It’s been a bitterly cold and sunny day with a chilly westerly wind on the reserve today. On the sea today was 4 Brent Geese, 22 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 3 Eider, 27 Common Scoter, 5 Goldeneye, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver, 9 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Cormorant, 12 Black-headed Gull, 12 Common Gull, 13 Herring Gull, 5 Great Black-backed Gull. 1 Razorbill, 3 Velvet Scoter, 6 Little Gull, 2 Tufted Duck and the highlight of the day was 4 Little Auk, a couple of which passed close in and gave great views.

Other highlights today include 3 Cattle Egret, 1 Mistle Thrush and a Purple Sandpiper on the beach.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk Little Auk flew west past Holme Dunes NWT 2pm-3.30pm (+Sooty S’water flew NE +3.Velvet Scoters on sea) c52.9743,0.5518

Norfolk 6.Little Auks Cley NWT west past beach car park 1.40-2.30pm c52.9651,1.0483

Norfolk Black Redstart Cromer west of pier near beach hut.119 c52.9339,1.3014

Norfolk PALLID HARRIER ad.fem Warham Greens again off north end of Garden Drove on metal bridge at 3.25pm. Park on concrete pad 1/3ml north of A149; don’t block access 52.9520,0.8920

Norfolk Snow Bunting Winterton again flew north over north dunes this a’noon +Short-eared Owl c52.7279,1.6883

Norfolk Little Auk Cley NWT on beach briefly c52.9651,1.0483

Norfolk Little Auk Holkham Bay flew west past Holkham Gap at 10.55am 52.9751,0.8184

Norfolk no sign of ad.Long-billed Dowitcher Titchwell RSPB on freshmarsh c52.9687,0.6054

Norfolk 5.Shorelarks Holkham Bay still in roped-off area east of Holkham Gap at 10.10am 52.9751,0.8184

Norfolk 4.Little Auks Cley NWT flew past beach car park by 10.12am c52.9651,1.0483

Norfolk 2.Little Auks flew west past Titchwell RSPB 9.10-9.15am c52.9738,0.6055

Norfolk Cley Bird Club +North Norfolk Group NWT meet tonight 7.30pm at Cley Village Hall featuring Richard Phillips ‘Saving the World’s Seabirds’. Entry £3. Doors open 7pm. Refreshments provided. Sponsored by Cley Spy

Norfolk 2.Little Auks Cley NWT flew west past beach car park c52.9651,1.0483