Northwest Norfolk Naturalists

I met up with Andy at dusk. It was over looking the paddocks at the end of Broadwater Road. Andy was hoping for a late glimpse of a roosting Woodcock. As I distracted him with a taxing conversation on esoteric environmental matters I had a brief view of a Woodcock as it sped to the safety of the scrub on the banks of the Hun. Sadly Andy missed it. Sorry mate!
Earlier, as the rain moved over for a calm and bright late afternoon, I found myself at the dead end track over-looking the Freshwater marsh. The Pink footed Geese were leaving the marsh in some numbers and amongst them was a gaggle, or is is skein, of five Barnacle Geese, the first of the year for me. Soon afterwards five Snipe flew over , another year first.
A male and female Marsh Harrier came into roost as two Barn Owls and a Short eared Owl quartered the scrub behind, all watched intently by a hoard of birders silhouetted on the coastal path to the north.
One of the Barn Owls was closely attended by a male Kestrel in parasitic mode hampering the Owl's efforts. I had seen the same behaviour a couple of days earlier when  a Merlin lost its prey, a Skylark, because of the unwanted harrassment of a Kestrel.
Robin