Migrants at Cley

What a difference a day makes, yesterday at Minsmere I saw limited evidence of spring migration but today was more productive, for migrants at least. After dropping off Agnes and catching up with James in Norwich I arrived at Cley NWT in time for lunch in the cafe. Refueled I headed out to the main cluster of hides, in contrast to yesterday at Minsmere all 3 hides were empty (although the Cley car park was full?!) From Daukes Hide I had a good view of both scrapes. Simmons Scrape had 58 Curlew, 8 Ruff and two Little Ringed Plover among the other common waders, Redshank, Avocet, Bar-tailed Godwit and Dunlin. A White Wagtail was in front of the hide, but no sign of the reported Wheatear. Walking back a Sedge Warbler could be heard but not seen and a Cetti's Warbler was calling and briefly seen near the Wardens House, also more surprisingly a Brambling flew over calling. 8 Eider had been reported on the sea so I drove down Beach Road, on route 3 Swallow flew over heading West. With a land wind the sea was calm and I soon located 2 Teal close in and further out 2 Eider. A pair of Marsh Harrier wheeled over the Eye Field Pool, but after much scanning I still couldn't find a Wheatear. The reported Black Redstart couldn't be seen by the Coast Road/Beach Road junction so I decided to head homeward, but not before pulling in at the Iron Road, Salthouse Duck Pond and West Runton to scan favourable fields for Wheatear. That would have proved fruitless if it wasn't for a couple of Bearded Tit at Salthouse that at least made my Norfolk Year List.

I was aware that a Ring Ouzel had been seen near Mundesley, so upon leaving Cley NWT thought I would give the patch at Paston Cliffs a quick once over. I scanned the cliff tops and face but had no luck with any Ring Ouzel (I found 3 here last spring), but 2 Reed Bunting have joined the Yellowhammer flock and the small flock of Stock Dove were again present walking East. The Yellowhammer were singing from 3 or 4 spots so I assume the flock will soon disperse hopefully leaving a couple of pairs to breed. As I walked towards the Paddocks and grass cliff top, the preferred areas for Wheatear a squally shower passed through, plummeting the temperature and soaking me with a few minutes. No Wheatear were present just the resident Linnet and a couple of Meadow Pipit. Walking back, through my murky glasses I noticed a small bird hopping about by the parked cars on the holiday camp. I lost the bird under the cars and assumed it was probably just a local Pied Wagtail, but seeing a White Wagtail earlier at Cley decided to give it a second look. The bird reappeared sheltering in the wheel arch of a car, it was a Black Redstart. I managed a poor record shot with my phone through binoculars before as the rain eased and it hopped off between the chalets.