It was a bitterly cold day at the Observatory, possibly one of the coldest feeling days with a blustery southerly! The beach was the most sheltered of all the areas in the recording area, and we recorded a beautiful drake Long-tailed Duck east mid-morning close to hide tide. There were also quite a few Red-breasted Merganser on the move close in along the shore. We had 11 Bewick’s/Whooper Swans fly over at the lunch time, but sadly by the time we picked them up they were flying away and it was impossible to see which species!! However, with the little influx of Bewick’s, I think that’s most likely. The cold weather appears to be moving the ducks around and we counted at least 300 Teal all gathered together on the Broadwater where it wasn’t still frozen over. The gulls are also doing weird things, whilst we always usually record Common Gull on the beach, we recorded 320 today! Possibly forced to move off the frozen fields. Sadly no pictures today, it didn’t feel like the kind of day where you want to remove your gloves to take a picture!

Shannon Clifford – Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk 2.Bewick’s Swans Choseley Drying Barns west of Choseley Road in 2nd.field at south end from field entrance at 11.15am c52.9471,0.6149

Norfolk 9.Snow Buntings Weybourne still in partly harvested field west of Spalla Gap viewed from coast path at 10am c52.9469,1.1577

Norfolk 8.Bewick’s Swans Ludham airfield again at 10.04am c52.7192,1.5509

Norfolk Red-necked Grebe Blakeney Harbour at 9.40am +Slav Grebe 4.Great Northern Divers c52.9680,0.9719 Viewed from c52.9591,0.9626 Park at c52.9574,0.9858

Norfolk Iceland Gull flew north past Winterton at 8.35am c52.7172,1.6976

Norfolk 2.Tundra Bean Geese west of Sea Palling still in field c52.7816,1.5924

Norfolk Smew redhead Filby Broad still from boardwalk c52.6625,1.6373. Park at 52.6647,1.6381. Viewed from 52.6637,1.6395

Norfolk Ring-necked Duck ad.fem Filby Broad still from boardwalk (+3.Scaup still).. c52.6625,1.6373 Viewed from c52.6637,1.6395 Park at c52.6647,1.6381

Norfolk 2.Bewick’s Swans (both ads) Snettisham RSPB on The Wash at 8.02am c52.8685,0.4526

Norfolk Eastern Black Redstart (form murinus /phoenicuroides /rufiventris) 1w.male Sheringham still just west of Memorial at St.Nicholas’s Place at 8.19am. 52.9444,1.2063 Park at 52.9448,1.2067

Norfolk Black-bellied Dipper NW of Bintree still at Bintree Mill downstream of white bridge at 8.36am c52.7788,0.9620