Species

Rare species

The Broads area is full of wildlife of all kinds. Here are some of the things you could see. The best place to start is one of the many wildlife reserves shown on the map below, where expert staff can tell you where to look and what you might spot.

Plants

The fens alone have over 250 plant species including the nationally protected fen orchid and the rare crested buckler fern. Milk parsley is abundant but rarely found outside East Anglia. Stoneworts are unique aquatic plants only found in the best broads and marsh ditches.

One to spot:

Water soldier in the marsh ditches at Carlton Marshes

Invertebrates

There are 230 nationally important invertebrates including beetles, spiders and moths such as the reed leopard and Fenn's wainscot. The rare Norfolk hawker dragonfly can often be seen amongst the fens and dykes.

One to spot:

Britain’s largest butterfly – the Swallowtail

Birds

Nationally important populations of teal and wigeon spend the winter on the wet marshes and you can hear and occasionally see birds such as beautiful bearded tit in the reedbeds. The magnificent bird of prey, the marsh harrier, breeds successfully in the fens and reedbeds.

One to spot:

Bittern – listen for their distinctive booming call

Mammals

Water voles frequent the dykes, and many other species of small mammal live and nest within the fens, such as harvest mice and water shrews.

One to spot:

Otter – often seen swimming in Barton Broad or along the river banks

Fish

The rivers and broads are home to many species of fish including roach, bream and perch and but none are particularly rare. Eel numbers have declined dramatically over past decades.

One to spot:

Pike which lurk in the reedbeds ready to strike at their prey

Invasive species

Some plants and animals are not native to the UK but have been introduced and can start to invade our native habitats and harm them. You can help us by reporting sightings or finding what to look out for.