A brief trip up to Norfolk, never the best decision on strong westerlies meant a leisurely approach. On the Sunday we made a visit to Cley to be met by a couple of Hobbies and two Marsh Harriers making the most of the strong blow. The reserve was fairly low on wader variety, but with 190 or so Black-tailed Godwits around the reserve, with one colour banded bird that is still proving difficult to track down at present, along with 26 Ruff, a single Bar-tailed Godwit, just three Avocet, and the Pectoral Sandpiper. Six Little Egrets were also seen around the reserve including a fresh looking juvenile. A quick check of the sea was not fruitful, being low tide and early afternoon.
Next day we dropped into Holme, just as much to pay a visit to Sophie at the NOA. Again we were meet by four Marsh Harriers over the marsh taking advantage of an even more windy day. A short half hour looking over the sea at high tide produced 30 odd Sandwich Terns heading north, 14 Common Scooter heading north, four Eiders drifting towards Thornham, and a slightly distant Long-tailed Skua, doing some Tern like dipping into the sea. As we drove up the reserve track we had a brief view of the Great Egret, and from a look over Lavender Marsh there were a couple of Little Egrets and a Short-eared Owl at the back of the marsh.We decided to call it a day just about the right time as we headed to Costa in Hunstanton as it poured down and we finally headed south.
Juvenile Little Egret
Pectoral Sandpiper
Black-tailed Godwit
as yet un-traced right -Y/DB left - LL/-
Next day we dropped into Holme, just as much to pay a visit to Sophie at the NOA. Again we were meet by four Marsh Harriers over the marsh taking advantage of an even more windy day. A short half hour looking over the sea at high tide produced 30 odd Sandwich Terns heading north, 14 Common Scooter heading north, four Eiders drifting towards Thornham, and a slightly distant Long-tailed Skua, doing some Tern like dipping into the sea. As we drove up the reserve track we had a brief view of the Great Egret, and from a look over Lavender Marsh there were a couple of Little Egrets and a Short-eared Owl at the back of the marsh.We decided to call it a day just about the right time as we headed to Costa in Hunstanton as it poured down and we finally headed south.
Holme Beach
