Gulls galore at Sea Palling

On Saturday 24th January, I waited until news that the Iceland was still there and rather belatedly at midday I left and I parked up by the roadside and walked down to Sea Palling Lifeboat station walking just nnorth where the rocky reefs were, it has been some time since I was last here. It was immediately apparaent there were a lot of Gulls, estimated 3,000 on the sea/ beach. Lots of herring Gulls, Black- headed Gulls with c5 Common Gulls and a Kittiwake seen too. Also on the beach was a charming flock of c100 Sanderling, with fieldcraft they proved confiding and I managed a few shots of these bird. Sadly I rarely see them these days, that is a hard bird to see in Suffolk these days, Lowestoft birds having disappeared years ago and the former reliable site of North Kessingland they have been absent this year, I suspect this is due to the increased disturbance of both areas. Sadly, Sea Palling beach this Saturday afternoon, had a lot of dog walkers which was occasionally disturbing these flock. I saw a couple I recognised and they kindly pointed out the excellent 1st winter Iceland Gull which was perched just left of the third green sign on the reef although it was hard to spot as it was obscured by a Herring Gull stood right in front of it, but the head, wings and tail could be seen. I then alked back onto the beach took some more sanderling pics and then a Purple Sandpiper appeared amongst them, late on 6 extra Purple Sandpipers appeared, totalling 7 in total plus around 5 Turnstones and 3 Oystercatchers. The couple had said they had seen Little Gull but try as I might I just couldn't see one. The Iceland then flew towards us and settled onto the sea when it promptly disappeared. The Iceland Gull was later seen south of its original position where it was stood on the shore. I quickly walked over but very annoyingly a dog walker was just in front of me and I missed what would have been good pics when the dog flushed all the birds perched on the beach edge. Looking out to sea, I could occasionally pick out the Iceland Gull us but with the deep rolling waves it was soon frequently lost from view. I did however pick up an adult winter Mediterranean Gull flying just over the waves crashing by the shore. After the dog walker had thankfully departed, Gull started assembling on the beach again and I picked out a fine retarded juvenile/ 1st winter Caspian Gull, if I am correct with the ID, this is a belated first for Norfolk for me! Typically an elegant slim bird with long wings primaries, a long slender bill deep pear shaped head with the peak of the crown behind the eye. The head was strikingly white. Long slender pink legs. Features included a very pale underwing, classic pear shaped head with long slender bill, streaked neck collar on the nape, anchor markings on the scapulars. Black tail terminal band contrasting on a white basal tail. Unusually I didn't see a single Seal! At Horsey, I saw a flock of c40 Lapwings and 2 female Marsh Harriers. Plus a few Pink-footed Geese flying over, skeins of 30 & 2. A big flock of 60 Greylag Geese and 30 Mute Swans also seen.