Cley and Hickling: sandpipers, stints, bitterns and a Red-veined Darter

The usual 7.00am pick-up (following a somewhat protracted soiree with Sue & Peter!) saw Brian and me in Dauke's Hide before eight o' clock. The very first bird we saw was a Wood Sandpiper, followed by numerous Green and Common Sandpipers. A smallish wader stayed tantalisingly distant, but looking at my images,  I reckon it was a Temminck's Stint...

A walk along the East Bank and a visit to Bishop's Hide was followed by coffee: a few more sandpipers, lots of Ruff and Godwits, but little else, so we headed east to Kelling Quags. The pool was full to the brim, but we managed to find a pair of Common Sandpipers and - best of all - a Red-veined Darter.

On the way home we stopped at Hickling, walking the complete circuit in increasingly muggy conditions. Hickling can be a little 'difficult', but today was very productive: two different Bitterns flew close in front of Cadbury Hide, while Great White Egret, Kingfisher and Hobby were welcome additions to the day list.