A good solo day out birding on the Suffolk coast was just what the doctor ordered. I left Pulham in the cloud and murk but by the time I reached Walberswick the sun was out. Walking down through Hoist Covert and across the marsh to the beach I'd seen little except Reed Buntings but as I neared the beach 2 Great White Egrets had a good fly around. Making my way north along the beach from there was very productive with 2 Spotted Redshanks in all their silvery winter splendor on the pools plus a single Dunlin, 1 Curlew and a few Common Redshanks. The species I'd hoped to see here followed on quickly with 1 then 2 Short-eared Owls showing beautifully in the sun. One in particular posed on several different fence posts. A lone Red-throated Diver was also on the sea. On the walk back a couple of Little Grebes were in a ditch and stopping by the path not far from the mill I had some nice prolonged views of 4 Bearded Tits. As usual they were frustrating to photograph but I was pleased with the shot I got of a beady-eyed female. A male Stonechat also posed along the path and a Cetti's Warbler gave a brief burst of song. Plantwise both Sea Mayweed and Sticky Groundsel were both unseasonally in flower on the shingle.
After grabbing some lunch in Darsham I headed to Hen Reedbeds where, despite much searching, I couldn't find the recent Glaucous Gull. All was not lost however as a confiding Rock Pipit was on the seaweed by the edge of Wolsley's Creek. 2 Marsh Harriers were about including a red wing-tagged bird which didn't come close enough to read the tags. Also out on the mud flats were Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Avocet and Lapwing.
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