Since the earlier survey was very much a 'lite' edition, carried out hurriedly in the rain while Linda and I unlocked the Church, the 'gang of four' decided we'd do the job properly at the last possible moment. It's pleasing to report that we had a bumper bird list, including a male Merlin - a new species - Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Kite and Buzzard!
Linda and I joined Sue and Peter for a thoroughly enjoyable post-Christmas excursion to Aylsham on the diminutive Bure Valley Railway. Passing through Coltishall, Brampton and Buxton we saw both Cattle and Little Egrets, as well as Fieldfares and other bits and pieces.
After coffee and some merchandising in the Georgian market town, we enjoyed a terrific lunch in the 'Black Boys' - great food and service at reasonable prices - before returning to Wroxham. We spent half an hour looking around Roy's sale, where I treated Linda to a knitted evening coat.
A really fun way to wind up the Christmas season: if the weather improves there might be a few birds on the blog soon!
At some time today or tomorrow someone will be the millionth visitor to Birds of the Heath! If there's any way of finding out who it is, I'll send them a copy of my book 'Birds of the Yare Valley'!
A bright waning Moon made photography a little problematic, but I managed a few shots of the International Space Station as it cruised overhead just before 6.00am.
Yet again: it's been a funny old year! Some real high-value scarce or rare birds, but lots of 'bread & butter' species failed to oblige. Buff -breasted Sandpiper, White-tailed Eagle, White-winged Black Tern, Lesser Scaup and numerous other goodies, but no Treecreeper, Crossbill or Tree Pipit! Still, a total (at time of writing) of 227 isn't too shabby, I suppose...
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| January: three Smew at Filby |
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| White-tailed Eagle, Holkham |
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| February: Black Redstart, Sheringham |
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| Tundra Bean Goose, Lakenheath |
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| March: Water Pipit, Cley |
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| Dotterel, Buckenham Marsh |
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| White Stork, Halvergate |
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| April: Osprey - nearly bred at Ranworth! |
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| May: Fourteen Glossy Ibises, Cley |
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| Caspian Tern, Hickling |
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| Great Reed Warbler, Strumpshaw Fen |
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| Montague's Harrier, Acle Straight |
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| Black-winged Stilts, Hickling |
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| Temminck's Stints, Hickling |
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| June: American Golden Plover, Cley |
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| Bee-eater, Trimingham |
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| July: Long-eared Owl: bred at Strumpshaw |
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| Long-billed Dowitcher: summered at Cley |
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| August: Spoonbills: bred at Cley and Hickling |
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| September: Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Minsmere |
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| October: White-tailed Eagle, Pulborough Brooks |
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| Cattle Egrets, Holme |
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| Hen Harrier, Cley |
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| November: Twite, Blakeney Fresh Marsh |
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| Shorelarks, Holkham |
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| Grey Partridges, Hevingham Church |
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| Pallid Swift, Winterton |
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| Red-breasted Goose, Warham Greens |
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| December: Glossy Ibis, Stiffkey |
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| Kingfisher, Cley |
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| Spotted Redshank, Titchwell |
