Gone Pishing: Cley NNT Reserve, Norfolk

Cley Marshes in Norfolk is possibly the best bird reserve in England. It's home to many uncommon breeding birds and (because it is watched so intensively) it often turns up rarities. I spent the weekend with friends at nearby Blakeney and walked the marshes several times.

One bird that Cley is most famous for (and is the symbol of the RSPB) is the pied avocet, with 60+ breeding pairs every year. They are elegant and photogenic, but extremely territorial. After building their simple nests on the lagoon islands they spend most of their time chasing away every duck that's foolish enough to land in the water.

Pied avocet, a breeding bird at Cley

The weather was breezy but sunny so there were plenty of photo opportunities of the commoner residents. Sedge warbler, goldfinch and common whitethroat were present in good numbers and often singing from the bramble bushes dotted amongst the reeds. Somewhat more elusive were the resident bearded tit, they didn't sit up for photos but I did manage to glimpse a couple as they flew amongst the reeds with their long tails and characteristic pink calls. Another Norfolk speciality is marsh harrier and up to three birds were regularly seen quartering the reed beds.

Common whitethroat

Sedge warbler

Colourful goldfinch were common at Cley

As usual the reserve held a few rarities, we dipped on pectoral sandpiper and red-backed shrike but did manage to catch up with a wood sandpiper in nice breeding plumage on Arnold's Marsh and a female northern wheatear was a good find near the beach.

Northern wheatear

Among the more obvious breeding birds were greylag goose and northern lapwing. The latter nesting in the pastures and at one point disturbed by a stoat that was seen working it's way along the bank of the roadside stream.

Greylag goose

Northern lapwing

Duck numbers are fairly low this time of year but shelduck breed on the reserve and tufted duck, gadwall and pochard were still present.