Friday, 4 September 2015

Norfolk holiday

The Dodds family were on holiday last week in Norfolk.  It was a holiday of mixed emotions; from a 5 hour traffic jam around Kings Lynn to watching Hobbies hunting dragonflies over reed beds - I think the latter was worth the heat and angst.

Large wetlands filled with birds and dragonflies were the order of the day.  Highlights included a Bittern flying over the reeds at Minsmere, Cranes and Marsh harriers at Hickling Broad and the wide range of waders at Titchwell and Cley (24 species in the week).  7 species of dragonfly and damselfly were noted along with 42 species of moth.

Two thoughts from the holiday were;  birds do not like the sea off the Norfolk coast - the largest flock was 12 Sandwich terns!.  Secondly, nature conservation organisations in the North East lack the vision and drive to create a large wetland complex of the scale of Titchwell or Cley. Today's nature reserve seems more about selling memberships and fluffy toys than the wildlife experience.


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