Cley
Cley was once something of a mecca for birders. Not only was it a great place to see rare birds, the local cafe became an unofficial grapevine for birders to share news about what had been seen elsewhere.
Nowadays, it remains a wonderful reserve to explore, but it is on an ever-changing stretch of coastline, and the recent massive breach of sea-defences led to a change in the ecology of the marshlands. The shingle bank which once formed a straight horizon is now much less uniform, with vast areas behind it now strewn with pebbles from repeated breaches by the sea. Meanwhile, ongoing management of adjacent saltmarshes has helped to establish a stretch of protected reserves running all the way to Salthouse to the east.
The photograph, taken from the visitor centre, doesn't really do the reserve justice, as this is a scenic stretch of coast. The marshy landscape is complemented by a fine windmill on the edge of Cley village.
Special birds at Cley
In common with many sites in North Norfolk, Cley offers an excellent range of bird species throughout the year. Most interest is focused on the marshes, which attract a wide range of waders, including breeding Avocets and Little Ringed Plovers. Cley is the most reliable site in the country for Temminck's Stints in mid-May and rarities are always likely to turn up at migration times. The reedbeds host Bearded Tits and Marsh Harriers, and while Bitterns were lost as a breeding bird due to inundation by salt water, they still occur during the winter. A Great Reed Warbler singing heartily from a small patch of reeds near the visitor centre is a fond memory of mine from the early 1990s.
The sea can be productive, and the shingle ridge by the beach car park is a favourite place for seawatchers looking out for passing skuas or Little Auks in the right conditions. The beach itself often hosts Snow Buntings.
How to get to Cley
A local bus service operates along the A149 and stops in Cley village. There are two main car parks; at the excellent visitor centre and at the end of the beach road, while another recently opened at the southern end of the East Bank.
Nearby
The three-mile trudge westwards from the beach car park towards Blakeney Point along the shingle bank is something of a rite of passage for birders, and can be productive during migration times. Walsey Hills, across the road from the southern end of the East Bank, is an area of marshy woodland which often hosts migrants, and the pond there also attracts Jack Snipes in particular.