Chinese Water Deer in Norfolk (1 Viewer)

[Subbutgeo]

I will be visiting Norfolk before Christmas and my colleague wishes to see a Chinese Water Deer. Can anyone give me any information on the best places to see one.
Thank you

 

[Karl J]

Hi there - i think "maybe" is the word here

early morning or approaching dusk is maybe the best time to be on the lookout but they are a bit secretive, and often only seen singly. But then again the closest you may come is to hear one crashing away through the undergrowth after you've unknowingly flushed it

Don't know if there's exactly a best place but the marshlands / reedbeds along the Yare valley or out at Berney maybe, or maybe round one of the quieter broadland areas such as the Wheatfen or Alderfen Broads, Upton Fen, Ludham marshes ...

i think you'd need a fair degree of luck if you actually "went for them"

Good Luck !

 

[Reader]

As karl has stated, I think you are going to struggle to hear one never mind seeing one.

The only place that was reliable for me was the narrow road away from Minsmere to Eastbridge but I think they have gone from there now.

 

[saluki]

I will be visiting Norfolk before Christmas and my colleague wishes to see a Chinese Water Deer. Can anyone give me any information on the best places to see one.
Thank you

I've a mate who's a 'keeper in the Martham area, I've seen quite a few Chinese Water Deer when out with a lamp at night on his estate. My mate reckons they often lay up in the game crops during the day. There's also Red Deer in the area, further north towards Horsey and Hickling, though I've not seen them.

Early morning's probably best, but at this time of year 'early' morning's not early enough - if you see what I mean!

saluki

 

[Karl J]

... There's also Red Deer in the area, further north towards Horsey and Hickling ...

saluki

Thats interesting :t:

I know its not much help this time of year but in the summer you can often find CWD tracks through the overgrown grasses on Strumpshaw meadow.

 

[Reader]

I will be visiting Norfolk before Christmas and my colleague wishes to see a Chinese Water Deer. Can anyone give me any information on the best places to see one.
Thank you

I hate to tell you this but today I went down to Reading after the Laughing Gull (which I didn't see). I was looking at a smallish body of water overlooked by a landfill site on one side and bricks and rubble on the other. Not the most solubrious of places I have to admit.

What did i see swimming across the water. You guessed it, a couple of Chinese water deer. I couldn't get my camera out in time to capture them swimming but I manged some fairly decent ones of them on the bankside. I eventually got them about 200 yards away from me so I am pleased that I got some shots at all.

BTW I forgot (and karl may verify this). I'm sure that Chinese Water Deer can be seen at the Common Crane Roost at Stubbs Mill. I know I have seen them, but some time ago, but I'm sure they are still in that area.

 

[deboo]

but....that's a roe deer innit?

dave...

 

[Reader]

but....that's a roe deer innit?

dave...

Dave

Thanks a million. I wish you had been on the bankside with me at the time. I said they were Roe deer but all the locals there said I was totally wrong and that only Chinese Water Deer were there, which is what these were, they said.

They were so utterly convinced that they sold it to me. I came away convinced that I had seen Chinese Water Deer.

Having not seen either Water Deer or Roe Deer too many times I am amazed that I was right and all the locals were wrong. How embarrassing!!

 

[deboo]

hey, no worries john!
i don't think i'd have known meself. but i was in a hide today and a couple of Deer broke cover in front and ran into a wood. there were some folks in the hide and 1 remarked; "ooh look chinese water deer". i thought they weren't CWD, and hazzarded a guess at roe deer. it wasn't till i got back on to the internets, that i saw some pix of roe's.
and guess which was the 1st thread i looked at on here?...
hahahahaha, bloody coincidence!

dave...

 

[James Blake]

I think Chinese Water Deer are reported reasonably regularly from Stubb Mill. I've also seen a deer (CWD I think) on the Hickling reserve itself, not too far from the visitor centre.

Saw one once from the riverbank between Buckenham and Cantley, but have a feeling that's not a regular location.

You need a decent look at one to be sure it's not a Roe or muntjac.

Good luck!
James

 

[deboo]

i thought they weren't CWD, and hazzarded a guess at roe deer.

"Sherriff Roscoe P..p...pp..p Coltraine in hot..t...t..ttt.. pursuit." |:$|

Oh, I see CWD at Woodwalton Fen, Cambs quite frequently. Up around the north hide is best. But at this time of the year, you're more likely to bump into Muntjacs. CWD are probably best seen early morning or on a nice summers evening.

dave...

 

[Dave J]

When i lived in Norfolk i used to see CWD occasionally around Hickling and Horsey.

Dave

 

[Karl J]

One that sticks in my memory was down the little track towards St Benets Abbey near Ludham, that just stood there as rode my bike past.
I kept thinking "aren't you supposed to run away" .. but it never did, and was still on the adjacent field when i came back

 

[Reader]

One that sticks in my memory was down the little track towards St Benets Abbey near Ludham, that just stood there as rode my bike past.
I kept thinking "aren't you supposed to run away" .. but it never did, and was still on the adjacent field when i came back

That brings back memories Karl. St Bennets Abbey used to be one of my very favourite fishing spots in Norfolk. Many an hour spent there, especially towards dusk.

 

[dampflippers]

I thought they were the same as muntjac (which you can nearly always see at night at the road edge at night between Brandon and Mundfird)- but I've just done a search and they are different.

 

[ta brandreth]

Had a dead male 2 years ago on a reserve near to Crane site,PM if details required from my notes.