Little Hadham Birding: Guiding in North Norfolk

Yesterday I picked up Little Hadham residents, Frank and Karin for a day birding in Norfolk. Departing the village at 6am and grabbing a coffee at Wells meant we were at Kelling Heath before 8.30am.
A wander along the track to the level crossing gave up many songsters, including: chiffchaff, whitethroat, blackcap, robin, garden warbler which we heard but did not see along with several yellowhammers. Our search in the usual habitat for Dartford warblers proved unsuccessful but this was made up for by the sight of 2 wood larks heading into distant birches. Maybe the long hard winter has done for the dartfords as we chatted with local birders who had not seen them for a while either.
We moved off to Kelling water meadows where swallows were on the wires and a lesser whitethroat greeted us along the track. More warblers before we scanned the ponds: shelduck, avocet, shoveler and Egyptian geese. We checked all perched birds, finding 3 whinchat and several more whitethroats. Towards the beach meadow pipits, little egrets and wheatear made the list before we returned to the car, noting red legged partridge and a hare in adjacent fields.

Linnet at Kelling Heath

swallow at Weybourne

Lesser whitethroat

red legged partridge

Kelling water meadows: one of several distant hares

Posing goldfinch

Common whitethroat in with the Alexanders.

Avocet pair at Kelling water meadows

Shoveler

distant whinchat: 1 of 3 around Muckleborough Hill

feeding meadow pipit

From here we headed west, parking in the small car park at East Bank, Cley. The temperature continued to rise as we scanned for the Great white egret we had seen from the car earlier, but no further sign. Greylags and marsh harriers in view as we checked Arnold's Marsh. Redshank, few black tailed godwits and shelduck here, but too much water for small waders and a disappointing lack of terns. Reed and sedge warblers were heard, but no bearded reedlings. We had time for a quick check around the beach car park, several gull species got on to the list before we encountered at least 6 more wheatear and a grey wagtail. Jackdaws, carrion crows and rooks made the list here, too.
Time for lunch at Cookies crab shop. Excellent value for money and polite and prompt service before we checked the board at Cley NWT Visitors' Centre. Nothing too exciting had been noted on the reserve so we continued west to Burnham Overy Staithe path down to the sea defence path and into the dunes around Gun Hill.
More finches and warblers along the track and plenty of avocets in the harbour but the tide was out,so no terns fishing. A bush at the end of the boardwalk contained 2 stonechat and a whinchat, the latter legging it before I could get a photo. In the dunes were numerous linnet and wheatears abounded. No sign of the reported wryneck so we trooped back to the car, checking for sights of sedge warblers that sang invisibly from hawthorn. At this point I realised my lens hood had fallen off the 400mm lens, not to be refound! The field near the gate on to the sea defence path gave great views of 3 whimbrel. Another lifer for Karin and Frank and a year lister for me.

Shelduck at Arnold's Marsh, Cley

Carrion crow mobbing a common buzzard over the East Bank

Skylark in the Eye Field

first of 3 wheatear from the Beach Road

Another wheatear

Distant marsh harrier at Burnham Overy

whimbrel near the sea defence footpath

Yet another wheatear on sueda

nest building linnet

distant stonechat, Gun Hill dunes

Having stopped at Burnham Deepdale for refreshments we parked at Titchwell. The day list in the book looked good so off we wandered. From the island hide we scoped med gulls, teal, godwits, brent geese, sandwich terns and common terns. As we walked to the Parrinder Hide a spoonbill flew towards Thornham Marsh. I got a very brief glimpse of a bearded reedling as I checked Patsy's pool for red crested pochard (5 were present) along with pochard. We chatted to a chap who had never seen bearded reedling. He wandered off and I stated it was highly likely one would turn up as he had gone. Almost immediately a male came into view, resplendent with grey/blue head and excellent moustache. We called the chap back and he got views of his first bearded reedling. Pleasing stuff.
A scope view over Thornham Marsh gave up views of a superbly summer plumaged Grey Plover before we got to the Parrinder Hide. From here, several smart male ruff and dowdier reeves, pied wagtail but no small waders.
We once again headed back to the car, stopping at the White Horse, Burnham Deepdale for a much required pint as we had covered 10 miles plus in temps touching 17C.
We then returned to the village, having reckoned on a species list of in excess of 80. A brilliant day with great company.