Migrating birds

Early spring is a special time for birdwatching, especially along the North Norfolk coast as migrating birds return to the county. Spring birdwatching at NWT Cley Marshes is particularly popular, as the beautiful reserve is filled with a variety of species. Avocets flank the water's edge, orange-legged redshanks can be seen flashing across the sky, and yellow wagtails pay a cheery visit to pools around the reserve. Majestic spoonbills can also be seen visiting the reserve to feed.

The rare and strange-looking stone curlew, nicknamed the goggle-eyed plover, is an early spring visitor to the county, coming over from their winter in Spain. Found at few sites in the country, NWT Weeting Heath is one of the best places to spot a stone curlew.

Freshwater wildlife

Perfect for family-friendly wildlife watching, common frogs and toads are particularly active in early spring as they start to spawn in sunny ponds and dykes around mid-March. The ponds and marshes at NWT Sweet Briar Marshes are a great place to spot the amphibians, as well as slippery newts! If you visit NWT Holme Dunes on a still, calm spring evening, you may be lucky enough to hear the loud call of the rare natterjack toad – found in only a handful of special places in the country.

Emerging insects

Several species of butterfly hibernate in Norfolk, but the first to emerge is the sulphur-yellow brimstone butterfly, found in damp and sunny woodlands such as NWT Foxley Wood. On the first warm days, do remember to leave open the shed door to let out peacock or tortoiseshell butterflies that may have spent the winter in there! As the name suggests, the petite early bumblebee is one of the first bees to emerge from hibernation around March, with the larger buff-tailed bumblebee joining as we move further into spring.

Blooming wildflowers

One of the most beautiful signs of spring’s arrival, many species of early spring wildflowers begin to pop up around March. Delicate snowdrops appear first, with white wood anemones starting to bloom a little later in ancient woodlands such as NWT Wayland Wood. As spring draws on, large patches of beautiful bluebells also cover the floor in ancient woodland. At marshlands such as NWT Thorpe Marshes, marsh marigolds or ‘kingcups’ bring stunning colour with their bright yellow blooms at the start of spring.

Boxing hares

You may have heard of the phrase ‘mad March hares’ – referring to the energetic boxing displays of hares in March. A classic sign of the start of spring, the boxing matches between brown hares may seem like a display of power between males, however it’s usually females boxing undesired males trying to mate with them! Take in this impressive display at open grasslands and heath like NWT Roydon Common.