Hottest day of year so far (Waders on the move).

Before the predicted heat of the day I decided to take Toby for an early morning in the relative cool.  I drove out to Little Cressingham to check the Watton Brook valley for early signs of migrants.  A mist hung over the valley, however, the rising sun quickly burnt this off.
Arriving at 0500 close to 'The Arms' I walked along the Great Cressingham Road to Watton Brook where I was greeted by two singing Whitethroats, presumably these birds are now tending second broods.  Also seen was a pair of Yellowhammers, the female was carrying nesting material.
It is at this time of year when I am conscious of passage wader species and with low levels of water in the Brook, any exposed patch of mud could attract a Green Sandpiper.
Walking back towards my start point at 0550 and with temperatures already rising, two Greenshanks passed overhead giving their highly distinctive "tyew-tyew-tyew" flight call, a wonderful call of a cracking wader species.  

Wells-next-the-Sea
Every year I like to take my wife Pam to Wells where we act tourist like for a while before I leave her on the shove-halfpenny machines to walk along the harbour and its channels.  We arrived at 1030 with temperatures at 29 degrees Celsius and rising.

Wells-next-the-Sea 18/07/16. The distant trees is East Hills, a migrant trap only accessible at low tide. 

A very hot walk along the coast road this morning with few birds seen.  Black-headed and Herring Gulls were loafing on exposed sandbars along with Redshank and Oystercatcher, and along the channel pictured here a couple of Little Egrets stealthily hunted for prey in the shallows.
A single Reed Warbler was heard singing and a few House Sparrows frequented Sea Blite (Sueda) close to the town.
The most abundant species over the town was several screaming parties of Swifts, a quintessential sight and sound in summer over this beautiful North Norfolk town.
The drive home saw temperatures of 29 degrees with a promise tomorrow of 32, 33, or possibly 34 degrees Celsius.