Hickling Broads Sunday 19th may 2002

Spread over some 1300 acres, this stretch of open water is the largest to be found in the Norfolk Broads. Situated 10 miles due east of Norwich City, this broad is an important site for wildlife. In the winter large numbers of wildfowl arrive, including Goldeneye and Smew. This is also a good area to see both Whooper and Bewick swans.

In the spring and summer, the broad really comes into its prime, with an abundance of summer visitors and passage migrants. Eight species of warbler can be found here including Cetti's, Savi's, Reed, Sedge, Willow, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Garden Warbler. Waders are also regular visitors to the area and two good sites to see them are at the main reserve or from the public hide overlooking Rush Hill.

Directions
NWT Hickling Broad is approximately 4 miles south east of the market town of Stalham which is just off the A149 Yarmouth Road. From Hickling village follow the brown 'duck' tourist signs, turn into Stubb Road at the Greyhound Inn, and take the first turning left to follow Stubb Road for another mile. Turn right at the sign for the nature reserve. The car park is ahead of you.

Species Seen????

  1. Great Crested Grebe
  2. Cormorant
  3. Grey Heron
  4. White Stork (In field at Acle, presumed an escape!)
  5. Ruddy Duck
  6. Mute Swan
  7. Greylag Goose
  8. Wigeon
  9. Gadwall
  10. Mallard
  11. Shoveler
  12. Common Pochard
  13. Red-crested Pochard
  14. Tufted Duck
  15. Marsh-harrier
  16. Sparrowhawk
  17. Kestrel
  18. Hobby
  19. Red-legged Partridge
  20. Moorhen
  21. Coot
  22. Oystercatcher
  23. Pied Avocet
  24. Common Ringed Plover
  25. Lapwing
  26. Redshank
  27. Greenshank
  28. Common Sandpiper
  29. Knot
  30. Ruff
  31. Herring Gull
  32. Lesser Black-backed Gull
  33. Black-headed Gull
  34. Common Tern
  35. Stock Dove
  36. Wood Pigeon
  37. Collared Dove
  38. Cuckoo
  39. Swift
  40. Skylark
  41. Swallow
  42. House Martin
  43. Meadow Pipit
  44. Pied Wagtail
  45. Wren
  46. Robin
  47. Blackbird
  48. Sedge Warbler
  49. Reed Warbler
  50. Common Whitethroat
  51. Lesser Whitethroat (heard)
  52. Willow Warbler
  53. Chiffchaff
  54. Bearded Tit
  55. Great Tit
  56. Jay
  57. Magpie
  58. Jackdaw
  59. Rook
  60. Carrion Crow
  61. Starling
  62. Chaffinch
  63. Yellowhammer


Our boat arrives to take us to the island hides


Out on the Broads


One of the scrapes only accessible by boat

Footnote:


Things just happen to us!

This is the view of our Steve Stephenson our NWT guide as he
desperately tried to restore our engine after an hydraulic failure


It has to be said that given the wonderful
habitat, we were not panicking in the least


As ever the gallant NWT did not let us down and our trip on
the Broads became a much more leisurely affair. Full marks to
Steve for getting us around the watertrail!

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