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Sunday 30 December 2018

The Broads, Norfolk.

A second days birding with Sharon and John and a visit to see some more Friends.

Waxwing (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).
After a very good nights sleep and an even better breakfast at the The Waverley Hotel, out in the street whilst I was waiting for Shron and John I started the day list off with Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii), Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia).
Once we were all down we headed back towards Norwich and down to Buckenham Marshes, on the way we saw Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).
Waxwing (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).
We parked at the Buckenham railway station and cross the track and walked out on to the flood plain of the River Yare, on the track we saw the first of many Pheasants (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus) and Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and on both sides of the track on the banks of the ditches there were big numbers of quite tame Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope) and several more distant Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis). Further across the field there were good numbers of Jackdaws and a scattering of Rooks (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus) and below the trees where the Rooks were there was a very smart Chinesse Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis) feeding and on the opposite side of the track more Water Deer and a single Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi).
As we reached the river Sharon call John and myself back as she had got a Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) up in a distant tree and as we watched this we had a very pale Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) in amongst loads of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).
As we walked along the sea wall we had a calling Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), john and Sharon dropped down on to the lower track where the saw the Cetti's and up on the top I picked up a small group of probable feral Barnical Geese (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis), several Pink-footed Geese (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca). 
Waxwing (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).
Further along the bank we had a female Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), a couple more Ruff and a female Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).
The news came in whilst we were out on the Marsh of 5 Waxwings (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus) in Long Stratton about 20 miles away, so we walked back towards the car adding Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Egyptian Geese (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca).
Once we were back at the car we set the phone to get us to the police station in Long Stratton and made our way there seeing a Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius).
Judy, Pam, Mike, John and Sharon, John had wandered off to the right.
A soon as we were on site we could see a couple of the Waxwings over the road looking at the Rowan tree on the edge of the police station but they were wary due to the long lens none birder Photographers who were stood just a few meter from the tree, far too close. The Waxwings did make a couple of trips to the tree but did not settle as soon as the shutters were rattling and flashes going of they were off so we we decided to go and have a coffee and then head off to West Somerton to see some friends. Before we left we found the first House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) of the weekend and the first Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) of the day.
We arrived at Rivers End and went straight into Judy and Mikes place for lunch where we met up with Pam and John how had come over as well. After a very hearty soup, cake and a beer we all went out for a walk along the River Thurne passing Martham Broad and on to some further marshes where we watched an area for Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus). 
The sun dropping below the sky line.
On the way out I saw Bearded Tit (Reedling) (Bigotudo / Panurus biarmicus), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Goldeneye (Porrón Osculado /Bucephala clangula), Greylag Geese, Egyptian Geese, Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), good numbers of Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which were coming into roost, at least 3 Cetti's Warblers, Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and just on dusk we heard several Common Cranes calling from behind some trees but we did not see any of them but we were treated to a nice sun set.
We returned to Judy and Mikes where we had a cuppa before starting the long drive back to John and Sharon's. We were hoping to eat at a place where John and Sharon had stopped before but it was shut so we ended up in a famous Chicken outlet which was my first and last experience of this fast food. The end of the second brilliant days birding, thanks again Sharon and John.

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