Visiting the tree graveyard

I visited Hickling NWT today, the first time this year.  Last time I went it was flooded and I had the choice of turning back or swimming for my life so I have been avoiding the place till the weather cheered up.  I am pleased to say I did not need my life jacket or even my wellies today, there was lots of mud but us hardcore birders (cough) are not phased by things like mud.

The reserve was quiet which is not unusual, I always think of Hickling as somewhere nice to go for a walk rather than a birding extravaganza.  Sorry to anyone who thinks its the birding capital of The Broads but usually I don't even take my scope.  The highlight of my walk was spotting a Skylark in full song flight.  Not rare but it always lifts my heart to see such a little bird so full of himself, singing his little heart out so ridiculously high. 

There is a lot of work going on at the reserve, they are putting in new flood defenses and have been chopping down half the trees on the trails to make room for the machines.  Every few feet there was a pile of shredded tree, it looked like rows of tree graves.  I hate to see trees cut down even if they are diseased or dead but seeing the slaughter of innocent healthy trees really saddens me.  My common sense says that flood defenses are very important.  After all I live locally, I don't really want my village to become an island in the new lake called Norfolk!  Also clearing trees and overhanging branches will make the trail easier to walk along, a lot of the path was single file so now it will be much wider on the rare occasions I am with someone else. 

There are signs saying that visitors should make themselves known to the workforce who will stop work and escort you past the workings.  That should be interesting.  Imagine approaching a big digging machine with its engine running.  You cough politely, they don't hear you.  You say 'Excuse me'.  They still don't hear you.  Yes it will be fun.  Not.  I can imagine they will love having to keep stopping to let all those birdy types go past, they will be real happy chatty bunnies as they escort you safely through!



Yes, they will really hear me making myself known...





The workforce we expect....





When I got back to the car there was a wonderful showy tit flock and two Treecreeper right in front of my car.  Typically by this time my phone had rung and I was trying to hold a sensible conversation while trying to take photos one handed.  It sounds flash but it really wasn't, I dropped the phone twice trying to zoom in and all the best angles were blurred.  I would love to know why all the good birds come out the moment your phone rings, I am sure they know my ringtone!