Don't panic, I am still alive. Stupid Tiscali and BT couldn't sort their ar**s from their elbows but after nearly 2 weeks we finally have the Internet again.

You haven't missed much really. With the combination of the weather and working in the garden I have barely done any birding recently. Spent a pleasant day birding in the Brecks last week looking for some of the speciality stuff. The weather wasn't great but it was calm if a bit overcast.

Started at Santon Downham looking for lesser spots. No joy as usual and from talking to other people they are getting very difficult here and hadn't been seen for a few weeks. Had a walk around the forestry and got good views of at least 3 singing woodlarks and several groups of crossbills going over. There was also 60 bramblings (over 200 earlier in the winter) feeding under the beech trees around the carpark. Moved onto one of the regular sites for goshawk and after an hour got lucky with a displaying pair for a few minutes. Finished off the day with 10 hawfinches and 40+ crossbills at Lynford but no firecrests.

singing male hawfinch at Lynford and male brambling @ Santon Downham