Despite a manic New Year (child wrestling, cocktails, 4hr Wii marathon), Adam and I managed to escape the mayhem and catch up with a few birds. After New Year fish and chips in Wells we left Hayley and Rachael with the boys and headed to Cley for the Western sand. The bird showed as well as the last time I had seen it but the light was better. Once Adam was happy (Britsh tick for him) we headed back home via the Fakenham great grey shrike.

This morning we made a brief visit to the reserve so Adam could catch up with the Coues's Arctic redpoll. Eventually the bird showed well in the alders in the picnic area and we headed home happy.

I have decided to do two yearlists in 2012. The most important task is to get close to (and beat) the 210 I managed in 2010. Not got off to a flyer but the redpoll is the highlight in the 22 species so far. The other list is a garden yearlist with the aim to see and hear as many species as possible in and from the garden. An afternoon in front of the back windows produced 20 species with the highlight a merlin overhead.