... searching for quiet bird close to clearing (7)
I believe the answer is:
probing
'searching' is the definition.
('probing' can be a synonym of 'searching')
'quiet bird close to clearing' is the wordplay.
'quiet' becomes 'p' (music symbol for 'piano').
'bird' becomes 'robin' (robin is a kind of bird**).
'close to' indicates one should take the final letters (the close/ending of).
The final letter of 'clearing' is 'g'.
'p'+'robin'+'g'='PROBING'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for probing that I've seen before include "Investigating - prodding" , "Testing" .)