I did not do too much on the reserve this month due to the terrible weather, but a nice flock of redpoll of note. The trail cameras had a nice otter along with the usual species.

I managed a little Garden and Nature Reserve trapping between the poor weater this month, only a few moths Satellite of note.

A few local mammals but nothing of note, a common seal in Norfolk was the highlight of the month in the UK. In Turkey I caught up with Persian Squirrels which I missed in Lesvos a couple of years ago.

James Hunter was dropping his son off in Cambridge so we set off later than usual but made it to Hickling Broad by 10.30 and a short while later had the Black Winged Kite perched on a distant tree. Later it did come closer for some better views before landing a little further away. We had a few nice fly bys two cranes joined a distant flock, a kingfisher whizzed by and a nice male hen harrier rounded off the visit. In under an hour we were at Sheringham where the Eastern Black redstart showed well once we located the area it favoured. A quick look at some Glossy ibis at Stiffkey before we ended the day at Stiffkey Fen saltmarsh watching the waders, a cracking fly by male hen harrier was the highlight and we finished off with a common seal fishing in one of the channels.

Chips -

I arrived at Holbury just bfore 9am just as the Great Tailed Grackle woke up and was calling from a tree showing nicely in the morning sun. I headed to The New Forest for the Great Grey Shrike that had just been seen before I arrive but no sign in the two hours I was there and there were plenty of birders looking. I had to be elsewhere so called it a day.

Chips -

James Hunter and I headed to the Norfolk Broads for the day, as we neared it was evident that there had been heavy snow the previous day. We walked to the area where the Black winged Kite had been roosting and despite being there first thing we did not see the bird apparently it was seen by to other birders just round the corner from us. After a bit of a fruitless wait we headed off to Filby Broad, the Ferruginous duck was very distant and we could not find any of the other scarce ducks. We searched for the local Cranes locating half the flock showing nicely in the snowy fields. Back to the Kite but no sign to dusk, Chinese water deer of note a little disapointing but still a nice but very cold day out.