A visit down to Felbrigg Lake on the 3rd revealed that it was virtually frozen over save for a ice-free patch in the middle around which all of the birds had congregated which included the Whooper Swan, 23 Teal, the pair of Wigeon, a few Gadwall, a pair of Canada Geese, Greylags, 22 Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks, Mallards and a nice gathering of Gulls.
Whilst walking back across the field towards the hall, I paused to check the Golden Plover flock and was pleasantly surprised to see that they had been joined by a Curlew (111) which is the first one I have ever seen at the site, and probably also the first one actually seen on the deck anywhere on the patch as they are usually seen just passing overhead or moving during seawatches, so a very notable record indeed.
Moving on to West Runton revealed that there was a good cold-weather movement of waders passing by, predominantly Dunlin (112) with numerous flocks going through west. Also notable were 5 Harbour Porpoise seen heading west (3 singles and a pair).
I headed back down to West Runton again today to check the wader passage, and with it being low tide first thing hoped that a few may stop to feed on the exposed beach. I wasn't disappointed as in addition to the usual Grey Plovers, Lapwings, Redshank, Turnstones, Oystercatchers and Ringed Plovers were a dozen or so Dunlin, along with a few Knot and best of all 5 Bar-tailed Godwits (113) which were the first ones I have ever seen here.
There was also a small passage of wildfowl going past with a few Wigeon and Mallards on the move, plus a few flocks of Dark-bellied Brent Geese, one of which I was delighted to see contained a Pale-bellied Brent (114). Adding to the wader-fest a couple of Common Snipe flew over and a nice flock of Golden Plover were in the fields along the beach road.
