The expectation of a range of species of geese was rather dashed by unseasonably mild weather ... Dark-bellied Brent Geese were present in good numbers ...
... and scattered over a range of saltmarshes and grasslands ...
... and frequently flying between ...
... rather unexpected was a flock of around 100 Barnacle geese on Holkham freshmarsh ... in view of the number involved these were likely feral birds ...
... Pink-footed Geese were present in huge numbers as they took to the skies inland over fields and at dawn and dusk moved in waves over the coastal marshes ...
While walking the East Bank at Cley two Shore Larks called repeatedly as they flew west high in the clear blue skies ...
At Titchwell an American Golden Plover was reported and thanks to the general enthusiasm about this bird it was easy to connect with ... despite being mainly asleep it was easy to identify ...
... other waders of interest included a breeding plumage Dunlin in rather dull murky conditions ...
... and Ruff are always nice to see in their various guises ...
... on the Eye Field a strangely marked Brent Goose was the only reward for a careful scan in search of something different ...
... at Pat's Pool Cley Marshes a Water Pipit showed well ...
... while nearby a very late Whinchat perched atop some Greater Reedmace ...
... on the sea off Holkham there were several Great Crested Grebes and a single Slavonian Grebe - designated as 'scarce' so good to find ...
... scanning across the North Pool at Cley three Glossy Ibis suddenly appeared ...
... only to disappear unseen equally mysteriously ...
A final visit to the hoped for gull roost on Pat's Pool resulted in no gulls but a single cattle Egret in the semi-dark ...
... and my only Mediterranean Gull was at Walberswick while on a futile search for Zitting Cisticolas ...
