Spent an hour in the morning looking for the Great Grey Shrike at Therfield. Eventually found sheltering downwind from the bitterly cold wind in its favoured hedge. Almost certainly a different bird from the recent Kelshall one, with no pink flush on the breast. A ring-tail Hen Harrier was also seen (possibly the only remaining one?) and thirteen Grey Partridges.
Therfield
02 January 2012 10:59 - 12:12
Clear 6C 13SW
Mallard, Grey Partridge, Pheasant (heard), Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Great Grey Shrike, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Skylark(heard), Wren, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Robin, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet (heard), Bullfinch
Then off to spend the afternoon with the family watching the Pink-footed Geese arrive at a bitterly cold Snettisham. Birds seen whilst there included the usual waders, a flock of at least 50 Snow Buntings, and three fly-over Twite. Was a bit of a let down to begin with when a few thousand came in over the car-park whilst we were at the hide shortly before dark. We walked back to the car (the wind had now died and was at our backs, making the walk easier) expecting to see more on the way, but none came. However, just as we were about to get into the car a huge number came in. It was almost dark but it was one of the best displays ever as a huge number came in low over our heads over the next five or ten minutes.
Snettisham
14:33 - 17:12
Clear 6C 13SW
Pink-footed Goose, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Cormorant, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Coot, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Robin (heard), Dunnock, Goldfinch, Linnet, Twite, Snow Bunting
