Cley Marshes, the flagship reserve of the Norfolk WIldife Trust, is my most favourite reserve on the North Norfolk Coast. A mixture of scrapes, grazing marsh and reeds all facing into the sea, the reserve is famous for the range of birds it attracts, especially rare waders. Today, however, summer was in full swing, with spring migration all but petering out, but there were still a few surprises hanging around.
The centrepiece of the reserve are the freshwater scrapes, three large pools overlooked by hides. Like all scrapes they are shallow bodies of water, with islands and areas of mud that are attractive to many birds. At this time of year they were very quiet, lots of AVOCET, GODWITS and a few DUCKS and lots of SHELDUCK. A SPOONBILL was about, maybe the iconic bird of the North Norfolk Coast, stretching its wings out at times, sometimes sifting through the water with that amazing beak. A COMMON SANDPIPER was about, a last vestige of spring migration, there were several around the areas of water on the reserve. A nice feature of summer on the scrapes were four LAPWING chicks out on the mud of Simmond's Scrape, little grey bundles of fluff, that would run back into the thick sedge whenever danger threatened. As usual their parents were close by, to see off a passing Marsh Harrier that flew too closely. In one of the hides a pair of SWALLOWS were nesting, flying in and out of the open slats, with the birdwatchers giving them some space.
A large chunk of the marshes is given over to a reedbed, the newly cut areas a verdant green among the older browns. Aside from the reeds and the scrapes, most of the reserve is given over to grazing marsh, with areas of pools. This is the haunt of the REDSHANK, a common bird here, with their titular red legs and haunting call, you can often see them in display flight over the marshes at this time of year.
One winding stretch of water is called the Serpentine, and it was on here that I saw the bird of the day. Having been alerted in the visitors centre that a TEMMINCK'S STINT had been reported but not verified from here, I was on high alert, and lo and behold what should I find? Now most seasoned birdwatchers know that things like this seldom happen in our hobby, especially not for a lifer to show up so easily. And what's more it was very close, which is good for such a small bird, which after all the stint is. Now I can't really big up the bird, it is very much a little brown bird, an unremarkable wader. I waited for two other birdwatchers to turn up to show them, and it also proved to be a lifer for them, and they repaid me with 'can I buy you a beer'. Also about was a LITTLE RINGED PLOVER another wader passing through, although this bird breeds in this country, usually around gravel pits, so is not quite as exotic.
Just beyond the Serpentine, is Arnold's Marsh, a flat, low lying brakish area of water, that's often good for ESTUARINE WADERS. Today seven GREY PLOVER were about, looking very natty in summer plumage, they have black chests and a silver back at this time of year. Also about were a CURLEW and several DUNLIN also looking fine with their black bellies.
On the coast, the reserve turns to shingle bank, for some reason there aren't any sandy beaches in this area of the coast. OYSTERCATCHERS and RINGED PLOVERS nest here, birds that have suffered from beach disturbance. A colony of BLACK HEADED GULLS were nesting on a pool just behind the shingle ridge, for some reason they dislike the scrapes. Three WHEATEARS were found among the shingle, among the singing SKYLARKS and MEADOW PIPITS. This is a bird I'm having trouble seeing in Suffolk, at this time of the year the birds are of the Greenland race, slightly bulkier and a bit more colourful than our own, as always told by their distinctive white rump seen in flight.
I have rarely been to Cley in the period of Summer, having exclusively turned up in the two migration times, both Spring and Autumn. So it was interesting to see what the reserve would show up. It was quiet, as you would expect, away from the sea cliffs most places are at this time of year. But with a reserve of the quality of Cley, there is always something good to see. So if you're in this area of the woods, I recommend a visit, if only to eat the scones in the café.
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