Living in North Norfolk our bird watching trips often draw us the to the coastal marshes and seashore. Were the possibility of catching a glimpse of a passing migrant or a close view of a wader is always on the cards. However a little way inland from the coast is the Sculthorpe Moor Nature reserve.  Its is area of woodland, reed beds and river, that holds an interesting and varied selection of wildlife.

Kingfisher at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve

Kingfisher at Sculthorpe Moor’s Paul Johnson hide

Water-Rail from Sculthorpe Moor’s Paul Johnson hide

A bright Sunday morning stroll this October produced a bird list and views of wildlife  that might in other areas take some days to compile. For the visitor with a camera the reserve has a number of hides. All with good views and well placed branches that the birds rest on before feeding at the numerous feeding stations.

Bullfinch from the Fen Hide

Blue Tit from the Fen Hide

The Fen And Paul Johnson Hides

The scrape hides are some of the best places we have visited were you  can get views of Kingfishers and Water rail. This particular Sunday a kingfisher visited on four or five occasions, posing on a well placed perch for the group of watchers and photographs.

Muntjac deer from the Fen Hide

Despite the improvement work going on at the moment causing some disturbance to the reed beds. Which will result in a new hide and broad walk and a views over the reed bed. At the fen hide, we were able to get close views of a pair of Bullfinches, Nuthatch, Stoat and Muntjac deer.

Ring-necked Pheasant from the Fen Hide.

Early in the year we had visited to see the resident breeding Marsh Harriers. Which the reserve is rightly famous for with its cameras recording the activities at nest which can be viewed from the hides.

Nuthatch from the Fen Hide.

All in all a great place to visit.