Happisburgh 'sea front', 21/11/09

Not much to report I'm afraid. The winds, although from the 'wrong' direction, appeared to have pushed a few Gannets closer to the cliffs allowing good scope views. A good mix of Gulls littered the sea, and I don't mind admitting a few just went down as 'large Gull' rather than a species! 3 Turnstone were the highlight, working the tide and the wooden defences for food.

A skein of around 60 Pink Footed Geese flew West, and a singleton struggled against the wind 15 minutes later with some catching up to do.

A tit flock adjacent to the beach car park was grilled for any late suprises, none were forthcoming despite nice views of the common Tit species together.

Why I didn't stop at Wroxham Broad on the way home I'll never know, but one of the 2 Ducks that

gave me the run around last winter has returned- The Ring Necked. Here we go again.

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Grey Phalarope- a new patch bird

The 7th of April was another bitterly cold Spring day, hats and gloves in prime position on pegs and in bags ready to be deployed. A few brave Garganey have been reported north of the river, but it was a bird from the north itself that had me rushing for the thermals and the telescope late in the day. I was thankful for the local Whatsapp group who were quick to report that a Grey Phalarope had been seen on Rockland Broad. This tiny Wader would have come in on the northerlies over the last few days, although to grace one of the broads is a real surprise, since most stick pretty close to the coast before moving on. Indeed, my experience of the birds has usually been on a sea watch in the Autumn, waves crashing and foam flying, my eyes straining to pick them out as they fly low just above the surf. They are fantastic birds, and now one was here on the patch. I had a brief panic when I realised my scope was in my car at the garage (thankfully I do have a much older spare) but once th...

A weekend to live long in the memory

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Claxton-on-sea!

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Notes from the valley

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