A Few More

 Wednesday January 14

We're more weather-driven than ever these days, I suppose it's an age thing. Confined to the car means relative comfort, with heated seats and efficient air-con., the good effect of much of that goes when windows are opened, especially if there's a strong wind.

Brancaster Staithe brought the first 2026 Red-breasted Mergansers. For many years, we could depend on at least one being here for most of the winter, for the last few years, they have been missing. Actively fishing on the incoming tide, they still managed to drift downstream and away. Not the best of photo opportunity but a record shot. 

 

We tried to see the Glossy Ibis reported to be on Stiffkey floods. Pam is always on edge at parking roadside to view the fields, because of passing traffic, but we gave it a good go. Many birds on the flooded fields, mostly Wigeon and Greylag. A highlight was a Cattle Egret standing on the head of a Highland Cow. It would have been a nice photo.

 At one of our stops, a Red Kite flew past on my side of the car for a change - and with some light on it.

After a tip-off from Mike H, we called in to Holt sewage works. The gate was open, which meant that we could park just inside to view the distant gravel settling beds. A male Grey Wagtail sat on a perimeter wall, what a delightful bird.

Maybe Bayfield Lake from the roadside access gate would allow us to see the Goosander present. No, it didn't - but there was a Chiffchaff sat on the top of the gate as we drew up. 

It was good to be out, especially as another spell of bad weather is forecast, including a 'beast from the east' on the 23rd.