Cley jaunt and a Buckenham sky

A sortie to Cley on the 2nd had more on the menu than birds. Debs was keen to eat at Cookie's Crab Shop (albeit in neighbouring Salthouse) and we wanted to try out some new scopes at CleySpy with a view to a new year purchase. We of course had a leisurely stroll around the reserve, but first this:

Fresh, tasty and well priced at £6.50. We sat out the front of the shack, watching the world (and some birds) drift by and my good friend and birding mentor Rob Lambert (2nd place in celebrity wild brain of Britain at Birdfair, so he says) turned up. We had a nice catch up.
Anyway, the reserve was a little quiet but we did pick up a distant Curlew Sandpiper and 2 sleeping Spoonbill. Keen to prolong the day we dropped in at Stiffkey Fen. A Pectoral Sandpiper had been reported and showing from the sea wall. No luck there, but we did manage a glimpse of the bird, looking over the reed tops on the way back to the car. Great location but a terribly awkward view of the pool, and views from the sea wall were always going to be distant.

I had no idea the nights were pulling in at such a rate, and probably only enjoyed three quarters of an hour at Buckenham last night, but it was absolutely superb. Nothing exceptional seen, but standing in the near dark as Geese whiffled in with newly arrived Wigeon and Teal calling gently on arrival was magic. Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Redshank called as the mist replaced the red sky. All a reminder of the changing evening commute for some of our birds. My favourite time of year approaches fast.

Big Sky Country

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