A relaxed day's birding at Holme, Friary Hills and Cley!

Holme beach viewed from the pines.

Firecrest caught in a mist net and rung at Holme Bird Observatory

Sunset at Cley next Sea

Delivered shopping to my parents at Holme and was very pleased to see father now using two sticks instead of a frame and walking outside to his moth traps!!!!

Arrived Holme NOA carpark 10am. From the Firs house a flock of pinkfeet flew west and 3 marsh harriers distantly near Holme church.

At the observatory, within seconds of sitting down on one of the seats to warm up in the sunshine, Sophie (AW) arrived back from the 'net' round with a female Firecrest!!!

Walked across to the edge of the dunes and sat on the sand - all I saw were 22 Sanderling flying west! Walked back through the pines and saw a Speckled Wood and then back to the NOA carpark - I watched both female and male blackcaps, a willow warbler and several hedgesparrows.

Walking towards the Firs House again I realised there was a police car in the carpark! Cutting a long story short an unexploded bomb had been found on the path at the bottom of the steps that crosses over to the beach, just below the small wooden shelter behind the observatory!!!! I could not go back into the NOA reserve anymore as it was all cordoned off!!!

NWT Forestry - 1.20pm - A stunning Male Wheatear was seen in the flat grassy area along with several hedge sparrows, linnets, meadow pipits, a few goldfinches flitting about and a kestrel. A Common Buzzard soared high above me aswell.

Redwell Marsh Reserve - 400+ black headed gulls (confess I didn't count them - someone else had!). No sign of the Med gulls. Other birds seen here: 3 Marsh Harriers seen distantly, shelducks, mallard with 3 fluffy young (won't last long I don't think, sadly), coot, moorhens, redshank, 7 Golden Plovers, avocets, shoveler etc etc. Oh and an ignorant couple with a dog walking where they shouldn't have been!

Late lunch at my parents house - sat outside in the sunshine chatting to father.

Cruised along the coast road in the glorious sunshine and ended up at Friary Hills. As I parked up by the gate that clearly says 'NO DOGS' a couple with a dog emerged from the gate - 'did you realise' I said 'that no dogs are allowed' - the man then mumbled 'there were no stock in there and the dog is on a lead so can't see that there's a problem' - I then went onto explain that the lady who had owned the land, left it to the National Trust on the understanding there would be NO DOGS ALLOWED!!! 'Its only a small dog' said the lady.... 'not doing any harm'...... Hmmmmmm - I decided not to continue the argument because I knew what I wanted to say next and it would have provoked them MASSIVELY!!!! Seconds after they walked past me, John Furse turned up for an evening walk - walked round together and had lovely views of a Lesser Whitethroat. A Cettis Warbler was singing and a Barn Owl flew close by, but not quick enough with the camera. A long tailed tit flitting about and a few greenfinches, chaffinches, blackbirds and a distant marsh harrier. A few swallows adorned the skies.

Cley - Dauke's Hide - light was beautiful now and the perfect orange sun was setting quickly. Usual birds on the pools, including black tailed godwits, shelduck, teal, avocets, redshank, pair of gadwall, pied wagtail, greylags, black headed gulls, herring gulls, marsh harriers etc.

Walsey Hills - went to view the steps up the hide - no comment.

Salthouse - stopped here briefly on the way home through Holt to listen for any nightingales, but none heard.