We spent our Christmas in North Norfolk, such a wonderful place to be at this time of the year. A relaxing few days away and my luck was in, as there were one or two good birds still around to top up the year list.
A Hume’s Warbler, at Brancaster, put on a good showing. The long staying juvenile Pallid Harrier, at Warham Greens, came into roost in the early afternoon, accompanied by a “Ring-tail” Hen Harrier and a few Marsh Harrier. Eleven Shorelarks were faithful to an area of saltings at Holkham Gap, and with a good mixed bag of waders and wildfowl, some good Christmas fare, it was a superb few days away.
My year list finished on 235 and my local Patch List at Staunton Harold Reservoir for the year was 107. Highlights at the patch were a Water Rail 23/1; a Black-necked Grebe 28/8; a Grey Plover 17/8 with 2 on 4/10; 2 Juvenile Black Tern on 17/8; a Great White Egret on 23/2; 29 Little Egret on 12/9 (a site record count); a Black Redstart 26/7 (a patch tick for me , number 193, and the first since 1976) and a Rock Pipit 4/10 (1st one since 1991).
One British tick during 2022 was a stunning Eleonora’s Falcon in Kent during June (522).
