The run of good weather is continuing and surprisingly there is still snow on the ground. Before we reach Martinmere there are birds to be found in the surrounding fields. A few hundred pink footed geese are noisily feeding in the field on one side of Curlew lane and a large flock of linnets are restlessly feeding in the field on the other. These little birds are very wary and trying to keep up with them in the car is in vain , as I inch forward so do they. This game is soon put to an end when a hunting kestrel flies low over the field and scares the whole flock high up into a nearby tree. The kestrel is more accommodating though and rests in a tree by the side of the road. He doesn’t fly off when I draw up close and so I managed my first decent photographs of the day.

Onto the mere and opening up the hatch in the swanlink hide to get a clearer view over the water takes your breath away. Not for a sight of beauty do you lose your breath but rather from the force and coldness of wind that is blowing through. It freezes your hands and makes your eyes water. Taking any photographs in these conditions has to be done in short bursts. Like last week swan numbers are low and many of the ducks have now gone with just a few teal and pintail to be seen. There are still quite a few ruff but now I notice that they are starting to develop their breeding plumage. Any males that stay late sometimes begin to develop their ruff which is very beautiful.

Going into the park and all is quiet. Flamingos in the snow I have to say do look rather out of place. The golden eye and the smew are still doing their courtship displays and the male Mute swan is in an aggressive mood and was seen more than once, pumping up his wings and running threateningly across the water at any bird he feels shouldn’t be in his territory. These are wild mute swans that breed in the park. Last year they were unsuccessful as their eggs didn’t hatch. Heres hoping they do better this year.

The Ruddy Shelducks were very vocal with their barking call carrying for quite some distance and the Mandarin ducks which usually stand shyly towards the back of their pen where all out in the sunshine bathing in their pool. The only birds of special interest to note are the Swan goose X Bar headed goose juveniles. There are two of them and they are developing their adult plumage which is very interesting as both birds do not look the same. Both birds have the general look of a swan goose but their heads are white and on one of them you can even make out the beginnings of the distinctive barring on the head.

On the whole today the weather was kind and the light was generally very good for photography. By mid afternoon though a cold front had moved in along with sleet and snow showers so we made our way home satisfied that we had had a good weekends birding.