Bugles herald breeding cranes

The RSPB reserve at Lakenheath is turning out to be something of a triumph. Just 11 years ago much of the reserve was carrot fields, bordered by the River Little Ouse and a series of washes, where passage waders and dancing terns could be seen. The reedbeds that now cover much of the reserve show what can be done with careful planning and control of water levels. It was hoped that the reedbeds would attract breeding bitterns but it is another bird that has stolen the limelight by choosing Lakenheath as its home. This is the common crane.

Cranes are truly majestic, with a seven foot wingspan and elegant courtship display, these imperial beauties look oddly out of place when seen feeding on our farmland. Although there is little, if any, evidence to prove that cranes bred in Norfolk before  1981, it is likely that they did. Of the 300 or so place names in Britain associated with the crane only two are in Norfolk but there are many others concentrated in the Fenland of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. This area would have been used by cranes from more northerly breeding populations, passing through south in autumn or wintering here. It may also have supported breeding and records do show that crane featured prominently on the menu at important banquets up until about 1600. After this time the numbers fell dramatically and from then right through until the 1970s, cranes were very rarely encountered in England. Then, on 15^th September 1979, two cranes appeared at Hickling. These overwintered and then moved up to the North Norfolk coast the following spring; attempting their spring migration, but clearly deterred by the size of the North Sea crossing, the birds returned to Broadland. Over the following years other birds joined them and then finally, in 1982, they bred successfully. Since then, numbers have increased very slowly with occasional nesting attempts producing young.

This all makes the arrival of breeding birds at Lakenheath that much more unexpected. Earlier in the year there were seven individuals present, arranged in what appeared to be three pairs with a lone young male attempting to muscle in on already established bonds. He has since disappeared, possibly along with one of the other pairs, but two pairs of these wonderful birds appear to be in residence on the reserve, typically keeping a low profile but proclaiming their presence through their loud bugle calls at dawn and dusk. With more birds now using a westerly migration route that brings them into East Anglia from Fennoscandia, it is likely that the number of cranes will continue to grow and we will increasingly hear their echoing calls across our reedbeds.

Front row seat for a Norfolk spectacle

The raised earthen bank at Stubb Mill, Hickling, may seem an unlikely place from which to watch for birds of prey and other wildlife. Scrub, reeds and rough grassland stretch away into the distance and on a cold winter’s afternoon it can all seem rather bleak, not to mention cold. However, at this time of the year the watchpoint provides an excellent opportunity for viewing harriers, merlin and common crane as the birds come in to roost just before dusk. With very little shelter from the elements, the watchpoint is best visited on a bright afternoon. The birds will still arrive in the rain but tend to hunker down quite quickly and, with poor light, there is not much of a spectacle. However, in the good light of a bright December afternoon, you may be spoilt by views of hunting harriers or of merlin and Sparrowhawk mobbing their larger cousins. There is even the chance of seeing a short-eared owl or peregrine.

Most observers tend to arrive an hour or so before dusk but I prefer to arrive well before this. One of the reasons for arriving so early is to be able to watch Chinese water deer in good light. This introduced species has established a sizeable population within the county, centred on the Broads, but seemingly spreading north and west to other sites. Most of the Chinese water deer that I encounter elsewhere within the county are either ones that have been killed in collision with motorcars or are brief glimpses of live individuals disappearing into thick vegetation. Stubb Mill has proved to be one of the best places to get good views of these small deer, perhaps because you are sitting on a bank looking down on the surrounding habitat. Slightly larger in size than a muntjac, the Chinese water deer reminds me of a roe deer in its posture and movements, though smaller in size. First introduced at Woburn Park in the early 1900s, several established populations occur in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk where they favour mixed reedbed and woodland habitats. They are cautious animals and if alarmed will run off, flinging up their hind legs as they go.

Perhaps I have been fortunate in my visits to Stubb Mill. Each time I have been treated to close views of the deer, followed by the spectacle of hen and marsh harriers quartering the ground or loafing about in scrub. These have been accompanied by views of kestrel, sparrowhawk and merlin on virtually every occasion, with the whole afternoon often rounded off by the arrival of the local cranes. Having so many special birds and animals in one place makes this a site that everyone interested in Norfolk’s wildlife should visit at least once.