Today was spent around the Cley area, with first stop being the male Red-backed Shrike which was showing well from the west bank near the bottom of the beach road, which as ever was a simply stunning bird as it fed from the tops of the gorse bushes there.
Next stop was to join the crowds along the shingle bank at the side of Arnolds, in pursuit of the Trumpeter Finch which was present now for its third day. It had been originally found on 31st May on Blakeney Point before moving east to Cley later that day, and coincidentally that was exactly the same date as the only other Norfolk record was found, which was also on the Point in 2008!
After locating it perched on a fence and then watching it on to the shingle ridge where it was feeding, I decided to come back later when there would be fewer people around to try to get some photos, so it was left to the growing crowd.
After locating it perched on a fence and then watching it on to the shingle ridge where it was feeding, I decided to come back later when there would be fewer people around to try to get some photos, so it was left to the growing crowd.
A trip to a local heath was rewarded with suberb views of a Dartford Warbler as it tirelessly pursued a male Stonechat, and a couple of Woodlarks were also watched feeding on the ground there.
Late afternoon I returned to the Trumpeter Finch, and with fewer birders now present was able to get some excellent views of this exceedingly bright individual as it fed unconcerned just below us on the shingle ridge and posed for photos.
Having spent most of the evening watching the Trumpeter Finch it was farly late as I headed back home so decided to call in on the Nightjars as it was a fairly calm night, and was suitably rewarded with excellent views both in flight and as one churred from the top of a tree above my head.
