Trinity Broads extravaganza

On Saturday 21st January, I headed over to Filby Broad and from the boardwalk, I could see the Broad was totally frozen over with just a small area a long line of open water in the extreme south west corner, in front of the 2 islands were probably around 800 wildfowl, at the very front 3 fine redhead Smew were swimming and diving. Whilst amongst all the Tufted Ducks and Pochards and around 30 Goldeneye was the fine male Red- crested Pochard with its distinctive "day glo mohican" making it reasonably easy to pick out. Much harder to find was the female female Ferruginous Duck that was seen only twice distinguished by the white undertail 'block area' at its rear. A walk down to Ormesby Little Broad, again the Broad was frozen over, but over by the far side, by the reed edge, 4 fine male Mandarins seen, sometimes partially obscured by the reeds then swimming left. To the left, a Great White Egret was perched high up in a tree. Walking back by high up in a silver birch, I saw 2 Siskins. A visit to the bridge area, both Rollesby and Ormesby broads were frozen over, 80 Coot seen on the ice at Ormesby Broad.