Super views of 9 Cattle Egrets, right by the track out to the hides this evening. Best views of CE that I've had for ages.
Such good value.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

Another session of gulling done for the day ~ Pat's Pool at dusk.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

Pat's Pool was a largely a gull-free zone at 5.45 this evening. By dark, over 1000 large gulls appeared, including another 8 Caspain Gulls (x4 1w, x1 2w & 3 adults). Fewer YLGulls, only one Med Gull but the new bunch of cachinnans was fine by me 🙂
Nearly 50 this week 🤯
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

Morning wander and, as the sun came out, a delightful family party of 2 adult & 3 juv Whooper Swans dropped onto Pat's Pool. They stayed a short while before heading off SSW over Old Womans Lane, next stop Welney. Also there, 10 Cattle Egrets too.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

There are nice looking 1w Caspian Gulls and there are less nice looking 1w Caspian Gulls...
Minimum five in this evening, perhaps up to seven (3-5 1w, 1 2w, 1 ad) across the two scrapes plus five Yellow-legged Gulls.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#classiccach

More roost fun tonight ~ 8 Caspian Gulls (x3 1w, x2 2w, 3 ad), 3 YLGulls (all adults) & 7 Med Gulls (5 ad, 2 1w). Also a Jack Snipe on Whitwell Scrape, 2 juv Curlew Sands + juv Little Stint, a mobile Cattle Egret over the marsh & a GW Egret in to North Foreland to roost.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

Walk from home to Salthouse via East Bank & the Iron Road. An in-off Great Spotted Woodpecker was a tantalising taster for next week (!). Steady movement of Pink-footed Geese west (650 in small groups) + a flock of five Red Kites near Salthouse.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

Another good session on the Pat's Pool gull flock tonight w/ @mcbuckland.bsky.social. Up to a dozen birds noted, all new (a 2w may have been in last night) with 5 or 6 1st winters, 3 2nd winters, 1 "near-adult" & 2 adults. Several Meds & a couple of YLGulls + the 4 G Ibis.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

Loving the Glossy Ibis still ~ tonight they dropped in briefly onto Pat's Pool, in the gllony fading light, at 6.20. They seemed jumpy and after a low pass by a Lesser Black-backed Gull, they whizzed off east.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

Savour the scene larid fans 😁
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

What an epic late hour of the birding day ~ an exceptional count of 16+ Caspian Gulls onto Pat's Pool (a Cley record) - total was 10 1st winters, 2 2nd winters, 1 3rd winter & 3 adults. Also 5 michahellis & 7 Med Gulls. The 4 Glossy Ibis dropped in around 6.20. Superb 🙂
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

Morning mooch around the back before a quick look at the reserve. Water Pipit the pick of the passerines on the marsh + a single Red Knot amongst 78 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits. A few thrushes over & flocks of Chaffinches, Linnets & Skylarks all heading off westwards.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

Entertaining seawatch as the wind hit NW off Coastguards this PM. For a while it was quite lively, bu tailed off post 1630. Sooty Shears are always smart, one reasonably close, ditto some Manx. Best, the ranks of Brents passing by. Welcome home 🙂
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

Caspian Gull #2 ~ this one was in late, in low level light, but still very smart...
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
2/2

Caspian Gull #1 on Simmonds Scrape tonight (October 1).
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
1/2

Another enjoyable roost on the marsh this evening ~ the 4 Glossy Ibis whizzed east at 1845, two smart (& one less smart...) Caspian Gulls came in towards dusk (all different to last night) + single YLGull, 1CY Little Gull & Barn Owl & Kingfisher.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

An eclectic mix on the scrapes late in this evening ~ the 4 Glossy Ibis appeared at 1850, dropping initially on North. Superb juvenile Greenshank, 3 Caspian & 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (& an argentatus & LBB x HG hybrid) & at least 30 Song Thrushes around the hides & scrapes.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

I still get a buzz from seeing Glossy Ibis & that's based, entirely, on my formative years when they were (away from Stodmarsh) really rare, a bit like Great Egret, even Little Egret too, significant rarities in my youth. A warming planet ensures they'll keep coming...
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

More terrific gulling across the Pat's Pool roost again tonight: 8 new Caspian Gulls in as the darkness loomed (18 in three days now inc x6 1CY) plus 7 Yellow-legged Gulls (and four figures of Lesser Black-backed & Black-headed Gulls). Love it!
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding

Enjoyed watching the four Glossy Ibis track west across the marsh from Salthouse this evening, again bang on cue around 7.15. They arced in towards the scrape, gave it an ever decreasing circle or two before finding their feet amongst the gulls.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding