Norfolk Coastal Path; Day 2

After a fine breakfast of smoked haddock, poached eggs and plenty of coffee we took the coasthopper bus back to Burnham Deepdale for the 20 mile walk back to Cley. Wendy had already gained a few blisters and her feet were wrapped in lint and plasters. Looked uncomfortable to me but not a single moan.
 A sedge warbler welcomed us on to the sea defence path that took 2 hours to take us to Burnham Overy Staithe. Here, little terns were fishing and avocets were sweeping. Off to the beach and a surprise bird: a spoonbill. Also overhead were sand martins, cormorants and sandwich terns. A wander through Holkham pines gave up goldcrest and we stopped to lunch near a small pond, but no new birds. After this, through the woods to Wells for a pint. In the woods regular birds got on to the trip list: jay, robin and blue tit.
The pint of Doom Bar was most welcome before the next stage to Stiffkey along the marsh path, then Morston and on to Blakeney. At Stiffkey Fen the first black tailed godwits were noted along with several gadwall.


Morston

black headed gull

common toad

common toad

diving little tern

solitary oystercatcher on Holkham Beach

sedge warbler

Butterfly wise, the list was increased with 2 really good species: firstly a call from Wendy about a black and white butterfly, a white admiral and then, just after Wells, a dark green fritillary. Both new butterflies for me on this walk. Also, amusingly, we came across a toad just out for an early evening stroll, heading towards Wells on the path. Good to see.
The final 3 miles, Blakeney to Cley was not good for Wendy as her feet and now right knee were beginning to hurt, so after a Mars Bar break, she stoically put her head down and went for it in one go. I lagged behind photographing 2 hunting barn owls. By the time we returned to The George it was gone 9.30pm, we'd been walking for 10 hours and we were both sore. Long soak and a couple of pints of Adnams and Wherry were in order.

white admiral

dark green fritillary

meadow pipit

barn owl

barn owl

diving barn owl

Cley sunset



Bird List: Day 2:

Sedge warbler, great blacked back gull, pheasant, lapwing, teal, mute swan, little tern, avocet, sand martin, spoonbill, cormorant, sandwich tern, goldcrest, robin, jay, blue tit, black tailed godwit, gadwall, barn owl, marsh harrier

Running total: 66 species