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H. Scott—Bird Watching on Hickling Broad



a very well-known naturalist. It is here that both the Marsh and

Montague’s Harriers nest—one of the few remaining spots in England.

On an afternoon of our earlier visit we were taken by Mr. Vincent

to see the Marsh Harriers and we had a very surprising and pleasing

experience, for we were able to see at the same time five Harriers

in the air at once—both pairs of Marsh and Montague’s and a female

Hen Harrier, resting there whilst on the Northern migration. This

unusual sight of all three species of Harriers in the air at the same

time has only been seen by Mr. Vincent on very few occasions during

his many years of watching, so we were indeed fortunate. Through

some very fine glasses I was able to get some splendid views of both

the March Harriers as they rested at intervals on some stunted trees

growing in the marsh. At other times they were quartering the

ground and several times we saw them bringing food for their young.


On another occasion we were taken to a small, sheltered piece of

water—this, too, was in 1935—which is frequented by Shovellers.

From this same piece of water a small party of Gargany Teal got up

and gave us a splendid view, the bluey grey tints of the drakes being

most noticeable. These beautiful little duck had only been here a

short while, having recently journeyed from the south to their nesting

haunts on this broad. The Shoveller drakes made a fine sight with

the sun shining on them as they circled around. It was near here

that we were shown the nest of a Bearded Reedling and saw both

cock and hen bird feeding young. This year we were not so lucky with

this species, though we heard their very distinctive but not loud note,

which resembles more than anything else two small coins being knocked

together. We only saw one bird which flitted past the boat.


On the last day of the 1935 trip two of the party had to leave

early so the remaining one and myself had a somewhat lazy morning.

Whilst lying in the boat in the full sun we saw a bird which we had

heard mentioned on several occasions but which we little expected to

see, a Black Tern. A beautiful specimen swooped and circled around

and gave us a first-rate view of this now rare bird. In the old days

it nested extensively in Norfolk and was there known as the Blue Darr.

This one was passing north on migration.


Among other birds we were keen to see was the Willow Tit; one



