With the winter beginning to ebb away, now's the last chance to catch up with roosting raptors and cranes at NWT Hickling Broad NNR.
The reserve has a wonderful sunset wildlife spectacle which can be viewed from near Stubb Mill. In the depths of winter up to one hundred marsh harriers fly in at dusk to roost on the reserve and with luck you might also see hen harrier, barn owl, merlin and perhaps even Chinese water deer while you wait. Numbers of harriers in the roost are now tailing off but there still should be something interesting to see.
As well as the birds of prey, Hickling is also the best site in the country to catch a glimpse of common cranes as they drop in to roost amonng the reserve's reedbed. An unrivalled wildlife spectacle and unique to Norfolk!
Park in the main NWT Hickling Broad carpark and walk the approximately 1km along the track to the Stubb Mill raptor viewpoint. NWT members and children are free, non-members £3.50. Please note the track is often muddy and wellies are recommended.
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Photo of a marsh harrier by Paul Shaw]