January 18th to 21st 2012

January 18th
First light produced 37 Waxwing feeding on berries in Mancroft Walk, Norwich, Norfolk then it was a look at the adult Lesser White-fronted Goose with the Taiga Bean Geese flock on the Buckenham Marshes RSPB reserve. Once satisfied with our views we pushed on to Egmere near South Creake for a Great Grey Shrike then hit the North Norfolk coast at Cley Marshes NWT for the long staying Western Sandpiper. Unfortunately it was not on show when we first arrived so took the opportunity to check out the sea with Great-northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Diver and 3 Red-breasted Merganser offshore before the Western Sand decided to show from Avocet hide.
With time against us we moved along the coast taking a quick look at the Black Brant on the pitch and putt course at Wells-next the Sea before arriving at Titchwell RSPB reserve. Luckily the Coues’ Arctic Redpoll was on show with a few Siskin and Lesser Redpoll while in fading light 5 Long-tailed Duck were offshore and Short-eared and Barn Owl showed on our return to the car park. Two Barn Owls seen on the way home

January 19th
Draycote Waters male Smew was off draycote bank and after walking with Bob to toft shallows I sat in the hide for an hour in case of pending rain when a Nuthatch landed in the Oak tree opposite having flown in from Thurlaston village. Not a lot else on offer, 3 Siskin in toft shallows, 60 Pochard, 2 Meadow Pipits and 112 Golden Plover over in 5 flocks.

January 20th
A wet miserable day with 11 Lesser Redpolls and 3 Treecreeper at Brandon Marsh

January 21st
A damp blustery morning with male Smew, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail at the pond, Great-northern Diver and Grey Phalarope on Farmoor Reservoir and an unexpected Temminick’s Stint for this time of year at Rushy Common, Oxfordshire.

Richard