Another blustery forecast, another morning we found ourselves hunkered in the dunes at sunrise for a seawatch.

Sadly, nothing today to match the excitement of the pristine juvenile Sabine’s Gull yesterday, but there were still a few bits to keep us hooked. Our totals included 11 Whooper Swan,1 Pomarine Skua, 3 Bonxie, 2 Razorbill (plus 9 Auk sp),3 Little Gull, 106 Kittiwake, 48 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Red-throated Diver, 1 Fulmar and 42 Gannet. Perhaps the highlight for us was the first 3 Long-tailed Duck of the year which hammered west through the surf close-in. Sadly, we missed a Grey Phalarope which was picked up a little further west along the dunes. There was also a single Black-throated Diver and Great Northern Diver on the sea off Gore Point.

Post-seawatch, there wasn’t much time for birding on dry land before the weather set in and it began to feel distinctly grey and wintery (dreich as Shannon would say, a word which will start to appear more and more in this blog over the coming months I’m sure). There were still at least 5 Crossbill around the reserve, 2 Cattle Egret with the ponies on the grazing marsh, and a Barn Owl was out hunting as we left site.

There were still a few moths in the traps today considering the chilly weather, with 2 Large Yellow Underwing, 1 Red-green Carpet, 1 Green Brindled Crescent, 1 Narrow-winged Grey, 3 Rusty Dot Pearl, 3 Large Wainscot and 1 Beaded Chestnut. A Hummingbird Hawk Moth was around the reserve braving the wind, and two Red Admiral were also on the wing.

Ed Tooth

Trustee & volunteer

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk Little Auk flew north past Walcott at 2pm c52.8425,1.5012

Norfolk Snow Bunting male Brancaster on beach at 6.50am 52.9773,0.6717

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Stiffkey still east of Stiffkey Campsite car park at west end of Campsite Wood at 2.10pm NR23 1QF c52.9569,0.9358

Norfolk Snow Bunting flew past Sheringham c52.9469,1.2070. Park at 52.9450,1.2067

Norfolk 2.Y-br.Wblrs Titchwell RSPB at Meadow Trail tho mobile c52.9638,0.6038

Norfolk Grey Phal Holme Dunes flew west over beach at 12.09pm 52.9771,0.5512: Viewed from 52.9754,0.5523

Norfolk Little Auk flew north past Walcott by 10.30am +Grey Phal flew north (+Long-tailed Duck flew south) c52.8425,1.5012

Norfolk Snow Bunting Cley NWT flew west past north end of East Bank at 11.33am c52.9586,1.0650

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Wiveton still at Leatherpool Lane c150yds south of A149 c52.9515,1.0368

Norfolk Black-throated Diver flew east past Holme Dunes +3.Long-tailed Ducks flew west c52.9741,0.5401

Norfolk Grey Phal Cley NWT on sea east of beach car park at 10.23am then flew west c52.9651,1.0483

Norfolk Velvet Scoter Hunstanton still off south end of cliffs c52.9498,0.4933

Norfolk Long-tailed Skua flew west past Holme Dunes 6.45-9am +Little Auk flew west +2.Pom Skuas flew east c52.9741,0.5401

Norfolk Long-tailed Duck flew west past Titchwell RSPB at 8.30am c52.9738,0.6055

Norfolk Lapland Bunting Cley NWT flew west past beach car park at 9.55am c52.9651,1.0483

Norfolk Glaucous Gull juv Cley NWT still 10.10am on sea between Sea Pool +Iron Road c52.9609,1.0754

Norfolk Glaucous Gull juv Cley NWT off beach car park c52.9651,1.0483

Norfolk Little Auk Cley NWT flew west past beach car park at 8.55am c52.9651,1.0483

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Titchwell RSPB at east end of car park near emergency access gates at 8.15am c52.9738,0.6055. Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk Grey Phal Holme Dunes on sea at 8.16am 52.9771,0.5512: Viewed from 52.9754,0.5523