Cley: Harriers, Reeds and a Murmuration

After going to Sheringham, where there was an Eastern Black Redstart, which we didn't see, it was back to the reserve at Cley. Lots of Marsh Harriers and Avocets and also, in the visitor facility, a collaborative tapestry weaving installation called 'Murmuration'. An international group of 12 textile artists worked together, on their individual pieces to reflect the beautiful sinuous movements of a murmuration.

Plenty of Marsh Harriers...

Plenty of reeds..

Long-tailed Duck.

Looking along the beach..

Avocets, Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwits.

Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits - one coming into nice colours.

'Murmuration' tapestry. Close ups below.

Snettisham mud

I always enjoy seeing the patterns and textures of the mud at Snettisham! A walk along the coast in 15 degrees and sunshine. Spring might be on the way! 

Knott.

Avocets and Oystercatchers.

And a Crane flypast!

Avocets and a Mediterranean Gull.

Grey Plover.

More mud!

Welney Wetland Centre

Having checked directions, to ensure we didn't have to go across  the Welney Wash Road, which is well under water, we arrived at WWT Welney. We were told that only the main hide was accessible - they weren't wrong! With a wet couple of months there was very little 'dry' land. 

Fortunately, the bridge across the main drainage ditch leads, at height, directly into the main hide. You then go down to the ditch-side path ....clearly under water...

The path last year!

The view from the hide this time...

...and last time...

However, Welney really did deliver! We had always hoped to see Cranes, so it was great to spot one, and then another, immediately on arrival. Quite a distance away, but we were able to walk down the road, away from the centre, to get a better view.

Great White Egret, Chinese Water Deer and a Crane.

Cattle Egrets.

Whooper Swans.

Nice willows.

Marsh Harrier.

More Whoopers.

Hares.

Titchwell Pop In

A very quick stop at Titchwell, on our way back from Holkham - nice to see the Water Rail back in its usual spot. 

There were many out of focus pictures of  the Water Rail behind grass!

Great White Egret.

Incoming....

Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Lapwing and Teal.

Grey Squirrel.

Holkham beach, dunes, woods and marsh

A warm and sunny day for most of it anyway! So a walk along the beach and back through the woods at Holkham. Beware it costs £13.50 to park for more than 4 hours! But it was a lovely walk, as always, with a really nice lunch stop, in the hide, watching Spoonbills feeding. Rocky had a great time on the beach.

Big skies. 

Paddling.

Puff balls.

Carline Thistles.

Bee Orchid rosette.

Lichen heath.

Peltigera sp.

A lovely light through the reeds and pines.

Spoons looking tufty in the breeze. 

It was so nice to see them just plodging round.

Russian White-fronted Geese.

Egyptian Geese.

Chinese Water Deer.