Return to Benacre

On Sunday 12th November, a quick check of Melrose Close failed to reveal any waxwings. Next up, a very welcome return to Benacre Broad, walking down to the new hide, a Goldcrest noted in the woods. A quick scan of the Broad revealed a fine male Red- breasted Merganser, right over the far northern side of the Broad. Also there on first scan were a male Pintail, 28 Wigeon and 40 Gadwall. Close in, just outside the inlet directly in front of the hide were 2 immature Brent Geese feeding with 2 Mallards they soon swam west out on the Broad amongst the GBB Gulls c20 seen, were 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls. Meanwhile in the middle of the Broad the fine immature Velvet Scoter was seen, surely the same as the Lowestoft bird. Switching to the scope, I could not find the male RBM, it just disappeared as if by thin air, I didn't see if fly off, where did it go? However, he was soon replaced by a female Red- breasted Merganser which was often close by the Velvet Scoter. A further scan revealed a female Pintail and then first one male Goldeneye surfaced quickly followed by a female Goldeneye too. A follow up trip to Kessingland north beach, nice to see the 11 Snow Buntings in flight flying north and the feeding by the short section of a thick black pipe on the beach including 1 whiter male bird but no sign whatsoever of the Shore Larks which were conspicuously absent. James W and Jon B had also checked the area too, no sign. A return visit to Melrose Close, Oulton, Lowestoft around 2.40pm was much more successful with Waxwings seen perched up and in flight, they flew to a close Mountain Ash tree and started feeding, I counted 12 Waxwings but the whole group then flew high north- west. POSTSCRIPT: Having compared Carl B's shot of the bird on Benacre Broad with the recent Mutford Lock/ Oulton Broad bird I am convinced they are the same bird as the facial markings fit exactly.