As usual the first day of the year saw me doing a day list round the patch, with last years total of 75 being the record to beat.
Robin and Blackbird were pre-dawn singers, but the first bird seen in the first glimmers of light was a Magpie (1), closely followed by Black-headed Gulls (2) and Woodpigeon (3). A familar sound then had me rushing back to the window as the days first skein of Pinkfeet (4) headed west silhouetted against the early morning sky. Chaffinch (5), Great Tit (6), Blue Tit (7), Dunnock (8) and Robin (9) were all noted visiting the feeders at first light, and a few foraging Blackbirds (10) were also noted as I left the house.
First stop was to check the sea off Overstrand, and whilst parking the car Starling (11), House Sparrow (12) and Goldfinch (13) were noted. A Song Thrush (14) was in early morning song on the cliff face, and down on the beach Herring Gull (15), Great Black-backed Gull (16), Carrion Crow (17) and the surprise of a couple of Lapwings (18) on the tideline were noted, a Cormorant (19) was fishing close inshore and a Pheasant (20) was on the clifftop. Deciding to quickly move on, driving through the village produced Collared Dove (21), and a flock of Greenfinches (22) and a single Redwing (23) were noted perched up in a tree.
A quick stop opposite Cromer Golf Club produced a flock of Long-tailed Tits (24), Feral Pigeons (25) were noted as I passed through the town, and then a stop by the carnival field produced Common Gull (26), Rook (27), Turnstones (28), and a flock of Oystercatchers (29) on the beach below. East Runton duckpond produced Mallard (30) and Greylag (31), and then a check of the sea there revealed a Great Crested Grebe (32) close inshore and a number of Red-throated Divers (33) passing by.
I then made my way to West Runton picking up Jackdaw (34) on the way, and on arrival quickly noted Ringed Plover (35) and Grey Plover (36) on the beach and a Guillemot (37) close inshore. The wintering Med Gull (38) appeared over the car park, Skylarks (39) and Meadow Pipits (40) were flying round the fields, which also held a couple of Stock Doves (41). I then settled down for a bit of a seawatch and noted Gannet (42), Kittiwake (43) and the big surprise of a Great Skua (44) passing by, despite this being the third year running now that I have seen one in January.
Heading up to Felbrigg a Jay (45) was seen by the Shirehorse Centre, and a brief stop near Roman Camp produced Coal Tit (46) and Goldcrest (47). Walking down towards the lake at Felbrigg a Lesser Redpoll (48) was noted flying over and slightly further on a larger flock of 40+ birds were encountered which contained both Mealy Redpoll (49) and Siskin (50). A Nuthatch (51) was heard calling and then quickly located, and a Treecreeper (52) was also noted in the same stand of trees.
On the lake Moorhen (53), Mute Swan (54), Gadwall (55), Teal (56) and Tufted Duck (57) were all noted, an Egyptian Goose (58) was on the meadow infront of the hall, a Reed Bunting (59) was in the reedbed and a Heron (60) was fishing around the Mandarin-less trees. A Snipe (61) was flushed from the meadow north of the lake and Fieldfares (62) were noted flying over. Heading back to the car the hoped for flock of Bramblings (63) was encountered by the main car park, but time was then wasted chasing a calling Bullfinch through the trees which I never caught up with.
Moving on, Roughton Road produced a nice flock of Linnets (64) and a Wren (65) and then a quick foray was made into Warren Wood for the Tawny Owl (66) which remains ever faithful to its roost tree. Great-spotted Woodpecker (67) and Red-legged Partridge (68) were seen en-route to the private wood where the Yellow-browed Warbler (69) and a Chiffchaff (70) were quickly located.
Another private site produced Little Grebe (71) and the surprise sighting of a Marsh Harrier (72) drifting over southeastwards. Driving round the back roads of Northrepps in search of Yellowhammer drew a blank but Sparrowhawk (73), Barn Owl (74) and Kestrel (75) were all seen.
Time and the light were fast running out and a check round East Runton for a few remaining targets drew a blank, so I quickly made my way back to Felbrigg where the Little Owl (76) was located immediately in its favourite tree. A dash down to the lake failed to produce Mandarin or Water Rail, although Green Woodpecker was added to the heard list, and the second Barn Owl of the day was noted. In the fading light I made a dash back to Cromer to enjoy the roost of Pied Wagtails (77) at Morrisons, with up to a hundred birds gathering there.
I returned to Felbrigg in the hope of a Woodcock, and whilst waiting totted up the days total for the first time and was delighted to find that I had beaten my previous record by two, so with rain now setting in I decided to call it a day with the excellent haul of 77 species seen plus a further 2 heard only.
