NEW YEAR'S EVE!

Yesterday was not a very good day for mother or I, both of us were in very low moods, a difficult time of year and I think of my dear father every single day. Last night I had the most horrific nightmare that I can't even tell you about!

I have been at work all day with some of my lovely colleagues Scott and Lily and the rest of the Stroke Team. Such a difficult time of year for families whose loved ones are unwell.

This evening I have simply been resting! Currently watching Nile Rodgers and re-living my youth! Oh, and I have just finished baking a Banana Cake!

Thank you all so much for your kind support in what has been the most difficult year of my life and for your continued support of my blog. Another year is upon us, lets hope its better for everyone!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Black Brant at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great White Egret south of River Yare at Earlham Marsh
Twite x 20 at Thornham Harbour
Waxwing flew over Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Shorelarks x 8 at Holkham Bay
PARROT CROSSBILL probable, Houghen Plantation NW of Horsford
Snow Buntings x 20 at Little Eye, Salthouse
Bewick's Swans x 2 on north side of Acle Straight
Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Snow Buntings x 12 at north end of beach, Great Yarmouth
Common Cranes x 4 at Lakenheath Fen RSPB
Black-throated Diver at Holme
Snow Buntings x 22, Water Pipit at Cley NWT
Long-tailed Ducks x 6 at Titchwell RSPB
Hen Harrier at Roydon Common
Snow Buntings x 7 at North Beach, Winterton
Water Pipit at Cantley Beet Factory
Great White Egret, Little Stint, Bearded Tit at Welney WWT
PARROT CROSSBILLS x 2 at Santon Warren, ESE of Santon Downham

MEGA NEWS 
None

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Great White Egret south of Blackborough End
Shorelarks x 8 at Holkham Bay
Great White Egrets x 2 north of sewage works at Wymondham
Water Pipit at Cley NWT
Twite x 19 at Thornham Harbour
Waxwing at Wells Woods
Pectoral Sandpiper reported, Ruff x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 11, Velvet Scoter, Slavonian Grebe, Spotted Redshanks x 3, Little Gulls x 37 at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret, Black Brant at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great White Egrets x 3 at Welney WWT
Hen Harrier at Roydon Common
Hen Harrier at Warham
Common Cranes x 5, Hen Harrier at Stubb Mill Roost, Hicking Broad NWT
HOOPOE flew over River Waveney, south of Harleston

MEGA NEWS 
None

Norfolk Identified As Priority Area In Fight Against Raptor Persecution

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/norfolk-identified-as-priority-area-in-fight-against-raptor-persecution-1-5337984

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Shorelarks x 8 at Holkham Bay
Iceland Gull, probable east of river mouth at Gorleston-on-Sea
Great White Egret at Holkham Park Lake
Black Brant at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great White Egret at Bawburgh
Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Long-tailed Ducks x 16 at Titchwell RSPB

MEGA NEWS 
KILLDEER
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly

TV Mechanic? YES!!!

A small miracle has occurred this evening! Obviously my TV was in shock when it had three wires removed last night by an amateur mechanic and it obviously needed to take time to recover from its ordeal! I could not believe it..... when I switched on the TV this evening – its all working beautifully now!!! Picture, station changing, volume control – perfect!!! RESULT!!! I might start up a repair service!!!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Glaucous Gulls x 2 flew past Overstrand
Shorelarks x 8 at Holkham Bay
Black Brant at Holkham Freshmarsh
Snow Buntings x 30 at North Beach, Winterton
Snow Buntings x 6 on golf course at Sheringham
Snow Buntings x 80 at North Gap, Eccles-on-Sea
Long-tailed Ducks x 12, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Divers x 5, Velvet Scoter at Titchwell RSPB
Water Pipit at Thornham Harbour
Caspian Gull at Burrall Way, Thetford
Hen Harrier at Cley NWT
Little Gull, Great Northern Diver at Holme
Snow Buntings x 3 on beach at Snettisham Coastal Park
Great Northern Diver flew past Weybourne Camp

MEGA NEWS 
None

TV Mechanic? Maybe NOT Penelope!!!

After my first day back at work, I settled down to watch the second part of 'Little Women' at 8pm. Within seconds of the programme commencing, the volume plummeted down to zero all by itself! Tried to operate the remote control and managed to get the volume up, but a gremlin decided to play around and the volume went up, down and then plummeted down to zero again without me even touching it! After changing the batteries in the remote control and lots more little tests I gave up for a moment. I don't like being beaten, so I then 'googled' the problem and discovered that several people had had the same issues with their Samsung TV's and one very clever person had seemingly solved the problem...... so I bravely followed their instructions: unscrewed the back of the TV and carefully removed the back (after a long search for the correct screwdrivers) – quite fascinating all the wires and boards behind the plastic cover! Removed the three little wires that connect from the motherboard to the side panel, which allows you to switch the TV on/off, change channels and volume control – this would then mean that you wouldn't be able to use the side panel anymore (I don't use it anyway and is no loss) and that the remote control would now work normally again and the volume control would be restored. After mislaying a couple of screws and eventually finding them, I managed to put the TV back together again, phew!

I felt really chuffed and felt really clever that I had managed to do this!!! I felt a bit worried about switching it on again, in case it blew up, but excited at the same time! My excitement quickly crumpled to doom and gloom! Switched TV on, to find no volume at all and with the added addition of the TV flicking through the channels: Number 1 to 2, to 3 and so on all the way to one thousand and something and then back to 1, to 2 and so on forever!!! With no picture and no sound, I think I can safely conclude the TV has bloody well DIED!!!😡😩😭

New Year's Eve is going to be very quiet, just me and no TV, great!!! At least I'm working during the day! Oh well, it will give me a chance to catch up on lots of jobs.😒

DON'T GIVE UP THE DAY JOB!!!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Snow Bunting at Winterton
Blue Fulmar, Glaucous Gull, Purple Sandpipers x 2, Manx Shearwater at Sheringham

*An atrocious day of rain, sleet/snow and wind, hence lack of bird news!

MEGA NEWS 
None

BOXING DAY!

 Me at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse

I felt exhausted, so didn't get out as early as I would have liked, which was a shame as the sun was out and it was a lovely day. Drove to Cley Visitor Centre NWT to collect something that wasn't there, but had lunch and enjoyed the views over the marshes. It was nice to bump into Duncan and Peter here – the VC was very busy. Duncan pointed out a very nice book in the shop called 'Birds New to Science', which looked fabulous and the paper quality was mint – a bit too expensive for me to buy though at £45.00.

I was overjoyed to find that 4G has landed in Cley and I had a phone signal – my phone is normally completely dead here!!! Had a lovely walk to Gramborough Hill at Salthouse, but didn't even see a Stonechat. I felt so tired, I struggled to drive home and had to resort to keeping the window open – I should never have left my house today. Re-heated the remains of Christmas dinner in the evening and watched 'Little Women'. Back to work tomorrow.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Great Northern Divers x 2, Snow Buntings x 40 at Halfway House, Blakeney Point
Shorelarks x 8 at Holkham Bay
Manx Shearwater, Glaucous Gull, Purple Sandpiper at Sheringham
Black Brant, Glaucous Gull, Water Pipit at Cley NWT
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 4 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Hen Harrier at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
PARROT CROSSBILLS x 10 at Santon Warren

MEGA NEWS 
None

CHRISTMAS DAY!

Christmas Cake that I made for my mother

Loaded the car up with my Lentil Roast, Tiramisu, Christmas cake, flowers etc and then picked my sister Lucy up. We then headed to Sandringham to see how long the queue was to watch the Royal family going to church, but I was stopped by a very nice policeman who said that no traffic was now allowed through where I wanted to drive – he said we could walk from this point, but Lucy didn't fancy the walk. I wish I had queued up from early this morning and maybe I would have been the lucky one to get the best picture of the Royals – a local lady, Karen Murdoch (who works at the QEH) scooped the best picture with her mobile phone – she's made a mint!!!

We headed back to the main road and went to Hunstanton, where we saw tons of people on the seafront waiting for the Christmas Swim to start. There were several Turnstones feeding on the the green in front of the Golden Lion Hotel. We used to cycle up to the Christmas Swim when we were children, but the novelty has worn off now!

We spent a lovely day with mother and my Christmas dinner all went to plan – we sat down to eat at 2.30pm. We had Brie & Cranberry Filo Parcel, Lentil Vegetable Loaf with Yorkshire Pudding, Sprouts, Parsnips & Carrots with Maple and Orange Glaze, Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Roast Potatoes, Creamed Potatoes, with Vegetarian Gravy and Cranberry Sauce and Tiramisu later on in the afternoon. We also enjoyed a very nice Sainsbury's Alcohol Free Sparkling Wine with our meal and had a toast to father, which brought a tear to my eye. Vivien had spent the day with Ray and she was praising his cooking when we spoke to her on the phone.

I nearly always go for a walk on Christmas Day, but I didn't have time, too busy playing Chef! We were not doing presents this year, but at the last minute decided to get each other a little something, so we opened our presents late in the afternoon which was nice. The day seemed to disappear far too quickly. Lucy and I left at about 10.45pm – it was raining on the way home. It took me ages to unpack the car and put everything away– you know what its like!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Hawfinches x 5 at Lynford Aboretum
Black Brant, Dark-bellied Brent Geese x 200, Snow Buntings x 50, Water Pipit at Cley NWT
Shorelarks x 8 at Holkham Bay
Snow Buntings x 30 at Salthouse
Great White Egret by River Tiffery, Kimberley
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 11 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Hawfinch at Stubb's Green, Shotesham

MEGA NEWS 
None

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 
TO ALL MY READERS, FAMILY & FRIENDS

Hot Birding in 2018!


Thinking of my dearest father today,
every day, always and forever in my heart x

Christmas Eve!

I've been cooking all day! I was up very early cooking a Christmas Cake for my mother. Then I made my second ever Tiramisu topped with grated Bournville chocolate and nuts. I spent a long time making two Lentil Roasts with a maple syrup, Balsamic Vinigar and tomato sauce glaze. Then I made proper vege gravy ready for tomorrow's lunch. Later on, I made brandy icing and decorated the cake and adorned with fake holly and other decorations – I was really pleased with my finished cake. My hands are so sore from washing up all day.

Went into Tescos to buy a lovely bouquet for my mother tomorrow. I'm head chef tomorrow and my guests are Mother and Lucy, oh and of course the cat! Sadly there was no time for birding today, but I will be definitely out birding on Boxing Day!

This evening, John Furse emailed me an absolutely brilliant Christmas Carol sung my himself. It was an adaption of 'We three kings of orient are....' It was pure genius! I was in stitches!😂

Christmas bouquet for mother from all her daughters

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
PALLAS'S WARBLER on Thursday, heard only on the Sandringham Estate
Shorelarks x 8 at Holkham Bay
Snow Bunting at Winterton
Snow Buntings x 50, Water Pipit, Black Brant at Cley NWT
Long-tailed Ducks x 7, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Smew drake at Kimberley Hall Lake
Snow Buntings x 50 at Kelling
Spotted Redshank at Burgh Castle

MEGA NEWS 
None

Family Gathering!

My Victoria Sandwich!

I was up very early this morning, making a loaf of wholemeal bread and a Victoria Sandwich (Mary Berry recipe). I then picked Lucy up and we joined Vivien and Ray at Holme with mother for a pre Christmas lunch! Ray had made a fabulous Carrot and Coriander soup and warmed some rolls up in the oven. My mother had made one of her scrumptious trifles, which was topped with clotted cream and flakes of chocolate and my cake was eaten after that! The hours quickly disappeared today. Ray and Vivien had to leave just after 3pm, as they were out to dinner with friends this evening. Presents were exchanged and then later on, Lucy and I watched Crocodile Dundee, which was one of my father's favourite films. Lucy and I reminisced over this and decided that maybe father saw himself as a 'Crocodile Dundee', with his hat and shorts he used to wear at Holme Bird Observatory!

Mother's Trifle with Clotted Cream and Flaky Bar topping!

On Christmas Eve I'm making a fruit cake for mother, a lentil roast and a tiramisu for Christmas Day. I will hopefully get out to do some birding too. Christmas Day will be spent with mother and Lucy (Ray & Vivien will be in Ely). Boxing day I will be birding all day, if its not lashing down with rain that is!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Lapland Bunting, Water Pipit, Black-throated Diver, Black Brant, Pale-bellied Brent Geese x 500 at Cley NWT
Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Ducks x 18, Slavonian Grebe, Snow Buntings x 7 at Titchwell RSPB
Lapland Bunting at Thornham Point
Hen Harrier at Wells
Hen Harrier at Holme Dunes
Taiga Bean Geese at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Hawfinches x 5 at Lynford Aboretum
Purple Sandpiper at Beach Road, Hopton-on-Sea
Hen Harrier at Roydon Common
Great White Egret at Yare Valley near Langley
Snow Buntings x 48 at Salthouse
Shorelarks x 2 at Winterton
Shorelarks x 8 at Holkham Bay

MEGA NEWS 
None

Christmas Break!

Four days off!!!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Ducks x 19, Slavonian Grebe, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Snow Buntings x 80 at North Gap, Eccles-on-Sea
Great White Egret at Holkham
Black Brant, Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Cley NWT
Twite x 30 at Thornham Harbour
Waxwing at Ranworth Broad
Caspian Gull at Burrall Way, Thetford

MEGA NEWS 
NUTCRACKER
Wholly unconfirmed report in garden at Worthing, Sussex
FORSTER'S TERN
Mutton Island, County Galway, Ireland

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Purple Sandpipers x 2 at Sheringham
Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB

MEGA NEWS 
None

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Purple Sandpiper at Sheringham
Snow Buntings x 50, Little Gull at Salthouse
Black Brant, Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Cley NWT
Long-tailed Ducks x 17, Slavonian Grebe, Velvet Scoter, Spotted Redshank, Water Pipits x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Water Pipit flew over Claxton Marshes
Glaucous Gull at Eaton Park, Norwich
Shorelarks x 10 at Holkham Bay

MEGA NEWS 
None

RBA Weekly Round-up 13th to 19th December!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2017-51.aspx?s_id=262955106

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Long-tailed Ducks x 13 at Titchwell RSPB
Shorelarks x 10 at Holkham Bay
Snow Buntings x 11 on golf course at Sheringham
Bittern at Whitlingham Country Park

MEGA NEWS 
None

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Hawfinches x 4 at East Wretham Heath
Taiga Bean Goose at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Caspian Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Hen Harrier flew east of Wells
Twite x 20 at Thornham Harbour
Water Pipit, Little Stint at Cley NWT
Snow Buntings x 4 at beach car park, Cley
Shorelarks x 8 at Holkham Bay
Black Brant, Dark-bellied Brent Geese x 300 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Common Cranes x 6, Hen Harriers x 2 at Stubb Mill Roost, Hickling Broad NWT

MEGA NEWS 
None

Eminem - River (Audio) ft. Ed Sheeran

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42399322

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Waxwing flew over car park, Tundra Bean Geese x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Whooper Swans x 4 flew over West Beckham
Short-eared Owls x 2, Hen Harrier, Bewick's Swans x 5 at Cley NWT
Shorelarks x 5 at Holkham Bay
Black Brant at Holkham Freshmarsh
Snow Buntings x 9 at Gorleston-on-Sea
Snow Buntings x 92 at Salthouse
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Burrell Way, Thetford

MEGA NEWS 
None

Birding at Sandringham & Decorating Mother's Tree!

SATURDAY EVENING
Note to self: Don't drink to much brandy and babycham that you dance like a 18 year old and wake up with lots of aching bones and muscles! I could hardly move when I woke up this morning – took a while to get out of bed! My dodgy shoulder is even more dodgy than normal now – this is what happens under the influence of alcohol when your brain forgets how old you are! I have just added a hilarious video to yesterday's post, that my friend Bev took of me dancing – so funny! I eventually got out of bed – very frosty morning here. Had brunch and dozed on the sofa for a while.

I then left the house and went to Sandringham Saw Mill and choose a Christmas tree for my Mother – a Nordman Fir (which Lily at work said is the best one for needles not dropping). Choosing a tree was very simple as they only had three Nordman Firs left – with tree in car, I headed for the bird table at Sandringham and sat and watched a good number of birds here including: Great Tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Marsh Tit, Robins, Blackbirds, Wren, Woodpigeons and a Pheasant. I then headed to the Wolferton Triangle to look for the Golden Pheasant, but no luck with that – I hope its still alive!

Mother's Christmas Tree

Headed to Holme and unloaded the tree. Putting the tree up in the stand we bought last year was very stressful indeed. It took a long time for Mother and I to get the tree standing straight – I could have done without this job today! Mother and I spent a couple of hours decorating the tree and it looks FAB U LUS darling!!! My mother has some wonderful decorations that I remember as a child, my favourite being a red bird with a long white tail, that clips on to the tree. We watched the 'Strictly Come Dancing' finale – a wonderful extravaganza, but the winner was not who I expected it to be! I thought it should have been Alexandra Burke, but Joe McFadden won the prized Glitterball trophy!

MORE PICTURES TO BE ADDED ON MONDAY EVENING.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Taiga Bean Geese x 18 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Iceland Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Hen Harrier at Burnham Norton
Mealy Redpoll, Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 at Hemsby
Snow Buntings x 92 at Salthouse
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Snow Buntings x 20 at South Denes, Great Yarmouth

MEGA NEWS 
HAWK OWL
This got the engines revving, until it was confirmed to be 'flown free' by Harrogate Birds of Prey!

STROKE WARD CHRISTMAS PARTY!!!

Some of my glamorous colleagues!

What a FABULOUS NIGHT!!! Just home! WOW!!! Massive thanks to Sarah Barber, Cara Holt and all those that helped to get the hall ready this evening. I really don't know how they achieved this after a busy day at work! So kind of Scott Ablett to present Sarah and Cara with flowers, how lovely! So fabulous to let our hair down and dance and drink the night away with all our lovely colleagues and so nice to see so many who are on maternity leave too! Emily Mathers and Kim Moyes xx. Cracking DJ, crazy dancing and fab food – excellent end of the year celebration!! WE KNOW HOW TO PARTY!!! I have had far too much brandy and babycham!!!

There are far too many people to name, but here are a few pictures of everyone having a good time and three videos – enjoy!

Bev Eady captured me going 'Bonkers' at the party!
This is so funny to watch, I can't stop laughing!

© Beverley Eady

Since I have arrived home at just before 12am, I feel more tidly than I did at the party!!!! I have been drinking water in a vain attempt to dilute the alcohol, but it doesn't seem to be working!!! HELP!!!!

That's my once a year drinking session finished with!

"Merry Christmas" 

A video has been published on the DJ's Facebook page!
 https://www.facebook.com/SimonRoweMobileDisco/videos/305148069889807/

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Twite x 20 at Thornham Harbour
Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Bewick's Swans x 49 at St Benet's Abbey, Ludham
Common Cranes x 2 at Horsey
Great Northern Diver at Holme
Black Brant, Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Snow Buntings x 18 at North Dunes, Great Yarmouth

MEGA NEWS 
None

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Snow Buntings x 8 at South Dunes, Great Yarmouth
Shorelarks x 9 at Holkham Bay
Black Brant on Holkham Freshmarsh
Bewick's Swans x 29, Whooper Swans x 3 at St Benet's Abbey, Ludham
Black Guillemot at Thornham Point
Shorelark, Snow Buntings x 5 at Holme
Twite x 20 at Thornham Harbour

MEGA NEWS 
None

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Black Guillemot, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Twite x 22 at Thornham Harbour
Russian White-fronted Geese x 21 at Heigham Holmes
Taiga Bean Goose, Russian White-fronted Geese x 8 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Black Brant, Dark-bellied Brent Geese x 1,200, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Diver at Holme

MEGA NEWS 
None

RBA Weekly Round-Up 6th to 12th December!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2017-50.aspx?s_id=98069113

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Twite x 22 at Thornham Harbour
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Glaucous Gull at Mundesley
Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Spotted Redshank, Water Pipit, Little Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Black Brant, Snow Buntings x 16 at Salthouse
Shorelarks x 9 at Holkham Bay
Great Northern Diver flew past beach car park at Cley
Shorelark flew over Blakeney Harbour
Hen Harrier near Binham
Tundra Bean Goose SE of Repps-with-Bastwick
 Hawfinch at Felbrigg Hall NT

MEGA NEWS 
None

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
MONDAY 11th DECEMBER
Great Northern Diver flew past Weybourne Camp
Little Auk, Snow Buntings x 25, Glaucous Gull flew past beach car park at Cley
Black Brant at Cley NWT
Tundra Bean Goose x 2 SE of Repps-with-Bastwick
Great Northern Diver, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB

MEGA NEWS 
None

Recovery, Rest & My Gold Partridges!

This was a dusting of snow when I looked out of the window this morning, but the rest of the day has been rain and dull skies. No further snow here at all. My sister Vivien has had a fair bit of snow in Ely. I wish I had been well enough to go and see the fabulous Parrot Crossbills at Santon Downham – some of the pictures I've seen of them drinking from puddles have been incredible.

I have not left the house in three days until late this afternoon, when I visited Dobbies Garden Centre in King's Lynn to choose a Christmas tree for my mother. Lily at work told me that a Nordmann Fir is the best one for not dropping needles and they had plenty of cut Nordmann Firs in stock. However, I thought it might be nice to get one rooted in a pot, but the only ones left were rubbish shapes. I phoned mother to see what she wanted to do and she insisted she wanted to see what she was buying. I pointed out that I wasn't doing four trips to Holme so she could see one!!! So I will now take her to the Thornham Farm shop next Saturday if they have any left by then!

There were tons of Christmas decorations in Dobbies and a beautiful gold partridge caught my eye, it really was very eye catching, much better than it looks in the picture (click on link) – made by Gisella Graham in London and made from resin (very heavy) and measures 16 x 10cm. I succumbed and purchased two (+ 20% off) – they look very nice indeed on my dining room table. There is a better picture of them here. Send me a comment on this post if you end up buying them too! I spent the rest of the evening curled up on the sofa cat napping! Back to work in the morning, although I still don't feel fully recovered.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Great White Egret at Hockwold Washes, Lakenheath Fen RSPB
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 200 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Shorelarks x 7, Snow Bunting at Holkham Bay

MEGA NEWS 
AMERICAN ROBIN
Probable, reported at Great Haywood, Staffordshire

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Short-eared Owl, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Little Auk on sea at Hunstanton
Twite x 22 at Thornham Harbour
PARROT CROSSBILLS x 22 at Santon Warren, NE of Santon Downham
Glaucous Gull at Mundesley
Taiga Bean Geese x 17 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Glaucous Gull at Walcott
Waxwing still in garden at Ashill
Water Pipits x 2 at Hockwold Washes, Lakenheath Fen RSPB
Snow Buntings x 80, Water Pipit at Cley NWT

MEGA NEWS 
None

Friday Night Update!

I can't remember the last time I was ill with a virus or come to that any kind of illness. Obviously I have had time for bereavement this year, but it must be at least a couple of years since I was off work 'sick'. There is a virus going around at work and yesterday I started to feel ill. Last night I went to bed with paracetamol to try and kill it off, but felt really rough this morning, so was not able go to work. The best way to describe how I feel, is like having a giant standing on your eyelids!!! I stayed in bed all day and got up at 6.30pm! Good Night.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Waxwing in garden at Ashill
Glaucous Gull at Trimingham
Snow Buntings x 3 at Weybourne
PARROT CROSSBILLS x 20 at Santon Warren, NE of Santon Downham
Taiga Bean Geese x 18 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Black-throated Diver, Snow Buntings x l2 at Hemsby
Black-throated Diver at Holme
Hawfinches x 6 at Lynford Aboretum

MEGA NEWS 
FORSTER'S TERN
possible, in creeks towards Tollesbury Wick, West Mersey, Essex