New Year birding in and around Lowestoft

The Great Northern Diver was in Hamilton Dock again, initially very close, it then swam far out before disappearing for a while by the marina before once again coming quite close. 1 and then 2 Shag seen plus a Seal then a Guillemot seen far out. At Ness Point, first one then 3 Purple Sandpipers seen on the seaward edge of the sea defence rocks just south of Ness Point compass and viewed from the 200 yards to the south and looking back. In Link's Road car park initially few Gulls but several flew back including 1 adult Mediterranean Gull flying towards the car park, the flock returned and then I spotted 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls both ringed with white rings. Walking out from St Olaves Bridge, onto Chedgrave marshes, a close Barn Owl flew past me along the reeds running just east of the new cut, a further 2 Barn Owls seen. At 3.15pm the excellent Great White Egret flew around bigger than 300 Pink- footed Geese and then the Egret landed stretched its long neck with a kink in the middle and yellow bill, it stepped down and disappeared into a dyke. Finally, a female Marsh Harrier perched close by in a field, and 212 Greenfinch flocked by some trees by the house.