Eccles Desert Wheatear, Tundra Beans & appalling behaviour from TOGs at the Cranes

On Saturday 4th January, I was keen to go for the Desert Wheatear at Eccles, I got great advice from Jane F and parked at Hempstead Church and walked the 500 yards down the beach and then just south of there walking along by some rocks, a very poor looking young whitish cream Grey Seal pup was on the beach, looking clearly in a very bad way, it was lying on its back and it was not moving at all. I am pleased to report no birders were close to it while I was there. Although there had been earlier reports of appalling behaviour from people being too close and stopping the mother Seal to reach it, absolutely despicable behaviour. It was really good however to see John H, and as we walked along and a group of birders were talking and they actually said the bird was on the top along a path resting, so we walked up and viewed from the gate and it was seen resting on the path. We left it in peace. Around 20 minutes later, it flew onto the grey lip of the inland bit of the promenade, and it was seen very well albeit in shadow as it hopped fed travelling along and south along the top before it flew back onto a fence post. It then disappeared and around 30 minutes later we saw a load of birders rush up the steps, so we followed and behind the caravans we saw a little sandy area littered with bricks rocks and bric-a-brac and the very confiding Desert Wheatear spent time here feeding resting and I finally managed to get acceptable pics of this super bird. Walking back along the promenade the Seal pup had disappeared (I later heard it had been rescued by the Seal clearly under weight, lets hope it survives). Driving back to sea Palling no sign of the hoped for wild swans, but a Mistle Thrush was seen in a field by Waxham. Almost at the end of Horsey strait, around 500 yards south of Horsey Mill, by an area for 2 cars at the east side of the road, a load of Geese were seen what looked like 30 Pink- footed Geese, 15 Greylags and at least 20 White- fronted Geese. I then drove to Martham by and driving a mile down Collis Lane, I could see around 10 geese in the field, they looked like Beans and driving to the electricity sub- station on the advice of a Scottish birder, we saw 15 Tundra Bean Geese and then 4 Pink- footed Geese flew in too, reasonable if distant views. I then drove to a Barn somewhere in Broadland and 3 Cranes (2 adults and 1 immature). I stayed by the barn and took pics from there (but too far away for any decent ones) in order not to disturb the birds. It was frustrating that immediately 2 cars drew up too. 2 birders (who behaved impeccably) who viewed the birds by the barn and then drove off then 2 Toggers with 400mm camera lenses but no binoculars, I thought they might be trouble. One of them asked had I finished and was I going? I asked and requested them to stay by the barn (explaining they would disturb the Cranes if they went any closer) but I had a feeling they would venture closer, I drove off but then went immediately back and waited by the road side by the barn & saw they had walked down the path and the Cranes had initially walked back to the far corner of the field clearly disturbed and the Toggers advanced even further and the Cranes promptly flew off, appalling behaviour, I have photographed both these Toggers and their car registration number, if anyone wants to take this further, clear disturbance of a Schedule 1 bird, totally unacceptable! They had no consideration for the birds' welfare, it was as if they felt they had the absolute right to get as close as possible, absolutely sickening behaviour. No sign of the Cattle Egret at Halvergate although 2 Buzzards and a female Marsh Harrier seen hunting here.