The last few weeks have been a bit of a mixed bag, with some days so cold and wet that we've even resorted to lighting a fire the odd evening to keep the cold away. It's been that miserable it has begun to remind me of the variegated pleasures of  camping holidays, where the temperature never rises above 15 degrees and the cloud never rises  above 500 feet. Having said that the odd spectacular day stood out. One such day four of us assembled reasonably early for a broads day out, around some local reserves. Steadfastly refusing to leave the beloved broads Old Frank would not be swayed in the direction of Ryburgh raptor look out but belligerently insisted upon visiting true and unwavering friends brought to us by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, such as Upton & Hickling. Even before leaving the House of Old Frank we discovered a magnificent Southern Hawker grimly hanging onto the hedge, waiting to warm up;  sign of the joys to come.

Upton surprised us with, heaven forefend, a number of cars in the small parking space, and we soon met a group of enthusiasts raking (with something of a  rather impressive rake , I might add)  some Frogbit from one of the small ponds, their guide explaining all. Wandering through, quietly with as little vibration as possible we padded past the ponds, with the odd Darter poking around, and up along the dyke, still a bit damp as  Speckled Wood, Large and Small White and Comma fluttered around & we crept along  until finally happening across our first Grass snake of the day. Out of the woods & along the board walk, a pair of Kestrels alighted upon an old dead tree, while we identified damselflies, Common Blue, Variable and Blue Tailed as well as dragon flies such as Four spotted Chaser, Black Tailed Skimmer, Brown Hawker and Common and Ruddy Darter. Snakes kept appearing (six in total by the end of the visit) with one so lethargic he didn't mind us quietly observing him for a minute or two  from only a few inches away.  Around the viewpoint we managed a fairly grizzle looking Marsh Harrier, being pestered by a Hobby with distant Sparrow Hawk circling above. Reed Bunting and Warblers made themselves available on occasion, with the constant fluttering presence of huge numbers of Gate Keeper and Meadow Brown Butterfly,&  the odd Peacock thrown in for good measure. Some more technically advanced ( synonym for too much spare money & time) members of the partly fiddled around with hugely expensive image recording equipment, the apparent, instant results we have yet, to formally view. Finally of note, as the second last snake of the trip slithered across  fecund waters a Common Buzzard took to the skies above and circles , lazily, fanning his tail on occasion, until we were bored of looking.

Quick nip home for pints of tea & quantities of sandwiches that resembled the first eight floors of  unnamed skyscrapers and then onto Hickling for the afternoon. How far had we been, 300 yards, 500 perhaps & there,  a couple of Stoats running around as if the sun had made them temporarily bereft of their sanity, jumping into the air and traversing the track again and again until one appeared, dragging along what looked like a not particularly well disposed brown rat , well  it appeared much as a scene from a nightmare of Kenneth Graham , poor old Ratty (did always have a bit of a glimmer, sparkle perhaps, for our sausage shaped friends though, & we all have to eat after all).

Into the Bittern Hide & as we as well know, bugger all around, odd Harrier and nice Ruddy Dater so along we go the Observation hut  & past along the track to the other hides . Once on the board walk the number of Black Tailed Skimmers was truly spectacular, but knowing full well we'd see nothing from the hides seasoned Frank, baited friends by suggesting wandering straight back, , 'you never see anything at Hickling'! A certain amount of grizzling ensued, not, may I say, from one of our number who'd travelled all the way from the Alps,  but more for the direction of  our friends from around the 'first circle' that is the M25. So happy with the reaction, Frank recapitulated & we seated ourselves in the 'Secker' for a magnificent view of  four Cranes coasting into view  and passing directly in front of the hide. Happy and rolling back we managed an Emerald Damselfly (female) on the walk to the car.

The perfect day ! Only to be crowned by a meal,  prepared by our 'welcome host', of such spectacle and magnitude, that it eventually took two days to eat. (Even, not withstanding the enviable  corporations on one or two members present) !



See you again 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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