Birds, broads and rivers
The rivers, broads and fens of Norfolk are teeming with birds and other wildlife and so the county is a mecca for those who enjoy getting back to nature.
Certain areas of the county are wild and mysterious with vast open spaces and huge skies but you will also find gentle and picturesque countryside. |  | | Birds of the Broads
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. There is a short nature trail and a viewing screen overlooking the marshes and boat trips are also available.
Hickling Broad is a stunning area of open water where you can spot osprey, spoonbill and avocet and at Cockshoot Broad you can walk around the boardwalk to get really close to birds and other wildlife.
The floating Broads Wildlife Centre at Ranworth Broad is run by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. You can park at Ranworth village and walk along the interpretive boardwalk, which provides lots of information about the various habitats you pass through, or take the electric ferryboat. Ranworth is a spectacular location for birdwatching with Cettis warbler, common tern, great crested grebe, redpoll, siskin, winter wildfowl and cormorants just a few of the species you can hope to see.
| | Wild West Norfolk
West Norfolk is on the edge of The Wash, the UKs most important estuary for wild birds and a site of international significance. The sheltered mudflats of The Wash provide a vast feeding ground for thousands of water birds from as far away as Greenland and Siberia.
Further inland, Welney, on the Ouse Washes, is home to thousands of wildfowl such as swans, wigeon and pochard who descend on the reserve during the winter months. In summer guided walks of this rich fenland area are a must, and in the winter the spectacular movement of thousands of geese to and from their feeding grounds is an awe-inspiring sight.
| | Pensthorpe
Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, near Fakenham, is set in 500 acres of Norfolk countryside and in its lakes, fen meadows and wetlands you can see Europes finest collection of waterbirds as well as dozens of migratory bird species.
| Birding basics
When you're birdwatching in Norfolk follow these simple rules to make sure that you, and the wildlife around you, stay safe and happy.
- Remember not to feed grazing animals
- Take care and watch your footing on boardwalks, marshy areas, rough paths and when on open water
- Turn your mobile off in hides
- Do not stray from authorised paths
- Leave your dog at home, or make sure it stays on public footpaths
- Remember that footpaths can be muddy all year round on many nature reserves
- Put your litter in the bins provided to take it home with you | | | 
Useful Links
Watch out
The RSPB has several reserves in Norfolk. You can find out more about them here.
RSPB
Latest news
For latest news on bird sightings in Norfolk and more information on nature reserves, this site is a must.
Bird Guide
|  | |
