Norfolk hawkers at Thorpe Marshes

Blog post by Chris Durdin on 26 Jun, 2018
Naturalists who know the Broads all know that there are two large and distinctive insects that are special to the area. Swallowtail butterflies and Norfolk hawker dragonflies are the two species I have in mind. Both can be seen at several famous nature reserves: at Hickling, Upton and Ranworth (all NWT) and RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, among others.
 
So what about at my local patch of NWT Thorpe Marshes on the edge of Norwich? Here, with no milk parsley present – the main larval food plant of swallowtails in the Broads – the butterflies are also absent. Norfolk hawkers, on the other hand, are common and easy to see.
 
Norfolk hawker, by Chris Durdin

Norfolk hawker, by Chris Durdin

I’d go further – there is no easier place to see a Norfolk hawker than NWT Thorpe Marshes. There, I’ve said it now. Would any site manager or regular visitor to other wetlands in the Broads like to challenge this?
 
This assertion is based on regular experience of seeing – and showing people – Norfolk hawkers, backed up by actual counts. Seeing them is easy: in many places the path is right next to ditches dense with the distinctive form of water soldiers, a plant strongly linked to the distribution of Norfolk hawkers. On these we can play ‘hunt the exuvia’ – searching for the shed larval skin of a dragonfly left gripping the plant after the adult insect has emerged.
Norfolk hawker, by Chris Durdin

Norfolk hawker exuvia, by Chris Durdin


 

Three NWT Thorpe Marshes volunteers do regular counts of Norfolk hawkers. It’s not a complete count, rather numbers seen on a transect, a regular route. That route is straightforward here as it simply follows the regular path around the nature reserve.
 
There is a little gentle competition: who’ll be the first to count 50 Norfolk hawkers? That’s usually around the end of June or early July. That’s been blown away by Derek Longe’s count of 73 at Thorpe on 20 June.
 
What we see routinely is that every short stretch of ditch has a patrolling a Norfolk hawker or two, flying to and fro on its patch. A brown dragonfly in June is always Norfolk hawker. A glimpse of green eyes confirms the ID. In July it’s less clear cut once brown hawkers are on the wing. Brown hawkers tend to fly higher, though, and their amber-coloured wings are distinctive.
 
Iconic is an overused word, though as Norfolk hawkers are the emblem of the Broads Authority that word seems fair on this occasion. So for a close encounter with the iconic Norfolk hawker, do come and visit Thorpe Marshes.

Chris Durdin is an NWT volunteer and leads monthly wildlife walks at NWT Thorpe Marshes. Details of monthly walks can be found here.
Share this

Latest Blog Posts

Winter wildlife on the North Norfolk coast Winter wildlife on the Nort...
by Robert Morgan on 05 Dec, 2023
Meander through the meadow - Sweet Briar Marshes guided walk Meander through the meadow ...
by Oscar Lawrence on 29 Nov, 2023
Kites and eagles: the falsely accused Kites and eagles: the false...
by Oscar Lawrence on 20 Nov, 2023
Nurturing nature with love Nurturing nature with love
by Nick Acheson on 14 Nov, 2023
Foray into fungi Foray into fungi
by Robert Morgan on 07 Nov, 2023
November on our reserves November on our reserves
by NWT on 01 Nov, 2023
Volunteer Spotlight: John Coadwell Volunteer Spotlight: John C...
by John Coadwell on 31 Oct, 2023
The marvel of bird migration The marvel of bird migration
by Robert Morgan on 17 Oct, 2023
Beardies, Boomers and Reedbed Masters Beardies, Boomers and Reedb...
by Oscar Lawrence on 03 Oct, 2023
October on our reserves October on our reserves
by NWT on 02 Oct, 2023
Volunteer Spotlight: the Southrepps volunteer group Volunteer Spotlight: the So...
by Guest blog on 19 Sep, 2023
September stories from the reserves September stories from the ...
by Robert Morgan on 31 Aug, 2023
Tips for newbie birdwatchers Tips for newbie birdwatchers
by Oscar Lawrence on 21 Aug, 2023
6 books to bring you closer to nature this summer 6 books to bring you closer...
by NWT on 09 Aug, 2023
Oscar's top 3 places to see nature and wildlife in Norfolk Oscar's top 3 places to see...
by Oscar Lawrence on 01 Aug, 2023
Return of the polecat Return of the polecat
by Robert Morgan on 27 Jul, 2023
Conservation Grazing Conservation Grazing
by NWT on 26 Jul, 2023
World Swallowtail Day World Swallowtail Day
by Oscar Lawrence on 14 Jun, 2023
World Ocean Day World Ocean Day
by Robert Morgan on 01 Jun, 2023
Volunteer Spotlight: Des D’Souza Volunteer Spotlight: Des D’...
by Des D’Souza on 24 May, 2023
Meet the Sweet Briar Marshes Team Meet the Sweet Briar Marshe...
by NWT on 18 May, 2023
Volunteer Spotlight: Di Wallace Volunteer Spotlight: Di Wal...
by Di Wallace on 26 Apr, 2023
Osprey watching at Ranworth Broad and Marshes Osprey watching at Ranworth...
by Oscar Lawrence on 20 Apr, 2023
An Easter book recommendation: The Twitchers An Easter book recommendati...
by Megan Seekings on 13 Apr, 2023