Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Cley Marshes - 24th July 2024

So next stop on a long birding day was at Cley Marshes and after well needed coffee and cake it was onto the reserve. Little Egret are fairly easy to spot and we added our second Egret species with this Great Egret from Bishop's hide.

And while on the subject of large White birds we had some wonderful views of seven Spoonbills before five of them flew off.

Waders included a few Black-Tailed Godwits, Redshank and Dunlin as well as Lapwing, showing their colours well in the sunlight.

As ever, the Avocets were a delight to watch and obviously numbers are doing well!

About 20 Ruff had been reported but we only managed to pick four of them out with these two coming a bit closer.

From the three central hides we had a female Marsh Harrier fly by a couple of times.

With regards to smaller birds a group of Goldfinch were coming down to drink and I managed a shot of this juvenile.

Swallows were using the hides to nest in though most had fledged. One bird flew in calling for a close up!

Some chose to perch up on the thatch on the hides.

The stars however were five Cattle Egrets, two of which were males in full breeding plumage. Always good to have a "three Egret day".

A quick trip to the beach gave us a few Sandwich Tern and Oystercatchers, but with rain looking to move in we headed off.

However, news broke of a Red-Backed Shrike at Cavenham Heath which is directly on the way home. We made it in good time, though the weather had turned and as we arrived it started to rain. The good news was that a good friend Mike O'Hanlon was already there and pointed it out for us. An adult female and I managed a couple of record shots before the rain became heavier.

A wonderful way to end the day!