Where to go in East Anglia?

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

So much to do! So little time
Cheers all - most appreciated

Do let us know where you go and what you see, and Happy Birthday by the way

Jeff

[rainmaker]

I'm back!

Only went on a couple of wildlife excursions - Minsmere & Blakeney on the north coast. I was told we were going to north norfolk, then when I looked at where we were really going, it was 10 miles south of Norwich!

Didn't make it as far as Blakeney point - did a lovely little stroll from Blakeney to Cley & back again - but it was blowing a gale and throwing it down. There was a Marsh Harrier in the reeds, just up the path from Cley! Was also very tuneful Curlew, and a lovely flock of birds in the green verges on the banks - bit dunnock-like (in closed wing view), but a touch smaller, and beautiful flashes of white/blue (black?) when they took wing - about 20 in the flock, and they played a game of follow-my-leader, whilst performing a bouncy jaunty flight up to 10m in the air, and then suddenly diving into the verges to feed again. Anyone any idea what they are?

Minsmere was beautiful, even Sizewell looks quite impressive, although I did throw constant suspicious looks at it! We saw in the region of 6 individual Marsh Harriers - the males are especially beautiful in flight; and saw a green woodpecker for the first time - it's nice that you can pop out onto the beach and have a decent walk as well as doing the birding

Really need to go and stay there for a week or more, and take a tent so that I can go round the place properly - the friends that we were staying with aren't really into the nature-reserve type thing, especially with a very boisterous dog, so the days we were out with them was more of a stroll on a beach type affair.

Thanks for all the advice everyone - most appreciated

[rainmaker]

Note - I suspect, from images on t'internet that they were Lapland Buntings - but there seems no description of the white/blue-black of the underwing or tail, nor are there any in-flight pics!

[JeffH]

Sounds like you had a great time rainmaker - glad you enjoyed it and still plenty of places left to visit next time.

By the way, there's often quite a strong wind blowing on the north Norfolk coast - even at the height of summer!

Jeff

[gfilmsuk]

If you get as far east as Cley village check out the Cley Bird Club log book in Arkwrights Beach Rd cafe for up-to-date information re sightings.

Sorry to throw a spanner in the works but after the recent storms there's not much left of the cafe. Free parking there now though.
Dave

[wildmanofthewoods]

east anglia..... its a huge massive enormous nature reserve you can't go wrong. norfolks north coast is dotted with nature reserves.. sounds like your going to need about a month i would say.
in addition to the reserves mentioned pensthorpe near fakenham is a large waterfowl park where you can see birds like smew & mergansers up close there are lots of birds here from around the world like ibis & spoonbills. its an excellent place to see the birds that visit our shores up close. check first tho it may be closed out of season!

[peter B]

hi
i have just moved from there , and you will find it,s all one big wildlife park , inland there is thetford , east coast from dunwich up through southwold till you get right up to the wash ,there are lot,s of places for wild life , best to get a map close your eye,s and stick a pin in , inles you land in the sea you will find some where, happy holidays pete

[monkeys98]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

I'll be visiting north East Anglia for a few days the week after next, predominantly to go walking in th'hills (or flats ) and to do a bit of spotting wildlife.

Anyone got any good suggestions for places to visit? Apart from Snetterton, I've never been!

Ta

Well if you go to Lowestoft area then you could try Carlton Marshes.

[fairplay]

Note to everybody - he's been, gone, got the T Shirt, etc.

Just a shame that if he stayed 10 miles south of Norwich, as he says, then he could have gone to Wheatfen Broad, otherwise known as the Ted Ellis Reserve, one of Norfolk's great naturalists.

Neil.