Left Acle Travelodge and found my way north eastwards to the coast. Sadly the Kingfisher Cafe at Walcott was closed on a Monday, a definite bad start to proceedings. Given the pattern is to grab a bacon butty and a cup of tea, and then seawatch from the roadside, this latter had to be completed without such benefits. As it was things were again very quiet and I eventually moved on.
Reaching the north coast I called in at Salthouse and was amazed at the effects the storm surge had had on the area. The former car park is no longer there, but covered in a deep layer of pebbles/gravel. Reaching the top of the bank to overlook the sea you find a more immediate drop than previously. Clearly clean up work had been completed previously, but evidence of continuing work occurred nearby at Cley where the East Bank was closed to allow the passage of large plant and other vehicles. The area had certainly taken a bashing and must be a real headache from the point of reserve management.
I soon moved on as I'd agreed to meet with Robert and Sue Cookson at the Titchwell RSPB Reserve. Given I had the whole week in the area I could obviously explore the coastal strip at leisure during ensuing days. The rest of the afternoon was spent on the reserve or overlooking the sea where a large raft of Common Scoter (1000+ ) was just offshore. Reports of four Velvet Scoter led to repeated scrutiny of the birds but with no luck, even when they took to flight.
And so with evening upon us we did what self respecting Yorkshire folk do whenever the excuse arises and that's repair to the pub!!! A nice meal , a relaxing pint and a good chat, accompanied by detailed instructions from Sue of where I should go to find various birds soon saw mid-evening arrive and the point at which we all needed to leave...... Robert and Sue to get ready for an early departure next day and myself to locate Garganey House in Hunstanton where I'd be looked after very ably by Robert Sturgess for the next few days.
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