Dunlin (c) Norfolk Birding - www.norfolkbirding.com

Birdwatching & Wildlife in Norfolk

Norfolk is dubbed the birdwatching capital of Britain. There's plenty to see whatever the time of year - from Barn Owls to Kingfishers, Cetti's Warbler to Bearded Tits. Norfolk is birdwatchers' paradise and a wonderful place for children to begin to learn about their feathered friends. With child-friendly visitor centres and nature reserves, you'll find all the help and information you need to get started.

 

Jump to: Nature reserves // Spring // Summer // Autumn // Winter // Wildlife Tours // Expert's view of Norfolk

 

 

 
 
 
 
See the swan feeds at WWT Welney (c) Norfolk Tourism

Find your perfect birding location

Find the perfect location for a spot of birdwatching in Norfolk - take a look at some of the reserves where you're sure to see some great wildlife spectacles.

If you enjoy spotting birds in a woodland environment you will not be disappointed by the number of places to visit in Norfolk. Foxley Wood is Norfolk's largest ancient woodland and believed to be over 6000 years old. 12 miles north of Norwich, it is full of flowers and butterflies as well as being a wonderful place for ornithologists. High Lodge visitor centre is in the heart of Thetford Forest, Britain's largest lowland pine forest. Deep in the maze-like forest you can hope to see species including Nightjar, Crossbill, Woodlark and Tree Pipit.

Or take a trip to the Breckland area, where Weeting Heath is THE foremost place to spot the Stone Curlew. Wayland Wood, near Watton is a small patch of ancient woodland and nature reserve which is probably the best place in the country to see Golden Pheasant.

Strumpshaw Fen is in the heart of the Norfolk Broads. A number of nature trails lead you through a variety of habitats including reedbeds and woodland. Marsh harriers can be spotted in the summer. At Berney Marshes and Breydon Water you can experience the wide open spaces of grazing marshes and mudflats. Hickling Broad is a stunning area of open water where you can spot osprey, spoonbill, avocet and even common cranes which have returned to nest in the area.

Around Norfolk there are several parks and gardens which have been created to be especially appealing to birds of all kinds. Pensthorpe, near Fakenham, is a centre for wildfowl set in 500 acres of beautiful countryside. There are miles of peaceful nature trails to explore through ancient fen meadows, woodland and a superb series of lakes. Pensthorpe is home to Europe's finest collection of waterfowl including endangered exotic waterfowl from around the world, and was also the home of BBC Springwatch for 2008, 2009 and 2010. Also nearby is Sculthorpe Moor Community Nature Reserve - an excellent chance to get close to birds throughout a patchwork of habitats including wet woodland, hazel coppice, reed and sedge beds, open water and wet meadow.

The Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden at South Walsham comprises 180 acres of beautiful ancient woodland, water gardens and a private broad. From April to the end of October daily boat trips present a great opportunity for birdwatching and more than 92 species of bird have been spotted in the Fairhaven gardens.

 

Browse Birdwatching & Wildlife reserves in Norfolk

 
Lapwing (c) Norfolk Birding - www.norfolkbirding.com

Birdwatching in Norfolk - Spring

If you come to Norfolk in April or May you'll enjoy the peak months for spring bird migration. Listen to nightingales. Watch the sky-dancing display of marsh harriers and nesting avocets at NWT Cley Marshes or Hickling Broad, see if you can spot the rare nesting stone curlews in the rabbit-nibbled heaths of NWT Weeting and look out for the Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Lapwing and Sandmartins arriving at Pensthorpe.

A bittern hiding amongst the reeds in the Norfolk Broads (c) Broads Authority

Birdwatching in Norfolk - Summer

Head for the Norfolk Broads or North Norfolk coast to watch marsh harriers, bearded tits, avocets, terns and maybe a bittern. It's also a good time to take a boat trip to see the seals or walk through orchid meadows at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen to spot swallowtail butterflies and Norfolk Hawker dragonflies. Pay a visit to Pensthorpe and you will spot Raptors, along with Kestrals and Sparrowhawks. Also, keep your eyes peeled for buzzards at Great Ryburgh and your ears open for nightjars especially in the heaths of the Brecks and Thetford Forest.

 
Sunset at WWT Welney (c) Norfolk Tourism

Birdwatching in Norfolk - Autumn

Autumn starts early in the birdwatching world. Even by July you'll find the first returning waders, many still in their breeding plumage, appearing on the marshes. By August, the southbound waders will be at RSPB Titchwell, NWT Cley and RSPB Snettisham and in early autumn you may delight in discovering a rare red backed shrike or barred warbler. A little later on you may be rewarded by spotting a yellow browed or Pallas's warbler or even something rarer!

But with all this taking place along the coast and on the marshes, don't forget that at inland reserves like Pensthorpe, it's a good time to spot Woodpeckers, Grey partridge, the Kingfisher, Barn and Tawny Owls.

Waxing wintering in Norfolk (c) Norfolk Birding - www.norfolkbirding.com

Birdwatching in Norfolk - Winter

This is the season to visit if you're a serious twitcher. Come in late October to see the arrival of flocks of winter thrushes from across the north sea and the return of the wild geese and swans, particularly at WWT Welney.

The Wash is England's largest tidal estuary and one of the country's most important winter feeding areas for waders and wildfowl. At RSPB Snettisham you'll be spellbound as you watch tens of thousands of pink-footed geese from Iceland leave their night time roost site and head inland to feed. This is also the place to witness the spectacular movement of thousands of wading birds pushed off their feeding grounds at high tide.

The Norfolk coast and Broads are great places for waders and wintering birds of prey, including merlin, peregrine and hen harrier, and you can see them best at dusk at places such as RSPB Titchwell Marsh or HWT Hickling Broad. If you're lucky you may see Norfolk's resident flock of common cranes at Hickling Broad too.

The countryside is also blessed with migratory visitors. At the reserve at Pensthorpe, it's a good time to see many native species of waterfowl including Golden Eye, Gadwell, Goosander, Shoveller and Pintail. It's a great opportunity to see Europe's smallest duck, the European Teal and you may even catch a glimpse of one of the UK's most endangered owl, the Long Eared Owl, as they come together in Winter for communal roosts.

Thoughout Norfolk you may be able to see wintering waxwings, which have come over from Scandinavia to take advantage of a bumper berry crop - they've even regulars in inner city Norwich!

Don't forget to pack your binoculars!

 
Couple birdwatching in Norfolk (c) Waveney River Centre

Get closer to nature with a wildlife tour!

Make the most of your stay in Norfolk by getting closer to nature with a wildlife or birding tour.

Norfolk has so much wildlife on offer throughout the year, but knowing where to visit can be tricky - there are so many great hotspots! To take the guesswork out of your field trip, there are many tours or safaris on offer that will get you right to the wildlife action, with experts on hand to inform and advise.

Most will pick you up and transport you around the county to a selection of wildlife hotspots, as well as providing lunch and refreshments. They can also tailor tours to suit your requirements - so if there's a rare bird in the area, and you want to make sure you see it, they'll do their best! Norfolk Birding, the Norfolk Safari from Wildlife Tours & Education and the Bird ID Company all offer a variety of tours and durations.

 

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Brent Geese flying at Brancaster Staithe (c) Norfolk Tourism

A word from the experts

Chris Packham, host of BBC Springwatch (held at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve for 2008, 2009 and 2010) rates Norfolk as a wonderful birding county - watch the video over at BBC Norfolk to find out why.

Neil Glenn, author of "Best Birdwatching Sites in Norfolk" says:

"Norfolk is rightly regarded by birdwatchers as the best county to visit in Britain to see birds. The real beauty of Norfolk is that there is a mouth-watering variety of bird species to admire, no matter what time of year you choose to come. From the spectacle of thousands of Geese in winter, the wonder of migrating species in spring and autumn to the array of breeding Waders and Warblers, you are guaranteed to see something special during your time in this very special county."

 

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