5 Sawbills on Oulton Broad

In the morning at 9.30 am, a look from the Wheery revealed the 2 excellent redhead Smew 300 yards out diving frequently, the male Red- breasted Merganser was swimming close to the pleasure boat showing really well. Even better, by the houseboat at the very western end of Oulton Broad, a distant male Goosander. Seeing James B, I showed him the sawbills and we walked around to Mutford Lock basin, initially we could see 5 Dunlin on ice sheets with water flowing over it. At the back, some 180 Dunlin seen and amongst them were 5 Redshank and I eventually saw the 2 dumpy grey Knot feeding at the back of the group, albeit in poor light and seeing Paul & Jane we were delighted to see a Kingfisher fly and perch on the boat. Walking around to the yacht club, I looked at the male Goosander and it soon flew right and amazingly was joined by a second male Goosander which flew right and to the back of Oulton Broad and out of sight. Hearing a tweet from James B, about a Jack Snipe in a dyke by Furze wood, Corton and I was walking down the snow covered track, a Woodcock flew up and away. I followed the track down past the turnstile and took the path along the field bordering the dyke to the left and then it bent round to the right following the wood around. The Jack Snipe flew up from the dyke about 5o yards away and flew over the field and back again. I walked back and it did the same again, not wanting to disturb the bird further I left. By the dyke bordering the southern fringe of the Corton new sewage works, a Woodcock flew up and away. Checking Corton old sewage works another excellent Jack Snipe flew up and flew NW from dyke opp Corton old sewage works. 1 Fieldfare fl east over Fallowfields 2.30om missing all the apples in our garden just now!