14th Feb Norfolk- frost last night, sunny all day, light easterly, 10C

A great days birding at a number of sites.  First thing from my hotel, while waiting for a friend to join me, overlooking the sea I could see Gulls moving north along the coast from their roosts in the Wash area.  A single Shelduck and female Eider flew passed to.

The first stop was the beach area at the end of Beach road, Holme-next the sea, here Snow Buntings had been reported.  Walking out from the road through the sea buckthorn area Steve spotted a small bird, this turned out to be a Lesser Whitethroat, one that has been wintering in the area.  On the intermediate marsh area 3 Rock Pipits were found feeding, Meadow Pipits and Skylark were numerous.  A Fulmar flew past out at sea and the commoner waders were along the shoreline.  No Snow Bunting here.

We made our way to the NOA observatory area, a Kestrel was hunting and in the distance two Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard were airborne.  Many Lapwing were on the grazing marsh along with Pink-footed Geese.  A flock of Goldfinch were in the trees, plus a Fieldfare.  A male Bearded Tit popped up in the Reed mace in front of us and spent some time feeding.

We then decided to do some sea watching from this area, so walked out on to the dunes to give us a raised vantage viewing spot.  Once we got our 'eye in' we started spotting birding on the sea and flying past.  A large flock of Wigeon were on the sea, near them several Long-tailed Duck, a flock of 14 once, more than this in total. Maybe 3 different Great-norther Divers were present with several Red-throated Divers flying by.  Several Red-breasted Mergansers were bobbing about, then a Razorbill flew in and settled on the sea.  A couple of Goldeneye flew passed, Great-crested Grebe were on the sea and briefly a Slavonian Grebe was spotted.

Good sea-watching conditions, great views too

After quite awhile we decided to move to the Gore point area in search of Snow Bunting, very quickly a flock flew past and selected on the single area.  They kept moving but stayed in the area, I estimated about 60 in the flock, so good to watch them feeding and blending in to the background.

On the shore a flock of Brent geese flew in and settled.

Next call was at Thornham Harbour, looking for the Twite.  At first they could not be found in the harbour area, so we walking out along the marsh wall, here a splendid male Stonechat was seen in the low bushes.  In the distance the flock of Twite could be seen feeding on the marsh, we walked closer, but the Twite had moved off and again could not be found, a few Linnet remained.

Off to Titchwell for a snack and then to explore that area.  There were plenty of ducks on the fresh marsh (Pintail, Shoveler, Shelduck, Wigeon) etc and a selection of waders, including Avocets.  Here a Water Pipit was feeding on a near small island.  A Sparrowhawk sat on the old brick building and 2 Marsh harriers were flying around.

On the shore Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Sanderling, Grey Plover, Turnstone and other waders were feeding.  In the mid-distance on the sea a huge black flock of Common Scoter were drifting.  Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed duck, Great-crested Grebe and Goldeneye were also found, a Great Northern Diver too.