Cley, Kelling and a Girly Night In!

Well today's post won't take long to write! Tossed and turned all last night, too hot, couldn't sleep and also worried about pain in my temple, after I bumped my head at work yesterday. Through lack of sleep, my plan of arriving at Kelling for dawn to look for the Two-barred Crossbill, went completely to pot! I arrived about 10am. The Two-barred Crossbill was seen at 6.10am by someone who had had a good night's sleep! It was a boiling hot, sunny day. Rain and thunder were forecast for late afternoon/evening. I chatted with Steve West, his friend Graham and several other people whilst waiting for the crossbill to show, but all I saw were goldfinches and greenfinches. Through my bins distantly, I could see what looked like a turtle dove sitting in a pine tree, which Graham confirmed for me when he scoped it. Someone else also saw a linnet in the tree – one bird in and one out! I saw Purple Hairstreak here, which Eddie found and also some stunning Silver-studded Blues, Gatekeepers and Graylings. I stayed here until around 2pm. The Two-barred Crossbill was sadly not seen again for the rest of the day, which was very frustrating for lots of people who had travelled great distances to see this bird. If one more person says 'well there's been plenty of time to see this bird during the week.......' SOME of have to go to work in the week and are too tired to go out in the evenings, funny that!

Re-located to Salthouse Beach Carpark and met up with Pete where we sat and ate our sandwiches and had a cup of tea. Eddie and Simon also joined us a bit later. The mist was rolling in and it felt really cold! Went to the Cley Deli and bought a massive section of the Pear and Ginger Cake to take to a friend's house this evening.

Parked at the bottom of Old Woman's Lane, Cley and walked to Dauke's Hide NWT. The fog was rolling in and visibility was poor, but still managed to see some nice birds including a Little-ringed Plover with the cutest chicks ever, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Summer Plumage Knot, 6 Dunlins, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpipers x 2, 1 Green Sandpiper, Redshanks, Ruff, Shelducks, Teal, Avocets, Pied Wagtails, loads of gulls, Black-tailed Godwits, Marsh Harriers.

Went back to Kelling Heath for one last attempt to see this Two-barred Crossbill – complete waste of time. The fog had rolled in as far as Kelling now, it must have been dense on the coast!

Drove to Syderstone and had a cracking evening of banter, laughter and wonderful food with Caraline, Hiliary and Helen. The pear and ginger cake went down a treat!

PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED