Bumper day for waders at top nature reserve, as perfect wader weather conditions hit much of the North Norfolk Coast.
Last weekend [Sunday 28 July] large numbers of birds dropped into the scrapes on Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s
Cley and Salthouse Marshes, setting new records for the reserve.
In particular a minimum of 110 wood sandpipers were recorded by local birdwatchers on the reserve throughout the day, as well as 20 curlew sandpipers, 23 greenshank, 36 green sandpipers six little stints and 70 whimbrel.
Cley and Salthouse Marshes warden, George Baldock said: “All of these species tend to only be seen in low figures at Cley and Salthouse. This pattern was repeated up and down the coast and is thought to have been caused by a combination of winds from the Baltic hitting the band of rain over the UK at the time. The phenomenon drew comments of ‘best ever day wader watching at Cley’ from some very experienced and knowledgeable visitors!”
NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes is on the coast road near Holt, and is a superb mix of pools, marshes and reed bed. An accessible visitor centre opened in 2007 containing a café, shop and viewing areas. NWT has since added to this with the fantastic
Simon Aspinall Wildlife Education Centre, a courtyard and viewing terrace. The visitor centre is open daily, 10am - 5pm. Phone number: 01263 740008.