Norfolk - Mid January - Part 1 of 3

We normally go to Norfolk in November each year, with the main feature being the huge flocks of Pink-footed Geese that can be seen, especially arriving at dusk at Holkham. But with having come back in November from our marathon trip to Oz and New Zealand we decided against it. However a couple of weeks back our appetite was whetted when I was talking about it and we looked to see if anything was available and ended up booking a bungalow for a week in Weybourne. Not as near as we would have like to our usual haunts but it was doable.

We made good time on the drive across on the Saturday and as the weather had brightened a bit we detoured via Brancaster Staithe, one of our favourite drops ins on the coast, with the added bonus of a toilet!

So a good place to use the car as a hide, especially as the weather wasn't that good after all!
A good start were a pair of female Goldeneye, this was the only place we were to see any Goldeneye for the whole week, as you can see from the photos it was pretty dull (and windy!)

 Bar-tailed Godwit,

 and plenty of Wigeon.

As time was getting on we didn't linger too long as we wanted to get to our digs before it got dark.

On the Sunday the weather was awful, so we opted for a mooch along the coast day, dropping into spots where we could view from the car.
Mixed flock of Chaffinch and Redpoll near Weybourne,

 Turnstones at Salthouses,

 and a Kestrel on a mast at Burnham Overy Staithe.

I didnt take may photos as the weather was so poor, but not a bad birding day. Clocked up the expected waders along the way, Knot, Redshank, Curlew, Turnstones, Dunlin, Lapwing and Ringed Plover.

On the Monday we went to Hawk and Owl Trust Reserve at Sculthorpe Moor. This is one of our favourite places always lots to see and is a marked contrast from the Norfolk Coast birding spots.
Robin,

 Blackbird,

 Treecreeper,

 Collared Dove,

 Water Rail,

 Brambling,

 Long-tailed Tit,

 Great Tit,

 Bullfinch,

 Reed Bunting,

 Pheasnt,

and Marsh Tit.

Many other birds were seen, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzard, Chaffinch, Lesser Redpoll, Jay, Goldfinch, Wren, Nuthatch, Greenfinch plus all the common stuff. A great day, followed by a short visit to Holkham in case the geese came in.