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Friday, 10 January 2025

RSPB Buckenham and Cantley Marshes, Halvergate Marsh, St. Benet's Abbey near Ludham, Norfolk, Britain.

Out on the cold Marshes with John.
 
Buckenham.
The day started with a drive out to Buckenham Fen along some icy looking roads but they were surprising still no problem and the frost made everywhere look nice, during the drive we picked up European Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Common Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).
Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope) and Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).
Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope) and Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).
We reached Buckenham and after crossing the railway line we walked out onto the marsh and up as far as the bank along the River Yare, it was nice and sunny but it was absolutely freezing so large parts of the area were frozen which meant most of the birds we concentrated on the small open areas.
Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis).
Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis).
Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis).
As we walked we saw good numbers of
Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis), Rooks (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).
Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).
Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).
We spent a while scanning the Marsh with the Scope from the bank along the river finding 50 or so Greater White-fronted Geese (Ánsar Careto / Anser albifrons) as well as a single Barnical (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis), several Greylag (Ansar Común / Anser anser) and Canada's (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta canadensis).
Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).
We decided not to continue on along the track below the bank as it was very icy so we walked back towards the car adding
European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii) and a calling Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax).
Buckenham from the bank near the River Yare.
Our next stop was not too far away near Cantley, on the way round we saw Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).
Pink-footed Geese (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus) over Cantley.
From the gate just over the railway line near Cantley we had good numbers of Pink-footed Geese (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus), Mute Swan Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), European Herring Gull, Western Marsh Harrier, Northern Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Rooks and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).
Cantley.
Our next stop was at Halvergate Marsh where we parked and had our very nice Pea, Potato and Rocket soup which warmed us through very nicely, we also added Egyptian Goose (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca) to the day list and had more Pink-footed Geese and another Little Egret. 
Whooper Swan's (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus Cygnus).
Bewick's (Cisne chico / Cygnus columbianus) and Whooper Swan's (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus Cygnus).
Bewick's (Cisne chico / Cygnus columbianus) and Whooper Swan's (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus Cygnus).
On our way to St. Benet's Abbey near Ludham we saw Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).
Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) with a Little Egret.
Once we reached the next site we stopped along the track out to the Abbey when we saw a flock of 30 or so 
Swan's which included at least 3 Bewick's (Cisne chico / Cygnus columbianus) and the rest were Whooper Swan's (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus Cygnus) of different ages.
St. Benet's Abbey.

St. Benet's Abbey.
Other species seen there included a couple of fly over
Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and down near the Abbey car park I was pleased to see 4 Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) around the feet of a couple of large Black Bulls with a single Little Egret.
The River Yare.
The Cross.
We went for a walk out to the Abbey which was a nice looking building and on to some more remains nearby where there is a large wooden cross, as we walked we saw
Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Gull (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus), Pink-footed Geese and a Western Marsh Harrier which flew right over our heads.
Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).
Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).
We returned to the car and headed back to the house, later we went back to the Trafford Arms where we had a couple more Pints of Adnams Ghost Ship.

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