Having seen the 1st winter Wilson’s Phalarope on Fishtail Lagoon I headed over to NO. The highlight was one of the first birds I saw, a lovely Firecrest in oaks opposite the gate to the NP hide, associating with a mixed flock of Long-tailed Tits and Goldcrests.
The sea was fairly quiet other than a group of four Eider close in shore. The number of Chiffchaffs was down to around 10 and I only saw one Wheatear during the five hours. It definitely felt like we were heading into winter and the first returning Brent Geese, twenty of them, off the point, added to the wintery feel.
Two Marsh Harriers were quartering over the B Water, a female and an immature male. There were three Greenshank from the Estuary Hide and I also heard but didn’t see a Spotted Redshank from there. The three Sandwich Terns remained, fishing off the point.
Patch Birding 