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Description
Filby Broad and Little Ormesby Broad are both large, open, waterbodies on the eastern edge of the Norfolk Broads, and both have great potential to attract rare wildfowl, grebes, terns and more. A short walk from the car park, Filby Broad is viewable from a boardwalk on its northern edge, just off the A1064 road. This lake is large, and a scope is recommended to check the distant edges for ducks. Ormesby Little Broad, the lake on the north side of the A1064, has a short nature trail leading from the car park which takes you to a viewpoint.
Throughout the year, check the car park area for Marsh Tit, and if you're lucky, you may spot a passing Common Kingfisher or flyover Western Marsh Harrier. A few Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant and Grey Heron will be in the area. In winter, expect to find Common Goldeneye as well as a selection of other common wildfowl including Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Gadwall and Northern Shoveler. After particularly cold or stormy weather, you are in with a chance of finding something rarer. Sightings may include Smew, Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Slavonian Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Red-necked Grebe or even Great Northern Diver!
In spring, Common Tern will arrive but sometimes scarcer Arctic Tern may join them while on passage. After rain showers in April / May, scarcities such as Black Tern and Little Gull may drop in too. You may also spot a White Stork going on a jaunt from the local zoo to the south of Filby broad. This is a known locally escaped bird. Summer can be quiter, but the site is fantastic for dragonflies. Keep an eye out for Mandarin Duck, while more notably, keep eyes to the skies for raptors as Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk may be seen circling above the lakes. Autumn is a time to look forward to returning winter birds, but if you're lucky, you may see an Osprey hunting over the Broads, before they make their long journey back to west Africa.
This site is quick and easy, so well worth a quick detour if exploring the Norfolk Broads.
Details
Access
There is a car park off the A1064 on the western side of the lake. Both viewpoints can be accessed from there.