Hawfinches, Bramblings, Two-Barred Crossbills, Norfolk.

Stayed a week at my daughters in Downham Market and managed a few days out birding in the area.   I only went to two places,  Lynford Arboretum and Santon Downham,  both places were very active.   At the Aboretum the Crossbills are still showing well with a few Two-Barred amongst them,  the bonus was Hawfinches suddenly appeared in the same area, not at the paddock but round the walled garden opposite the larches and shed,  seems that they often feed in that area,  one was feeding on holly berries,  beautiful birds!     The Crossbills while I was there stayed at the tops so photo's were difficult but that didn't matter.   Plenty of other birds here as well.       At Santon Downham the Beech Mast is Terrific this year and I found the Bramblings almost numbered the Chaffies even at this early stage.   Plenty of other birds here also.

Hawfinch, Lynford Aboretum

Same tree, different bird. Juv?

This one was eating the berries

Santon Downham.

Lovely Grub!

Two-Barred Crossbill

Not this one though.

Plenty of these about.

what storm?

I'm in Norfolk for a week,  and nothing happened on the storm front,  I hope I don't sound disappointed,  i'm not,  but it just didn't happen.   We had a heavy downfall about 11am monday and a little wind  but that was it,  however,  I did go to Lynford Aboretum in the afternoon and there was half a tree down near the carpark.   Anyway, I stayed there watching the Larches behind the volunteers shed and sure enough the Crossbills turned up,  about 20 of them,  and there was some barred amongst them.   Other birds I saw there were,  Siskins, the usual Tits including Marsh and Coal,  and lots of noise from the Nuthatches.   On to Santon Downham for an hour to notice that there were a number of Bramblings and Redwings feeding around.    Can't do much today as Bonnie and Claire have gone for one of their last christmas presents,  a day at a Spa  (not the food shop) in Kings Lynn,  while I look after the kids, (it's Quieter).    But I shall be out tomorrow,  (somewhere).

Cudmore Grove

A morning at Cudmore Grove,  always an animated place as it was this time,  weather was a bit unpredictable and strangely warm.  There were loads of wildfowl and some waders on the fields and scrapes,  nice to watch.   On the sea  the tide was well out so the big flocks were way off,  we could see large flocks of Avocets,  Golden Plover and other waders in the distance but we couldn't hang around.   Shall return!

Parrot Crossbills

Wasn't a bright day but better than was forcast and Gunners park didn't disappoint.  Russ and I arrived at 8.30am and caught them straight away.  Wonderful day!  We also had Ring Ouzel, Yellow-Browed Warbler,  Yellow Wags and everything else that turned up.   Many birders we knew turned up also,

Southend pier and West Canvey marsh

The end of the pier show didn't perform today,  very quiet,  except for a couple of Little Gulls, a lone Sandwich Tern and the usual bevy of Meds.  A few Swallows went through from time to time and a pair of Porpoises did show very well with the incoming tide,   a seal had a meal, showing a dab hand at catching Dabs.      West Canvey marsh on the other hand did have a large flock of wildfowl,  Teal, Widgeon, and Shoveler,   with an assortment of waders scattered round the edge,  12 Black-Tailed Godwits, 7 Snipe, 5 Green Sandpipers and here again a few Swallows.

Med Gull

Little Gull

Flounder

Black- Tailed Godwit

Spotted Crake Twitch at the Oare marshes

6am start this morning with Russell.   We got to the Oare marshes not long after 7. 15.  We parked at the end near the slipway and spent the next hour walking round until we came to the East hide.   There was one guy there already keeping a close watch on the small area where the Spotted Crake has been seen for the last 3 weeks almost.   He had been there for an hour without seeing it, although another guy had glimpsed it fly across the ditch.   We patiently waited with him for another hour until he went, no sooner had he gone when the bird made a silent appearance,  creeping along the back and eventually coming right out into the open where we watched it for an hour and half.  Later after doing another circuit we had better views further along in the ditch where it pruned and sunned itself as if we weren't there.  Great day.   Other birds,  Godwits, Ruff, Greenshanks, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Green Plover, Redshank, Spotted Redsank, Sandwich Terns, Common Terns, Bearded Tits,  Egrets, Meadow Pipits, Tawny Owl Calling form Trees.

Spotted Crake

Redshank

Spotted Redshank

Barn Owls