Springtime on the riverbank – Norfolk Broads

Living by a river on the Norfolk Broads UK most of the year,thought I would share this area of outstanding natural beauty with you.

The rivers run through marshlands carrying a diverse amount of creatures with them. Harriers fly above with the Skylarks whilst the Herons quietly wait in the shallows.The air is filled with birds from Avocets to swallows.

So the story begins and we shall start in the spring…

Young Reed Warbler’    This cheeky little chappy belongs to a family of five born 2013   

The Broads are very important for wildlife. Much of the fenland and open water, as well as large areas of grazing marsh, are designated as sites of European Importance for wildlife.

Not only cattle graze the marsh! –  

Greylag Geese’ and the cattle at Marsh farm!

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This is the nest of a Great Crested Grebe’ it makes a nest from plants. The nest floats on top of the water. A pair of Great Crested Grebes will usually have two eggs. When the babies are born, they cannot swim,so the chicks often ride on their parents’ backs.

 Above a family of seven Swans a swimming.

Below one of the many Dragonflies on the wetland.

 Adjacent to the river is the forest,filled with a medley of delightful creatures.

Like this Jay peeping through the Willows,they are shy woodland birds,rarely moving far from cover,Jays are famous for their acorn feeding habits and in the autumn you may see them burying acorns for retrieving later in the winter.

The Forest in all it’s springtime glory.

The Broads are the only place in the UK where you can see the swallowtail butterfly,so the conservation of our natural world is vital to their existence.

The Broads also support other special species such as the Fen orchid, the otter and Norfolk Hawker dragonfly and a variety of Bees.

Norfolk is one of the best places in Britain to see both common and rare birds. It is  therefore no surprise that it is a popular place for birdwatchers!

Species include Marsh Harriers, which fly over reeds where Bearded Tits nest. On the lakes and Broads are Avocets,Terns and many species of wading birds with lots of Ducks and Geese. Also the very rare Bitterns are making a comeback and are regularly breeding on the Broads. We shall meet more of these delightful creatures during the four seasons.

Photography by V.Kelly-aka-valzart

    You are very welcome to use the photos as your desktop backgrounds.

Link to –  Winter   :~} Valz ♥

A Windmill by the river in springtime.

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