19th Aug Norfolk - sunny spells scattered showers pm, 19C steady WSW wind

Cley Marsh NWT. A sunrise visit to the marshes reserve and shore area.  The wind was clearly hampering the bird activity with little moving about. On the marsh lagoon the usual birds were found but very few waders other than Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff and Redshank. A distant small wader flew off before getting a view to identify, a Little Stint was seen later, so I wonder!  Later I went to the shore down the Beach road, on the way down a Wheatear flew across on to Eye field.

From the screen behind the shingle bank the pools held many Teal, Gadwall and a few Shelduck. Four Snipe were found around the edges, either feeding or resting.

A bit of sea watching did not produce too much either, a couple of Fulmar and 9+ Gannets went past, with a few Sandwich Terns fishing and flying passed.

Later afternoon for a spot of sea watching did produced a distance interesting bird that looked like a large Shearwater, but impossible to tell. A single Little Tern was fishing, otherwise just Gannet and Cormorant.

Kelling water Meadow; I visited here the area looks really good for migrants, but not today.  Feeding on the Thistle and weeds was a flock of 20+ Goldfinch and 7+ Linnets.  A single Blackcap was heard in the brambles.  A good number of Sand Martins and some Swallows were feeding over the pools, whilst House Martins were around Kelling village still.  To Kestrels hunted the rough fields and a small flock of Starling were present.

On the meadow pools were Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, an Egyptian Goose, and 2 Avocet.