birdpix

Where do you go for a day out on your wedding anniversary? Bird watching of course.I count myself lucky in that my wife is a keen bird watcher,its not like I was taking her somewhere that she didnt want to go on our special day.Every year since we got married the day before has been  a cracking day ,weather wise and september the 14th ropey in comparison ,this year being no exception!

               In the past couple of weeks ,Cley has had buff breasted sandpipers,curlew sandpipers,icterine warblers,spoonbills to name but a few ,out at sea have been shearwaters ,skuas ,divers,gannets etc.Worth a look then.

               Following the long boring drive down tediously straight roads through flat as a pancake landscape ,we finally arrived at Cley.I discovered that my wifes tripod ,was missing one of its handles ,so it couldnt be used today -the offending missing part being in a drawer at home.Worse still the butterfly screw to adjust the mount onto my tripod snapped clean off in my hand ,meaning that I couldnt adjust my scope to go up or down and it was consequently decidely wobbly -just what you need on a windy day .To add to my optics woes ,I had brought a pair of bins that could best be described as knackered .Wifes bins were ok........

                   A Marsh Harrier gave wonderful close views ,nice anniversary wife remarking that she did think the Harrier had seen us.The one bird that we wanted  to see was any of the 13 spoonbills seen here recently .Every distant white blob proved to be either a little egret or a mute swan.Out the11 wader species ,there were some crackers ,little stint,wood sandpiper ,ruff,dunlin,snipe,redshank,lapwing ringed plover hang on a minute ,havent I seen all of these on my local patch earlier in the year ?Fraid so.Spotted redshanks were in good numbers as were black tailed godwits.Ruff are a beautiful bird.Curlews have got to be my favourite wader,wife pointed one out to me ,landing on the east bank.It soon became clear that the sea was too choppy to watch  because of the wind ,which blew rain into your face from the only available shelter .I have been to Cley in far worse weather conditions of course.Wife spotted some gannets coming off the sea ,from the comfort of a hide,a hide with a thatched roof that is .Cleys magic ,but today wasnt exactly enjoyable , a year tick would have been nice.This cricket was in the hide .