Day on the coast

On saturday when out with dan to the norfolk coast original plan was to go to Cley first but as Red-back Shrike was showing down the road headed to nearby Kelling Water Meadows not a site visited before but looks promising with the rows of hedge with a Bullfinch heard on the walk to the main water body. At the main body of water had views of a few waders mainly Dunlin and Ruff feeding on the shore edge and Skylark, Linnets and singing Yellowhammer in the farmers field behind. afte racross the water views of the Red-backed Shrike moved down to the hedgeline where it was showing pretty well feeding and also good views of a feeding Ruff and Wood Sandpiper and a few Finches and Reeding Buntings. Then walked up the path where a female Whinchat was on the wooden post.

Young Red-backed Shrike

Wading Ruff

Moulting Male Reed Bunting

Then headed to Cley first stop was the walk up to the beach stopping at the pools with Little Egret, Redshank, Curlew, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Turnstone, Black-tailed Godwits, Little Ringed Plover and just a couple of Avocets. Had lunch on the beach with a Seal going past and hunting Sandwich and Common Terns along with a summer plumage Common Gull. Then headed along to the hide where Black-tailed Godwits and ruffs where feeding in front of the hides with the Lapwings with a distance Greenshank and a possible White Wagtail which Dan found. After a little while a few Bird of prey flew through with hunting Hobby, Marsh Harrier and Kestrel.

Black-tailed Godwit in flight

Landing

Flock in flight

Feeding Ruffs

Flyby Marsh harrier

Last stop of the day was a Titchwell where we when to the wader scrape with distance views of 11 Spoonbill (later 13) where the waders where showing really well with Dunlin and at least 8 Little Stint in front of the hide. Further out a mixed flock of Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Turnstones, Ringed Plovers, Redshanks, a pair of Curlew Sandpiper and after a good look a Spotted Redshank. Then walked down to the beach where on route had a nice flock of summer plumage Grey Plovers. on the beach biggers numbers of Common Terns and Sandwich Terns and a big roost group of Oystercatchers along with about 5 Sanderling feeding on the shoreline.

Feeding Little stint

Little stint next to a Dunlin showing the size difference

10 of the 11 Spoonbill where were together

Hexton Chalk Pits and Pegsdon hills

On sunday had a nice visit to Hexton Chalk Pits the first thing that caught my eye was the number of Brimstones out on the wing more than I seen together so far this year.

Feeding Brimstone

Then my eye was caught to a lone Painted Lady feeding in the knapweed seen a few this year mainly on the coast which was quite active but always great to see.

Painted Lady

But the main reason was to see the Chalk-hill Blues despite been late in the season still a good few Hundred easily on the wings quite busy usually chasing off each other but still a few managed to pose briefly for me!! Other butterflies on the wing were Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and the white Species though only a single green-veined White.

Female Chalk-hill Blue

Feed male Chalk-hill Blue

Male fully spread

Then while watching this came across a few Grasshopper and crickets my personally favourite was the Roesel's Bush Cricket which I don't see that often and also the Meadow Grasshopper and the Common Field Grasshopper were around

Roesel's Bush Cricket

Meadow Grasshopper

Then ended the afternoon with a walk around Pegsdon Hills with a nice walk with agood number of Holly Blue on the Ickleworth way and few Chalk-hill Blues on the top of the hill with the hightlight a nice Spotted Flycatcher showed itself briefly at the top of the valley.