Latest news with #BroadsAuthority
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Photographer snaps globally threatened bird flying over the Broads
A photographer has captured a series of stunning images of a red-listed bird on the Norfolk Broads. Lynne Warner, a volunteer photographer for the Broads Authority, spotted the cuckoo at Hickling Broad. Cuckoos are on the Red List for UK birds (Image: Lynne Warner) The rare bird is often recognised by its song (Image: Lynne Warner) Ms Warner photographed the cuckoo at Hickling Broad on April 17. "I was sat watching for cranes when I heard it behind me. About five minutes later, it flew in front of me," she added. The song of a cuckoo resembles its name 'cuck-oo' and can often be heard in woodland and grassland habitats. READ MORE: Cuckoos are often mistaken for sparrowhawks due to their colour (Image: Lynne Warner) Photographer Lynne Warner captured the bird at Hickling Broad (Image: Lynne Warner)Cuckoos are often mistaken for sparrowhawks as they have blue-grey backs and heads, with striped dark grey and white undersides. They also have long tails and pointed wings which makes them look hawk-like in flight. The bird is most likely to be seen from March to August. Their recent population decline made them a Red List species in the 2021 UK Conservation Status Report. Red is the highest conservation priority, with species on this list needing urgent action. Species on this list, such as cuckoos, are globally threatened, with big declines in breeding populations and ranges.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
One of the UK's rarest birds spotted on Norfolk Broads
A photographer has captured spectacular images of one of the UK's rarest birds on the Norfolk Broads. Lynne Warner, a volunteer photographer for the Broads Authority, spotted the bittern at Hickling Broad. Bitterns are often hard to spot as they blend into the reeds with their camouflaged plumage (Image: Lynne Warner) The birds can remain motionless for hours to avoid detection (Image: Lynne Warner) After battling long COVID for the past five years which has "severely impacted" Lynne's life, any opportunity to get out is cherished. "It really made my day to have a brief sighting as it is an amazing moment when you see one clearly," she said. "I was in the hide for three hours so my patience paid off. Lynn was positioned in the hide for three hours to catch sight of the rare bird (Image: Lynne Warner) They fly with retracted necks, unlike cranes (Image: Lynne Warner) "It appeared suddenly from the reeds to the right and flew low over the pool towards the left side where a male had boomed earlier." READ MORE: 'Beautiful' images capture kingfisher at nature reserve The bittern is often hard to spot as it spends most of its time camouflaged within the reedbeds. It has been a record-breaking year for bittern sightings in the country (Image: Lynne Warner) The bird was seen crossing the pond before hiding in the reeds (Image: Lynne Warner) With the ability to stand motionless for long periods to avoid detection, patience is key to spot one of the UK's rarest birds. It has been another record-breaking year for the bird with 283 booming males recorded in the latest results from the RSPB and Natural England - the biggest jump since monitoring began in 1990.
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Norfolk anglers join researchers to tackle algal blooms on Broads
Anglers are working alongside academics on a project to tackle toxic algal blooms. The Prymnesium blooms can occur on the Broads, producing toxins that can lead to mass fish kills and have a knock-on effect on the angling industry. The University of East Anglia, the Broads Authority, and the Norfolk pike angling community are working to find solutions to prevent its harmful effects. "We are making significant strides in understanding and heading off harmful algal blooms," said Prof Rob Field, who is pro-vice chancellor for the faculty of science. "This research is crucial for the future of the Broads' ecosystem and economy."The initiative has received strong support from Norfolk's angling community, including a donation of about £4,000 towards the research effort. John Currie, chairman of the Norwich and District Pike Club, said: "Local anglers well know the devastating effects caused by a toxic Prymnesium bloom and the negative effects on the whole ecosystem." The university will use laboratory work and field studies to identify specific locations at risk of the algal blooms and what factors can cause them. Andrea Kelly, the Broads Authority's environment policy advisor, said: "Preventing Prymnesium algal blooms will help protect populations of fish, Broads angling and improve our management of the navigation." Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Norfolk or BBC Suffolk.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Deer do 'high levels of damage' to waterways, report
Deer living in protected wetlands are causing "high levels of damage" by grazing wetland plants and eating farmers' crops, a report has said. The study was commissioned by the Broads Authority, which is responsible for managing the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, a UK National Park. A spokesperson said: "The findings highlight significant negative effects, particularly on fen and woodlands." The report warned there is a need for "immediate action" to control numbers. "Almost all fen areas show high levels of damage, with tracks and wallows causing considerable disruption to habitat structure and composition, as well as significant harm to fen plant communities," the spokesperson said. Deer grazing can also result in a decline in habitats for birds, insects and other mammals, the report said. Historically, deer numbers were low, but they have increased across East Anglia since 2005. Experts used thermal imaging to track the movements of the deer and estimated about 4,500 live in the Broads. Chinese water deer were the most populous (1,997), followed by red deer (1,172), muntjac (1,028) and roe deer (255). Red and roe deer are native UK species, and the report said red deer were "mostly introduced" to the Broads. Key predators such as wolves are extinct in the UK, meaning culling is the only option to manage numbers. Only Calthorpe Broad, near Stalham, Norfolk, culls deer, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The report highlighted crop damage on fields adjacent to waterways, adding landowners "consider fens in particular as deer refuges, making the control measures more difficult". Some species of deer can eat over 7kg (15lb) of food a day, often sourced from woodlands, cereal crops and gardens, it said. The drone survey was done in partnership with the Forestry Commission and the Norfolk Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and will be repeated this month. The surveys will "inform landowners what controls are required in the future", the authority said. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Biodiversity emergency called for Broads wildlife Concerns raised about Ashdown Forest deer numbers Spoonbill fledglings first in Broads for 400 years 'Broads of the future would be familiar to Romans' Local Democracy Reporting Service The Broads Authority Norfolk Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group
