There were strong north-north-west winds throughout a chilly day that featured occasional showers and temperatures peaking at eight degrees C. Three Cranes spent the majority of the morning on fields near North Marsh, albeit with a brief visit to Mid Dykes; they eventually headed west at 1335hrs. Four Shelduck, two Tufted Duks and two Little Grebes frequented the outer head wetlands, as did a lone Green Sandpiper. Conditions weren’t conducive to the finding of passerine migrants, although 18 Willow Warblers, 11 Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, one Redwing, a Fieldfare, three Common Redstarts, a Siskin and two Brambling were unearthed. Frustratingly a large, pale pipit on the Golf Course flew off before being conclusively identified.
Cranes, outer head, by Andrew Allport