Hi,
My partner Hazel and I took a weeks hols on a boat on the Norfolk Broads, from 23rd March to 30th March 07. We had a brilliant time, and the weather was so very kind to us all week. We moored up at several different places during the week, and were able to see around fifty different species mostly without getting off of the boat. All of the places we stopped at were really nice, but we both really enjoyed How Hill. It was not officially open, but we got permission to walk through the woods and visit a hide. As soon as we got inside the hide a Marsh Harrier appeared over the water, and two Avocets really took up towards seeing him/her off of their local patch. Another great experience was the Heron that sits on the picnic tables looking into the window of the Ferry Boat Inn. It really was a trip watching it watching its reflection in the glass, or maybe it was just waiting for someone to bring out a pint for him/her. The Boardwalk at Neatishead was another nice place we visited, with a good variety of birds on display.
Unfortunately the water was too high for us to get the boat under Potter Higham bridge, so we stayed on and did Hickling Broad and Horsey Mere by foot. We stayed overnight at the Greyhound at Hickling, and we can really recommend that place to anyone. The rivers were a constant source of birds of all descriptions. Rather than me make this story any longer, I will give you a list of the birds that we did see during our week in Norfolk. AVOCET, BLUE TIT, BLACK HEADED GULL, BLACKBIRD, BARN OWL, CHIFFCHAFF, CORMORANT, COOT, COMMON CRANE, CANADA GOOSE, CARRION CROW, CHAFFINCH, DUNNOCK, EGYPTIAN GOOSE, GREAT TIT, GREENFINCH, GREAT CRESTED GREBE, GREYLAG GOOSE, GOLDFINCH, GARGANY, GREEN WOODPECKER, HERON, HOUSE SPARROW, HERRING GULL, JAY, KESTREL, KINGFISHER, LITTLE EGRET, LITTLE GREBE, LAPWING, LONG TAILED TIT, LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, MALLARD, MARSH HARRIER, MOORHEN, MAGPIE, OYSTERCATCHER, PHEASANT, PIED WAGTAIL, POCHARD, ROOK, RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE, ROBIN, REDSHANK, REED BUNTING, SKYLARK, STARLING, TEAL, TUFTED DUCK, WREN, WOODPIGEON.
I may have missed a couple of species from the list, but the beer was good too. Anyone wanting to see plenty of birds, while relaxing at the same time, would be highly advised to take this trip. If you haven't already seen them, then there are several pics of different species taken on our hols, on my pics site. All the best, Mali & Hazel.
Hi Mali
Sounds like you had a great time.
Have visited Norfolk and the Broads many times since i was a kid........ mostly for holidays with the parents and (now no longer a kid) lately as a birder.Have to say i always wanted to do a trip on the broads in a boat but somehow never got round to it.Perhaps i should put it to the top of my must do list.