Norfolk - Days 3 & 4

On our third day (10th) we decided to spend some time at Cley. The number of waders was spectacular, especially as there appeared to have been an influx of Black-tailed Godwits that day...

350+ 'Icelandic' Black-tailed Godwit - only 3 juveniles!
1 'Continental' Black-tailed Godwit - a distinctive colour-ringed juvenile.
40+ Ruff
1 Curlew Sandpiper
3+ Common Sandpiper
1 Yellow-legged Gull - adult.
1 Marsh Harrier
1 Little Gull

1 Small Red-eyed Damselfly
1 Brown Hawker
1 Emperor
1 Holly Blue

Another look at the Cley roost on the 10th failed to produce any Caspians, but 7+ Yellow-legged Gulls and 2 Little Gulls were there. 2 Green Sandpipers were the first we saw that week, and a Barn Owl hunted in front of the hide later on. Several low passes from some RAF Tornadoes also kept me amused!

'Continental' Black-tailed Godwit

Curlew Sandpiper

Norfolk - Days 1 & 2

Last week we had a family break in Norfolk and managed to fit in some decent trips birding!

On day one we had our first look at the Cley gull roost. An adult Caspian Gull was present and a stunning first-summer appeared later on. The number of Yellow-legged Gulls was impressive (compared to what we get in the north-east!), with at least 12 present.

A good forecast for the next day persuaded us to go to Kelling Water Meadows to look for the Red-veined Darters which had been seen there recently. Sure enough they were present along with a host of other dragonflies some of which we don't often get to see in Northumberland...

7+ Red-veined Darter

10+ Emperor

10+ Black-tailed Skimmer

1 Banded Demoiselle

1 Migrant Hawker

2 Southern Hawker

Common Darter
Common Blue Damselfly
Blue-tailed Damselfly

1 Holly Blue
5+ Gatekeeper
10+ Common Blue

A Red Kite flew over Holkham Pines in the afternoon, before we had another luck at the Cley gull roost. Today there was 3 Caspian Gulls (yesterday's first-summer and 2 adults, looking at my photos I think they were both different to yesterday's bird). Slightly fewer Yellow-legged Gulls this evening with 7+, and a single adult Mediterranean Gull.

Back at our cabin in the forest I saw my first Perseid meteor of the year.

First-summer Caspian Gull on the first evening.

One of day two's adult Caspians.

Adult Yellow-legged Gull

Red-veined Darters - the last photo's pretty poor but it shows the 'classic' Red-veined Darter pose quite well.

Migrant Hawker

Southern Hawker

Emperor

Recent sightings...

A few days in York last week meant we weren't around when the Black-winged Pratincole turned up on my old patch of Bothal Pond. Thankfully it stuck around and gave good views, especially in flight over the pond. A Common Sandpiper was also there along with 3 Yellow Wagtails.

I finally managed to photograph a Holly Blue butterfly in York.

3 Little Gulls were at Cresswell this morning, with another 2 at Chevington, where 2 Spoonbills were present on the North Pool. 2 drake Mandarin were at Druridge Pools where there was also 17 Black-tailed Godwits and a Cuckoo calling, which despite a search we couldn't see.

PWC 15
Species: 150
Points: 197

 The Black-winged Pratincole only took to flight to feed late in the evening hence the poor photos.

Holly Blue