A delightful Dovekie on Oulton Broad

On Monday 6th December, at first light I was walking down to Broadlands Marina but very fortuitously I met some birders who said that they'd seen Phil D. and he had said the Little Auk or Dovekie, was making its way over to the Boulevard. That was very good news a) because the bird was still about and b) it would be much easier to get pictures of the bird in this area. As I walked around it was obvious the bird was still about as they was a small gathering of birders including Rob H, Robin C, Phil D. and the bird was seen, a fantastic Little Auk or Dovekie, between the birds here and it was actively hunting as it was 'motoring' around diving frequently. The bird was very mobile seen bu the Boulevard close in and then by the private jetty running parallel with the Boulevard walkway and then swimming over to the public jetty where we could walk out and see it. It would then swim back to the Boulevard fishing between the boats often at very close quarters barely 3 feet away! It was often between the boats and diving frequently. Only when it started preening on the water was it more settled and providing opportunities to get some pictures, albeit in poor light. At one point it swam over to the Wherry and it was often seen at close quarters, albeit only for a second or too, as it was constantly diving. It was here I saw it dive and scyth under water using its wings effortlessly to motor through the water, where it caught a fish. An incredible sight to witness and a wonderful observation, I've not witnessed before and a real privilege to see. I managed to phone work and get my half day transferred from Wednesday afternoon to this morning, Monday morning, I took full advantage by spending around 2 hours with the bird it was a really good workout as I was running or walking quickly with the optical and camera geat and tripod.