Not Hot on the Coast

Tuesday July 9

Feeling starved of birding, we set off for Cley with the sea fret/low cloud of the last few days tempering the heatwave.

East Bank looked well peopled, was there something there? Parking on the grassy bit as only the two disabled spaces were free, we walked East Bank as far as Arnold's. The Serpentine still had plenty of water, most unusual for the time of year. Tony S told us that Bernard (Warden) had let some on to it via the sluice. A Redshank plus young and six Spoonbills were the only birds around it, the Spoonies at the North Eastern end, asleep on the grass.

Shimmering in the distance, at least a hundred Black-tailed Godwit on Arnold's with a few Common and Sandwich Terns. One Grey Heron, two Little Egrets, 6 Curlew and too many Black-headed Gulls the other residents.

On the return journey, a young Bearded Tit and a few Sedge warblers appeared in the reed bed, whilst a Reed Bunting called from a bush. 
Pam spotted a juvenile Yellow Wagtail near the Serpentine, one Ringed Plover nearby.
We were looking for insects on the many verge plants. Surprisingly few, a half dozen Bumblebees, two Butterflies and a single Blue-tailed Damselfly. I was about to photograph the latter, posing beautifully at my feet, when three tramplers plus dog charged through , totally unaware of all around them. It seems to me that all  good birding places are beset by dog walkers, most of them paying no heed to reserve rules and other users (me!!).

Salthouse Beach for a drink. On the way back I was able to take a photograph whilst stopped on a bridge. 

The main bridge channel had six Little Egrets loafing about, the most I've ever seen here.