Bridge of Sighs - Robin Trower (ex Procul Harum)

Leaving Hull this morning at 10:30 the sun was once again shining, but today not as welcome as it might have been. With at least 3 hours behind the wheel. most in a southerly direction, there was glare to contend with most of the way. However, the up side was that I was able to view 2 'man made' structures not seen before, at least with the first

The Humber Bridge for the first time in daylight. The National Express had crossed it on my journey up and under cover of darkness, but today I was able to see it in all its dramatic glory.

If that was good, then the next was spectacular.

There is no bye-pass around the city so Lincoln Cathedral is viewable from all angles and what a wonderful sight. With this under my belt I have now seen all the Cathedrals of Great Britain from The Wash south.

There was also an opportune stop at RAF Waddington as I saw these huge aircraft come into view.

The first a Vulcan and the

the other a Nimrod R1, the new AWAC Sentinel R1 also fly from this station.

In south Lincolnshire just short of the Norfolk border stands the Sutton Swing Bridge where I stood for about 30 minutes in the hope that it may operate, but no such luck.

With only about 2 hours of sensible daylight remaining I arrived at Titchwell to a flurry of Wood Pigeons and of course ever present

Black-headed Gulls but on reaching the Nature Reserve Car Park the very first bird I saw was the long staying Coues' Arctic Redpoll feeding with both Mealy and Lesser Redpoll but very high in the Alders. As the wind was well up the Beaufort Scale there was little or no chance of photographs, but tomorrow might be another day?

There was time for a walk to the sea where several Curlew were on view, along with female Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Little Egret, a pair of Greater Scaup and 2 Twite, but all too distant for the lens. Of the latter though, I arrived just in time for a look at them through a telescope making for a cracking sight.

In addition there were also about a dozen Pintail,

6 Whooper Swans,

plus a flock of well over 2,000 Golden Plover

which were occasionally spooked by the Peregrine.

Looking to the north there are 3 large pools this being the first

while to the east is this extensive reed-bed

and further on the third pool looking back towards the main hide.

There were also plenty of Redshank, Dunlin

and Ruff with just one or 2

male Shoveler going about his shovelling. Almost unbelievably during this time and through the drive to Blakeney I didn't see or hear one Pink-footed Goose!!!!

As the Sun disappeared behind the trees

and the Waxing Crescent Moon started to appear I thought to myself that there are good prospects just at one reserve to start the New Year. Just let the blighters stay put.