Off we go again 2016 day 1

The first bird of the year is at 6 45 am on the way to Norfolk on the side of the A10, it's a Barn Owl of course, three of the last four years the first bird was a Barn Owl.
So up & running for the new year lists, first up we head to Kings Lynn Fishers Fleet for a quick few ticks with the Gulls, it's only just getting light but a fair few birders where on site all looking for the Iceland Gull, the only problem the Gull didn't show. never mind we have the whole day in front of us & we pick out a couple of Peregrines feeding on a pylon.
Seven ticks so far & hardly light yet.Off now to get the Pallid Harrier at Flitcham on arrival the place is already packed with little parking space.
Once again the bird doesn't show,this is the fourth time that we have dipped this bird but we do pick up Tree Sparrow, Brambling, Bullfinch,Yellow Hammer, Red legged & Grey Partridge, we spend maybe to much time waiting for the Pallid but it would have been a lifer for me, still six ticks not bad.
On to Choseley to very quickly tick the Rough-legged Buzzed 3 of them about.
We miss out on seeing the Golden Pheasant  but didn't try to hard. On now to Thornham where we see a flock of Twite & pick out a Greenshank & a few waders.
Now it's Titchwell on the feeders is a Lesser Redpoll some Greenfinch, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit,Long-tailed Tit.
Up the path to the beach on the first scrape we get Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, over on the other scrape a couple of Spotted Redshank & a few more ticks picked out before we head up to the beach, the only thing seen that we needed for a tick was  Common Scoter & a large flock flies past.
At Holkham White-fronted Geese gives us a good tick, unfortunately no sign of the Red-rumped Swallow.
Getting dark now but we squeeze in one more trip to Stiffkey & we get lucky when a nice male Hen Harrier shows. So the first trip of the new year comes to a close with 90 year ticks in the bag.

Just a few of the early birders at the Pallid watch.