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!) Cocor coming into roost, as well as large numbers of Erete de stuf! 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 Erete vânăt, so worth scanning through the harriers carefully. Occasionally Șoim de iarnă and Ciuf de câmp may be seen, while Strigă and Egretă mare are regulars. On some nights, skenes of Gâscă cu cioc scurt may come over the viewpoint on their way into roost on Hickling Broad, joined by Gârliță mare and potentially Lebădă mică and Lebădă de iarnă when species are over-wintering in the area.
The woodland and scrub areas support roosting finches including Cinteză de iarnă and Presură galbenă. In late evenings, Sitar de pădure 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 Rață mică, Rață fluierătoare, Rață lingurar and other wildfowl on it during the winter. It is not unsual to find Fâsă de munte here too as well as a few waders including Becațină comună, Bătăuș and Nagâț. 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 Fluierar de zăvoi, Fluierar cu picioare verzi and other migratory species may be found. Rarities such as Piciorong, Fugaci pitic and Fugaci pătat are a genuine possibility if you're very lucky here! You may also encounter hawking Șoimul rândunelelor.
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.
