First day of the new year we head to Norfolk

We meet up at 5 am to start our new year list and to tick as many birds as we can, it's off to Norfolk and that takes around two hours. 

As we near Hunstanton we get the first tick of the new year when we spot a Barn Owl sitting on a post and then a few minutes later we find another one to get off to a good start to the day.

On arrival at Hunstanton, it is still fairly dark as we pull into the car park, 3 Oystercatchers are seen on the grass and it's only a short time before we spot Fulmar and some Gulls allowing us to move on to Titchwell.

It is dull and very cold and not many people are about,  we walk up to the beach ticking anything as we go. On the beach, all the normal stuff is ticked but the sea is very quiet the only thing really seen to tick was Red-breasted Merganser.

On the feeders, I pick out a Bramling that was nice.

Now we head to Brancaster where after an hour we hear and then get a few good views of a 

Hume's leaf Warbler. and we also meet up with some birders that we know and that is always nice. 

Now it's off to Holkham and we stop to scan from the gate overlooking the fresh marsh, the IOW White-tailed Eagle is seen sitting on a dead tree to give great views and also seen the very pale Common Buzzard that people have been calling a Rough-legged Buzzard but has been identified as a really light Common Buzzard so no tick there. White-fronted Goose and Pink foot seen and 3 Bewick Swan drop in while here.

We head along the road to Lady anns drive but it is packed and the car park is shut, so we head off to Stiffkey and walk the really muddy path it seems a lot longer walk, and it is cold, a female Hen Harrier is seen but not the reported Male.

Marsh Harrier ticked but a very distant view of what we think is the Pallid Harrier is just not close enough to be sure so no tick. I end up with 77 ticks for the day not the best total but a rubbish sort of a day with the weather so not too bad.