Potteric Carr YWT

After our frankly disappointing trip to Old Moor we decided to call in at Potteric Carr. Since we have only ever been to this site once before we still don't really know much about it. When we arrived the species reportings was frankly very short considering, but we set off anyway. We headed for the field center initially, the only thing we saw along the way was a pheasant which was sat by the side of the path. We decided to go round the main area of the reserve, and area that we had not really looked at before and see what was around there. We tackled it in a clockwise direction since the first hide on the left was meant to have nesting kingfishers...

We did not see a kingfisher, but there was plenty of stuff in the hides, though in smaller quantities than those at Old Moor. However, after a short while of watching I got a big surprise when a Barnacle Goose decided to swim out from behind the reeds. It was my first of the year but it does seem rather late, the reason for my surprise. Either way, it was a good surprise and a stunning bird to add to my year list. 

-Barnacle Goose

Other significant birds at this pool were a family of young Canada Geese and a singing cettis warbler, but as per we did not see it.

Following on down the path we reached the first hide that overlooks the main, central, lakes and scrapes. There was a small selection of birds, including Teal, Gadwall and Redshank. As we watched however my dad noticed 2 small waders along the near island, and called them as ringed plovers. However, when I got down to look I realised that they were Little Ringed Plover, a charming little bird that I am really starting to see a lot of I now notice.

It was during this time that we were joined by another birder. We got chatting and he mentioned that there were a pair of black necked grebe at the far hide, the last one we would reach. It was in this moment that my second year tick appeared in the form of a Common Sandpiper which flew across the pond and alighted on the bank right where we could not see it. After we left the hide we back-tracked in order to get a better view and check that it was indeed a common sand. It was indeed.

We skimmed over the remaining hides, partly due to the BNG's and partly due to the fact that we were running out of time regarding the car park closing time. We eventually arrived at Duchess hide, having only really picked up Little Egret and a booming bittern, seen but not heard, along the way.

And so I began my search for the BNG's. After an initially excitement and disappointment in the form of a female pochard I tracked them down to the reeds at the far side of the pond. They epitomize the term 'stunning bird'. They really were, with their yellow ear tufts and stunning black bodies. They were a joy to watch as they drifted in an out of the reeds and fished around the back. I only really wish that they would have come closer, as my photos were really poor. Not only are they a year-tick but they are also a Life for me, how exciting is that?

-Black Necked Grebes

We decided to finish off our walk along the top of the reserve. There was not much going on there, but a couple of shellduck did drop onto the reserve pools while we were there. They seemed to have beef with the shoveler as the male bird would not relent in his pursuit of the male shoveler. However, his efforts were in vain, as there seemed to be an increase in the numbers of shoveler for his efforts, not a decrease.

-Shellduck

I was very impressed with the reserve, more than what I had expected. 1 lifer and 2 other year-ticks is a great result for the day, bringing my total up to 137 for the year, surpassing all the other years that I have records for, and its still only April. What a year I am having.

Species List:

Potteric Carr YWT: Pochard, Gadwall, Blue Tit, Graylag Goose, Barnacle Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Coot, Black-Headed Gull, Magpie, Tufted Duck, Carrion Crow, Pheasant, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Shoveler, Starling, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Woodpigeon, Long-Tailed Tit, Redshank, Teal, Common Sandpiper, Sand Martin, Little Ringed Plover, Cormorant, Great-Crested Grebe, Herring Gull, Moorhen, Little Egret, Black-Necked Grebe, Blackcap, Grey Heron, Dunlin, Reed Bunting, Shellduck, Robin, Magpie,

Old Moor

Today was my last day at home prior to my return to Uni. I had decided to head back a little earlier so that I could travel around and pick up some great birds, and it started today. My mum had long wanted to go to Old Moor so we decided to call off on the way back to the flat.

We arrived at 10.30, the weather warm but humid. I was secretly hopeful of an arctic tern since so many seem to have decided to drift inland over the last few days. However, it was not to be. At the first hide there was plenty of Black-Headed Gulls, as well as some Sand Martins and a couple of Tree Sparrows, but there was little else. I tried hunting down the med gulls but failed to find any.

Moving onwards to Wader Scrape the continued to be ample Black-Headed Gulls, but there was not much else besides. I did however, though overhearing birder conversation, track down a small group of 3 Avocets, one in the water, 2 sleeping (pictured). It was nice to see them so far up north, they are my first outside of Norfolk. Sadly though, they were quite a way away and I was unable to get any decent photos.

-Avocets

The other hides passed much the same, with Little Grebe, Pochard and an elusive Sedge Warbler being the highlights. I did also track down a very vocal blackcap singing from the top of a small tree. That would also be a highlight.

On the way back I found my parents, who had decided to go for a coffee when I had set off. They had also not seen anything, and since it was now nearly lunchtime we decided to go to the cafe. Once done we then  set off again. We decided to call in at the family hide, still no arctic terns to show for it though.

However, after a while my dad said that he had found a Med Gull, and I was able to confirm it for him. It seems that I just can't find these birds for myself, as whenever I look they are never there.

We continued looking and finally found my own, different Med Gull on a different island. Then I found another. After a short while bird two and bird three started to sit together, possibly suggesting breeding?

-Med Gull 1

After that we decided that there were too many screaming kids around and that we could probably do better elsewhere. As a result we decided to call it quits at Old Moor and head off elsewhere. On the way out however we decided to have a look at the feeders. There was some good stuff; Stock Dove, Collard Dove, Bullfinch but the highlight was when my dad said that he had seen a siskin. When we got eyes on it though it was actually a stunning male Yellowhammer. It spent about 10mins foraging around the feeding area before we lost it into the nettles. It was a great view though, and of a great bird.

-Yellowhammer

And that was the last act of our brief trip to Old Moor. Sadly it did not really live up to previous occasions, but at the same time we had seen some lovely things. It would have undoubtedly been better if there were fewer screaming kids. 

Species List:

Old Moor RSPB: Black-Headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Coot, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Sand Martin, Tree Sparrow, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Cormorant, Redshank, Canada Goose, Oystercatcher, Willow Warbler, Moorhen, Mallard, Mute Swan, Graylag Goose, Lapwing, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Chaffinch, Shoveler, Avocet, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Pochard, Shelduck, Stock Dove, Collard Dove, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Blackbird, Reed Bunting, Mediterranean Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Yellowhammer, 

Return to the Owls

After yesterdays success today my mum wanted to go up and see the Little Owls, since it was not too far. So we turned up in the pouring rain and while she waited I tried to track down an Owl. I did only manage to find one, though progress was hampered due to me initially checking the wrong wall. It Owl was sat in a hole in the wall to try and shelter from the rain, but we got decent views of it through the scope. Once more due to the distance the photos are not great.

-Little Owl

Species List:

Undisclosed Site: Little Owl, Lapwing

Wandering the Moors and an Undisclosed location

 After our walk at Wycolle I decided to head off to an undisclosed location that Dave Sutcliffe had told me about where I stood a good chance of seeing little owl, a very charismatic bird that I hardly ever see. As a result, and seeing as I was doing a yearlist and was taking my birding more seriously I decided to try and track some down, and Dave had kindly provided me with a location where I would be able to see them.

To get there we headed to Ogden and up onto the moors via the Golf Course. Ogden was pretty quiet, a pair of Lesser Black-Backed Gulls on the buoy being the highlight. The golf course was similarly quiet, though we did stumble across a mixed tit flock feeding on the edge of the woodland.

It was as we left the golf course that things started to look up. As soon as we reached the old Withens pub did a Sparrowhawk fly past us hunting the fields there. The view was brief but was very good. From there we headed down to Cold Edge Dams. There we stumble across a Wheatear, a really nice one, though for most of our time watching it it had had its back to us.

The dams themselves were not very busy bird-wise, but had some stuff on them, such as Tufted Duck and just as we were leaving an Oystercatcher flew over, which was a bit unexpected. The highlight was a House Martin that flew over the dams. Its only me second of the year, and the first one I got a proper view off.

Continuing we wandered onwards to the site. When we arrived we immediately began hunting the walls for the Little owls. It did not look promising after 10 mins, we searching the walls going down the road, my dad searching those going up. However, soon I stationed myself so that I could scan properly and drew out the scope so I can get a proper look. It took about 5 mins but my eyes finally settled upon a lovely pair of little owls. I heralded my dad through a series of waves and gesticulations. Together we watched the owls for some 15 mins, first from the wall where I had originally spotted them and then from the road. They were really nice to watch, and through the scope we got great views, though they were not as bold as little owls often are (or so I'm told). As a result when we tried to get a little closer, we were still not even that close, they startled and left. This was unfortunate, and unexpected as we had hardly left the road and were still in the field opposite from the owls. We still got a great view but as a result were unable to get any decent photos, those being record shots.

-Little Owl

Having lost the owls we continued our way and ended up on the moors on the top of Luddenden Dean. We followed the top path as though going to Fly Flatts. It was along this path that I spotted our find of the day, and possibly my personal rarest ever complete self find. A dark thrush landed on a fence post in front of us. I pulled out my bins, but the bird had already taken off. I followed its flight and saw the striking white mark along its chest, making it a stunning male Ring Ouzel. Sadly it was already departing when I identified it, but was unable to re-find it, the only thing re-found was 3 mistle thrushes. Having lost it was a little disappointing but it was still enough, and I was well happy.

We continued along the path until we reached fly flatts. However along the way the weather turned on us and as a result the number of birds dropped rather quickly. On fly flatts there was not much happening besides some red grouse. Along the road we stumbled across 2 wheatear making stonechat noises, as well as a redshank that flew over us. 

The walk down the golf course and then back to the house produced absolutely nothing of note, and so the story of the walk pretty much ends here. It was a long walk and I was dead by the end, though we we had seen loads of stuff and had a good time. The only thing left to do is to give a complete species breakdown...

Species List:

Ogden Water LNR: Goldfinch, Carrion Crow, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Feral Pigeon, Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail, Starling, Skylark, Chaffinch, Magpie, Canada Goose, Mallard, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Meadow Pipit, Coal Tit, Kestrel, Jay, Lapwing, Swallow, Curlew

Cold Edge Dams: Sparrowhawk, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Lapwing, Skylark, Canada Goose, Mallard, Curlew, Tufted Duck, Wheatear, Reed Bunting, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Starling, Pied Wagtail, House Martin, Black-Headed Gull, Oystercatcher, Willow Warbler, Pheasant

Undisclosed location: Little Owl, Meadow Pipit, Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Starling

Warley Moor: Ring Ouzel, Mistle Thrush, Magpie, Red Grouse

Fly Flatts: Red Grouse, Redshank, Wheatear, Lapwing, Meadow Pipit, Curlew, Canada Goose, Swallow

Wycolle CP

So today we decided to go for a family walk at Wycolle CP in Lancashire. Never a true hot-spot for birds but there is usually something around. As it was Easter Monday there were quite a few people around which did not help but there were odd bits to see.

Bird wise it was pretty quiet, with good numbers of Chaffinch and the highlight being a Mistle Thrush that went over at one point. On the duck-pond there were around 29 ducklings, which is very high for the time of year, I would say at least 3 broods there, but they were all scattered and meandering wherever they wanted. 

There were other things around too, my first orange tip of the year, and there were at least 2, as well as my first tadpoles of the year. Surprisingly they are quite big too, suggesting that they have been hatched for some time.

-Tadpoles

On the way back the drive provided us with Red Grouse, Meadow Pipit and a pair of Curlew, which was nice.

Species List:

Wycolle CP: Mistle Thrush, Mallard, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Willow Warbler, Wren, Swallow, Woodpigeon, Lesser Black-Backed Gull,

Driving: Lapwing, Curlew, Meadow Pipit, Red Grouse, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Canada Goose,

Ogden this morning

I had a quick wander round Ogden this morning for a few hours to see if there was anything about. There were good numbers of Chaffinches in the woodland as well as a few Willow Warblers, one of which I got pretty decent views of. Overall it was a very pleasant walk, following is the species list...

Species List:
Ogden Water LNR: Mallard, Graylag Goose, Canada Goose, Black-Headed Gull, Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Jackdaw, Coal Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Greenfinch, Goldfinch

Norfolk Holiday Day 5

The final day in Norfolk, and sadly not a birdwatching day. We had decided to go to an aviation museum near Newark, which was surrounded by agricultural land, so that would be a long dull afternoon. However, first we decided we would go for a walk along the beach at West Runton before packing and leaving Norfolk.

The walk was very nice, not much birdwise but pleasant enough due to the lovely weather. I also found a stunning fossil Echinoid, the first time I have ever found one. On the bird front there were good numbers of Swallows and Skylarks as well as various gulls. However, just as we were leaving we stumbled across a lovely pair of Turnstones on the slipway, though they then went onto a groyne and began hunting the seaweed.

-Turnstone

By the time we left Norfolk it had clouded over, and as we headed off it even started to rain. The way back did not have as much as the way there, though there was good numbers of Red-Legged Partridge and Pheasants, but that was about it. The weather was probably responsible for the lack of raptors.The other bird of note was a few Stock Doves around some of the farmland.

The air museum had very little, as you would expect. There were quite a few Linnets about, as well as a Blackbird and a Robin, but that was it.

And that was the final act in the Norfolk holiday, the holiday that has resulted in 4 lifers and plenty of year ticks, almost 20. So, today's list:

Species List:

West Runton Beach: Herring Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Swallow, Turnstone, Linnet,

Driving: Red-Legged Partridge, Chaffinch, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Pheasant, Kestrel,  

Newark Aviation Museum: Linnet, Blackbird, Robin

Norfolk Holiday Day 4

And so on the last full day in Norfolk I decided to return to Titchwell since it had given so much more than Cley had yesterday. Once more it took me the best part of the morning to get to the site, but once there the weather was lovely and hopefully there would be plenty of morning reports for me to go for. 

I arrived at the site and checked the list. Both the mornings oddities were at Patsy's Reedbed; Pink Footed Goose and Lesser Whitethroat, the latter would be a lifer for me. I therefore headed straight to there. I wandered up to the view point over the pool and immediately spotted the PFG, which was resting among the graylags on the near side of the pool. I watched it for about 10 mins before deciding it would be time to try and locate the Lesser Whitethroat. 

-Pink-Footed Goose

So having picked up a great tick in the PFG, and got my best ever photos of the species I headed on to where the whitethroat was. It had been reported in the hedge behind the the pool, not showing well but calling frequently. As I had been asking for info about the bird at the center one of the birders wandered by who had seen it. He asked if I knew what one sounded like, and said that it sounded like a yellowhammer but without the 'cheese' when I replied no.

And so I stood next to the hedge listening for a yellowhammer with no cheese. And after about a minuet I heard it. I followed its call for some time before I saw it shadowy figure moving through the hedge. That was the pattern for a good 20 mins, following the skulky bird through the hedge without getting a real good view, but frequently hearing its call. 

After the 20mins it had a quiet spell, before having a very loud spell and then deciding to up-sticks and head away from that hedge and a different one away on the far side of the field. I tried to get a record shot as it flew off, but I struggled and my only effort is shown below, the bird being near the bottom right corner. You can see the dark cap if you blow up the photo enough, but photos are not everything, and my record shot is enough, as it pretty much sums up my view of the bird, skulky and difficult to see.

But see it I did, making it my 4th lifer of the holidays, and that was exciting enough when I had only just started the mornings birding.

-Lesser Whitethroat

Since the whitethroat had left I turned to find that the PFG had left to my disappointment. As a result I decided to head off, and just as I was leaving I turned again and what should drop out of the reeds but a Bittern. I could not believe it, as it landed right on the edge of the reeds on the edge of the pool, allowing me a great view of the bird. 

It stayed at the edge for a little while before merging itself into the back of the reeds. I managed a few photos but struggle to find it through the scope. The bins were enough, though they were not necessarily needed for a great view.

-Bittern

As I waited to see if the bittern would come back out the PFG returned with a small group of Graylag's, and landed on the pool. It took a little while but it returned to the bank soon enough and I was able to pick up a few more photos with the light with me this time. So that's 3 pretty awesome bird species and I had not even been onto the main part of the reserve.

-Pink-Footed Goose

I began my walk up the Western Bank to the Parrinder Hides. On the way up along the edge of the woods where the reeds are I heard a very familiar call that I have been hearing all week. It was the stunning and shocking call of a Cettis Warbler. As I turned to see if I could find the source of the call I spotted a small reddish warbler fly out of the reeds and land lower down. I then got to follow the bird as it skulked through the bottom of the reeds before it flew off into the woodland. So that was my second Cettis Warbler of the Holiday, and only my 4th ever.

The hides were quite quiet by the high standards set last time, though there were still great numbers of wildfowl and waders. There were a few Little-Ringed Plover and Avocets, as well the usual suspects. I decided to head up to the coast and see what was around up that end. 

On the way up to the beach I was able to watch some lovely birds along the edge of Volunteer Marsh and Tidal Marsh. There were good numbers of Grey Plover and Brent Geese, but the highlights was a small group of Avocets over the tidal marsh which did a few Loop-de-Loops over the marsh before coming back down and landing on the island. Because they were in flight you can really appreciate the beauty and elegance of these birds.

-Avocet

Up on the coast I arrived just in time to see a flock of scoters with white wings come and land on the ocean quite near the shore. I had a look through the scope, and possibly because the sea was calm, or perhaps because they were closer I was actually able to fully appreciate the birds and even see the yellow on their bills and the white on the wing.

I still could not really count the number of each species in the flock, but I knew there were a large majority Velvet due to the number of white wings that I had seen when they landed. I grabbed some better record shots, which show that quite a few of the birds do indeed have white wings, but that some don't, a mixture flock.

-Common and Velvet Scoters

I was able to watch them for quite a while, though the started to drift out to sea, and then drift towards the western part of the beach until they ended up some was away. At that point I began to look around, see what else was about. Someone had decided to wander right down to the edge of the water, not a birder, someone on the beach, but in doing so they had sent up all the birds from the shoreline, Sanderlings, Dunlin and Bar-Tailed Godwit. The numbers of them can be difficult to tell if they are on the shoreline feeding, but when they were all in the air you can see the number of Sanderlings, far more than I had thought initially.

-Sanderling, Bar-Tailed Godwit and Dunlin

Also the near the waters edge was a small group of Common Scoter, 2 males and 2 females. The males however drifted off while the waders were up, but the females stuck around very close to the shore. I wanted to get close to the bird, since it was so close to the shore, but I decided against it in case I incurred the wrath of any other sea-watchers, though they would probably be watching the larger but drifting flock of other scoters. So in the end the photos were not what they could have been, but I did manage to get some decent photos of it.

-Female Common Scoter

Since the scoters had drifted away I decided to head down to the South Parrinder Hide to see if anything else had shown up through the day while I had not been there. I went in and began to scout around to see what was about. There was the usual stuff, until I took my eye away from the scope and spotted, on the bank right in front of the hide, the Spotted Redshank.

I'm always dubious in calling birds like this in case I am wrong, but exclaimed it more in surprise since I had been looking all over and here it was right in front of me. I got some great views and took plenty of photos, allowing me to fully appreciate the subtly beauty of the bird, as well as get to grips with all the key features: Spots, dark bill and the slight droop on the end of the bill.

Like I said, I got many photos, and who wouldn't with such an usual bird right in front of me looking so fine in the sunshine. Unlike last time, the sun was with me this time so all the spots on the birds back show up well in the photos, clearly showing the bird in all its glory.

-Spotted Redshank

Between my Spotted Shank watching a small family of Mallards swam across the front of the hide. You could tell the dude birders in that moment, as they became infatuated with the ducklings, while the other birders remained watching the Spotted Shank in front of the hide. I took a few quick photos of the Ducklings simply because its the first family I have seen this year, though of course there was the duckling on fly flatts, sadly though that one was dead. 

-Mallard Ducklings

-Spotted Redshank

After a while I decided to return to see if the scoters had come closer to the shore. They had not, the only birds of note being Sandwich Terns that drifted past the shore. However, on the way up I was able to get great views of a stunning Black-Tailed Godwit in summer plumage, on the small strip of water along the edge of the Volunteer Marsh. 

-Black-Tailed Godwit

After that short trip I called in again at the South Hide to see if the Spot shank was still there, but it had left, probably insulted by the number of 'birders' that seemed more keen on the ducklings that the shank. Time was running out for me so I decided to go and see if the Whitethroat had turned up. On the way there I stopped by to grab a few more photos of the Avocets, who even knows when I will next see one...

-Avocet

On the way I passed the Reedbed Pool, and on there was a pair of Red-Crested Pochard. The male and female were drifted from each other, the male drifted behind the reeds as I approached, but the female was sat quite close to the path. I managed a few photos of the bird, another record shot of this species. 

-Red Crested Pochard Female

I checked where the Whitethroat had been but it was not there, and neither was the PFG. In fact, the only thing that made that bit of the walk interesting was the fact that I stumbled across my first damselfly of the year, a fleeting glimpse of a Large Red Damselfly as it flew across the path. 

All in all, a great day, all four lifers of the holiday in one day, if that there was one addition today. And that will probably be the last birding action of the day. The only thing left to do is to give a full breakdown of all the species seen today...

Species List:

Titchwell Marsh: Pied Wagtail, Lesser Whitethroat, Pink-Footed Goose, Graylag Goose, Tufted Duck, Black-Headed Gull, Willow Warbler, Shelduck, Wren, Gadwall, Oystercatcher, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Woodpigeon, Robin, Cettis Warbler, Shoveler, Pochard, Teal, Avocet, Grey Plover, Redshank, Brent Goose, Herring Gull, Dunlin, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Ruff, Little Ringed Plover, Canada Goose, Lapwing, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Little Egret, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Turnstone, Sandwich Tern, Sanderling, Jackdaw, Common Crow, Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Red-Crested Pochard, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Pheasant, Long-Tailed Tit, Swallow, Red-Legged Partridge, Large Red Damselfly, Speckled Wood, Large White, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell,

Norfolk Holiday Day 3

So as yesterday was Titchwell day, today can be Cley day. Yes, and it was another lovely day, added to by the fact that the find had dropped, thank goodness. And the day started smashing as well, because no sooner did I arrived on site than did I hear and then see my first Sedge Warbler of the year. It was sat on a bramble ticket singing its heart out allowing me to get some record shots of this year tick.

-Sedge Warbler

However, it may have started well, but in the same region as the Sedge warbler was singing there was another warbler singing, a cettis, exploding out from a bush right next to the path, and yet still I could not see it. The pain of being so close and not being able to do anything is unbearable, but after quite a while waiting I decided it might be an idea to try and find some other birds rather than spend all day following this bird that would probably never show.

And find other birds I did, as I heard a 3rd species drop a low ping followed by a small black bird with a long tail dive into the reeds opposite the river. It was of course a bearded tit, my first of the year. I waited to see if I would get a better view but alas it did not happen like that and it failed to re-show.

I made my way to the hides to see what was about on there. Nothing major had been reported in but it was still early in the morning. Or it could just have been that there was nothing major around, as there was nothing to really add to the hide from what was there last night. There were still Little Ringed Plover, which were the undoubted highlights, and good numbers of Avocet but nothing really different was around. One marsh harrier flew over, which I grabbed a record shot of in order to add to my year-list photo album. 

-Marsh Harrier

After the hides I headed up to Blakeney to see if there was anything on the sea. On the way up I passed the field where the Brent Geese had been before. There were still some there but in lower numbers, and they were further away than before. Almost at Blakeney I spotted Wheatear fly past me, distinctive by it white rump. That was the highlights really. The sea had very little on it, mainly Herring and Black-Headed Gulls. The hide at the northern end of the reserve had been washed away by the storm surge, but I had a look over the pool where it had been. The only addition there was a small flock of ringed plovers that took off and flew away up towards Blakeney point, my first of the holiday though which was nice.

I did the full circuit of the reserve, but found little else to add to the list besides the small numbers of wildfowl and waders. I even reached the end of the walk before lunchtime, and so decided to check out the small Hill Reserve at the bottom corner of Cley, to see if I could track down any whitethroat that might have come back. 

There was none, but there was another cettis warbler singing which led me on a little chase through the woodland trying to track it down, which I failed to do of course. However, in chasing down the bird I stumbled across a small feeding station, and on one of the feeders there was a small rodent cheekily making away with some seeds, probably a wood mouse.

-Wood Mouse

When I gave up on the cettis I decided to go and see if I could find the one that was outside the visitor center. On the short walk there I heard and briefly saw another Bearded Tit, but again the view was brief and I was unable to get any other view. 

I arrived at the site where the warbler was, and after a short while heard the familiar song again. I then spent a good half an hour following the birds movement through the bush. At one point a pair of birders wandered past me and said 'you've got no chance mate', so much for birder-birder support. After a little longer and another explosive song session I spotted it finally, through the bush. I caught a glimpse of the red in the silhouette. I was very pleased, but the view was brief as it dipped down. I decided to nip round and see if I would be able to see it on the other side from the edge of the bush.

And a view I got indeed, as it was perched on a bramble branch that was stuck out from the bush over the water. Sadly it was too brief a view for a photo, but it was the best view I have ever had of this species, as it sat there and sang for all of 10 seconds. It was a pity not to be able to get a photo of this view I got, but its not the most important thing. 

I saw its silhouette again after a little while, but I was unable to see it again after that. After about 40 mins I decided to head back to Blakeney to watch the sea for a little while before heading home. On the way up to Blakeney there remained a few Brent Geese on the field, and this time I decided to take a few photos to add to the list for the day. 

-Brent Geese

Also on the way up was a Little Egret fishing in one of the pools on the saltmarsh. I grabbed a few shots since I have not got one of an Egret yet this year, but it was not a great photo.

-Little Egret

The heat on Blakeney Point was pretty incredible, the haze making it difficult to see much up the shingle. There was a Common Lizard on the edge of saltmarsh which I flushed. I was very surprised at that, I would have thought it would have been too early to see any reptiles, but at the same time it was very hot, so it makes sense that they would start to come out now.

I spent a relaxing half an hour sat on Blakeney point. There was nothing out to sea, but after a bit I was joined by a Black-Headed Gull on the shingle, which came very close to me. Sadly most of my photos were too dark due to the back light, but I managed a few nice ones, just as well considering how close it was to me. 

-Black-Headed Gull

I will not lie, I was a little disappointed by how quiet Cley was over the day, but that's probably a result of the comedown from yesterday, when I had 3 lifers. But there was still plenty of birds around, and 3 year ticks. Overall it was still a good day, the only thing left to do is to break down the day list:

Species List:

NWT Cley Marshes: Sedge Warbler, Greenfinch, Starling, Lapwing, Woodpigeon, Marsh Harrier, Avocet, Ruff, Little Ringed Plover, Shelduck, Graylag Goose, Mute Swan, Black-Headed Gull, Oystercatcher, Coot, Pied Wagtail, Teal, Redshank, Brent Goose, Grey Heron, Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Common Buzzard, Goldfinch, Little Egret, Jackdaw, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Skylark, Cormorant, Kestrel, Ringed Plover, Swallow, Black-Tailed Godwit, Chaffinch, Wren, Great Tit, Cettis Warbler, Bearded Tit, Wigeon, Dunlin, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Herring Gull, Common Lizard, Wood Mouse, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Large White

Caravan Site: Blue tit, Great Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Woodpigeon, Rabbit