Description
Stubb Mill is part of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust's spectacular Hickling Broad reserve. The Stubb Mill trail offers a viewpoint to watch (sometimes over 60!) Trane coming into roost, as well as large numbers of Sivhauk! The viewpoint is best visited in the winter months (Oct - Mar), when counts of both species using the site will be at their highest.
On a winter's evening, the harrier roost may also be used by small numbers of Myrhauk, so worth scanning through the harriers carefully. Occasionally Dvergfalk and Jordugle may be seen, while Tårnugle and Egretthegre are regulars. On some nights, skenes of Kortnebbgås may come over the viewpoint on their way into roost on Hickling Broad, joined by Tundragås and potentially Dvergsvane and Sangsvane when species are over-wintering in the area.
The woodland and scrub areas support roosting finches including Bjørkefink and Gulspurv. In late evenings, Rugde may be seen leaving roost over the viewpoint too. The Stubb Mill trail takes visitors past the new Brendan's Marsh scrape, which will have Krikkand, Brunnakke, Skjeand and other wildfowl on it during the winter. It is not unsual to find Vannpiplerke here too as well as a few waders including Enkeltbekkasin, Brushane and Vipe. There is a viewing tower enabling visitors to scan the marsh for other species of interest.
In both the summer months the viewpoint is much quiter, however, Brendan's Marsh is a hotspot for waders and Skogsnipe, Gluttsnipe and other migratory species may be found. Rarities such as Stylteløper, Temmincksnipe and Alaskasnipe are a genuine possibility if you're very lucky here! You may also encounter hawking Lerkefalk.
Details
Access
Park at the NWT Hickling Broad car park. Don't forget to sign in at the Visitor Centre if it is open! Follow the trail past Brendan's Marsh to the raptor viewpoint. It is well signposted from the car park. If it is dark by the time you leave the viewpoint, you can walk back to the car park along the road if the footpath is slippery. There is a disabled car park by the viewpoint, but it must only be used by 'blue badge' holders.
