The Autistic Naturalist: Jan 30th Cromer, Sheringham and Cley

Tuesday, 30 January 2018

Jan 30th Cromer, Sheringham and Cley

Cromer Golf Course, but no Iceland Gull

Despite it being a nice sunny day, it was a bit of a frustrating day for me and finding scarce birds. Mum and I travelled from Cromer to Cley today in search for various interesting birds that have been reported in the last few weeks. First up, we went to the golf course near Cromer to look for the Iceland gull that has been hanging around here for most of this month. Was it about day? Nope! But at least it was a pleasant and different walk to the places I usually go to.

Black-headed Gull

Next up, we visited Sheringham where a black redstart has been entertaining people at a hotel there. Unfortunately, it wasn't on show for me. A blackbird, but no black redstart. So, I went for a walk along the seafront to see if the purple sandpipers were around. They weren't. There weren't any turnstones either hopping about on the rocks piled up as sea defences. Plenty of gulls though. After another failed search for the black redstart, we moved on for lunch at Kelling.

Herring Gull

Collard Dove on seaweed covered rocks!

Golden Plover

After a disappointing morning without seeing a single one of my targets, we finally moved on to Cley where, at this point, I was just happy to see what's about without worrying if they are rare or not. There seemed to be plenty of lapwings here today on the reserve and were constantly flying around as the marsh harriers and a peregrine falcon spooked them into the air. There was even a large murmuration of golden plover creating moving ribbons in the sky briefly at one point. Also around were plenty of wildfowl such as wigeon, teal, gadwall, shovelers, mallards, shelducks and pink-footed geese, including one with a ringed collar around it's neck and there were a few avocets and black-tailed godwits, too.