Kelling Quags

This weeks 'ramble' was a short amble around Kelling Quags.

Situated next to the shingle coastal bank below Kelling, this freshwater marsh reserve, covering 14 acres (5.7ha), has been a reserve since 1984. It is the most easterly of the long chain of coastal fresh marshes in North Norfolk and is one of our favourite walking destinations from Bridge Cottages.

A good two hour round trip on foot from the cottages but it is only a couple of minutes by car to the car park in Kelling village from where it takes a further ten minutes to reach the Quags on foot along a a green lane.

The Quags are usually very quiet with only the odd walker or birder to be seen and seem far removed from the busy spots further along the coast at Cley and Salthouse.

There is always something of interest to view especially in the autumn and spring. When I visited this week there was a nice group of Black Tailed Godwits on the flooded part of the meadows alongside a pair of Knot, Little Gull, two Spotted Redshanks and a small number of Teal. A sizeable and very noisy charm of Goldfinches were feeding on the dead thistle heads. A Comma butterfly was noted amongst the brambles.

Over the past two years a Bittern has been occasionally seen amongst the sedge bordering the water meadows and a Spotted Crake attracted the 'serious' birders in 2005.

For most of the year though it is a very quiet and tranquil spot.

It is also possible to sea watch from the shingle bank which is only a couple of minutes walk further along the track.

A return trip to the car or cottages via Muckleburgh Hill rewards you with fine views along the coast to Blakeney Harbour and beyond.