A good morning for seawatching with high tide at about 08:20 and a strong westerly. Highlights included 1 Brent Goose, 6 Shelduck, 34 Wigeon, 1 Pintail, 2 Eider, 10 Red-breasted Merganser, 47 Grey Plover, 35 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10 Gannet, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Grey Wagtail and 2 Red-necked Grebe – one of which was sat on the sea for a little while giving great views, it later drifted east but then flew west again and sat on the sea with 4 Great Crested Grebe. We smashed the day count for Great Crested Grebe with 131 individuals passing, the highest recorded ever!

Sunrise on the beach! Photo – Molly Brown

Otherwise around the reserve, there were 3 Goldeneye from the car park hide late in the afternoon (2 of which were first on the Broadwater). There were 5 Whooper Swan at Thornham Channel in the afternoon. Nine Crossbill were in the pines and a Firecrest was in the Sea Buckthorn along the public footpath through the pines. Two Velvet Scoter went west mid-morning.

Goldeneye and Tufted Duck on Broadwater

Quiet in the moth traps today with 2 White Point, 2 Vine’s Rustic, 3 Narrow-winged Grey, 1 Black Rustic, 2 Large Pale Masoner, 3 Rusty Dot Pearl, 1 Large Yellow Underwing and 1 Beaded Chestnut.

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk Caspian Gull 1w Ketteringham in field SE of recycling centre at 3.15pm c52.5887,1.2089

Norfolk Grey Phal Cley NWT east of East Bank on The Serpentine at 3.14pm then flew off 52.9591,1.0661: Viewed from 52.9588,1.065

Norfolk Water Pipit between Cley +Salthouse at Watling Water from Babcock Hide at 2.58pm c52.9554,1.0767 Viewed from c52.9552,1.0758 Park at c52.9546,1.0669

Norfolk Dotterel NNW of King’s Lynn at Lynn Point 52.7826,0.3824. Park at 52.7816,0.3769. Viewed from 52.7813,0.3815

Norfolk Water Pipit Hickling Broad NWT 1/3ml ESE of visitor centre at Brendan’s Marsh this morning 52.7399,1.6025. Park at 52.7420,1.5950

Norfolk Grey Phal Cley NWT still 1.15pm flew west past beach car park c52.9651,1.0483

Norfolk Grey Phal Cley NWT still this a’noon on sea east of beach car park then flew west c52.9651,1.0483

Norfolk Ruddy Shelduck fem Cley NWT still west of Beach Road 52.9616,1.045

Norfolk Glaucous Gull flew west past Cley NWT at 11.50am c52.9651,1.0483

Norfolk Grey Phal Cley NWT on sea off beach car park at 11.23am then flew east c52.9651,1.0483

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Titchwell RSPB in car park early morning. 10+Snow Buntings flew in off sea c52.9738,0.6055. Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk Ruddy Shelduck Welney WWT still from Main Observatory 52.5278,0.2775. Park at 52.5268,0.2786

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Wells Woods on north side c52.9768,0.8353

Norfolk Snow Bunting Brancaster on beach c52.9773,0.6717

Norfolk Red-necked Grebe flew past Holme Dunes NWT c52.9741,0.5401

Norfolk 6.Snow Buntings Eccles on beach c52.808,1.5685

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Wells Woods still north of main path with tit flock c52.9740,0.8295

Norfolk 2.Ruddy Shelducks Snettisham RSPB c52.8685,0.4526

Norfolk Glaucous Gull juv Salthouse flew west past Gramborough Hill at 9.04am c52.9541,1.1043

Norfolk Glaucous Gull juv Kelling north of A149 on beach at Kelling Hard at 8.55am c52.9524,1.1175