October 12, 2026 at 7:38 PM
What an epic late hour of the birding day ~ an exceptional count of 16+ Caspian Gulls onto Pat's Pool (a Cley record) - total was 10 1st winters, 2 2nd winters, 1 3rd winter & 3 adults. Also 5 michahellis & 7 Med Gulls. The 4 Glossy Ibis dropped in around 6.20. Superb 🙂
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
October 12, 2026 at 7:20 PM
What an epic late hour of the birding day ~ an exceptional count of 16+ Caspian Gulls onto Pat's Pool (a Cley record) - total was 10 1st winters, 2 2nd winters, 1 3rd winter & 3 adults. Also 5 michahellis & 7 Med Gulls. The 4 Glossy Ibis dropped in around 6.20. Superb 🙂
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
Loving the Glossy Ibis still ~ tonight they dropped in briefly onto Pat's Pool, in the gllony fading light, at 6.20. They seemed jumpy and after a low pass by a Lesser Black-backed Gull, they whizzed off east.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
October 12, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Loving the Glossy Ibis still ~ tonight they dropped in briefly onto Pat's Pool, in the gllony fading light, at 6.20. They seemed jumpy and after a low pass by a Lesser Black-backed Gull, they whizzed off east.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
Morning mooch around the back before a quick look at the reserve. Water Pipit the pick of the passerines on the marsh + a single Red Knot amongst 78 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits. A few thrushes over & flocks of Chaffinches, Linnets & Skylarks all heading off westwards.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
October 8, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Morning mooch around the back before a quick look at the reserve. Water Pipit the pick of the passerines on the marsh + a single Red Knot amongst 78 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits. A few thrushes over & flocks of Chaffinches, Linnets & Skylarks all heading off westwards.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
Entertaining seawatch as the wind hit NW off Coastguards this PM. For a while it was quite lively, bu tailed off post 1630. Sooty Shears are always smart, one reasonably close, ditto some Manx. Best, the ranks of Brents passing by. Welcome home 🙂
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
October 7, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Entertaining seawatch as the wind hit NW off Coastguards this PM. For a while it was quite lively, bu tailed off post 1630. Sooty Shears are always smart, one reasonably close, ditto some Manx. Best, the ranks of Brents passing by. Welcome home 🙂
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
October 1, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Caspian Gull #2 ~ this one was in late, in low level light, but still very smart...
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
2/2
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
2/2
October 1, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Caspian Gull #2 ~ this one was in late, in low level light, but still very smart...
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
2/2
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
2/2
Another enjoyable roost on the marsh this evening ~ the 4 Glossy Ibis whizzed east at 1845, two smart (& one less smart...) Caspian Gulls came in towards dusk (all different to last night) + single YLGull, 1CY Little Gull & Barn Owl & Kingfisher.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
October 1, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Another enjoyable roost on the marsh this evening ~ the 4 Glossy Ibis whizzed east at 1845, two smart (& one less smart...) Caspian Gulls came in towards dusk (all different to last night) + single YLGull, 1CY Little Gull & Barn Owl & Kingfisher.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
An eclectic mix on the scrapes late in this evening ~ the 4 Glossy Ibis appeared at 1850, dropping initially on North. Superb juvenile Greenshank, 3 Caspian & 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (& an argentatus & LBB x HG hybrid) & at least 30 Song Thrushes around the hides & scrapes.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
September 30, 2026 at 8:01 PM
An eclectic mix on the scrapes late in this evening ~ the 4 Glossy Ibis appeared at 1850, dropping initially on North. Superb juvenile Greenshank, 3 Caspian & 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (& an argentatus & LBB x HG hybrid) & at least 30 Song Thrushes around the hides & scrapes.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
I still get a buzz from seeing Glossy Ibis & that's based, entirely, on my formative years when they were (away from Stodmarsh) really rare, a bit like Great Egret, even Little Egret too, significant rarities in my youth. A warming planet ensures they'll keep coming...
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
September 18, 2026 at 1:33 PM
I still get a buzz from seeing Glossy Ibis & that's based, entirely, on my formative years when they were (away from Stodmarsh) really rare, a bit like Great Egret, even Little Egret too, significant rarities in my youth. A warming planet ensures they'll keep coming...
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
Enjoyed watching the four Glossy Ibis track west across the marsh from Salthouse this evening, again bang on cue around 7.15. They arced in towards the scrape, gave it an ever decreasing circle or two before finding their feet amongst the gulls.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
September 17, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Enjoyed watching the four Glossy Ibis track west across the marsh from Salthouse this evening, again bang on cue around 7.15. They arced in towards the scrape, gave it an ever decreasing circle or two before finding their feet amongst the gulls.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
More terrific gulling across the Pat's Pool roost again tonight: 8 new Caspian Gulls in as the darkness loomed (18 in three days now inc x6 1CY) plus 7 Yellow-legged Gulls (and four figures of Lesser Black-backed & Black-headed Gulls). Love it!
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
September 17, 2026 at 8:13 PM
More terrific gulling across the Pat's Pool roost again tonight: 8 new Caspian Gulls in as the darkness loomed (18 in three days now inc x6 1CY) plus 7 Yellow-legged Gulls (and four figures of Lesser Black-backed & Black-headed Gulls). Love it!
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
Another interesting twilight roost this evening across Pat's Pool & Simmonds Scrape: a minimum 5 Caspian Gulls (all different to yesterday's quintet) & 8 Yellow-legged Gulls (one beefy adult 👇) amongst over 1000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls & a minimum 350+ Herring Gulls.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
September 16, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Another interesting twilight roost this evening across Pat's Pool & Simmonds Scrape: a minimum 5 Caspian Gulls (all different to yesterday's quintet) & 8 Yellow-legged Gulls (one beefy adult 👇) amongst over 1000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls & a minimum 350+ Herring Gulls.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
Three minutes later than last night, but still they came! The four Glossy Ibis dropped onto the scrapes just after 7.15 tonight & did exactly what they did last night ~ bit of a wash & brush-up, a long brush-up actually, before a minimal bit of feeding & then some sleep.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
September 16, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Three minutes later than last night, but still they came! The four Glossy Ibis dropped onto the scrapes just after 7.15 tonight & did exactly what they did last night ~ bit of a wash & brush-up, a long brush-up actually, before a minimal bit of feeding & then some sleep.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
As the twilight began to creep in this evening, the ultra-distinctive silhouettes of 4 Glossy Ibis dropped onto Simmonds Scrape. Those cold hours, waiting & waiting on the Lampen Wall, seem half a world away from where we, & Glossy Ibis, are now.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
September 15, 2026 at 8:07 PM
As the twilight began to creep in this evening, the ultra-distinctive silhouettes of 4 Glossy Ibis dropped onto Simmonds Scrape. Those cold hours, waiting & waiting on the Lampen Wall, seem half a world away from where we, & Glossy Ibis, are now.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
There was a decent gathering of Pink-footed Geese on Simmonds Scrape this evening, over 100 on the deck, plus a few flyover flocks too. From that small sample, there looked to be a good spread of juveniles, which is always so nice to see.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
September 15, 2026 at 7:59 PM
There was a decent gathering of Pink-footed Geese on Simmonds Scrape this evening, over 100 on the deck, plus a few flyover flocks too. From that small sample, there looked to be a good spread of juveniles, which is always so nice to see.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
A pleasing last 90 minutes on the reserve tonight ~ the 4 Glossy Ibis dropped in at 7.15 while in the gull roost there where at least 5 Caspian Gulls & 11 Yellow-legged Gulls (plus 100s of LBBs & HGs). Nice to see some Pinks on the ground too 🙂
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
September 15, 2026 at 7:54 PM
A pleasing last 90 minutes on the reserve tonight ~ the 4 Glossy Ibis dropped in at 7.15 while in the gull roost there where at least 5 Caspian Gulls & 11 Yellow-legged Gulls (plus 100s of LBBs & HGs). Nice to see some Pinks on the ground too 🙂
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
Valley views from a humid walk in the Glaven, breezy at first, flat calm by the time we got home. Thrilled to see two Turtle Doves, an adult & a juvenile, tho' a bittersweet reminder of times gone by, when they purred along the wires to the ford.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
September 3, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Valley views from a humid walk in the Glaven, breezy at first, flat calm by the time we got home. Thrilled to see two Turtle Doves, an adult & a juvenile, tho' a bittersweet reminder of times gone by, when they purred along the wires to the ford.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
Two very different-looking Lesser Black-backed Gulls from Pat's Pool, Cley
August 30 2026.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
August 30 2026.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
August 31, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Two very different-looking Lesser Black-backed Gulls from Pat's Pool, Cley
August 30 2026.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
August 30 2026.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
I've been waiting for this for a while ~ the annual juvenile intermedius vs. fuscus headache! This striking 1CY bird was on Pat's Pool last night & at first, I was keen on it's Baltic candidacy. Stark contrast in plumage, reminiscent of michahellis in some ways. Now...
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
1/4
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
1/4
August 31, 2026 at 3:30 PM
I've been waiting for this for a while ~ the annual juvenile intermedius vs. fuscus headache! This striking 1CY bird was on Pat's Pool last night & at first, I was keen on it's Baltic candidacy. Stark contrast in plumage, reminiscent of michahellis in some ways. Now...
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
1/4
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
1/4
An excellent mix of birds last night on the reserve ~ three Spoonbills, 18+ Little Stints, Garganey, Icelandic & Continental Black-tailed Godwits (islandica below), 3 Wood Sandpipers, 3 1CY Mediterranean Gulls, Yellow-legged Gull & a juvenile fuscus-lite'n'like as well.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
August 31, 2026 at 12:48 PM
An excellent mix of birds last night on the reserve ~ three Spoonbills, 18+ Little Stints, Garganey, Icelandic & Continental Black-tailed Godwits (islandica below), 3 Wood Sandpipers, 3 1CY Mediterranean Gulls, Yellow-legged Gull & a juvenile fuscus-lite'n'like as well.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
August 1982, YOC holiday in Sheringham & a 1st time seeing Spoonbills (x4 at Titchwell). We've got 20+ at Cley at the mo & I got quite nostalgic for that initial encounter all those years ago ~ so exciting to see this unique bird & I still love seeing them to this day.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
August 31, 2026 at 1:00 PM
August 1982, YOC holiday in Sheringham & a 1st time seeing Spoonbills (x4 at Titchwell). We've got 20+ at Cley at the mo & I got quite nostalgic for that initial encounter all those years ago ~ so exciting to see this unique bird & I still love seeing them to this day.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
...almost certainly they can...and are the vaguely "holly leaf" scapulars outside what you expect on fuscus in late August? Probably, yes. Tertials & coverts appear variable, so that's neither + or -. Underwing fine for fuscus (like a mid-range cachinnans). Nice tail.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
3/4
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
3/4
August 31, 2026 at 3:30 PM
...almost certainly they can...and are the vaguely "holly leaf" scapulars outside what you expect on fuscus in late August? Probably, yes. Tertials & coverts appear variable, so that's neither + or -. Underwing fine for fuscus (like a mid-range cachinnans). Nice tail.
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
3/4
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
3/4
Ultimately, after the excitement of a good candidate, I've returned to a more extreme intermedius (assuming they really look like this) with fuscus as the outside option, rather than the other way around (as it was last night). Sometimes they *do* need a CR on them!
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
4/4
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
4/4
August 31, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Ultimately, after the excitement of a good candidate, I've returned to a more extreme intermedius (assuming they really look like this) with fuscus as the outside option, rather than the other way around (as it was last night). Sometimes they *do* need a CR on them!
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
4/4
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
4/4
...having had time to process it more, look at lots of images of 1CY fuscus & intermedius I've reached an impasse. There's a lot to like: nice structure (small head, not bulky, long-winged) & plumage tones all felt OK for Baltic Gull. Can intermedius really match this?
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
2/4
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
2/4
August 31, 2026 at 3:30 PM
...having had time to process it more, look at lots of images of 1CY fuscus & intermedius I've reached an impasse. There's a lot to like: nice structure (small head, not bulky, long-winged) & plumage tones all felt OK for Baltic Gull. Can intermedius really match this?
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
2/4
#cleybirds
#norfolkbirding
2/4