11th Jan- cloudy, light NW, 7C

Another day looking around some north Norfolk sites after meeting up with Steve who lives there.

Holme NOA; first thing a sea watch from the dunes.  A very good morning which included a Black-throated Diver (local rarity), plenty of Red-throated and at least 1 Great-northern Diver.  c20 Long-tailed Duck, c50 Eider, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Scoter, a Red-necked Grebe, several Great-crested Grebe, a Shag, several Fulmar, a couple of Guillemots.
Around the reserve a Water Rail was heard, plus the usual duck and Little Grebe. On the marsh/meadows, plenty of Lapwing, some Ruff with them, Curlew too.  A Barn Owl was seen hunting.  Brent and Pink-footed Geese were always present.

Thornham harbour; we had a look here for the Twite, at least 12 were feeding on the salt marsh by the path and occasionally coming to the puddles in the car park to bath and drink.

Over the Thornham marsh/meadows a huge flock of Pink-footed Geese came in and very noisily settled down.  Probably the largest single flock I have ever seen, an estimate of 6000 but very difficult to be accurate with some many birds.  I took this phone picture quickly, just a fraction of the flock in the air..

Choseley Barns area;  we checked this area particularly for the Rough-legged Buzzard that has been seen wintering in this area.  There were several Common Buzzards around but not the Rough-legged. However, a pair of Grey Partridge flew out of the hedge bottom in to the field which were nice to see and made a change to the many Red-legged Partridge that were present. A female Sparrowhawk was hunting along one hedgerow, giving chase to any passerine in sight.

Titchwell reserve; a walk down the main path to the shore and Parrinder hide was planned for the rest of the afternoon.  A Water Rail was in the ditch feeding in the usual area at the start of the path. The Fresh Marsh currently has high water to kill off vegetation so its suitable for the returning breeders and migrants. So, not too much on it except the usual range of duck species and Brent Geese, plenty of Lapwing and Golden Plover on one island.  A Water Pipit had been seen here too, after a considerable period of searching through the island vegetation the Pipit was found and fortunately came out of the cover giving reasonable views.

The Volunteer Marsh also didn't have too much on it, 3 Pintail were seen flying off.  The usual common waders, including this very close Grey Plover.

As the tide was out there was a selection of waders feeding including Sanderling and Bar-tailed Godwit.  Little was also seen off-shore at this time, Grebe-crested Grebe and Goldeneye.

We headed back up the path to look over the distant reed bed to watch the Marsh Harriers coming in to roost, yesterday the RSPB counted 57 and 1 Hen Harrier.  Steadily the Harriers were flying in over the marshes to the roost area, sometime 10 in the air all close together, it was a great sight. At one point I spotted a ringtail Hen Harrier coming in and made others aware. It hunted a while before dropping down out of view.  Well worth visiting just to see this spectacle.