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Description
The University of East Anglia (UEA) has some fantastic grounds for birding, and whatever the time of year, there is always something to see. With a wide selection of trails to choose from, it is always worth exploring if you are in the area or indeed visiting the univeristy for any reason. The standout feature of the campus is UEA Broad (the universities lake). This will hold Great Crested Grebe throughout the year, and you may also catch a glipse of a passing Common Kingfisher or hear the erruptive calls of Cetti's Warbler. The lawns around campus may have Eurasian Green Woodpecker feeding on them. You can see Grey Wagtail and Little Egret along the river.
In the winter, look out for Goosander as this is one of the more reliable locations to find them in the county. There may also be plenty of gulls including Common Gull and European Herring Gull using the lawn around the edge of the lake. At dusk, Eurasian Woodcock and Common Snipe can be found in any of the wetland areas around campus. In spring, a dawn walk around UEA Broad may reveal Common Sandpiper along the waters edge. Worth getting there early, as the site does become busy with dog walkers and visitors during the day. The campus is alive with the sound of warblers including Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Greater Whitethroat, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler and even a few Grasshopper Warbler! There may be Common Cuckoo joining the dawn chorus. During a spring fall, local scarcities such as Ring Ouzel and Common Redstart have been found here.
Summer is quiter, but a wide selection of garden birds may still be seen in the area including Eurasian Bullfinch and Eurasian Treecreeper. On a dusk trip to the playingfields, you may hear Little Owl calling in the large oak trees. Raptors including Western Marsh Harrier may be seen, as they range more widely away from the Norfolk Broads at this time of year. UEA Broad may be host to a couple of pairs of Common Tern. Autumn is a good time to keep eyes on the skies for flocks of Pink-footed Goose, while the winter thrushes including Redwing and Fieldfare will be returing. It is always worth locating flocks of Long-tailed Tit as there is a possiblity of something rarer being in them, such as a Yellow-browed Warbler (especially after periods of easterly winds). The greenhouse feeders may host Eurasian Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Brambling.
Given the number of birders working or studying at UEA, there is always a chance of a top quality rarity being found. Previous records have included Iberian Chiffchaff, Caspian Tern, Ring-billed Gull and Great Grey Shrike!
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Access
You can use the pay and display car park on campus, or, access the site via Earlham park. Click on a P in the map to get directions to that point.