Seven types of wildlife to spot in Norfolk this spring

Here are seven types of wildlife you can see in Norfolk this April.

1. Eurasian Bittern

Bitterns lay their eggs in March and April (Image: Edmund Mackrill)

A stocky type of heron, the bittern's brown plumage is streaked with beige and black, camouflaging it well as it moves discretely around the reeds looking for fish, amphibians and insects to eat.

One of the rarest breeding birds in the UK, the bittern was once near extinct in the UK but thanks to conservation efforts is starting to make a comeback.

During the spring breeding season, the males make a loud booming sound that can be heard up to two miles away.

Bitterns can be spotted all year round in the reedbeds of the Norfolk Broads and the north Norfolk coast.

2. Adder

The adder is one Britain's three native snake species (Image: Edmund Mackrill)

Adders are mainly found in heathlands and sand dunes along the coast.

They can also be found in woodland and are most active in spring and early summer when they can be seen basking and foraging. 

Identifiable by a vibrant zig-zag pattern along their body, patterns can vary from snake to snake.

Adders are Norfolk's only venomous snake but are shy and would rather avoid contact with humans, only usually biting if touched. 

3. Swift

Swifts arrive in the UK from April onwards (Image: Edmund Mackrill)

A common visitor to Britain in the summer, the first swifts will start arriving this month before departing again to winter in Africa. 

Excellent flyers with top speeds of 69mph, swifts do everything in flight, including sleeping and mating. The only time they touch the ground is to visit their nests. 

They are dark brown with a white throat, but against the sky they normally appear black. They can be identified by their curved wings and forked tails.

Swifts like to nest in tiny gaps in roofs, but a lack of suitable nest sites in newer builds has contributed to a decline in the population. 

4. Green Hairstreak 

The Green Hairstreak is one of the first butterflies to emerge in spring (Image: Edmund Mackrill)

The shy green hairstreak will start appearing among the yellow flowering gorse on the heaths in April. 

The UK’s only truly green butterfly, they rest with their wings closed, hiding their dull brown uppersides. Unlike most butterflies, their undersides are the brighter more vibrant part of the wing. 

And with a wingspan of just 27-34mm these small butterflies can be hard to spot but can be seen in Norfolk until the end of June. 

The green hairstreak is widespread across Norfolk where it has a range of preferred habitats including heathland, moorland and railway embankments. 

5. Blackcap

Blackcaps traditionally arrive in March and April (Image: Edmund Mackrill)

While females and juveniles have a brown cap, male blackcaps are easily identifiable by their namesake cap. 

A similar size to robins, they can be spotted in parks, woodlands and at garden feeding stations.

Traditionally arriving in spring, they lay their eggs from late April to June and then migrate to southern Europe for the autumn.

The blackcap population is thriving in the UK and there is also a growing wintering population here.

6. Lapwing

Lapwings are known for their 'peewit' call (Image: Edmund Mackrill)

Sometimes named for their 'peewit' sounding calls, lapwings are wading birds with distinctive green and purple iridescent plumage and long crest.

They can be seen on farmland, meadows and wetlands, but in Norfolk are mainly found in managed nature reserves. 

Being ground nesting birds can leave their eggs vulnerable to predators such as buzzards, crows, foxes and badgers. 

Lapwings are known however for being extremely brave parents who will take to the air and relentlessly attack potential egg thieves until they are warned off. 

7. English Bluebell

Bluebells growing in the woods on the Intwood Hall estate (Image: James Bass/ Newsquest)

The sight of these violet-blue, bell-shaped herbs is a sure sign that spring is in motion, and thousands of the bulbs can transform forest floors into sweet-smelling seas of blue. 

Found through April and May, bluebells are early flowering plants that make the most of the sunlight before the ancient woodland tree canopies become too thick. 

The Spanish bluebell is very similar in appearance but can be differentiated by the stem. Engish bluebells droop to one side, whereas Spanish bluebells grow upright.

As the name suggests, English bluebells are native plants and it is against the law to intentionally pick, uproot or destroy them.