Titchwell and Cley Visit 08.07.15

Having emptied the garden moth trap I set off for Titchwell at 4.45am, stopping for coffee enroute and was wandering around the reserve by 7am Very poor light for most of the morning and by the afternoon, too wet for birding in comfort. Consequently, just a few snaps of disappointing quality.
Titchwell was overloaded with 400+ avocets and 200+ godwits. 11 juvenile bearded tits were feeding on the mud by the island hide, cetti's, sedges and reed warblers called and occasionally flitted.
The beach was deserted apart from a hobby giving all the swallows and martins a hard time. Also seemed interested in the linnets in the bush at the end of the footpath as you arrive at the beach, so back to the Parrinder hide. More avocets and godwits, several dunlin and 3 little gulls insect dipping on the far side of the Freshmarsh. First year lister of the day. The tatty chinese water deer was noted again on Thornham Marsh as egrets and huge numbers of swifts flew overhead.
Having found a solitary summer plumaged spotted redshank,  too far away to get a worthwhile photo I headed back to the VC where the moth traps were being emptied. Scalloped shell and obscure wainscot were new for me. I handed over a privet hawkmoth to be shown to the public who were gathering to look at the potted and labelled moths, always a good moth to show folk. Coffee and a marvellous bakewell tart before I was off. Thought I'd get to the east and then work my way back, so off to Cley, with a brief stop at Warham Greens. High tide and oystercatchers, egrets, spoonbill and gulls roosting but nothing of note, as you would expect in early July.
Pasty and another coffee at Cley before heading off to the hides. From Daukes, an eclipse garganey, lister number 2 along with plenty of colourful ruff in a variety of guises and all in a state of grand disrepair. In amongst the roosting ruff, a pale greenshank, upturned bill noticeable through the scope that I shared with others in the hide. A little ringed plover made the day list as did a variety of wildfowl, Marsh harriers  were seen from the Bishop's Hide before the first of regular downpours.
Off to Kelling Heath where I beat a hasty retreat to the car as the heavens opened again. By 4 it looked to have set in, so contacted Gary who lives near Holkham and we met up at The Edinburgh for a chat and a couple of fine pints of Wherry at a pleasing £2.00 per pint. Been several weeks since we had chatted, so good to see him.
In all 71sp for the day, so not too bad for July.

Chiffchaff

grey heron

Titchwell wren

3 bearded tit, juvenile males

4 of the 11 juveniles that were by the island hide

chinese water deer

ruff

avocet

garganey

some of the 13 Cley spoonbills

hobby over bushes at Titchwell

flyby redshank in very poor light.

Species list:
little egret, grey heron, spoonbill, mute swan, greylag goose, shelduck, mallard, shoveler, teal, garganey, red kite, marsh harrier, common buzzard, kestrel, hobby, pheasant, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet, little ringed plover, lapwing, dunlin, redshank, spotted redshank, greenshank, black tailed godwit, bar tailed godwit, curlew, ruff, little gull, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, common tern, sandwich tern, stock dove, wood pigeon, collared dove, swift, GSW, skylark, sand martin, swallow, house martin, pied wagtail, wren, robin, dunnock, blackbird, garden warbler, blackcap, white throat, cetti's warbler, sedge warbler, reed warbler, chiffchaff, great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit, bearded tit, magpie, jay, jackdaw, rook, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, goldfinch, linnet, reed bunting