Grey Day, Good Birds...

Took a trip along the North Norfolk coast today where birds were almost everywhere, great to see! First to Stiffkey, where a Little Bunting has been in residence most of the winter. The bird ranges over a wide area but we saw it after a short time with some Reed Buntings in a patch of hawthorn. It showed well but alas the light was not great, though did manage a couple of record shots



Little Bunting



With a Reed Bunting



Whilst here we also saw 2 Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine's failed attempt at taking a Lapwing, Merlin, several Dabchick and hundreds of Brent geese .

Briefly the sun did appear just as a Reed Bunting popped up infront of us on some sueda, the differrence good light makes is obvious to see.



Reed Bunting (female)

We then went on to Wells area where we briefly stopped at Holkham Park for the recently seen Hawfinch but did not connect, before moving inland near Wighton. Here we got great flight views of a first winter Rough legged Buzzard, showing a broad white based tail and frequently hovering and 'hanging' in the air, at one point it was joined by a Common Buzzard.

Heading back home we dropped in at the reserve at Cley, nothing rare but again good numbers of birds with plenty of Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Pintail, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Ruff, a dozen or so Avocets, 2 Marsh Harrier and a Stonechat



Golden Plover, Lapwing and Avocet

Back in Aylmerton I was informed that I had just missed 12 Long tailed Tits trying to feed on the same nut feeder! Did manage to see a female Bullfinch and our Barn Owl once again over the meadow