Wild Norfolk

A planned walk in the Broads didn't come off this morning. We headed to Potter Heigham to find that the suggested car park would cost £8.50! If we bought something from a nearby shop we did get some free time so we did this but starting the walk along the R Thurne we found our view restricted by high fences and chalets at the waters edge, we did see Egyptian Geese though, a pair with 6 young, not something I've seen before. A fisherman told us what they were but also that we had just missed seeing an otter!

Hickling Broad was part of the walk we'd planned so instead we went to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust National Nature Reserve on the northern edge of the Broad. Very quiet with lots of hides but we saw very little except at the Bittern Hide, the last we came to. Not a Bittern but a fleeting glance of a Kingfisher, a flash of blue as it flew in and settled on a branch and before I could even lift my camera a flash of blue again as it left. At least I saw it.
We went on to Horsey to see the thatched mediaeval church and windmill and parked for free (National Trust) even though the windmill was closed for repair, before finding a cafe for a late coffee and cake.

Then a walk to Horsey Gap to see the seal colony. Well worth the 2 miles walk and the pay and display to see so many seals in one place. (See Flickr link) It's the start of the breeding season and one pup has been seen. There are mainly Grey seals but a few Harbour seals too. Fantastic.

It's a great time to come to Norfolk but there is a shortage of daylight in November. The sun was all too soon going down on our day. Looking back over Hickling we could see large numbers of foul coming in across the pink sky, maybe Val C's Marsh Harriers.
Obviously some things are not open past the end of October but places are quieter too which is nice. Our only complaint here is the paying to park. I imagine it gets very busy in the summer and parking will be difficult but yesterday we paid three times, having to buy something to get some change at one point and probably actually went into at least 6 p&d parks that we didn't stop in.

Last day tomorrow but I think the wildlife and wild spaces will draw us back.