A productive weekend...considering the relentless wind

After a late start on Saturday, I spent some time watching the grazing marshes from various vantages but saw rather little other than a lone male Marsh Harrier, quartering the marshes. I hadn't been in the hide long at all in the early afternoon though when a Bittern flew slowly across the pond at Holme Marsh and was to be seen briefly foraging at the edge of the reed island. On Sunday, the 20 or so Snow Buntings on the beach at Holme looked fine indeed, whilst a superb Stoat on the north-facing slopes of Ringstead Downs was in its winter ermine, save for a black tail tip, brown ears and a pale brown smudge over its back. It was visiting the numerous rabbit burrows, no doubt in search of a tasty morsel. Two Tundra Bean Geese were with a flock of about 300 Pink-footed Geese in the field opposite the water tower at the south end of Hunstanton. Spring was just about in evidence with the first Winter Aconites of the year opening in Holme Village and a small number of Snowdrops in flower in Ringstead Downs. There was also an open Hazel catkin here with abundant Lords and Ladies pushing up through the leaf litter. Several Alexanders were in flower on the verge between Hunstanton Old and New Towns. The undoubted highlight though was an egg case of the Lesser Spotted Dogfish. Ive found them before but they are unusual !

Winter Aconite, Holme, 10th January 2015

Hazel, Ringstead Downs, 11th January 2015

Fungus (to be identified), Ringstead Downs, 11th January 2015

Egg-case of Lesser Spotted Dogfish, Holme, 11th January 2015