THE WAVENEY VALLEY 



209 



generally more a matter for amusement than a danger to 

 the quarry. 



Between Barnby Water Mill and Oulton Broad lies Carlton 

 Level, a stretch of treeless marshes, where little is to be found 

 except peewits and an occasional mallard. In years gone by, 

 before steam drained the marshes, they were often flooded, 

 and large and numerous flocks of wildfowl, geese and 

 waders afforded excellent sport. For several winters in 



F1SHROW OR OULTON DYKE. 



succession a gaggle of geese frequented these marshes, and 

 defied the efforts and ingenuity of all the local gunners. At 

 that time many rare birds were bagged. One instance is re- 

 corded of a stilted plover seen flying low over the marshes, 

 but the gunner, in his excessive eagerness to secure the 

 prize, missed the bird altogether. In recent years the land- 

 owners have at great expense put down steam drainage, and 

 wildfowl shooting seems to be practically a "thing of the 

 past." A few years ago the rands beside the river yielded a 

 fair amount of waterhens ; even these are now scarce, and 

 nothing can be obtained by the sporting tourist except an 



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