Sightings at Cley Marshes (5th November 2017)

Despite there being plenty of sunshine on the north Norfolk coast, temperatures struggled to exceed 8°C throughout the morning.

The following was seen since 9.00am:

Little Egret x 2

Stonechat x 2 - The pair were seen close to the Visitor Centre and Coast Road. They have been seen at the same location in recent years. 

Marsh Harrier x 2 - The pair were circling on the northern edge of Pat's Pool throughout the morning. At one point a male landed on one of the scrapes (see image below). 

Marsh Harrier on one of the Pat's Pool scrapes.

Pintail x 1 - A single bird sitting with a large number of Wigeon on Simmonds' Scrape.

Goldfinch x 4

Buzzard x 1

Grey Phalarope x 1 - It landed briefly in front of the hide on Whitwell Scrape and then proceeded to fly around the water for a couple of minutes. Also seen by other birders at Walsey Hills and near the East Bank. 

Dunlin x 12

Knot x 1 - A single bird seen with the Dunlin, on the edge of Simmonds' Scrape.

Sanderling x 1 - Again, a lone bird seen on the northern side of Simmonds' Scrape with 3 Ruff. 

Sightings at Cley Marshes (24th September 2017)

It was surprisingly warm with temperatures easily reaching 19°C by midday. There was also an easterly wind with speeds rising to around 12mph.

We arrived at the East Bank car park at around 9.12am and proceeded to walk to the beach, to carry out a seawatch. We then made our way back to the visitor centre and after having some lunch, spent the afternoon in Daukes Hide. 

The following was seen from 9.12am until 2.00pm:

Gannet x 9 - A mixture of adult and juvenile birds were diving for food along Cley beach.

Brent Goose x 34

Little Egret x 3

Manx Shearwater x 2 - The pair of birds were again seen from Cley beach and flew west towards Blakeney. 

Wheater x 1 - A single bird seen perched on the sand ridge, just north of Arnold's Marsh. 

Meadow Pipit x 2 - One individual was seen close to the Wheater on the same ridge.

Curlew x 1

Kestrel x 2

Buzzard x 1

Ruff x 13 - The majority were seen on Simmonds' Scrape with some in the process of moulting, displaying a large amount of white feathers on the head and neck.

Dunlin x 6 - All were seen on Simmonds' Scrape.

White-front Goose x 1 - A single bird seen hidden among a flock of Greylags. It then proceeded to fly away with the rest of the flock. 

Little Stint x 5 - All were seen on Simmonds' Scrape.

Sightings at Cley Marshes (22nd August 2017)

We arrived at the East Bank car park at around 8.45am, to find the temperature distinctly lower than it had been further inland. As the day proceeded it did became considerably warmer and we ended up wearing t-shirts for most of the day.

Unfortunately we were unable to see any signs of the Hobby, despite the recent sightings being fairly regular over the last few days.

However, what was a pleasant surprise was the sighting of an Otter moving up the main drain, alongside the East Bank. It was seen from a distance, at around 9.45am, and continued to move towards Salthouse.

According to some of the local birders there are three in total and this one was heard calling by the bridge, possibly to the others nearby.

The following was seen throughout the morning:
Little Egret x 9
Avocet x 6
Meadow Pipit x 1 - A single bird was seen near Blakeney Eye, at the end of the East Bank.
Reed Bunting x 1
Curlew x 12 - All seen together directly opposite the Babcock Hide.
Egyptian Goose x 3
Green Sandpiper x 1 - A solitary bird seen moving along the water's edge in front of the Babcock Hide.
Ruff x 7
Greenshank x 1 - Another singular bird seen in front of the Babcock Hide.
Kestrel x 1
Grey Heron x 1
Golden Plover x 3
Sandwich Tern x 1

Sightings at Cley Marshes (25th June 2017)

After a prolonged absence I finally returned to Cley Marshes on the Sunday. The weather was considerably more comfortable than it had been in recent weeks, with temperatures staying constant at around 20°C.

The following was seen throughout the morning since 9.00am:

Kestrel x 1 - Hovering alongside the Coast Road when we arrived.

Little Egret x 5

Spoonbill x 1 - Seen at a distance, from the East Bank, flying across Pat's Pool.

Sandwich Tern x 41 - All seen directly opposite Richardson's Lookout on Arnold's Marsh.

Common Tern x 9 - They were seen at the same location on Arnold's Marsh.

Oystercatcher x 11

Avocet x 19

Reed Warbler x 1

Grey Heron x 1

Skylark x 2 - They were seen not far from the Beach Car park, alongside the coastal path.

Sedge Warbler x 1

Also seen along the East Bank were large numbers of Cinnabar caterpillars.

Cinnabar Caterpillars (East Bank)

Sightings at Cley Marshes and Walsey Hills NOA (5th April 2017)

Arrived shortly after 9.30am and parked the car at the end of the East Bank.

This time we decided to take a slightly different route around Cley and we walked in an easterly direction along Attenborough Way, towards the Babcock Hide. It was our hope that we would see the Water Pipit that had been reported recently, but sadly this was not the case.

We then crossed the Coast Road and walked west up Walsey Hills and then through the Walsey Hills NOA reserve.  After stopping at the NWT Cley Visitor Centre, we then finished off the day by visiting the main bird hides opposite Pat's Pool and Simmond's Scrape.

Despite temperatures being around 9°C, it felt considerably warmer. There were also winds from a north westerly direction of around 16-17mph,

Ruff x 3 - A single bird seen opposite the Babcock Hide on Watling Water, whilst the other two were on Simmond's Scrape later in the day.

A Ruff as seen on Simmond's Scrape.

Canada Goose x 4 - All seen from a distance on Pope's Pool shortly after we arrived in the morning.

Little Egret x 3

Oystercatcher x 4

Gadwall x 4 - All seen together on Watling Water.

Pied Wagtail x 2

Redshank x 7

Pochard x 3

Curlew x 4

Avocet x 45 - The majority were seen across Pat's Pool and Simmond's Scrape.

Skylark x 3 - A pair appeared to be nesting in the field, close to the path, leading to the Babcock Hide.

Little Grebe x 2 - The pair were seen together on Snipe's Marsh on the Walsey Hills NOA reserve.

Black-tailed Godwit x 24 - All seen close together on Simmond's Scrape.

Whilst walking through the Walsey Hills NOA reserve, we also recorded the various butterflies that we happened to come across:

Small Tortoiseshell x 1

Comma x 1

Small White x 5

Comma seen on Walsey Hills NOA.

Sightings at Cley Marshes (26th March 2017)

There was plenty of sunshine with temperatures around 9°C. The wind was coming in from a north easterly direction, with speeds of around 11-12mph.

Wheatear x 1 - Moving around the edge of the pool of water in Eye Field, at the end of Beach Road.
Golden Plover x 1 - At the end of Beach Road. It appeared to have an injured leg.

Skylark x 4
Kestrel x 1 - Hunting alongside the car park by Cley beach.
Marsh Harrier x 2 - The pair were seen circling the reserve throughout the day.
Canada Goose x 2
Little Egret x 1 - On the edge of Simmond's Scrape.
Avocet x 49 - They were scattered across Simmond's Scrape and Pat's Pool.

Sightings at Cley Marshes (24th March 2017)

Despite temperatures of around 8°C with plenty of sunshine, it felt considerably colder because of the strong winds from the east (between 16-19mph). It was because of this that we decided to cut short our walk along the East Bank.

Marsh Harrier x 2 - A pair were continually flying above the reeds alongside Pat's Pool. At one point the male appeared to be carrying nesting material.
Golden Plover x 40 - They were seen flying together above the The Serpentine.
Redshank x 6
Oystercatcher x 3
Avocet x 83 - They were counted together as they were seen scattered across Pat's Pool. Others were seen later but it was difficult to tell if they were indeed different individuals.

Curlew x 11
Black-Tailed Godwit x 36 - All counted together on Pat's Pool. The majority were in transition to breeding plumage.
Grey Heron x 1
Gadwall x 14