1. Whitlingham Country Park
On the coldest weekend of the winter so far, when tidal
surges had caused parts Great Yarmouth and other coastal areas to be evacuated
and many reserves were partially underwater, we tried our first new area of
2017: Whitlingham Country Park.
The forecast had been for snow and sleet most of the day,
but, thankfully, the sun shone brightly in a crisp, blue sky all afternoon. We
arrived at the park for the final hour of daylight, hoping the cold snap had
brought out foraging birds, including winter visitors. Walking briskly to fend
off the cold, we took the circular walk around Great Broad. A pair of Egyptian geese
plucked at the grass and called softly to each other as we passed. Great rafts
of tufted ducks, accompanied by gadwall, pochard, coot and the odd great crested
grebe drifted with purpose, diving below the water. Canada and greylag geese,
patrolled the margins of the broad, accompanied by several pairs of mute swans.
As the Sun sank further, there was something
delicious about the way the light illuminated the water’s surface, putting a
spotlight on the wildfowl that danced both below and above the pool of watery winter
sunlight; the reeds the fairy lights to guide visitors along the water’s edge. Silhouettes of long tailed tits flitted restlessly in the leafless tall trees, calling to
other members of the gang as they flew. Blue tits, as high as they could be,
their yellow breasts highlighted by the last rays of Sun. A grey heron glided
along the bank, broad wings outstretched. A flock of green finches performed
over the broad, settling into a naked tree, decorating its branches. Cormorants
adorned yet other trees, settling far apart. A wonderful end to a wintry day.
On the coldest weekend of the winter so far, when tidal
surges had caused parts Great Yarmouth and other coastal areas to be evacuated
and many reserves were partially underwater, we tried our first new area of
2017: Whitlingham Country Park. 
The forecast had been for snow and sleet most of the day,
but, thankfully, the sun shone brightly in a crisp, blue sky all afternoon. We
arrived at the park for the final hour of daylight, hoping the cold snap had
brought out foraging birds, including winter visitors. Walking briskly to fend
off the cold, we took the circular walk around Great Broad. A pair of Egyptian geese
plucked at the grass and called softly to each other as we passed. Great rafts
of tufted ducks, accompanied by gadwall, pochard, coot and the odd great crested
grebe drifted with purpose, diving below the water. Canada and greylag geese,
patrolled the margins of the broad, accompanied by several pairs of mute swans.
As the Sun sank further, there was something
delicious about the way the light illuminated the water’s surface, putting a
spotlight on the wildfowl that danced both below and above the pool of watery winter
sunlight; the reeds the fairy lights to guide visitors along the water’s edge. Silhouettes of long tailed tits flitted restlessly in the leafless tall trees, calling to
other members of the gang as they flew. Blue tits, as high as they could be,
their yellow breasts highlighted by the last rays of Sun. A grey heron glided
along the bank, broad wings outstretched. A flock of green finches performed
over the broad, settling into a naked tree, decorating its branches. Cormorants
adorned yet other trees, settling far apart. A wonderful end to a wintry day.
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