Whether you’re a Broads veteran or brand new to the beautiful wetlands that span across Norfolk and Suffolk, there may be some wildlife that live within Norfolk that you haven’t heard of, let alone seen, on your travels through the waters. Read on to find out about some of the rare Norfolk wildlife to look out for when holidaying in the Broads National Park.
Rare Norfolk Wildlife to Look Out For
Otters
What you may not know about the Broads National Park is that it is home to otters – you may not know because the creatures are so elusive they are rarely seen. Otters have broad heads and long, wild tails, are semi-aquatic and nocturnal. They brown all over with small black eyes – they are very distinctive looking.
Swallowtail Butterfly
Large, yellow butterflies, the Swallowtail are named for their forked swallow-like tails. Swallowtail butterflies are a very rare sighting, limited to various places within the Norfolk Broads that grow vigorous amounts of milk parsley and are best to be spotted early morning on days without wind in late May to midway through July – these are well known as a rare Norfolk wildlife.
Norfolk Hawker
A rare dragonfly found in the marshland and fens of the Norfolk Broads, the Norfolk Hawker is a large type of dragonfly active for a very small window in June and the beginning of July. Their bodies are pale brown with a yellow triangle at the base of their bodies. They have green eyes and clear wings.
Kingfisher
Electric blue on top and orange underneath, the kingfisher is easy to recognise with its distinctive colourings. Whilst numbers of kingfishers are increasing in Norfolk, they are declining elsewhere in the country – so Norfolk is probably the best place to get a glimpse of these colourful little birds. They are easiest to see near rivers with vertical sandy banks throughout the year.
Seals
You may not know that Norfolk is home to seal colonies. Most commonly found on the coastline at both Horsey and Blakeney Point, both grey seals and common seals. The best way to spot the seals so as not to disturb them is by boat at Blakeney Point, however Horsey is more accessible from the Broads National Park and there are trails and viewing points from which to safely view the seals.
Happy spotting!
