Boating Holiday on the Broads - What to look out for?

[Jackson_uk]

Hi all,

In a few weeks I'll be spending a 5 days on the Norfolk Broads with my family.

Are there any particuarly good wildlife hotspots in the area or any particular species to look out for?

Will Gloworms be about this time of year?

Hope i'm not being too vague, in a bit of a rush. Any info is welcome as I have not been to Norfolk before.

Cheers.

[aeshna5]

Hi, there are some fabulous places in the Norfolk Broads with reserves such as Strumpshaw Fen, Cantley Fen,etc.

If you're going in a few weeks time I presume you mean end of September/October. Obviously this is going to be late for many insects that are special to the area. Late May/June is the time for Swallowtails, Norfolk Hawkers,etc. Similarly much of the wild flowers will be over too.

You should see some of the special birds, though again many of the summer visitors such as Hobbies will probably have departed unless you go ealier. Marsh Harriers should be seen well, Bittern if you are very lucky, hearing ( not so easy to see) Cetti's Warblers, Bearded Tits (will help if you familiarise yourself with their contact calls), plenty of feral geese (Canada, Greylag + Egyptian) on the water as well as familiar species such as Great-crested Grebes + Herons.

Special mammals that it may be possible to see (though a lot of luck will be needed) include chinese Water Deer, Otter + Water Vole. Grass Snakes are not uncommon, but again you'll need some good luck.

Have a good trip!

[david156]

All depends if you are on the northern or southern rivers. What part of the broads will you be starting from. If your based near Wroxham then the likes of brundall which is the nearest stopping point for strumpshaw will be about a days travelling by boat if you get the tides right.
On the northern rivers you have Hickling which is good for waders this time of the year but if your in a big boat you may not get under the bridge at potter heigham.
Expect to see lots of wildfowl, herons and kingfishers, barn owls, marsh harriers and if your lucky even an osprey as they head south. In the early part of October last year there was a juv. black tern on barton broad for a few days, so you never know what might turn up.
Otters are getting more common and you should here the 'plop' of a water vole even if you don't see one.
Let us know where your based and i'll point out some more places.

Cheers David

[Cowgirl]

You'll enjoy it that's for sure. I went a long time ago with 6 friends & was totally entranced by the kingfishers, I'd never seen one before & there they were fairly common (for me that is!). If you intend to fish, watch out for the ducks, they tend to try & grab the bait on the hook. Puts a whole new meaning on hook a duck!

Ducks flapping & quacking, us trying to turn the boat around & get it into the side gently, so I could jump off, grab the duck & try & unhook it, we managed in the end without harming the duck (except its dignity) & off it swam waggling its tail feathers surrounded by all its buddies. What was sweet was that throughout the kerfuffle, its mates all gathered 'round, quacking in alarm, but wouldn't leave it, even though I had to reach through them all.

Definately a memorable holiday. Enjoy!