The River Bure was once stocked with a good many coots. Eurasian Coots (Fulica atra) belong to the marsh based rail family of birds. Gracious looking coots possess silky black feathers and a striking white snout described by some as resembling a theatrical Venetian mask ~ used during the great watery citadel festivals. Sadly coots have now all but disappeared.
One graphic illustration of the loss of these birds locally was an excellent documentary broadcast on UK Channel 5 television ~ The Big Freeze of 1963. Footage shows a group of around two dozen coots walking about the partially frozen river below Wroxham Bridge. Other waterfowl seen in the film are mute swans, mallard ducks ~ and swarming overhead boisterous black headed gulls, who often stay inland during the winter
Today a pair of moor or water hens, cousins of coots live in the quieter private backwaters near the bridge, yet few coots are found on much of the River Bure. Why is this so? If you remember coots on the river in Hoveton and Wroxham, please share your stories.
Chris, Diane
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