Lynford Arboretum

I hatched a plan to take the Jims up to Lynford yesterday but woke to find that the pot hole I hit two days earlier had taken a slow impact on my tyres health so it ended up with Dad taking his car and me as a rare passenger on this trip.

At Lynford we found a Treecreeper in trees close to the cafe for our first year tick of the day followed by Marsh Tit from the gate. At the bridge we were surprised to find eleven Crossbill especially as we hadn't seen any for over a year. Marsh Tits visited the feeding station as did our first Nuthatch of the year. There were hundreds of Siskin around but it took a while to pick out a couple of Lesser Redpoll. Goldcrest and Great-spotted Woodpecker provided another two year ticks and a Raven flew over kronking its way across the paddock which on this visit didn't provide any views of the Hawfinch we usually see here in winter. 

Gadwall

Marsh Tit

Treecreeper

Back at the gate we had our first Brambling of the year and dad year ticked one of the three Yellowhammers present. 

Despite it being early January we decided the weather may be good enough to bring out a Goshawk or two so headed further up into Norfolk and as we pulled into the layby another birder asked if we wanted to look through his scope which is always a nice welcome. Great views of a perched Gos in the very same tree we had one sitting in last year was great and I even managed another in flight too for good measure.

A quick stop at Santon Downham gave views of another Lesser Redpoll and a large flock of around fifty or so Brambling to end a very pleasant day in the Brecks.

Today tho I was mostly changing the tyre on the car and doing my care duties. Tomorrow I hope to pinch another couple of hours for myself before the care duties take over again for the day.

Year list is now 131