Challenge 20

The UK’s largest butterfly, it is very colourful, and arguably our most beautiful. Formerly restricted across the Norfolk Broads but starting to widen its distribution. Exclusive to tall-herb fen reedbeds.

Where and when to see them: 

Hickling Broad, Upton Fen and Ranworth Broad in late May to June.

Conservation status and management: 

Habitat loss and butterfly collectors initially caused the species to decline. However, better protection, education, habitat improvement and reedbed creation work has increased its population over the last 100 years. Although, due to its limited UK geographical range and low population, it remains a threatened butterfly. The caterpillar of this butterfly feeds exclusively on milk parsley, an equally rare plant of East Anglian reedbeds.  

A streaky brown heron that is more often heard than seen. Hiding deep in the reedbeds, it delivers a loud far-carrying ‘booming’ call. Breeds in large stands of reed. 

Where and when to see them:

Hickling Broad. Can be seen all year, but early spring best to hear booming males. 

Conservation status and management:

The bittern became extinct in the UK, but in the early 20th century returned to breed at Hickling Broad and Marshes nature reserve. Its numbers have fluctuated since then, nearly becoming extinct as a breeding bird in the 1970s. Recent habitat improvements and reedbed creation have seen numbers and distribution around the UK significantly improve.  

The silver-studded blue is a small, but dazzling, butterfly, which gets its name from the reflective 'studs' (scales) found on the underside of the hindwings. The upper wings of the male are shimmering blue with a dark outer rim. The female is chocolate brown, but often with a hint of blue at the base of the wings.  

Where and when to see them:

It is a rare butterfly found in heathland habitats that have shorter, sparsely vegetated areas. Buxton Heath is a good place to spot from June up until late August. 

Conservation status and management:

Despite once disappearing from Norfolk, a successful re-introduction project has seen it thriving on several of the county's heathlands. Buxton Heath is one of the best UK sites for the species.  

A large brown dragonfly with clear wings. It is the only UK dragonfly with green eyes. Originally restricted to the Norfolk Broads but has recently widened its range.  

Where and when to see them:

All NWT Broadland reserves. On the wing June/July. 

Conservation status and management:

Today, this dragonfly is more common than a few decades ago and can even be found in small garden ponds. Better water quality and climate change may be factors for its increase.   

A small, waxy green orchid. The flowers are pale yellow-green, spiky with a tongue-shaped lip. Growing in moss and flowering in June, this orchid requires a particular type of poor fen. 

Where and when to see them:

Upton Fen. Please remain on the paths and observe only plants marked out by staff.    

Conservation status and management:

From only a few dozen flowering plants, the annual count is now in the thousands. The careful conservation management of its favoured sites, including translocation projects, has seen the fen orchid expand its range, as well as its population.    

The UK’s tallest bird has long legs and a long neck, with powder-grey plumage and a distinctive black, white, and red head. It favours undisturbed marshes and fens and prefers reedbeds for nesting. 

Where and when to see them:

Hickling Broad. All year round, best observed from Raptor Roost Watch Point. 

Conservation status and management:

The common crane was driven to extinction in the UK many hundreds of years ago. Since its surprise return as a breeding bird to the Norfolk Broads in the 1980s, it has made a steady recovery and can now be found across the East of England.  A breeding and release programme in the Somerset Levels has helped boost the population.    

Belonging to the umbellifer (carrot) family, its green leaves resemble carrot tops. The plant flowers from July to September producing clusters of small white flowers.  

Where and when to see them:

It can be found across all NWT Broadland reserves, but alongside boardwalks at Hickling Broad is a particularly good place to look. 

Conservation status and management:

Drainage in the 19th century and scrub invasion in the 20th century restricted the plants prime habitat. Reedbed creation and a return to traditional reed harvesting has seen an increase in its population. However, mildew/fungal disease is currently having a detrimental effect at some sites. Milk parsley is the food plant of the swallowtail butterfly.     

Although a wader, it is not related to true curlews; it has a short bill and belongs to the ‘thick-knee’ family. ‘Stonies’ are pigeon-sized birds, with brown and sandy plumage that forms excellent camouflage. Its large yellow eyes are useful for a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle.  

Where and when to see them:

Weeting Heath has been, for decades, the go-to place for birdwatchers to see this strange bird. April through to August.  

Conservation status and management:

The stone curlew suffered population decline as agricultural practices became more mechanised and intensive. They have remained a conservation challenge due to nest predation and habitat loss; however, the population appears to be holding steady. 

A raptor with a long tail and broad wings. The male has streaked brown plumage with grey wing panels and black tips. The female is chocolate brown with a cream-coloured head.

Where and when to see them:

Formally only a summer visitor, the marsh harrier can now be found year-round. It can often be spotted over large stretches of reedbed. Our Raptor Roost at Hickling Broad nature reserve offers great views of marsh harrier in winter.

Conservation status and management:

A hundred years ago only a handful of marsh harriers bred, confined to the Norfolk Broads. It is now found right across eastern and southern England, with recent breeding success in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

A solitary wasp with a shiny black body and distinctive ivory marks on its shoulders and abdomen. Found in fens and marshy areas, it requires dry, compacted bare and exposed ground to build its characteristic tunnels with ‘chimneys’ at the entrance. 

Where and when to see them:

Pathways seem to be the most popular locations, so care must be taken to discover and protect the colonies. Spot this species at Hickling Broad in June and July.

Conservation status and management:

A rare solitary wasp that was thought to be extinct in Britain, until its rediscovery in the Norfolk Broads in 1986. Its population has grown, but it is still largely concentrated in the Broads, although fen mason wasps have been found along the coast of Suffolk and Essex.  

Although large, the purple emperor can be elusive, remaining in the high canopy. However, they will fly down to glide after a rival male, or to chase a female. The males have iridescent purple wings with white bands and orange-ringed eyespots. Females are larger, but duller in colour. 

Where and when to see them:    

Favours ancient oak woodland, Foxley Wood is a fantastic place to search for purple emperor, peak time on the wing is mid-July. 

Conservation status and management:

This butterfly became extinct in Norfolk and ended up with a very restricted range in Southern England. However, in recent years it has returned to the county. The conservation work to restore the ancient Foxley Wood has created the ideal conditions for the species. 

Also known as the running toad, the natterjack is smaller than the common toad. It is greenish in colour with a distinctive yellow line running down its back. Favours heathland ponds and coastal dune slacks.  

Where and when to see them:

Visit Holme Dunes and Syderstone Heath for a chance to hear the loud chorus of male toads, between April and early May.  Please note: You must not disturb this protected species, including taking photos.  

Conservation status and management:

The natterjack toad, nationally, is only found at a few favoured locations and remains a rare amphibian in the UK. Norfolk is one of the few counties that has retained a population. Conservation and translocation projects have seen the number of sites and general population grow.  

This rare plant has creamy-yellow flowers.

Where and when to see them:

The South Norfolk Claylands is a stronghold for the species. Look along roadside nature reserves. Flowers June/July.   

Conservation status and management:

Nationally scarce, Norfolk is an important county for the species. Our work to enhance grasslands helps increase their floristic diversity. This benefits plants such as sulphur clover, which in turn will lead to an associated increase in butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects.

A distinctive tall wading bird with a spatula shaped bill. It returned to the UK as a breeding bird in north Norfolk.  

Where and when to see them:

Cley Marshes and Hickling Broad. All year round.  

Conservation status and management:

Spoonbills were absent as a breeding species in the UK for over 300 years, with the last nesting recorded in the 17th century before they returned to establish colonies in Norfolk in 2010. NWT reserves have formed an important part of the bird’s recent success.

Our largest vole, it is brown with a blunt nose, small ears and furry tail. It favours Norfolk wetlands, particularly our chalk streams and Broadlands. 

Where and when to see them:

Beetley Meadows and Hoe Rough. All year round. 

Conservation status and management:

The water vole has declined massively due to habitat loss, pollution and predation by the invasive non-native mink. Efforts to eradicate mink has seen an improvement in the water vole population.   

The grey seal is larger and more common than the harbour seal (formerly referred to as the common seal). It has a ‘Roman nose’ and pups in the winter. The pups are white in colour, unlike the harbour seal’s pups that are brown and born in the summer.  

Where and when to see them:

The Norfolk coast is an important ‘pupping’ county for grey seals. Winterton Dunes is a great place to see them in November/December. *Please Note: Keep dogs on leads and keep your distance from the colony.  

Conservation status and management:

The UK holds up to 40% of the world grey seal population. The national number now stand at over 120,000 seals, compared to 500 when NWT was formed in 1926.   

UK’s largest spider, it will sit on aquatic vegetation awaiting prey to come by. 

Where and when to see them:

Found in Fenland dykes and ponds, it is restricted to a few locations in East Anglia. Try RSPB Strumpshaw Fen in late summer for a chance to spot.   

Conservation status and management:

A re-introduction scheme has seen the population increase.   

A small brown martin with a white belly and chest band. In Norfolk, it’s often found nesting in colonies in the sandy coastal cliffs.  

Where and when to see them:

Cley and Salthouse Marshes and Holme Dunes are good places to spot this summer visitor - April to September. 

Conservation status and management:

Slight decrease nationally in the population, Norfolk remains an important county for the species.   

The largest aphid in the world. About the size of a coffee bean, grey in colour and always accompanied by black ants. 

Where and when to see them:

Found on oak trunks in late summer. Try finding them at Buxton Heath.   

Conservation status and management:

A rare aphid, which is continuing to decline. Norfolk heathlands are especially important for this species.   

A large, rich green fern that grows in clumps. The fronds are tall and bipinnately divided. This fern is found in East Anglian carr woodlands, fens and dune systems.

Where and when to see them:

Try Winterton Dunes and Hickling Broad and Marshes in the summer. There is also an excellent example along the boardwalk at Ranworth Broad.   

Conservation status and management:

Restricted range and small population make this fern vulnerable. The population dwindled due to habitat loss and collectors during the 19th century. Conservation measures have seen an improvement.