Common Lizard
Cley
March 15 2026
@linnetincley.bsky.social
@norfolknats.bsky.social

On the way back from the central hides, this Common Lizard was busy taking in the warmth of the sun on the edge of the boardwalk. Totally at ease with me being a bit nosey with the phone...!
#cleyherps
@linnetincley.bsky.social
@norfolknats.bsky.social

Genuinely can't recall the last time I saw frog spawn on the Cley reserve ~ Common Frog is seen far less frequently than Common Toad here, so these two clumps of eggs were quite something. Of course there's an awful lot of waterways we can't see!
@linnetincley.bsky.social
@norfolknats.bsky.social

Four very smart looking moths from a quiet morning at CMO HQ ~ Twin-spotted Quaker, Hebrew Character, Common Quaker & Early Grey.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleymothobs
#norfolkmoths
#teammoth

Some 1664 is helping 🙂

Shorelark
Blakeney Point
March 14 2026
One of the poorest winters for this classic & stylish visitor I can remember. We searched high & low for this one & a second walk along the landing ridge paid off when Lynnette picked it up on the saltings.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds

Blakeney Point scenery from our day today. We ended up, post a reviving coffee in Blakeney (!) at Stiffkey
Adult ♂️ Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, 1w PBBrent, Great Egret, Spoonbill + roadside Cattle Egret & Great Egret made for a brilliant finale to the day.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#norfolkbirding

Natural beauty...beyond stunning...
Blakeney Point
March 14 2026
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleybirds

Hope you’re feeling better.

What a day! It's been a while time since we've had a 20k step adventure & a magical walk up & down Blakeney Point clocked up over 10 miles (we zig-zagged, a lot 😅) on a stunning March day. The last gasp find from Lynnette was the Shorelark. Epic!
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds

A cool 29 years since that Canvasback & it feels almost like that's how long it's been since I've seen a drake Smew. Eventually found distantly on the west side of Layer de la Haye causeway, my eyes watering & nose running in the wind.
He really was smart as...
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#ukbirding

An absolute quacker of an afternoon at Abberton for us y'day ~ the headline act was, of course, the terrific drake Canvasback that's come & gone since 2023. A new bird for Lynnette & my first since that original Norfolk drake at Welney in Jan 1997.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#rarebirdsuk
#ukbirding

Drake Canvasback & drake Pochard
Abberton Reservoir, Essex
March 13 2026
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#rarebirdsuk
#ukbirding

The Canvasback took a while to appear but, after half an hour of searching, we picked him up slowly heading our way. Eventually the views were really decent (& super instructive) as a small group of Pochard & their escort drifted in front of us.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#rarebirdsuk
#ukbirding

Common Crane
Old Womans Lane, Cley
March 11 2026
A little bit of patch gold on a breezy early, early spring afternoon.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds

Last one...
...a beautiful Cley afternoon sky on the walk home today.
@linnetincley.bsky.social

No, although there is a colony in Norfolk, one that we must check out. Hope you’re having fun!

On the walk home over the Hangs, a pair of Ravens gave us a fly-by (what a change in status for them in Norfolk over the last decade). Then, better still, some patch gold when Lynnette quietly grabbed my arm along Barn Drift, Common Crane!
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#norfolkbirding
#cleybirds

#TeamMoth

Despite the breezy conditions there was enough in the warmth of the sun to see us head for a walk up to Salthouse Heath today in search of Orange Underwings. We were very happy to find them in two new spots + our original spot of five years ago.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleymothobs
#norfolkmoths

Here's a second Adder that Lynnette found just a few yards from the one above. After a short while, it slithered off into the gorse. So, so smart.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
@norfolknats.bsky.social
2/2

As well as the Orange Underwings on a better day than expected, we found 3 Woodlarks & even better, 3 Adders. The wonder of the new phone zoom, the 10x bins & a steady hand meant I could get some great grabs without the Adder getting fazed.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
@norfolknats.bsky.social
1/2

Good luck, Ruth 🍀🍀🍀

A surprise last night was Scrobipalpa costella (Bittersweet Moth or Winter Grounding) ~ we've not had many here before & we've definitely not had one anywhere close to March before. Recorded year round in Norfolk, late summer the peak.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleymothobs
#norfolkmoths
#teammoth

An atmospheric clip of the Black-winged Kite, late afternoon at Ludham Bridge. We'd been along the footpath, no joy, but saw it distantly from the noisy road bridge. Curiously reminiscent of a gliding Leach's Storm-petrel at times.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#norfolkbirding
#ukbirding
#rarebirdsuk

Another lovely moth from last night was this colour coordinated Shoulder Stripe. Lynnette had one a few days ago & this one came to the front window ~ they love the light in the Guillemot's window! Another super-fresh looking moth.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleymothobs
#norfolkmoths
#teammoth

I remember that OMG moment,
a lovely moth. Great record, Steve!

A productive CMO night last night. Five NFYs (49/17) including Water Carpet, Red Chestnut, Engrailed & Early Thorn. Engrailed & Red Chestnut our earliest by 2 weeks, Red Water Carpet earliest by 11 days & Early Thorn earliest by 5 days.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleymothobs
#norfolkmoths
#teammoth

Absolutely love this Red Kite on the lakeside snags at Holkham as the watery sun started setting in the misty & murky sky this evening.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#norfolkbirding
#ukbirding

That’s a great comparison shot.
Thank you