At least it was dry when we started out this morning, although this didn’t last long. Our destination today was the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Cley Marshes. As we arrived a Great White Egret flew across the road. After a break for a coffee in the visitor centre, we made our way out onto the reserve, A Bearded Reedling was heard in the reed-bed along with Cetti’s, Sedge and Reed Warblers. A Sedge Warbler gave excellent views and whilst following it when it flew we found a Northern Wheatear sitting on top of a bush.
Sedge Warbler
On the marsh, there were good numbers of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits along with a few Redshank and a couple of Ringed Plover. A Marsh Harrier quartered the reed-bed and a couple of Common Buzzards were seen over the nearby hills.
Marsh Harrier
On our way back to the centre we had a brief view of a Bearded Reedling and a group of barn Swallows low over the marsh feeding. In the afternoon we set off across the marsh towards the coast. On the way, we saw Mute Swan and Greylag Geese along with Mallard, Gadwall, Redshank and Oystercatcher. The gale was blowing in off the North Sea and no birds were seen on the Sea. A couple of Kittiwakes and an unidentified tern passed along the coast before we made our way back to Cley Village.
On our way back to our base in Cromer, we stopped off at Sheringham, where we had tea in the buffet at the North Norfolk Railway.
Locomotive in steam and Station Refreshment room, Sheringham Station, North Norfolk railway
Afterwards, we walked down to the seafront to search for Ruddy Turnstone. A group of 5 were found sheltering behind the seawall. The gale has grown in strength and as soon as we had photographed the birds we beat a retreat back into the town to catch a bus back to Cromer.
Ruddy Turnstone
Canada Goose [sp] (Branta canadensis)
Greylag Goose [sp] (Anser anser)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
Mallard [sp] (Anas platyrhynchos)
Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Great Egret [sp] (Ardea alba)
Little Egret [sp] (Egretta garzetta)
Western Marsh Harrier [sp] (Circus aeruginosus)
Common Buzzard [sp] (Buteo buteo)
Eurasian Oystercatcher [sp] (Haematopus ostralegus)
Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Common Ringed Plover [sp] (Charadrius hiaticula)
Black-tailed Godwit [sp] (Limosa limosa)
Ruddy Turnstone [sp] (Arenaria interpres)
Common Redshank [sp] (Tringa totanus)
Black-legged Kittiwake [sp] (Rissa tridactyla)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)
European Herring Gull [sp] (Larus argentatus)
Common Wood Pigeon [sp] (Columba palumbus)
Common Kestrel [sp] (Falco tinnunculus)
Western Jackdaw [sp] (Coloeus monedula)
Carrion Crow [sp] (Corvus corone)
Bearded Reedling [sp] (Panurus biarmicus)
Barn Swallow [sp] (Hirundo rustica)
Cetti’s Warbler [sp] (Cettia cetti)
Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
Eurasian Reed Warbler [sp] (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
Common Whitethroat [sp] (Sylvia communis)
Eurasian Wren [sp] (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Common Starling [sp] (Sturnus vulgaris)
Common Blackbird [sp] (Turdus merula)
Northern Wheatear [sp] (Oenanthe oenanthe)
Pied Wagtail [sp] (Motacilla alba)
Common Chaffinch [sp] (Fringilla coelebs)
European Greenfinch [sp] (Chloris chloris)
European Goldfinch [sp] (Carduelis carduelis)
Common Reed Bunting [sp] (Emberiza schoeniclus)
The society’s rolling stock was also in operation, with the unique Quad Art set, the almost complete Suburban four set, running with the three completed coaches, and the vintage train. The always reliable Mark 1s were…
