Flocks of Fieldfares but no Owls at Carlton Marshes

At 3pm on Tuesday 18th February, in far from ideal conditions, I drove down to Carlton Marshes parking by the railway line, having seen 2 Muntjac Deer by the roadside. It was overcast and breezy and not surprisingly no Owls were seen flying (now my 5th unsuccessful attempt to see and photograph SEO's, although the first 2 attempts I went to the wrong area!) A Buzzard flew by proved to be the only bird of prey seen, proof that conditions were far from ideal (but I had to go as I am working the rest of the week). A distant Chinese Water Deer seen. A flock of 20 'chacking' Fieldfare flew into the tall birch trees bordering the reserve. Walking back by the railway line, another flock or same of 15 Fieldfare seen in a tall tree. These were the highlight of this late afternoon walk, Fieldfares have been conspicuously absent around the Lowestoft area this winter (although it has been a relatively mild one so far).