Temminck's Stint at Cley and all kinds of nice things at Holkham!

Brian, Norman and I met at my house for an early start, reaching Cley by 7.45. We had apparently missed the Wryneck by five minutes, enjoying a fly-by Barn Owl as we chatted to a small gallery. After a quick walk out to the Centre Hides and back, we moved up the coast to Holkham, where the pines provided some welcome respite from the chilly northerlies.

From the Jordan Hide I quickly added three year ticks: Grey Partridge, Spoonbill and Great White Egret: there were at least four Spoonbills flying backwards and forwards, occasionally carrying nesting material.

We returned to Cley for coffee and were delighted to hear that a Temminck's Stint had been found, viewable from Bishop's Hide. To our surprise we frequently had the hide to ourselves as this delightful little wader worked closer and closer until we eventually managed reasonable shots.

Backup was provided by some beautiful breeding plumaged Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits, while a Little Egret seemed determined to come into the hide out of the wind!

Last good bird was another Barn Owl, perched by the road at Buxton.