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.

18th Aug Norfolk - sunny spells, a few scattered light showers late afternoon, 20C, Light SW

Titchwell RSPB; stopped off here during the afternoon.  Always a good place to see a selection of birds. Plenty of Black-tailed Godwits, Grey and Golden Plover, Knot, Turnstone, many Ruff, Dunlin and Redshank were notable waders.  Several Sandwich and a couple of Common Tern were on the mud islands.  A Grey Heron and Spoonbill roosted close to each other.

17th Aug - showers very early morning, clearing to sunny pm, 22C, SW light-mod SW

Willey; mid morning about 100 Swallows were sitting on the telegraph wires, with others flying around.  Then a flock of about 20 House Martins flew over southward feeding.

Stanford reservoir;  a late evening visit produced a Greenshank and a Snipe on the flooded islands.  AWhitethroat popped out and in to cover again, otherwise much the same as usual.  Three Sand Martin were still present and I spotted 2 Swifts feeding quite high, flying in the sunset.   A Tawny Owl called from the adjacent wood, then another began calling from the trees boarding the inlet car park.  The Owls call on a lovely still evening is great to hear and quite melodic.

16th Aug - sunny spells, light mod Southerly, 20C

For a change the SW/W became a southerly for most of the day, unfortutely the Jet streM is not moving enough to stop further Atlantic fronts heading out way.

A busy day so no obs to report.

15th Aug- sunny periods, light westerly, warm 22C

Willey; at 0910h a Hobby flew low south behind the Parsons Close houses with the Swallows ~60, giving it a lot of attention and then flying high as they do for a Hobby.  A Green And Great-spotted Woodpecker called several times from the BH wood and Long Spinney respectively. A Nuthatch was calling loudly from the old railway track, while about 30 Starlings were feeding on the permanent pasture behind the houses.

Stanford reservoir; an afternoon look here. The Black-tailed Godwit was still,present and 2. Green Sandpipers.  The higher number of Shoveler and Teal were present and a couple of Gadwall.  More than 100 Lapwing were roosting on the flooded island areas.  A Kestrel was hunting over the rough areas and fields.

14th Aug - sunny spells, some light rain later, light SW, 18C

Willey; about 30 Swallows were on the telegraph wires this morning as the day warmed.  There are more than this around the village, others were feeding around the area.  A Coal Tit was calling from the church Yew tree.

Stanford reservoir; an evening visit, pretty cloudy and light rain starting so not too good for finding things.  As I approached the gate I noticed a very young Fox cub sneaking about on the verge looking rather apprehensive, it disappeared under the field gate out of view.

The water is still high, covering the muddy shore, so waders are having a hard time to find a place to land and feed, however I did find a Greenshank, a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Common Sandpipers.  The Shoveler numbers have increased to 20, 16 Teal too.  More than 120 Greylag Geese are visiting the reservoir at the moment.   A Little Egret was resting in the inlet vegetation.

13th Aug - sunny periods, 20C, light breeze SW

Shawell Lagoons; A look here this morning was worthwhile, 2 Black-tailed Godwits were resting on the shore and Green Sandpiper next to them.

A Kingfisher flew over the lagoons, a one maybe 2 Little Grebes and a female Tufted Duck with 2 young ducklings were notable.

Cropston reservoir; After lunch I decided to go here to see the reported Pectoral Sandpiper found this morning.  On arrival at the Bradgate park car park I had to walk to the reservoir inlet area.  On the way there a very obliging Yellowhammer was on the ground only a few feet from lots of day walkers.

At the inlet the Pectoral Sandpiper was found feeding on the mud, along with several Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwing.  The heat haze, distance a light made getting a decent photo impossible, but with a little imagination the following do show a Pec Sand (juvenile).

A Sparrowhawk flew over, a Green Woodpecker called and a Nuthatch was heard.  From the causeway 6+ Little Egret, 4 Grey Heron, 2 Mandarin Duck, 2 Common tern  and 2 Grey Wagtail were notable.