Great North Coast trip - but where were the Stonies?

With nothing particular to aim for, Linda, Brian and I headed westwards to what is usually the best pre-dispersal gathering site for Stone Curlews. In two trips on this date last year we found 80 and 140 birds: but not today! Not a single Stonie was to be seen!

We carried on to Titchwell, where there were a few bits and pieces, but mostly a long way away! Twenty-five Spoonbills poddled around the freshwater scrape, while I actually found a very distant Curlew Sandpiper on the Sea Pool. After lunch, we headed east to Cley, where the birds were at least a lot nearer! On the way (near Wiveton Hall) there was a 'kettle' of Buzzards: at least one looked good for a Honey, but Brian couldn't pull over...

Best birds at Cley were a couple of Greenshank, several young Little Ringed Plovers and a very photogenic Snipe: a path-side ditch held a family group of Reed Warblers.