These striking and unmistakeable butterflies, with their creamy-yellow wings, blue margins and red spots, have been out in force over the past couple of weeks, delighting visitors to the Norfolk Broads.

Henry Page, Reserves Assistant and keen wildlife photographer, has captured over 3,500 stunning images of swallowtails at Hickling since they emerged this spring, including some incredible close-ups.

'Hickling is always an enjoyable experience, but in May and June it really comes alive as it’s peak swallowtail season,' he said. 'It's one of the best reserves out there to see this magical species.

'Watching their behaviour is great fun, whether its aerial displays, dogfights, trying to land on a hat or a bag, or just purely showing off and sunbathing, they truly are an entertaining species to watch.'

2026 has been a great year for swallowtail sightings so far, partially due to mixed weather bringing different nectar sources into flower at staggered times.

'For taking photos, it's been really good,' he said. 'I've seen them on yellow flag iris, hawthorn, bramble, nettle and oxeye daisy to name a few species. There were some really pristine individuals showing well, freshly emerged.'

Henry loves taking photos of wildlife 'because it allows you to capture a moment in time and the character of a species' – and you don’t need to be an expert to try your hand at wildlife photography.

'It's just a treat to be out with the camera, especially when we have such beautiful nature reserves in Norfolk,' he said. 'Getting outside and enjoying the sounds and sights is all part of the experience of a day's photography.'

While Hickling Broad is one of Henry’s favourite places for taking photos of swallowtails, you can also spot them elsewhere in the county, including at our Ranworth Broad and Marshes reserve.

The swallowtail is the UK's largest butterfly and is particularly special in Norfolk, as this exotic-looking insect is native to the reedbeds and marshlands of the Norfolk Broads. Adults usually fly between May and July, with mid-June being the very best time to see them.

Our reserve staff noted that swallowtails were 'on the wing' for longer than usual last year, from May right through to August.

You will only see the swallowtail butterfly in the Norfolk Broads, where they seek out sites with plenty of milk parsley and lay their eggs on the tallest plants. During the 20th century, much of the swallowtail's habitat was lost. Today, our active management of fenland, with reed and sedge being cut to allow other plants to grow, plays an important part in the survival of the swallowtail in Norfolk.

If you want to spot a swallowtail, Hickling Broad and Ranworth Broad are the places to be in the coming weeks. The best time to spot them is on a warm, sunny day, with low levels of wind, so check the weather before you head out!

We will be celebrating Swallowtail Day at Hickling on Sunday 14 June, with activities on offer including guided walks and boat trips. Reserve entry on the day will be free for all in celebration of Swallowtail Day. See the full list of events here.