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Wild about Buckenham Marshes:  your personal guide to the greatest spot in the broads

 Buckenham Diary: August 2004

Well, we've  been rolling down to Buckenham on the bikes a number if times this month, across that wonderful new permissive path,
( thanks whoever instituted that I really opens up the countryside around Buckenham),  then down Stone road & onto Station road.

Anyway, across the line & down the track We noticed the odd Linnet still hanging about as well as the audible presence of the Oystercatcher cries from toward the Yare. The rain earlier in the year came at the wrong time for nesting birds but there seems to be some success. One pelting down day, wandering along  we came across three young Marsh Harriers, a matter of yards away from us which meant a real lot; as I remember the time when you never even saw a Harrier down here, good for the RSPB I say !
Anyway, warmer sunny days brings a number of Avocets, on the pool up past the hide a, couldn't discern any young though, we didn't look too hard just padded along, Black Tailed Skimmers keeping us company.
Lucky we brought those flapjacks to tuck into whilst absentmindedly drifting away. Even worth dragging the stove down for the ritual brew. Might as well hang around, it's the only way you get to see things, just spending time looking.
What an awesome sight across the ronds, plenty of  Sow thistle and various Willowhearbs provide a lovely backdrop to such a special place, the old Marsh Marigold seems part it's best now though.Pretty good for butterflies at the moment, Meadow brown and  Gatekeeper make their presence felt, with the odd Brimstone and Wall thrown in amongst others. It's also worth scanning about for a Hobby, scythe like in the sky, darting in catching a poor of Brown Hawker then passing it into his beak a second later & away, can't taste too sharp ! Did just drop onto a female Banded Demoiselle this morning which is always a beautiful sight. 
No. not a 'Beautiful' a 'Banded', isn't that what I said, ...............think it's getting a bit too hot now.

Caught sight of a Barn owl quartering down near the mill the other day, daytime hunting must mean there's young to feed so lets hope they can stay warm & dry till they're old enough to fend for themselves.

Signing off, now but certain to be back to report any further leanings in the Buckenham direction next month.
 

Wilds of Norfolk was set up because of our unquenchable enthusiasm for the Norfolk Broads,  our small part of the natural world. We thought we'd like to try and give something back by helping other people enjoy the countryside and it's wildlife as well as do our own little bit to promote an interest in the natural world and it's conservation , not only for the wildlife but for the sheer exuberance of the precious life we're lucky enough to get the chance to live.

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