Author; David Lee, Southend RSPB Members Group 

Introduction
This Christmas marked a different way to spend the festive season. As my father had died in January 2004 and my brother lives in Sussex and had his own family and in-laws for Christmas 2004 had meant that my mother and I had spent 25^th December on our own. So this year she had announced her intention, in August, to go to a hotel this year and have someone else do the catering. Shortly after this I saw, in the September issue of Bird Watching, an advert for a Christmas break bird watching based in Ely. So we promptly booked two places. 

The Trip 

Saturday 24^th
Having arrived at our hotel, in the centre of Ely, the break started with a 7 p.m. informal meeting for drinks and to be greeted by our hosts Trevor and Veronica Gunton. After the evening meal that followed we met for an initial briefing and a short presentation from our hosts to introduce us to the area.

Sunday 25^th
We met at 9 a.m. for a sunny, guided walk past the cathedral and down to the river. We then progressed north through a country park. This gave us an impressive list. Starling, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin, Great Tit, Marsh Tit, Blue tit, Rook, House Sparrow, Collared Dove, Black-headed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Mallard, Mute Swan, Chaffinch, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Kestrel, Redwing, Fieldfare, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Magpie, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Long-tailed Tit, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker and Lesser Black-backed Gull. 

The rest of the day was our own but on a short walk along the river I saw about 50 Pied Wagtail coming into roost as the light faded. 

Monday 26^th
A 9 a.m. start took us by coach to Lynford Arboretum in the Thetford Forest. En route we saw Pheasant, Carrion Crow, Red-legged Partridge, Black-headed Gull, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Magpie, a couple of Ostrich on a farm, Blackbird and Kestrel. At the arboretum the weather was sunshine and short showers. We had hoped to see Crossbill, Hawfinch and Lesser Redpoll but the bird life was rather sparse. We did see Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Canada Goose, Mallard, Little Grebe, Marsh Tit, Cormorant, Robin, Tifted Duck, Moorhen and Mistle Thrush. 

After a picnic lunch at the arboretum we drove to Welney, where the work on building a new visitors centre is well under way, En route we saw a flock of about 2,000 Bewicks Swans in a field. At the centre we saw more Bewicks together with Teal, Curlew, Ruff, Pochard, Wigeon, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan,  Pintail, Shoveler, Sparrowhawk,  Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Shelduck and Common Gull. The weather at Welney was sunny. 

Tuesday 27^th
The weather forecast had been for heavy show showers so we departed at 9 a.m. for the north Norfolk coast with some trepidation. En route we saw Carrion Crow, Black-headed Gull, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Kestrel, Pheasant, Rook, Grey Heron, Woodpigeon, Oystercatcher, Starling and Brent Goose. Luckily the heavy snow did not materialise although we did have some showers and occasional strong winds. Our morning stop was at Titchwell where the weather closed in just as I reached the shore. The wind got up and blew the hail and snow almost horizontally for about 15 minutes before dying right away. At Titchwell we saw Chaffinch, Robin, House sparrow, Great Tit, Redshank, Teal, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Little Egret, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Dunnock, Siskin, Blue Tit, Jay, Bullfinch, Shelduck, Egyptian Goose and Lapwing. 

After lunch we went further east to Holkham where we saw Pink-footed Goose, White-fronted Goose, Redwing, Golden Plover, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Snow Bunting and Fieldfare. 

Wednesday 28^th
A sunny, but cold morning took us to Paxton Pits. On the feeders were Collared Dove, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Dunnock and Greenfinch. A guided walk gave us Tufted duck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Song Thrush, Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Robin, Shoveler, Mallard, Coot, Pochard, Goldeneye, Smew, Great Crested Grebe, Goosander, Long-tailed Tit, Kestrel, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer and Goldfinch. Back at the centre for lunch we added Pied Wagtail and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

We then retraced our route to go to Wicken Fern for the afternoon. By the time we arrived the cloud had built up. Most opted for the guided walk with Trevor on the west, but I decided to go round the eastern side. This gave me Barn Owl, Great Grey Shrike, Wren and Fieldfare. During the afternoon it became increasingly dull with a thin fog building up. The final, official part of the holiday was the drive back to Ely but most of the group were staying overnight so we ended with the evening meal where the final list was circulated. 

The Complete List of Species Seen