Hickling Broad NWT 12th May 2022

We tried our boat trip again on the 12th May and it was totally different weather to the previous afternoon when it had rained heavily. On this day it was wide blue skies and sunshine so we were happt to do out boat trip. Unfortunatelty the boat did not stop at the tower which affords fantastic views of the surrounding landscape because a Tawny Owl had decided to nest in a tree right next to it so that made it off limits. One of the other hides (where there is usually a big scrape) was also not visitable which was a real shame. So this left with a single hide in the middle of the Broad. Be that as it may, we still had a great trip and managed a few year ticks.

on the boat trip we got half decent views of Bearded Tit and there were various warblers around the reeds. What we really wanted though were Common Cranes and we did see two of them – but not on the boat. We had to walk to the far end of the site near the windmill to find them. Another great bird – and this time a life tick – was found on Brendan’s Marsh – a Black-winged Stilt. Of course, we have seen these birds abroad plenty of times but this was a UK first for us. Other waders that were year ticks were Greenshank and Ringed Plover.

Just as we were about to leave someone came in and said that there was a Glossy Ibis on Brendan’s Marsh but we were so walked out we couldn’t face walking back up there for a third time in one afternoon.

Hickling never disappoints and we were glad to have managed the boat trip because there is something very atmospheric about gliding through the reed beds and the guide we had was most informative on all things to do with Hickling and the Broads in general.

Bird Sightings : Hickling Broad NWT 12th May 2022