Iceland Gull at Sea Palling

Following our bird survey at the Church yesterday, I hadn't intended another trip out, but the lure of an Iceland Gull just twenty minutes away proved too strong! Sea Palling can be a little bleak this time of year: the persistent drizzle and cold wind made the half-mile trudge along the beach somewhat gruelling! Returning birders reported that dog walkers had flushed the bird, but I nevertheless spent an hour checking out the hundreds of gulls on the tideline, being rewarded by Mediterranean, Caspian and Little Gulls. I eventually found an immature gull that looked right: the photos later confirmed it! Nice to meet Lowestoft birders Jane and Paul Ferguson...

On the way home I stopped at Martham to scan a vast flock of Pink-footed Geese. I may have picked out the reported Tundra Beans, but not conclusively. However, the pair of White-fronted Geese and a lone Barnacle were some reward..

Hemblington Church bird survey

It's that time again! Another monthly survey under the belt: Linda, Sue, Peter and I resolutely braved the chill wind to log a reasonable total...

Cathedral Peregrines

It's excellent that the Norwich Cathedral Peregrines have remained on the spire all winter: this morning I was talking to a terrific group of  young scientists at Norwich (Cathedral) School, which gave me a chance to grab a few photos. The smaller (male?) bird spent a lot of time away from the Cathedral, occasionally returning to the top of the spire or the nest tray: the female spent the whole hour I was there sat twenty feet below the weather vane. (Nice to see a pair of Goldcrests flitting around the Close, too!)

Snow Buntings: the movie!

Part of a flock of seventy five (I counted them twice!) at Winterton, just below the car park.

Kite at Hemblington Church!

While Linda was topping up the feeders at Hemblington Church, I enjoyed close views of a beautiful Red Kite that circled the churchyard for several minutes. Nearby a Brown Hare snuggled down against the wind and rain....

Sparrowhawk: the ultimate garden predator!

As I was working in the office, I glanced up to see a Sparrowhawk knock a Collared Dove out of the sky. It spent the next hour plucking and eating its victim on the lawn: grisly, but fascinating.

Terrific day: Glossy Ibis, BT Diver and Snow Buntings!

Norman picked us up in a gloomy, drizzly dawn for a drive to the North Coast. Bishop's Hide produced just a distant Water Pipit and a very confiding Little Egret, so we moved to Stiffkey, where a short walk gave us great views of three Glossy Ibises - presumably the trio that overwintered at Cley / Salthouse.

A brief seawatch at the Coastguards added Black-throated Diver to the year list, followed by coffee at the VC. We headed east to Winterton, where a very confiding flock of 75 Snow Buntings gave us terrific views as they whirled around us!

Amazing Aurora!

Despite the clouds, the aurora was incredibly bright tonight: so much so that I could see it from my office, through the back door! At one point a bright green ray appeared, which swept up to the zenith, close to Jupiter!