Wednesday started with me getting up early and having a walk around Brundall, the Swallows were still in numbers around the marina and a Pigeon was starting the build a nest in a small tree, other than that there was not a lot about, we had decided to visit Whittlingham Country park, this is reachable by boat with a small public mooring for around six boats. We set off up river in both boats, pushing the tide we decided on a nice steady pace, it was a wonderful Summer Norfolk day. As we reached Woods End we started to see a few Kingfishers along the river bank, Geoff pointed one out to me sitting on a rope of an old boat tied outside a farm house, I could not get a good shot but it was not for the want of trying. Jak kept circling the boat maneuvering into position for me to get the best view, the very obliging Kingy must have been peeing himself at our antic's. I happened to look up as we were playing silly beggars on the river to see three strapping Policemen, bloody hell I thought, what now.
Evening all

I apologised for taking up most of the river and blamed Jak, they said OK, we all laughed as they passed us, I wouldn't mind a job like that I thought. We continued our trip to Whittlingham and arrived about forty minute later.
Geoff tied up first and then it was my turn, the girls Jak and Julia decided to sit at the side of the river and have a natter and enjoy the sun, Geoff and I chose to have a walk, maybe not the best idea on such a hot day, it was very warm as we set off and not long before the decision to take my tri-pod seemed a bad one. We went off the beaten track into the wood in the hope of spotting some birds (any birds yes) and dragon flies on the edge of the wood, we were disappointed, even more so when out of the blue we were confronted by a flight of steps made from wood and bark as the path we were following decided it would go straight over a huge hill. We both made it OK but Geoff did admit to Julia later that he thought he may not. On exiting the wood we found ourselves walking along a cut off the main river Yare, here we did see a few Dragon Flies although too nifty to get any pictures of them.
Geoff noticed a different looking bird as we watch some bathing Greylags, we could not recognise what it was but it looked like a cross between a Greylag and some other Goose.
Greylag cross?


Geoff at the half way point

Eventually we arrived at the halfway point around the main Whittlingham Broad, thankfully there was a bench seat where we rested a while, we got chatting to a guy with a camera and large lens about our sightings, I recalled I had spoke to him before at Rockland Dyke I remembered he was very evasive at that time, he was no different today. We did get out of him that the woman he was with was not his Wife, and that the Wife was at home, time to move on we felt. Geoff spotted a Dragon fly that looked like a young Broad Bodied Chaser, the light was wrong for a perfect image but managed a shot anyway.

Juvenile Broad Bodied chaser

We were struggling by now and wished we had taken a drink with us, we could see the boats in the distance although a way off, and eventually managed to reach them and enjoyed a very welcome drink. It was not long before we decided to head off to the pub and get a meal, arriving at Woods End we moored and enjoyed a very welcome shandy, the menu was not to our liking so we decided to move on and eat at the Yare pub.

Moored outside The Wood End

A good day was had by all and another was expected tomorrow as Geoff's Brother Jim was due, time for me to gain revenge in the fishing stakes.

Thurday we went into Surlingham Broad, a lovely little Broad just off the river Yare, but on route we came across a Great Crested Grebe with its babies on its back, such a lovely site.
Grebe family

On entering the Broad where I usually photograph Cormorants that roost and dry their wings after fishing on a dead tree, I was disappointed to discover the tree had fallen down possibly due to being subjected to years of Cormorant poo. I will be interested to see where they choose now to dry. We had a slow cruise around the edge of the Broad and saw a couple of Grey Herons fishing, these birds are very wary and fly off at the drop of a hat. I did manage to take a picture of each one and also saw another hiding in the reeds/tree branches.

Grey Herons at work



It was not long before the silence was soon broken as Geoff turned up with his Brother and the girls, a quick chat then we all set off down river for a cruise.
Meet the Tuplins
Jak likes to drive our boat from time to time, she does what I call religious driving " Across here across there" and when she does manage to keep it straight does so on the wrong side of the river. We moored in Rockland Staite and I got the electric connected so we could have a brew. A fishing match did take place and I regained my title, enough said.

Walking around the Broad I saw a Chinese Water deer, plenty of butterflies and some some Warblers, entering the the bird hide I could here a Sedge Warbler, its very difficult to get a clear view of these. I have the Sedge's call on my mobile and played it to them, in seconds there were four or five flitting around I was unable to get a shot of one though, they just never stay still.A couple of Flutterby's



I was getting a little peckish by now so headed back to the boat, we had decided on a BBQ Geoff said he had never done a BBQ before but was bragging about the fact Julia had won one in some competition. I thought wait until you see mine.My BBQ








Do you think we should join Mick

A great meal, a couple of drinks and some great fun was had by all. Jim, Rene and Kev had to head back home so it was time to get back to the marina, Geoff led the way as we followed in convoy across the wonderful Rockland Broad, it was a mill pond and looked so peaceful.
Rockland Broad


We arrived back at the marina and said our goodbyes to Jim, Rene and Kev, I guess they go back to "Shining White Street" now. Geoff decided on a bit of fishing while I sat on my boat with a cuppa, we chatted about what a great three days we had just had and about when we would be back for more. Tired, and ready for bed I said good night.