Christmas is, for most, a time for huddling up by the fire with a bowl of popcorn, straddled by countless layers of blankets, in front of such classics as Elf or Arthur Christmas. And whilst such moments are precious and a core part of the "Xmas atmosphere", there is no better time to get out and birdwatch. 

Winter is a time of unmissable natural wonder: pristine sunrises with the light scattered in a pastel rainbow across the east are one of countless Christmas treasures I hold dear. At this time, my blanket is the dense billow of fog hanging ominously over the lowlands; my fire is the steaming flask of hot chocolate I clasp whilst perched watching from a reedbed hide; my popcorn is the joy of searching through swathes of seaducks, in hope of finding something sweet, like a velvet scoter silently bobbing the waves. And where is my comfortingly festive film, you ask? Well, in place of Arthur Christmas, I revel in all the bustling wildlife on Norfolk's tapestry of wetlands, from whistling wigeon to pining teal. And every time, it is worth braving the elements to enjoy the hum of our fascinatingly diverse ecosystems.

One such fantastic place for winter birdwatching is NWT Ranworth Broad. In the often inclement conditions of winter, you will find relief in the heated visitor centre. From the top deck's windows can be found hundreds of migratory ducks visiting periodically from their Arctic breeding grounds. Gadwall, shoveler, wigeon, tufted ducks and teal are often commonplace from this panorama of the lake, and with help from the identification guides inside, it can be a brilliant place to put your birding skills to the test. If you're lucky, perhaps a bolt-from-the-blue kingfisher will scoot over from one of the reserve's many tributaries, or even a sleek otter could make an appearance, lolling around in the swampy depths of Ranworth's rare and precious alder carr woods.

Hickling Broad is another fantastic reserve which, whilst rather more open to the elements, has some impressive bird species in store. I highly recommend an evening stroll down to Stubb Mill viewpoint, where as the sun sets you chance sightings of cranes, pink-footed geese and swarms of marsh harrier dropping into the scrub to roost. In the autumn I was fortunate to see over 30 harriers from Horsey (just the other side of Stubb Mill) and 7 cranes, so if you hold out until twilight it really is worth the wait! 

However, if you are a daytime person, then a walk down to the main broad, perhaps cantering into Cadbury Hide along the way, can bear significant fruit. Bitterns, bearded reedlings, reed buntings, egrets and perhaps even one of the local hooded crow hybrids (like your bog-standard carrion crow, but with some grey on the belly and back) often show on this short trail, and such walks always carry a quintessentially ethereal, wintry feel. 

If, like me, you're regularly dragged into the overwhelming world of Norwich City Centre for Christmas shopping, know that within a couple of miles you can find solace in nature. Sweetbriar Marshes, a sparkly new Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve, is genuinely mind-blowing from an ecologist's point of view. A highlight for me is the constant whistling vocalisation of redwings. A migrant thrush from Scandinavia, they collectively move south in autumn in great swarms when the Arctic becomes cold and uninhabitable, to feast on Norfolk's variety of berry bushes. A consistent favourite is hawthorn, and the extensive hawthorn scrub offered at Sweetbriar is usually laden with redwings eagerly devouring the year's produce. They are easily located by their thin, high contact calls in flight, and can be identified by burnished burgundy splotches in the wingpits. A very rare feature among birds: the name accurately describes the appearance!

To sum things up, winter doesn't have to be a time when everyone superglues the curtains shut and stacks up draft excluders behind every exit! We can still get out into nature and enjoy it at its best, as long as you are plucky enough to wrap up warm and brave the elements. These three reserves always make for a great day out, but always remember: you can enjoy wildlife anywhere and everywhere. You just have to open your eyes!