Sculthorpe Moor June 2010

After a really warm and sunny period, it had suddenly turned wet over the last few days, but I decided to head out anyway and visit the Sculthorp Moor nature reserve.

The journey was uneventful, but as I neared Fakenham the mist came down, and I ended up driving with my lights on. Arriving at the parking lot, I walked through the Visitor Centre and had a quick talk with one of the volunteers, who told be all the hides were open, and pointed out the web cam pictures of the Marsh Harrier nest complete with chicks.

I walk out towards the Scrape hide first which talks me through the woodland, and I stop to look at the flowers growing there - it is lush green, and these pinpoints of colour really stand out. In particular the wild foxgloves are really amazing with their intricate hanging trumpet-like flowers.























Further along, the land opens out and I'm among tall reeds, and then the path takes me out to the river Wensom, and along that for a way until I reach the hide. Walking in here I see there is one other person already there, and I'm just about to say hello, when I somehow let the door slam behind me! not a good thing for a bird watcher!!

This hide overlooks a stretch of wetland, and my new companion tells me that the water level is a lot higher than it had been, following the thunder storms of the last couple of days, and I also hear that the kingfishers did not survive the hard winter. Over in the distance I get a view of a kestrel on the wing, and then a group of Mallard chicks appear on the water in front of us. Another person joins us - a real birder by the look of the equipment he is carrying. He tells us he's on vacation in the area and lives up in Scarborough.

I spend about 45 minutes there, just watching the birds and occasionally talking with my companions, and then head out to the next hide, with views over the marsh land where the Harriers are nesting.


This hide is more populated with men with big lenses, and it also has a webcam link showing the Marsh Harriers nest.

This is excellent, as we can see and hear the chicks on the screen, and then as the adult leaves the nest to hunt, look outside and see it swoop away. I watch it for a long time with my binoculars, and manage to get a couple of pictures too. Nearer to the hide is a feeder, with smaller birds feeding - tit's which are common in my garden too, and also what appears to be a pair of bullfinches. As we watch, one of the volunteers goes out to put more seed onto the seed table - and nearly slips on the wet tree trunks.





In the distance I suddenly see a pheasant break cover and fly for a few feet before disappearing into the long grass again. Soon a couple of pheasants are under one of the feeders eating the spilled grain.

People come and go from the hide, and eventually I am getting to feel cold sitting there, so I collect up all my things and head out. There is another hide along this path overlooking woodland, but I decide that I've had enough for one day, and take the longer path back to the visitor centre. It's only when I get inside again that I realise just how chilled I'm become outside, and I'm pleased that they have nice bathrooms:)

I talk once more with the volunteer, and decide to become a "friend" of the reserve - I get to come in free, and they have a quarterly newsletter - plus I get a sticker for my car!!!

So I'll be back soon to check on the progress of the birds and wild flowers - and hopefully in warmer weather.

Norfolk Road trip (2)

A new day and a new trip with no plans other than to explore! I start off along the small country roads and start to “collect” village signs - it seems that every village here has an ornate sign with its name on, usually in the middle of the village next to the green and the village pub. Norfolk is known to be a very flat county, and although it doesn’t have anything much approaching hills, the land does rise and fall, and as one gets to the top of a rise you can suddenly see the sea sparkling in the distance.



By following where I see the water is, I come to a tiny place called Bancaster Stythe and take the beach road. Driving down this I first see a sign warning that the road is liable to “tidal flooding”. As I drive the road is wet and there are pools of water - I have my windows open and you can smell the salt water - yes, it really must just flood each high tide! Getting to the end of the road there is a private area for a sailing club, one building, and a public car park. There is an attendant there taking money for parking, so I decide to just turn around and splash my way back out again - my pretty black car is getting dirty!!



Driving along the coast road I come to Burnham Deepdale, and spot somewhere that looks like a nice place for breakfast on this Sunday morning. One of the issues I have with this part of the world is that there seems to be few places open for breakfast, but this looks a nice place, and so it proves to be, with lots of people sitting both in the restaurant and outside in the sun. I sit at a table outside and have coffee, then use the bathroom and move on.



One of the interesting things about the country roads around here is that a lot of them are really straight - down in the south east where I’m from roads like this tend to snake in and out and around fields, but here they can just seem to disappear into the distance, and with the horizon that goes on forever and the different land uses as I drive, I am presented with one stunning view after another.



After a while I follow a sign to the Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve. Now, I’m not a “twitcher” but being in this area with its migrating birds does make me want to learn more, and I even invested in a pair of binoculars - so I hang these round my neck and go to the entrance of the reserve, which is through the visitors centre. Here I met a volunteer greater - Chris - and he tells me a bit about the place, gives me a map, and generally makes me feel welcome.



The reserve is actually quite small, but very well organised for visitors, with walk-ways over the marsh land, seating and hides where one can observe the wildlife without disturbing it. The riverside path is closed because of nesting birds, but Chris tells me that they have heard their first cuckoo of the season, although I don’t hear it. As I walk round I meet others on the path, and without exception they say hello - I guess it’s the community of bird watchers! This is a very interesting place, and it’s on a bus route from Lynn, so I’m planning on coming back during the summer.



Driving on I pass a number of the dykes which keep this part of the country from being marsh land, and then to the bank of the Great Ouse - out here there are often small communities of two or three houses in the middle of a field, and I wonder how they survive out here. One such “community” of 2 houses has a sign advising that it is “Neighbourhood Watch Area” - well, with just two houses, I guess you could watch the neighbours!



The clouds are getting darker and I can see a storm in the distance, and as I drive on it starts to rain - and I discover that the rental has automatic wipers! I’ve never driven a car with these before, and have always thought them pretty pointless, but actually, I’m now converted, and want them in my next car! We have quite a downpour, and as I drive I hope this is cleaning the car some!



I stop one more time at a Frankie and Benny’s for a late lunch, and am entertained by a table celebrating two birthdays - so the lights are darkened, and we sing “Happy Birthday to you” whilst the waiters bring out a cake - twice! Back home I realise I’ve driven about 100 miles today - in some ways it hardly seems like I’ve been any distance, but I’ve seen so many villages, and so many horizons that I guess I must have.