July generally is a disappointing month: the wader return migration hasn’t actually begun and resident birds have typically stopped singing and displaying. Underneath these circumstances our default location is Cley, the place one is assured Spoonbills and Egrets with simply the prospect of one thing sudden.
We started the day within the centre hides at round 8.00am: as anticipated Little and Cattle Egrets have been instantly apparent, as have been three then 4 Spoonbills. The one different fowl of word was a juvenile Yellow Wagtail in amongst a flock of Pieds. A transfer to Bishop’s Conceal added Inexperienced Sandpiper, Greenshank, a number of Ruff, Black-tailed Godwits and Avocets and a distant Frequent Sandpiper.
After espresso we took a stroll out to the ocean alongside the East Financial institution: a number of Terns, together with a possible Arctic, however little else, so we headed east to Beeston Frequent. A protracted stroll gave us good views of Broad-bodied Chaser and Emperor Dragonflies amongst others, and fleeting views of a Purple Emperor and Purple Hairstreak among the many oaks.
