So as it turned out, it wasn’t quite the great blizzard of 2021, but it did seem to see a few birds move into the area. Finally after much checking over the winter a Brambling appeared in the Holme Lane Chaffinch flock where c50 Chaffinch, c30 Goldfinch and c30 Redwing were also feeding and 2 Egyptian Geese were feeding. At Swineham several Bearded Tit were pinging in the reed beds off Swineham Point and the pits held mostly Coot (64) with 11 Tufted Duck, 9 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Egyptian Geese plus the high tide forced 8 Skylark and a number Rock Pipit off of the saltmarsh. There were 2 Water Pipit in the Lower Frome Valley and a group of Redwing started some early community song at Holme Lane, something we don’t tend to hear until it warms up slightly in the first week of March, just before they leave. Off Jerry’s Point the 4 Long-tailed Duck were seen near Furzey, plus there were 3 Great Northern Diver, 3 Slavonian Grebe and 4 Black-necked Grebe. At The PCW Drain the Siberian Chiffchaff was showing well with 3 Common Chiffchaff and a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail were also in the channel.

Common Sandpiper – Holes Bay NE outflow – Rene Goad