The following entries are extracted from my personal NATURAL HISTORY DIARY which I manintained on a daily basis during our stay in Norfolk.They cover the period 18 - 21 May.
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18 May (Tuesday):
Up at a quarter to six. Another lovely morning, with the promise of another hot day to come. Wind from the north-east, around Force 1.
Scanning with the 'scope across to the other side of the Broad, I was looking through a group of MUTE SWANS when, to my surprise, three flying birds, featured against the sky, passed across my field of view. They were in close formation and from their general jizz and methodical wing-beats I could see that they were GREY CRANES. They were travelling from left to right, thus away from the Horsey area and no doubt making for a feeding ground not too far distant. Slowly, yet with deceptive speed, they beat away and finally disappeared behind some trees. So, Cranes again!
While I was putting our bits and pieces into the car, a REED BUNTING was singing high up in the canopy of one of our OAK trees. It was a musical version of the normally dull jumble of notes and so I searched quite hard amongst the foliage to make sure that I was, indeed, listening to a REED BUNTING!
We left for Ranworth Broad shortly after 9 o'clock. The mileage there was 16, no big deal! After parking in a very pleasant wood-enclosed parking area, we walked to have a look at the Information Centre, then joined the board-walk to the NWT Visitor Centre. The walk passed through superb ALDER carr. It was nice and quiet, with few other people around. Bird-song was a delight - CHIFFCHAFF, WILLOW WARBLER, ROBIN and CHAFFINCH were in great voice. A TURTLE DOVE was purring, too, surely one of the most delightful sounds in the spring countryside! A brilliant male BRIMSTONE flew by and we saw a scattering of male ORANGE-TIPS. The sunshine was beautiful. COMMON TERNS were rarely out of earshot.
We had a look at the Visitor Centre. It was most impressive and was clearly intended as a 'centre of learning' for school' groups and the like. We did not stay long: by this time it was far too busy for our liking! So, we left, hoping to continue onward with our walk. Alas, that was not to be. Beyond the Visitor Centre the boardwalk simply stops, so we had to return along the same route. This was no real hardship: the bird-song was as good as ever and had been joined by an explosive CETTI. A female BRIMSTONE was noted (and photographed), also more ORANGE-TIPS, all males. A REED WARBLER was singing.
After lunch in The Maltsters, we left Ranworth, navigating our way through country lanes towards an area which, on the map at least, looked promising. As luck would have it, however, we noticed a sign to Fairhaven Watergardens so decided to drop in there to see what we could find. The sales' area provided us with some interesting CANDELABRA PRIMULAS: there were lots of other goodies, too, but we resisted temptation!
The 'gardens' comprised an interesting shallow valley, complete with a flowing stream with many side channels. Wooded on both sides, the valley was fairly flat-bottomed so had lots of wet woodland, too. Over the years, CANDELABRA PRIMULAS had been encouraged to colonise vast areas, so the place was full of colour. A GREY HERON was watched as it stood on the bank, completely immobile. In fact, at one stage I really did think it was a model! GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS were heard.. Birds in song included WREN, GOLDCREST, STOCK DOVE, ROBIN, SONG THRUSH and a MISTLE THRUSH.
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We noticed a male BRIMSTONE and a SPECKLED WOOD, also a HOLLY BLUE. Then, a HORNET which flew across in front of us. A second HORNET was hunting around an OAK tree. Not quite the place, we thought, but a HAIRY DRAGONFLY cruised by.
The valley leads down on to the shore of a broad (South Walsham Broad). Here we found a family of EGYPTIAN GEESE which provided us with a lot of amusement. After a well-earned sit, we made our way back up the valley and so to the car-park. It had been a well worthwhile visit.
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Coming along the track past the houses of Hill Common, just before our right-hand turn into the drive which leads to The Studio, a superb SWALLOWTAIL butterfly was investigating PERIWINKLE by the side of the track. We had excellent views of the butterfly before it swept around the car at speed and made off. Wonderful! Back at The Studio, a second SWALLOWTAIL flew across and over the reed-beds! 76 Fahrenheit in the shade at 5 o'clock. No wonder the Swallowtails are emerging!
A quiet evening, enjoying the setting sun and researching various bits and pieces in the literature of the Broads.
19 May (Wednesday):
Another sunny start to the day, but with a stiff breeze which made it feel chilly, at least at first. Up at 5 o'clock to see both of our COMMON SANDPIPERS out on the grass in front of The Studio.
To Hickling NWT Reserve again this morning, in the hope that we might see more Swallowtail butterflies! As it was, we had hardly turned out of our drive and on to the track past Hill Common when our attention was drawn to a large butterfly which was investigating RED CAMPION. It was yet another SWALLOWTAIL, a superb insect. As we watched, it dodged behind some of the flowers and then simply disappeared! Quite extraordinary.
And so to Hickling NWT Reserve again. Birds singing around the car-park included COMMON WHITETHROAT; WILLOW WARBLER; CHAFFINCH; BLACKCAP and a more distant CUCKOO. As last time, we walked out through the reed-beds to the first hide where a CETTI'S WARBLER was singing full pelt. Ann saw a HAIRY DRAGONFLY. At the Secker Hide we found two duck POCHARDS which were diving in shallow water to our left. There were clouds of FOUR-SPOTTED CHASERS out over the water, more than I think I had ever seen before. Two SHELDUCKS went by, also a pair of TURTLE DOVES. In the distance, a pair of MARSH HARIERS were circling. A CHIFFCHAFF was singing, also a BLACKCAP.
Pushing on, we headed towards the Observation Hide and Whiteslea Lodge. At least three KONIC ponies were spotted as they retreated into thick woodland, presumably to escape the heat. Another HAIRY DRAGONFLY was recorded, as were several LARGE RED and BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLIES. A drake SHOVELER and three MALLARDS flew round. Our second CETTI'S of the day was singing in thick scrub.
From the Observation Hide we noted two more KONIC ponies. Like the others, they were a long way away across the marsh. As we walked towards Whiteslea Lodge, we put up a WALL BROWN butterfly. And so along the track from Whiteslea Lodge towards the NWT Visitor Centre. FOUR-SPOTTED CHASERS were flying in some numbers. One had made contact with a vehicle, perhaps, and was sitting in the middle of the track where, no doubt, it would come to grief if not moved. I coaxed it on to my wallet where it posed briefly for pictures. It did not look all that happy, we thought, and we rather doubted whether it would survive. A YELLOWHAMMER was in song.
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Back at the Visitor Centre a BLACKCAP was in full flow, also a superb GARDEN WARBLER.
Onward to Hoveton Hall where we had a light lunch - it was all that we wanted! The weather was beautifully warm, even hot, so a heavy meal was not appropriate. Afterwards, we had a walk around the walled garden, a pleasant area of fairly formal flower-beds and the like. We met the gardener, 'a Norfolk' boy', as he put it, and had an interesting chat. He had worked there for some years and was clearly very much part of the fixtures and fittings.
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A female BROAD-BODIED CHASER was the only notable item of a natural history nature that we found in the walled garden, but no doubt under cooler circumstances things might have been different. Looking at a fine clump of SOLOMON'S SEAL, we noted a SAW-FLY in attendance. No doubt it would not be long before the leaves would be reduced to tatters!
And so to the woodlands where the display of AZALEAS and RHODOS were something else! The place was a riot of colour. We heard a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER several times. CHAFFINCHES were in song, also CHIFFCHAFFS and a GOLDCREST. We heard JAYS, LONG-TAILED TITS, also a CUCKOO. GREEN-VEINED WHITES were flying.
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More CANDELABRA PRIMULAS here, too, beautiful yellow ones, flowering in profusion in damp areas.
A MISTLE THRUSH was singing on departure.
Home by quarter past five after an easy journey along traffic-free roads.
Spent quite some time this evening, simply sitting out on the decking and watching the world go by. Although there was little wind, the local dinghy sailors were 'racing'. I took some pictures, as did Ann. I could see my results immediately, of course, and reckon that I have some useful material for cards and the like.
A superb sunset, again. As we sat watching the sun dip behind the clouds, three birds came from the left. They were not particularly high and were calling chirrup, chirrup, chirrup, sounding very much like Curlew Sandpipers. As they went off to the right, heading for Hill Common, I realised that I had not the faintest idea what they were. HIRUNDINES, yes, but what species? I checked in Lars Johnson's Birds of Europe and it seems that these might just have been Red-rumped Swallows. Before leaving home on the 14th., I was looking on the Internet and found that there had been an unprecedented influx of the species into Britain recently. Whatever they were, however, we shall never know. The birds disappeared into the dusk. Significantly, there had been a White-winged Black Tern at Hickling yesterday.
Our last natural history record for the day was our queen HORNET which flew up under the eaves of The Studio as it became dark.
20 May (Thursday):
Cloudier than previous days. Little wind, however, and the promise of another good day.
An excellent start at 07.45. I was pottering around the lounge when I happened to glance out to see a CHINESE WATER DEER which was walking across the grass, past The Studio. I grabbed the camera and took a number of shots as the animal, a male, investigated along the edge of the reed-beds. The pictures were taken through the glass of the windows, of course, but I was hopeful that there would be little in the way of distortion. All too quickly, he browsed some vegetation just within the reeds, then disappeared. So, Chinese Water Deer are a reality, here! What a good start to the day!
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We had rather given up on this animal. It seemed a lot to ask. According to my New Naturalist book on the Broads, the last estimation was of a hundred animals in the Broads' area in general, so the possibility of actually seeing one within the space of a few days right here at The Studio was not realistic. After the deer had vanished, I was left wondering whether it had all been a dream, rather than a real event!
After breakfast, to the stores and post office in Hickling, before going onward to How Hill Nature Reserve. It was quiet when we got there, apart from the bird-song, of course! BLACKCAPS were in full flow, also a GREAT TIT, REED WARBLERS, a CHIFFCHAFF and a CETTI'S WARBLER. A LARGE WHITE butterfly was seen, also a HAIRY DRAGONFLY.
We parked and walked down the Hill to Toad Hole Cottage, a delightful property once the home of an eel-catcher and his family. One could only wonder at how remote this spot would be in the 1800s.
A walk to the Staithe (How Hill Staithe) and the River Ant suggested two options, left along the past the Mill, or right into an interesting area of reed-beds and woodlands. We set off to the left, walking past the Mill (Turf Fen Drainage Mill) which is on the other side of the river. A CETTI'S was singing, also a GARDEN WARBLER. Then a second CETTI'S: just how many are there of this species locally? A PEACOCK butterfly flew by and we noted both LARGE RED DAMSELFLIES and a paired pair of HAIRY DRAGONFLIES. A cock REED BUNTING was singing from the top of a SALIX bush. Male ORANGE-TIPS appeared from time to time. Most interesting of all, from my point of view, perhaps, was a new hoverfly, one of the PARHELOPHILUS group, a small helophilus-like insect, sitting on BRAMBLES close to the water.
At this point, the path veered to the right. Clearly it carried on, but we had in mind to walk in the opposite direction from the Staithe, to look at the reed-beds and woodland beyond. So, back to the Staithe and onward towards a couple of wind-pumps, one of them Clayrack Mill. In fact, the path ran out on us, but not before we had been able to look over on to an area, part of which we would be able to explore later on. We didn't know this at the time.
Things noted along this stretch included another COMMON SANDPIPER, a male BRIMSTONE, a SPECKLED WOOD butterfly, yet two more CETTI'S WARBLERS and a KESTREL. There were ponies visible on the far side of a marsh.
Back at Toad Hole Cottage we had a look around the tiny rooms and had a chat with the custodian, a pleasant chap who had interests in natural history. He issued us with 'permits' so that we could have a look at the Reserve proper. This we did after popping back to Ludham where we had lunch at the King's Arms, an interesting pub, complete with American decor and an overhead model railway!
Back at How Hill Staithe, we set off to walk the Nature Trail. As we crossed from the cottage to reach the entrance to the Reserve, we encountered some workmen who were engaged in some activity. They did not look all that busy so Ann commented, good naturedly, that they should be busy with their work. One of them, a pleasant young chap, smiled and said: 'Tomorrow is a whole day untouched'. We thought that wonderful and worthy not only of note but perhaps taken to heart and acted upon by ourselves!
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The path cut through an interesting cross-section of broadland' habitats: reed-beds; a marshy, damp meadow; wet woodland; drainage channels and so on. It was brilliant! Bird-song included: BLACKCAP, CHAFFINCH, CHIFFCHAFF, COMMON WHITETHROAT, WILLOW WARBLER, and WREN. A GREY HERON was noted, also a JAY. One of the drainage ditches had a fair covering of STRATOIDES, a plant much beloved of Norfolk Hawker Dragonflies.
A small hide looked out on to a pool among the reeds. A duck GADWALL with young was there, also a COMMON SANDPIPER, perhaps the one we had seen earlier, and a pair of SHELDUCKS. A drake GADWALL dropped in.
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Back on the path, a KESTREL flew over and we noted both HAIRY DRAGONFLIES and a teneral BLACK-TAILED SKIMMER. Another PARHELOPHILUS hoverfly was seen. A BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLY with a chestnut thorax was good to see. FOUR-SPOTTED CHASERS were seen occasionally.
Along the ditches, YELLOW FLAGS were coming into bloom. To our right was a wonderful piece of wet woodland, with OAK, ASH, WILLOWS and ALDER in profusion. Farther along the Trail, we left the main path to have a look at Crome's Broad. There was a small hide in which we sat for some time, seeing nothing other than a MOORHEN! The Broad was completely surrounded by trees. Back on the main path we headed for Crome's Gardens where we found AZALEAS and RHODOS in bloom. Along the track, in a dry area, we came across a superb FOUR-SPOTTED CHASER which I was able to photograph at leisure. Another CETTI'S WARBLER was singing close at hand.
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And so through some woodland where our first TREECREEPER of the holiday was singing and then downhill and back to the car-park above Toad Hole Cottage.
Back home just after 4 o'clock, stopping at the village stores in Hickling on the way. This evening, while packing, I noticed that the thermometer had dropped to 54 Fahrenheit.
21 May (Friday):
Up sharp, to a cool morning with a northerly wind and a lot of cloud. Our GREAT CRESTED GREBE was in the channel as we loaded the car, also our COMMON SANDPIPER which was out on the grass. We wondered whether they would both be here when the new 'tenants' arrived this afternoon!
Breakfast, and then homeward bound, leaving The Studio just after 9 o'clock. A straightforward run, stopping for a brief lunch at Fourwentways near Cambridge, and arriving back home mid-afternoon.
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