Little Cressingham, Norfolk

An hour long visit this afternoon to a location traditionally productive for winter Finches and Buntings didn't disappoint today.
400+ Linnets, 150+ Yellowhammers, 200+ Chaffinches, 10+ Bramblings, and 100+ Skylarks were seen, despite the very poor light.
10+ Bramblings was undoubtedly a low estimate, these included some very handsome males beginning to moult into breeding plumage, and the paler, but still beautiful female birds.

Brambling (female) 27th January

Despite the very poor light, I managed this shot of a female Brambling.  The pale head, pale orange breast and scapulars, separates this species from the more familiar Chaffinch.

Marlingford, Norfolk, 26th January

A short stop whilst at work produced a Great White Egret in the Yare Valley, stealthily hunting along the fringes of a small lake.

Thompson Water, Norfolk

Recent visits to the Thompson Water has been productive for common species, notably, the declining Marsh Tit, a species I regularly record here.  Numbers of wildfowl have been quite low with small numbers of Teal, Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler and Mallard being seen.
Around the weedy fringes of the water, Cetti's Warbler occasionally sings, and at the current time, Reed Buntings are showing nicely, often on the tops of reeds nipping at seeds.

Reed Bunting (male) slowly developing breeding plumage 24th Jan

Reed Bunting (female) 24th Jan.