Cley

Started the day at the local patch where not much was doing but a good count of 81 Mute Swans.

I then headed up to Cley to join the girls (and Pete).  On the way out to the central hides 2 Stonechats entertained us in the cut reed area.  From Dauke's Hide the first-winter drake Garganey was quickly located.

Garganey, Cley, 14th February

Plenty of other birds to keep everyone interested there, the best of which from my perspective was the Pale-bellied Brent Goose accompanied by its three hybrid Pale-bellied x Dark-bellied Brent Goose young.

Pale-bellied Brent Goose with presumed hybrid young, Cley, 14th February

Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Cley, 14th February

presumed Pale-bellied Brent Goose x Dark-bellied Brent Goose hybrid, Cley, 14th February - I wasn't 100% sure this was one of the hybrids and not a photo-bombing Dark-belly, but I think it was one of the presumed hybrids

This Little Egret landed just in front of the hide as we were about to leave.  The same bird that did so last week I wonder?

 Little Egret, Cley, 14th February

As we headed back a male Bullfinch appeared, always a welcome bird for this group, especially when Monica is with us!  A few Pintail were on the Serpentine, one close bird being a crowd-pleaser.  As we headed down East Bank several Bearded Tits gave mainly tantalising glimpses - very close but keeping low.  One or two showed well enough for most of us in the end, but it took some work

Bearded Tit, Cley, 14th February

The sea was quiet except for the odd Red-throated Diver passing by.

Red-throated Diver, Cley, 14th February

Curlew, Cley, 14th February

A couple of flocks of finches flew through Arnold's Marsh - I wondered if they were the Twite but they didn't give us a good enough look.  Eventually a flock did return and show itself, but these birds at least were all Linnets.  A Water Rail was in the channel as we headed back.  The new (or are they just newly visible with reeds cut?) scrapes near the base of East Bank were looking good - better views of things like Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit than we had elsewhere.

Ruff, Cley, 14th February

After we were done I headed back and stopped off at the patch again.  Still not much doing - this Treecreeper was best.

Treecreeper, Creaking Gate Lake, 14th February