Sun 6th Dec 20

Great start to the day today, while in the carpark checking through the Greylag flock in the approach road sheep field and having found two Whitefronts amongst them I was aware of the sound of geese from behind me, I turned to see a flock of 100+ Whitefronts coming in off the sea, flying directly over head and all calling they dropped onto the marsh with the Greylags. Not quite North Norfolk but about as good as it gets at the Haven. Almost immediately I was joined by Matt Turner who had been at the top of the carpark and Pete Loud who had just arrived on site.

Photo Matt Turner©

After spending some time with the geese we moved on, Pete walking the bottom hedge and noting lots of Blackbirds and several Song Thrush & Redwings, at the sluice we had 4 Purple Sands, 2 Turnstone and 30+ Wigeon sitting on the sea offshore.

From the hide: 7 Mute Swans (on the arable), 144 Teal, 20 Wigeon, 7 Shelduck, 2 Stonechat, 1 Lt. Owl (along back hedge), 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Lt. Egret.

While at the hide the geese were flushed from the marsh by the shepherd coming to check the sheep with 117 Greylag, 1 Canada goose (+7 hybrids) landing on the scrape. The Whitefronts flew out over Gt. Holland and were lost to view, some considerable time later they returned and after several aborted attempts they finally landed on the marsh to the right of the hide many behind the reeds. Fortunately Matt had taken a photo of the birds in flight and was able to count 111 in this flock. PL/MT/MR 

Photo Matt Turner©

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

14:02 7 Purple Sands still near sluice early afternoon +White fronts still present.

Matt Lonsdale

15:53 110 Whitefronts (26 1cy) still present and flew across road and landed c3:30pm. 1 Purple Sand and a couple of Goldcrest best of rest for me.