July can be a disappointing month: the wader return migration hasn't really begun and resident birds have generally stopped singing and displaying. Under these circumstances our default location is Cley, where one is guaranteed Spoonbills and Egrets with just the chance of something unexpected.
We began the day in the centre hides at around 8.00am: as expected Little and Cattle Egrets were immediately obvious, as were three then four Spoonbills. The only other bird of note was a juvenile Yellow Wagtail in amongst a flock of Pieds. A move to Bishop's Hide added Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, lots of Ruff, Black-tailed Godwits and Avocets and a distant Common Sandpiper.
After coffee we took a walk out to the sea along the East Bank: lots of Terns, including a probable Arctic, but little else, so we headed east to Beeston Common. A long stroll gave us good views of Broad-bodied Chaser and Emperor Dragonflies amongst others, and fleeting views of a Purple Emperor and Purple Hairstreak among the oaks.
No comments:
Post a Comment