released French birds, but to be perfectly honest, I did not feel up to a long journey, and i don't think Colin was either.
Our plan such as it was, was to travel round the fens, targeting raptors owls and wildfowl, but by the time Colin arrived the wind had really picked up so we decided to go to the Norfolk coast.
On the way we had a quick look for Glaucous Gull at Milton without success, and also stopped at Hunstanton to pick up Fulmar, and with the empty roads got to Titchwell at 0930. It was windy, overcast and despite supposedly being warm felt rather miserable. There was not much really, the usual assortment of waders and wildfowl on the fresh marsh-with maybe 20 Avocet being the highlight. A continual scan of Thornham failed to pick up Hen Harrier or Peregrine, but two or three Marsh harriers were nice. At the end of the path, a small flock of twit in the dunes was nice. Very little on the sea- a few Mergansers and Scoter.
Went back via the Fen Trail, the only bird of note being Chiffchaff.
After lunch, we went to Burnham Overy having made a detour round Brancaster where we failed to locate any geese, let alone four Tundra Beans. A scan from the road picked up the Great White Egret, a Red Kite and several Buzzards and Marsh Harriers. Walked down to the sea wall but the Egret had vanished. Kept scanning over towards Holkham but we failed to find Rough Legged Buzzards, hen harriers or owls. Plenty of Brent and Pink Footed Geese milling around, but nothing out of the ordinary with them. Left at 1330 and was home two hours later.
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