Cley Coastguards
Got up very early and arrived at Coastguards, Cley just before 7.30am. Walked to North Hide to find that the Pacific Golden Plover had not been seen. Lots of avocets with young. A spotted redshank was also seen along with several ringed and little ringed plovers, good numbers of redshank, shelducks, dunlin, teal etc. A moulting Gargeney was also seen (spotted by ETM).
Walked back to Coastguards and sat on the shingle next to the sea's edge. It was so beautiful and peaceful sitting here, watching the sandwich and common terns fishing, which resulted in me taking loads of pictures! Saw a fulmar going west – left here at 9.50am.
Cley Visitor Centre – joined Eddie for a cheese scone.
Kelling Water Meadows
Very little here really, but a lovely walk. A grey partridge was calling in the field adjacent to the beautiful display of poppies wavering in the sunshine. A chiffchaff and a common whitethroat were calling and a speckled wood was seen. Nothing of note on the pool. Walked back to the cafe and browsed through the birds books. If anyone is missing any reports, they had several NOA, Scilly, Birding World and other old bird reports here.
Walsey Hills NOA
I was horrifed to find that I could not walk along the bottom path, as bracken is now intermingled across both sides of the path. The council is responsible for maintaining this path – they have been informed by NOA staff that it needs a number 1 hair cut and it should be done within the next few days. I walked along the roadside verge east from NOA carpark to look at the Sacred Ibis (of unknown origin).
Blakeney Harbour
Walked here with Eddie in hope of re-finding the Pacific Golden Plover, but no luck, in fact no birds of note were seen at all, but a lovely walk. We bumped into a lady who Eddie knew and she kindly informed us of a massive display of Bee-orchids behind the back of Blakeney garage/petrol station. Directions: facing the garage, walk to the right side, past the houses and turn left into a open, long grassy meadow, which has had a path mown through. Follow this path all the way round to a cordoned off area with official National Trust signs reading 'Bee-orchid Bonanza '– Eddie reckoned there was approximately 3000 Bee-orchids here!!!! It certainly was an amazing spectacle. I can't remember ever seeing that many in one spot! Pete Snook called me to say the Pacific Golden Plover was back on North Scrape!!!
North Hide, Cley NWT
At last!!!! I can't remember what time it was exactly, but I think it was around 5.30pm when we first watched the magnificient Pacific Golden Plover. A striking bird, but very distant and a tiny smudge on the camera! I phoned several updates through to RBA. I left Eddie in the hide with others and walked back. On route, I realised after a quick search through scope that I could see the plover from the grassy path and pleased several birders hurrying along the path who needed it for their year list! 3 spoonbills on Billy's Wash also along with several black-tailed godwits and also a ruff and a spotted redshank.
Kim and Sue's Video here of the Pacific Golden Plover
Dauke's Hide NWT
Sat here alone. 5 Spoonbills were seen flying across to Billy's Wash. A green sandpiper landed momemtarily before flying off. 2 Grey herons, shoveler and young, little ringed plovers (inc. 1 juv.) and ringed plovers, tufted duck right in front of the hide, gadwell, 2 bearded tits flew across, several redshanks, oystercatchers, pied wagtails, shelduck and 7 fluffy young, avocets and young, teal, 2 marsh harriers, swifts, reed bunting, lapwings, 2 little egrets, a flock of approx. 2000 starlings spiralled across the reeds and a barn owl as I was walking back to the car at 9pm.
My hayfever was so bad this afternoon and evening. I used to suffer badly with hayfever, but not really been affected by it all the last few years. But today was really bad, itchy, streaming eyes. I was very pleased to find some tablets when I got home.
PICTURES TO BE ADDED
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