Destinations
2025
- Morocco
- Extremadura
- Crete
- Menorca (April)
- Lesvos
- Spanish Pyrenees (May)
- South of Salamanca
- Picos de Europa
- Algarve & Alentejo
- The Gambia
2026
... where there are many holiday photos to enjoy.
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NWT Thorpe Marshes
Very muddy on riverside path. River level low. 11 February
The nature reserve at Thorpe St Andrew Marshes – NWT Thorpe Marshes for short – was established in 2011. It's in the Norfolk Broads yet on the edge of Norwich in Thorpe St Andrew. It also happens to be my local patch – just down the road from home and the Honeyguide office, writes Chris Durdin.
Mid-November to February: the focus shifts to wintering birds. Duck numbers on St Andrews Broad grow as it gets colder, and can include gadwalls, often the commonest, though tufted ducks may overtake them later, plus teal and shoveler. Snipe and meadow pipits may be on the grazing marsh. With any luck a stonechat or two will be with us all winter again. There can still be bursts of bird song: Cetti's warbler, robin and wren. Water rails call.
Publications about NWT Thorpe Marshes
James Emerson's The Birds of Whitlingham & Thorpe 2024. This includes bird records for NWT Thorpe Marshes in 2024, and various longer items such as updates on nesting cormorants and herons across the river at Whitlingham CP.
Updated version (June 2020) of Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Whitlingham Area, which has a lot of records and photos from Thorpe Marshes. Report on spiders and related species (April 2020): Arachnids of the Whitlingham area by James Emerson, also includes records and photos from NWT Thorpe Marshes.
There are also Thorpe Marshes wildlife reports for 2012-2019 and previous Whitlingham/Thorpe bird reports. For these, scroll down to 'Wildlife reports & guide'.
Local history
These two blogs give an insight into Thorpe Marshes in the 1960s.
Thorpe Marshes in the 1960s (January 2018) and Thorpe Marshes in the 1960s part 2 (April 2018).
Former railway station: passenger trains ceased in September 1955 and freight in 1964, a local resident advises (22 Oct 2023).
Willow Emerald damselflies
Thorpe Marshes is a great place to see this damselfly in season (late July to October) and to discover more. Willow Emerald egg-laying scars are clear if you know where to look throughout the winter. A local discovery at Thorpe Marshes (January 2018) is Willow Emerald egg-laying scars on domestic apple - a first for the UK. More about this and other unusual places for scars here.
Blogs about Willow Emeralds:
■ What are the chances of that happening? (August 2017) [by Derek Longe].
■ Pretty damsels (September 2016).
■ Willow Emeralds return to Thorpe Marshes (October 2015).
■ A Gem of an Emerald (September 2014).
Gallery of photos of dragonflies and damselflies of NWT Thorpe Marshes on Facebook here includes several Willow Emeralds. A Willow Emerald at Thorpe Marshes on 6 November 2017 appears to be have been the last sighting for 2017 in the UK; there was an even later sighting in 2021, on 9 November.
Willow Emerald Damselfly paper, featuring Thorpe Marshes: "WILLOW EMERALD DAMSELFLY CHALCOLESTES VIRIDIS OVIPOSITING INTO BRAMBLE" by Derek Longe (10MB pdf). In Atropos Issue 58, 2017, and is reproduced here with the kind permission of the editor. See also Derek's NWT blog. Autumnwatch's feature on Willow Emeralds is here on YouTube - the piece on Willow Emeralds starts at 16:26.
Recent sightings
2025
11 February, guided walk: 2 great white egrets flying over, then one by Broad, which flew towards Whitlingham. Shelduck in flight, heading east.
Jelly ear and yellow brain fungi, both looking revitalised by recent damp weather.
4 February: male stonechat, kestrel, 60 tufted ducks, 3 teals (perhaps more hidden from view).
30 January: female marsh harrier, male reed bunting, 14 teals, 29 tufted ducks, 15 Canada geese flying east.
29 January: very quiet. One mistle thrush flew over, heading west.
24 January: marsh harrier (usual immature male), male stonechat. Striking absence of ducks, just 3 tufted ducks.
22 January: 4 Egyptian geese flying east, 2 teals, just a handful of tufted ducks, very quiet.
16 January, guided walk: red-necked grebe still present [from 17 January it moved to Whitlingham Country Park, see Evening News story], with large numbers of tufted ducks, a single male pochard. Stonechat pair, grey wagtail, song thrush. Silverleaf fungus Chondrostereum purpureum one of several fungi species (has been recorded at Thorpe Marshes in previous winters).
Silverleaf fungus Chondrostereum purpureum; male stonechat (Derek Longe).
15 January: red-necked grebe (also present 14 January).
Red-necked grebe (Drew Lyness).
14 January: female marsh harrier, grey wagtail, collared dove flying north over reserve, siskin heard. Relatively low numbers of ducks, though including 5 male shovelers (that then disappeared). Great crested grebe in breeding plumage.
11 January, late pm: single bearded tit, c.40 teals, a few shovelers, flock of c.30 linnets, 2 snipe, 2 meadow pipits.
8 January: male marsh harrier, kingfisher, 14 teals, 12 shovelers, 1 male pochard.
7 January: 72 tufted ducks, 2 shovelers, 10 gadwalls, 2 teals (perhaps more out of sight).
3 January: great white egret, 180 tufted ducks, 9 shovelers (most flew to Whitlingham CP), a handul of gadwalls, teals and mallards. Bearded tits heard (MW).
2024
31 December: pair of stonechats, 6 linnets, 37 tufted ducks, a few gadwalls & mallards, great crested grebe, little egret. 60 magpies, pre-roost gathering 3:30pm.
29 December: chiffchaff, great white egret, female marsh harrier, 2 little egrets, female stonechat (JL via Norwich birdnews WhatsApp).
27 December: chiffchaff calling in willow scrub. Great white egret and kingfisher on River Yare, GWE then flew onto reserve. c.35 tufted ducks (probably missed a few), the odd teal and gadwall, 4 shovelers flying over, Egyptian goose in flight, flock of pink-footed geese but invisible in low grey cloud. Kestrel.
23 December: 23 teals, male marsh harrier, green sandpiper flew over.
23 December 2024
17 December: 3 meadow pipits, green woodpecker: On broad: 36 tufted ducks, 2 gadwalls, 6 teals, 4 cormorants, 1 great crested grebe. Several water rails calling. Later: green sandpiper (MW).
11 December, guided walk: 1 great egret, sparrowhawk, buzzard, ring-necked parakeet flew over, great spotted woodpecker (from railway bridge), 16 tufted ducks, a flock of gadwalls flying over, several jays, wrens vocal today. Various galls on plants. Fungi: blushing bracket (see RH column), jelly ear, King Alfred's cakes, turkeytail, yellow brain.
Great egret, great spotted woodpecker, yellow brain fungus (DL).
10 December: 2 great egrets and a grey heron by the broad. 13 tufted ducks, 5 shovelers overhead. Buzzard, kestrel.
Flooded path, 10 December 2024
29 November: bearded tits heard, otter, harvest mouse nest found (MW).
28 November: bearded tits (2+) heard and glimpsed, in sedge. Perhaps silent on recent visits, rather than absent? A few tufted ducks, gadwalls, 2 teal in flight. Yellow brain fungus, if you know where to look.
26 November: 2 marsh harriers (1 female, 1 immature male) hunted then flew west; 2 stonechats, stock dove, 6 shovelers flew west towards Whitlingham CP. Heard pheasant, water rail, Cetti's warbler. A few gadwalls & mallards, five tufted ducks, 1 teal put up by harriers.
18 November: bearded tits heard, 2 stonechats, usual sounds of Cetti's warbler and water rail. Buzzard, sparrowhawk and kestrel. Just a few gadwalls, swans and cormorant on the broad.
13 November: bearded tits heard, stonechat, snipe, meadow pipit. On broad: great egret, gadwalls (a handful), 12 tufted ducks dropped in, first of winter.
Common darter, 13 November 2024.
12 November, guided walk: a group of bearded tits heard, sounded like several. Several buzzards, 2 stonechats here today. Skein of pink-footed geese, c.100, flew west. Shoveler, gadwall and teal on St Andrews Broad, 2 cormorants, 2 mute swans. Still a few caddis flies around.
Bearded tits were being heard and seen regularly at Thorpe Marshes (late October and November). Photo by Barry Madden, taken at Cantley.
9 November: Bearded tits still at Thorpe Marshes this afternoon, calling; 3 shovelers. Flock of starlings went to roost in reedbed, not counted, perhaps 80. Water rail and Cetti's warbler vocal as usual.
7 November: 5 bearded tits, chiffchaff, 2 stonechats (Norwich birdnews WhatsApp group).
5 November: at least three bearded tits: adult pair plus another calling. 2 mistle thrushes joined 6 redwings high in a tree by railway line. Little egret flew west; sparrowhawk and kestrel; great spotted and green woodpeckers. 6 gadwalls on gravel pit feeding with swans. Usual sounds of water rail and Cetti's warbler.
31 October: very quiet on the marshes, though 22 fieldfares flying west over Yarmouth Road.
25 October: 2 bearded tits calling from reedbed by railway line. Marsh harrier, 2 skylarks over, marsh tit in trees by river, water rail and Cetti's warbler heard, long-tailed tits, kestrel. Lots of caddis-flies, several migrant hawkers. 2 great white egrets (MW).
11 October, guided walk: water rail, Cetti's warbler (both heard), long-tailed tit, kestrel, buzzard, great crested grebe on river, several cormorants. Several galls, caddis-fly, nursery web spider, comma butterfly. Ivy bee, Whitlingham Lane.
Caddis-fly, cinnamon sedge type; spiked shieldbugs; comma butterfly (all by Derek Longe).
9 October: great spotted woodpecker, water rail, Cetti's warbler, 7 magpies, grey wagtail by river.
29 September: water rail calling, Cetti's warbler singing, chiffchaff, heron, cormorant, 1 great crested grebe on gravel pit. Still ivy bees in Whitlingham Lane.
Water scorpion at this morning's pond-dipping session, the last of the year.
24 September: still ivy bees in Whitlingham Lane. Stonechat, Cetti's warbler singing, chiffchaff. Migrant hawker & common darter.
9 September, guided walk in rain: 2 swallows, chiffchaffs, heron, 2 cormorants. Still many flowers, and some berries e.g. spindle, guelder rose and woody nightshade.
31 August: ivy bee on ivy in Whitlingham Lane. No red bartsia bee, just common carder bees on the red bartsia.
Ivy bee on ivy in Whitlingham Lane.
23 August: 2 red bartsia bees (1 by corral, 1 on marsh path). Norfolk hawker (late for this species) migrant hawkers, common and ruddy darters. Chiffchaffs.
Galls on female alder catkins, caused by the fungus Taphrina alni.
Parent bug, final 'instar' (last juvenile version before becoming adult bug). Probably the same group of bugs as seen on 6 August.
Cattle have arrived: four British whites (one is out of shot). More photos on Facebook, August 2024.
16 August: several red bartsia bees (see below). 2 x emperor dragonflies, brown hawker egg-layer, migrant hawkers, common darter.
Red bartsia bee, probably a female from the not very white abdominal bands.
6 August, guided walk: four-spot orb-weaver spider Araneus quadratus. Norfolk & brown hawkers, black-tailed skimmer, common blue and red-eyed damselflies, single (and first of year) willow emerald, banded demoiselles. Groups of long-tailed tits, calling chiffchaff, great spotted and green woodpecker, cormorants. Dingy footman moth Eilema griseola; hornet mimic hoverfly, parent bug. Lots of flowers: a few (of many) discussed included gipsywort, square-stemmed St John's wort, arrowhead, common hemp-nettle.
Bug Adelphocoris ticinensis, found, identified and photographed by Susan Weeks (and verified through iRecord). It's described as a 'scarce' species by British Bugs.
30 July: 2 small red-eyed damselflies again in the mooring basin; 26 Norfolk hawkers counted.
29 July: still many Norfolk hawkers on the wing, plus black-tailed skimmer and brown hawker. Damselflies: 2 small red-eyed damselflies on floating vegetation in the mooring basin, five banded demoiselles on a sunny ditch by the riverside path, plus red-eyed, common blue and blue-tailed damsels. 2 sparrowhawks.
Small red-eyed damselfly.
8 July, evening guided walk: barn owl, pair of stonechats, reed buntings, bursts of song from reed & sedge warblers, chiffchaff and blackcap. Lots of red soldier beetles on hogweed.
21 June, evening guided walk: two stunning flypasts by a barn owl at 20:00 and 21:30. Oystercatcher over twice, ditto common tern, great white egret flew east along river, kingfisher, heron; singing garden, sedge, reed, willow and Cetti's warblers plus chiffchaff and blackcap. Thick-legged flower beetle, dock bug, 100s of peacock caterpillars. Spiders: large-jawed orb-web spider, and the spider pictured below. Plus lots of flowers!
Peacock butterfly caterpillars; shaded broad-bar moth (unless anyone suggests a better ID); best guess on the spider is an oddly-coloured garden spider.
20 June, midday: still bird song, including willow, reed and sedge warblers, blackcap, chiffchaff, reed bunting; water rail calling. Lots of Norfolk hawkers.
9 June: c.20 sand martins and few house martins on a cool day. Evening: 150-200 swifts 3 cuckoos together (SW).
29 May: cuckoo calling from Whitlingham side of the river, pair of stonechats, water rail called. Pair of tufted ducks (non-breeders?) Norfolk hawker, spindle ermine moth caterpillars.
Common malachite Malachius bipustulatus 29 May 2024, on ox-eye daisy.
22 May, guided walk (rain predicted but none came): cuckoo, 2 herons, lots of swifts and sand martins, singing sedge, reed, willow and Cetti's warbler, chiffchaff and blackcap; reed buntings, song thrushes. oystercatcher flying over. Fungi: additional set of King Alfred's cakes. still yellow brain, jelly ear looking good. Hairy dragonfly, azure & common blue damselflies, banded demoiselle. Dame's violet has gone. Mayfly and alder fly; froghopper Cercopsis vulnerata seen again; spindle ermine moth caterpillars.
Hairy dragonfly, perched in the gloomy conditions.
19 May: hairy dragonfly (about 10); large red, common blue, azure & red-eyed damselflies, and banded demoiselle. Two cuckoos, including 'bubbling' female, female marsh harrier, singing willow warbler (and various others).
Two interesting finds: dame's violet Hesperis matrionalis and on the dame's violet, the froghopper Cercopsis vulnerata.
3 May, guided walk for Friends of Horsey Seals on a wet morning: cuckoo seen well and singing, pair of stonechats, single gadwall, several swifts over River Yare with swallows and house martins; orange-tip butterfly and egg.
1 May, afternoon: sedge, reed, willow & Cetti's warblers, chiffchaff, whitethroat. Cuckoo calling, male stonechat, gadwall flying over marshes (breeding?), pair of tufted ducks on the broad (late winter birds?). Recent reports of grasshopper warblers.
23 April, guided walk: lesser whitethroat singing from riverside scrub, great white egret flew over, heading east. Also common whitethroat, willow warbler, chiffchaffs, blackcap, Cetti's warbler, lots of sedge warblers, stonechat pair, 2 swallows, reed bunting.
20 April: female marsh harrier, lots of sedge warblers singing, willow warbler, chiffchaff, blackcap, Cetti's warbler, reed bunting, 27 tufted ducks, 1 gadwall.
1 April: 7 shovelers, sedge warbler reported again.
31 March: 2 sedge warblers singing (SW via Norwich birdnews WhatsApp group).
28 March, guided walk: white stork reported - we missed it. Red kite over, 3 buzzards, 2 stonechats, 6 shovelers (4♂, 2♀), blackcap heard from across the river, good view of perched kingfisher. Singing Cetti's warbler, dunnock, greenfinch, chiffchaffs etc. Flowers: lesser celandine, coltsfoot, few-flowered leek. Invertebrates: 24-spot ladybird, hairy-footed flower bee, pied shieldbug, alder fly, nursery web spider.
Two galls looked at today. Left: fungi Melampsora populnea on dogs mercury. Right: fly Rabdophaga rosario on willow.
26 March: 2 little grebes (quite vocal), 3 great crested grebes, 2 ♂ pochard, 4 shovelers (3♂, 1♀). No hirundines. Sedge warbler heard (via Norwich birdnews WhatsApp group).
25 March: 2 swallows, great white egret (via Norwich birdnews WhatsApp group).
23 March: swallow (SW, via Norwich birdnews WhatsApp group), exceptionally early record.
17 March: chiffchaff singing in two places, 15 meadow pipits, 1 ♂ shoveler, cormorant carrying stick flying towards Whitlingham CP, reed bunting in song and 2 others, 2 oystercatchers flew up river.
5 March: 35 meadow pipits, 2 collared doves over (from N to S), vocal green woodpecker and song thrush, 4 ♂ shovelers.
28 February: 15 pochards (14 males), first I've seen all winter. Still 5 shovelers (4♂, 1♀), 2 little grebes. Sparrowhawk, 3 (probably 4) buzzards.
23 February: at least 9 shovelers (8 ♂, 1♀); water rail calling in two places.
16 February, on (cancelled) guided walk: singing linnet, greenfinch and green woodpecker; 3 shovelers still, 3 buzzards over.
15 February: coltsfoot and cherry plum in flower. Flock of 18 linnets. Song thrush, Cetti's warbler, robin, dunnock, wren in song; water rail calling in two places. 96 tufted ducks, 35 gadwalls, 12 teals, 3 shovelers, 3 mallards, 1 coot (minima).
White flowers now are cherry plum, not blackthorn.
12 February: 2 male shovelers, good numbers of tufted ducks, gadwalls, teals (not counted), great crested grebe, buzzard.
6 February: little grebe, great crested grebe in breeding plumage. Ducks in lower numbers now: 62 tufted ducks, 13 gadwalls, c.10 teals, 4 mallards, pair of shovelers.
2 February: marsh harrier, great white egret (WhatsApp reports); buzzards, 2 stonechats (pair).
1 February: few ducks than yesterday, though at least 8 shovelers still present.
31 January: great white egret on edge of broad, flew west towards Whitlingham CP. 2 wigeons, 10 shovelers, c.150 tufted ducks; teals and gadwalls not counted.
26 January: 1+5 snipe flying from marshes. 40 teals, 13 shovelers, c.250 tufted ducks, gadwalls not counted (c.40), all ducks very mobile this morning.
24 January: milder weather and duck numbers have mostly dropped, though still 146 tufted ducks, 2 male shovelers, a few teals calling; little grebe, great crested grebe. Siskin in trees by railway bridge.
19 January: smew still in SE corner of broad 12.45pm, 178 teal, 21 shoveler, marsh harrier (Stuart White).
18 January, guided walk, restricted to riverside path: redhead smew, far end of St Andrews Broad. Male shoveler, good numbers of teal, a few gadwalls, some tufted ducks (not counted). Snipe, buzzard, heard pheasant, water rail and Cetti's warbler. reed bunting. Fungi: yellow brain, coral spot, turkeytail, King Alfred's cakes and jelly ear.
Today's smew (Stuart White).
16 January: 53 teals, 67 tufted ducks, 15 gadwalls. Female sparrowhawk, snipe.
10 January: chiffchaff, trees by railway bridge. 19 gadwalls, c.30 teals, 2 mallards, just 9 tufted ducks (must all be at Whitlingham CP). Buzzard.
3 January: 227 tufted ducks. A few mallards and teals, no other duck species. Song thrush singing.
2023
19 December, a rather damp guided walk: fungi included at least 20 lumps of yellow brain (=witches' butter), common bonnet, coral spot, the usual jelly ear and King Alfred's cakes. Snipe, heard water rail and Cetti's warbler. A small number of gadwalls, teals, tufted ducks and mallards. Flowers on hogweed and white dead-nettle.
Common bonnet, on a tree near the sign at the entrance; yellow brain on dead ash.
14 December: juvenile hen harrier, seen from riverside path flying over flooded permissive path, disturbed teals, headed east, mobbed by two crows.
12 December, late pm: male goldeneye still there.
10 December: murmuration of c.5,000 starlings at dusk, then flew east (SW).
8 December: Thorpe Marshes: 1 male goldeneye, great white egret flew in from Whitlingham CP direction, little egret on river, 2 little grebes.
5 December: 2 male goldeneyes with tufted ducks and gadwalls on St Andrews Broad. Buzzard.
28 November: water rails calling in three different places, also Cetti's warbler heard; 5 tufted ducks, 8 teals.
23 November: kingfisher, 2 green sandpipers on edge of broad, kestrel.
9 November: 2 green sandpipers flew over then west from St Andrews Broad.
5 November: little egret on flooded path, water rail and Cetti's warbler heard.
3 November: single rook flying over (unusual here, despite being common nearby), buzzard, sparrowhawk, kestrel. No ducks. Cetti's warbler, robin, wren, green woodpecker all heard. Below all by riverside path on morning of cancelled guided walk.
Ruby tiger moth caterpillar; red admiral.
Two views of what seems to be 24-spot ladybird; caddis-fly.
Coral spot fungi on small dead timber.
30 October: 2 x willow emerald damselflies, water rail calling, buzzard over. Not possible to walk round marsh due to high water levels.
22 October: bearded calling from reedbed adjacent to railway line, Called twice, one fleeting view in flight, typical of bearded tit. Skylark over, meadow pipit, single reed bunting (often absent in winter), water rail calling in 3 places, buzzard, kestrel. At last some winter ducks on St Andrews Broad: 46 tufted ducks, 15 gadwalls.
Peacock butterfly, hornet, common carder-bee, migrant hawker, common darter, caddies flies.
Female migrant hawker; jelly ear fungi have sprung into life in the past few days following wet weather.
Caddis-fly on hogweed.
18 October: path through marshes still flooded, though OK with wellies. Several willow emerald damselflies by river, at least four. Migrant hawker, caddis-fly, nursery web spider, harlequin ladybird. Winter plumage great crested grebe, 3 cormorants, 3 mute swans on Broad, no ducks at all. Buzzard.
Two different male willow emerald damselflies, 18 October. Note the colour difference: the left hand image shows an indivual with late-season bronze colouring, the right-hand damselfly is much greener.
17 October: kingfisher over flooded path and heron on it! Migrant hawker, common darter.
Flooded path, 17 October.
3 October: 2 stock doves flying over, plus young bird - see photo. Male stonechat, great spotted woodpecker, water rail called, buzzard, 4 gadwalls.
Very tame young stock dove by a path.
Six British white cattle arrived during September to graze the marshes.
8 September, guided walk: singing Cetti's warbler and chiffchaff. Great spotted woodpecker, plus green woodpecker and nuthatch heard from the other side of the railway line. Migrant hawker, ruddy darter, willow emerald and common blue damselflies ... and lesser emperor, see photo and caption, first record for Thorpe Marshes. Two interesting spiders, see photos below, plus garden spider.
Lesser emperor, Thorpe Marshes, digiscoped: best fit is blue form of female, on which the blue saddle stands out less than on a male (post-event ID from photo.) This is the 23rd species of dragonfly (13 species) or damselfly (10 species) recorded at NWT Thorpe Marshes.
Terrestrial form of amphibious bistort; ivy bee in Whitlingham Lane.
Locust blowfly Stomorhina lunata photographed by Susan Weeks on buddleia.
4-spot orb web spider, Araneus quadratus; marbled orb-weaver spider
Araneus marmoreus.
19 August, early evening: red bartsia bee, dozens of small china-mark moths over ditches. Broad: 2 teals, 2 great crested grebes, 2 herons.
Red bartsia bee, 19 August.
8 August, guided walk: 2 kingfishers over river, great spotted woodpecker. Brown hawker, red-eyed damselfly (river), 1 small red-eyed damselfly in Commissioner's Cut, common blue damselfly. Peacock, gatekeeper, green-veined white. Lots of flowers e.g. see photos for August. Red bartsia bee, third year in a row.
Susan Weeks was photographing hoverflies, and says the first two are the more unusual and nice to see: Chrysotoxum verralli, a wasp mimic (photo below); Sericomyia silentis, which favours wetland habitats; Volucella inanis, one of the hornet mimics.
Red bartsia bee; wasp mimic hoverfly Chrysotoxum verralli (Susan Weeks).
29 July: ruddy darter, 4 Norfolk hawkers still on the wing, red-eyed damselfly (river), banded demoiselle. 3 small red-eyed damselflies in Commissioner's Cut (the mooring basin). And this impressively big beetle (also rather clumsy in flight):
Musk beetle Aromia moschata
7 July, guided walk: on Broad, female gadwall with two ducklings, 4 tufted ducks, 8 great crested grebes. Reed bunting, reed warbler, kestrel, common tern.
28 June, afternoon: possible male scarce chaser (probably two) over and perched by one of the ditches dug out last winter, many Norfolk hawkers, black-tailed skimmers on paths, emperor dragonfly. Damselflies: common blue, azure, red-eyed and banded demoiselle on the river. Common tern, 2 great crested grebes, little egret (same place as 2 days ago). Still a little song from whitethroat (Whitlingham Lane) and willow warbler. Ringlet butterfly on riverside path.
26 June, guided walk: singing cuckoo, brief bursts of singing from willow, Cetti's, reed & sedge warbler and chiffchaff, whitethroat seen, little egret, 2 buzzards, kingfisher flying over broad, single great crested grebe, immature cormorant, common tern fishing. Norfolk hawkers. Super mix of wild flowers.
This fascinating photo of two leaf beetles is by Susan Weeks, from Thorpe Marshes on 14 June 2023. Susan writes:
"The different colours led me to an ID of Plateumaris sericea which “shows amazing colour variation” according to beetle guides. It also favours locations near its larval food plant bur-reeds (Sparganium sp.) which seemed right. I put the photo, with my tentative ID, on the Beetles of Britain Facebook page and it was verified by Michael Geiser (Curator of Coleoptera at the Natural History Museum, no less)."
Branched bur-reed grows in ditches at Thorpe Marshes.
12 June: 2 cuckoo, water rail heard, water vole. Broad: 2 adult swans with 3 cygnets.
4 June: male marsh harrier, cuckoo, c.20 sand martins. Lots of dock rust: see photo from May 2022, below.
30 May, evening: barn owl, cuckoo, 60+ swifts over broad (SW).
24 May: 4 stock doves, sparrowhawk, singing reed & willow warblers. Hairy dragonfly, many common blue damselflies; St Mark's flies. Spindle in flower by the cattle corral: several larval tents of spindle ermine moth caterpillars.
10 May, guided walk: 2 cranes flying over, heading west. Buzzard, sparrowhawk, kestrel. Lesser whitethroat singing all morning near railway bridge; also sedge, reed, willow & Cetti's warblers, blackcap, chiffchaff and common whitethroat in field by Whitlingham Lane. Swifts, sand martin, house martin, 2 gadwalls. Many reed buntings on show, no sign of stonechats, Common blue damselflies (tenerals). Butterflies: orange-tip (egg found on garlic mustard), brimstone, small tortoiseshell, red admiral, peacock. Pied shieldbug, whirligig beetles, crab spider Xysticus cristatus (below) and nursery web spiders.
Crab spider Xysticus cristatus. Orange-tip egg on mustard garlic (Ann Greenizan).
Early May, various WhatsApp reports: up to nine species of warbler, cuckoo, barn owl at dusk.
Hoverfly Anasimyia interpuncta photographs and ID by Susan Weeks (also checked by experts) on guided walk, 25 April. It's a wetland species, listed as “Nationally scarce” by Ball & Morris (2014, JNCC Species Status No. 9).
25 April, guided walk: willow warblers (2 singing), grasshopper warbler, many sedge warblers, cuckoo heard. Snatches of reed warbler and whitethroat. Chiffchaff, blackcap and Cetti's warbler make eight warbler species heard today. c 50 house martins, c.50 swallows, 1 sand martin. 3 tufted ducks, 1♂ shoveler. Common tern and 3 unidentified 'commic' terns. Pair of stonechats; 3 buzzards, kestrel, pheasant, reed bunting, 2 collared doves flying over. Hoverfly: see above.
21 April: lots of sedge warblers singing, still wintering tufted ducks, buzzard, marsh marigolds in flower. Grasshopper warbler and cuckoo reported on Norwich WhatsApp group.
6 April: adult kittiwake flying over (also seen at Whitlingham CP). At least 8 male shovelers (18, 11♂+7♀, reported on 5 April). 3 swallows reported.
4 April: peacock butterfly, still 40+ tufted ducks and few gadwalls and teals. Linnets again, in the birches and bramble across the ditch from the riverside path.
31 March, guided walk for the volunteer group: pair of stonechats, chiffchaffs and Cetti's warbler heard, water rail heard, noisy green woodpecker (mostly from across the river), 4 linnets, kingfisher! 3 shovelers (2 ♂, 1♀), gadwalls, teals, tufted ducks, great crested grebe, herons, cormorant. Alder fly, nursery web spider, lady's smock in flower.
A patch of coltsfoot by the riverside path; lady's smock by the river.
30 March, guided walk: pair of stonechats, chiffchaff, reed bunting, Cetti's warbler heard. 1♂ shoveler, 44 tufted ducks, 4 teals, gadwall, mallard, great crested grebe. Sawfly Aglaostigma aucupariaem.
29 March: c.6 sand martins, chiffchaffs singing, water rail calling, Cetti's warbler heard, 2 buzzards. c.6 gadwalls, 1 pochard, c.30 tufted ducks, mallards on territory.
23 March: chiffchaff singing, c.30 tufted ducks. White stork reported over St Andrews Broad on local WhatsApp group (said to be a Dutch-ringed bird). Coltsfoot and lesser celandines in flower.
10 March: single male shoveler and pochard.
Jelly ear fungi looking very smart on the dead elder near the tidal flap.
Flooding by the mooring basin, 10 March.
7 March: pair of stonechats, little egret reported, pheasant, Cetti's warbler. Broad: 4♂ shovelers, 4 coots (a high count, of late), teal still present.
Cherry plum
(Prunus cerasifera)
flowering in several places,
25 February: siskin singing in Whitlingham Lane. Broad: ♂ goldeneye, c.220 tufted ducks, 2♂ pochards, great grested grebe, little grebe calling. Also calling/singing reed bunting, green woodpecker and Cetti's warbler.
15 February: 3 little grebes on the gravel pit, 2♂ pochards with at least 60 tufted ducks.
10 February, guided walk: buzzard, snipe. 7 shovelers (3 ♂, 4♀), tufted ducks, gadwalls, a few teals.
7 February: 6 pochards (5♂, 1♀) and 4 shovelers (3 ♂, 1♀), c. 110 tufted ducks. A few gadwalls and teals.
5 February: 2 stonechats, broad had 1♂ shoveler, great crested grebe coming into breeding plumage, gadwalls and tufted ducks, the odd teal, heron & cormorant.
3 February: ♀stonechat, 3-4 shovelers (2-3 ♂, 1♀), mistle thrush flying over heading north and over railway line. Handful of gadwalls and tufted ducks; c.15 Canada geese over, flying east.
17 January: count of 143 tufted ducks, mostly males; 30 teals. Both likely to be underestimates especially as teals tuck into the edge of the broad. [Zero pochards or goldeneyes.] Little grebe on broad, ♂ shoveler (♀ hidden, perhaps?) Water rail heard.
14 January: scaup (photo by Stuart White)
11 January, guided walk: 2 stonechats (♂&♀), male reed bunting, kestrel. Broad: tufted ducks, gadwalls, teals, 2 shovelers, (♂&♀), mallards, cormorants, great crested grebe. 2 little grebes on R Yare tucked into branches on the other side. Muntjac seen well, close to woodland. Cigar galls on reed; sunburst lichen; jelly ear and King Alfred's cake fungi.
Watching stonechats (Susan Weeks); patterns on a dead ash trunk, digiscoped, likely to be an ash bark beetle Hylesinus sp (there are three species, pinning down which one is tricky).
Sightings from 2012 - 2022 here.
Wildlife reports & guide
Guide: click here to see NWT Thorpe Marshes map and guide.
2023 James Emerson's The Birds of Whitlingham & Thorpe 2023.
2022 James Emerson's The Birds of Whitlingham & Thorpe 2022.
2021 James Emerson's The Birds of Whitlingham & Thorpe 2021
2020 James Emerson's The Birds of Whitlingham & Thorpe 2020
2019 Thorpe Marshes wildlife report for 2018-19
James Emerson's The Birds of Whitlingham & Thorpe 2019
2018 James Emerson's The Birds of Whitlingham & Thorpe 2018.
2017 Thorpe Marshes wildlife report for 2017.
James Emerson's Whitlingham Bird Report 2017.
2016 Thorpe Marshes wildlife report for 2016.
James Emerson's Whitlingham Bird Report 2016.
2015 Thorpe Marshes wildlife report for 2015.
James Emerson's Whitlingham Bird Report 2015.
2014 Thorpe Marshes wildlife report for 2014.
James Emerson's Whitlingham Bird Report 2014.
2013 Thorpe Marshes wildlife report for 2013.
James Emerson's Whitlingham Bird Report 2013.
2012 Thorpe Marshes wildlife report for 2012.
James Emerson's Whitlingham Bird Report 2012.
Reports are in PDF format.
Wildlife habitats
The three key habitats at Thorpe St Andrew Marshes are the ditches, gravel pit and grazed marshes - see below.
Other habitats, which are all part of the rich mix, include:
- rough marsh of willowherb and nettles, attracting many sedge warblers
- sallow (pussy willow) scrub, good for Cetti's warbler
- the adjacent tidal River Yare
- adjacent wet woodland
- areas of reed, including a reed rond on the river, attracting reed warblers.
Ditches
Many ditches – also called dykes in Norfolk – have abundant water soldier and frogbit, both aquatic plants. These are indicators of good water quality. In the Broads, the occurrence of the Norfolk hawker dragonfly, which is the symbol of the Broads Authority, is strongly linked to water soldier. The best place to see these is over the ditches close to the cattle corral. Water rails and water voles use the ditches, though both are difficult to see. |
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Ditches rich in water soldier (left), water mint (centre) and frogbit (right).
Gravel pit
Gravel extraction – as at Whitlingham Country Park across the river – has led to the creation of a lake, which has filled naturally with river water. Some may call this a ‘broad’: the true broads are man-made, too, though from flooded peat diggings, and typically are much shallower.
Gulls over the gravel pit, December 2011
The gravel pit here attracts wintering ducks, especially tufted ducks (picture below), pochards and gadwalls, moving between here and the Country Park. Unusual ducks call in at times, including smew, goldeneye, red-crested pochard and ferruginous duck over the 2011/12 winter.
Gravel beaches attract ‘loafing’ ducks and wading birds, which include little ringed plovers in spring/summer. Stock doves often feed on plant seeds on the gravel.
Grazed marshes
Livestock are essential to manage the open grazed marshes habitat.
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Without them, thick grasses and sedges would dominate even more, and would in time be taken over by scrub. More heavily grazed and trampled areas have a distinct structure of lumps and hollows that attract feeding snipe, and have flowers such as marsh marigold and lady’s smock. |
The flood: the grazing marshes include a 'flood', periodically under water, then drying out, here with a greylag goose and mallards in March 2012. The bright green shoots are emerging yellow flag iris plants.
This is an unofficial web page supporting the reserve, to show pictures, promote events, provide reports and note wildlife sightings.
For the official NWT web page, click here or on the logo.
For official information or policy, please contact the NWT directly.
Livestock in trouble? NWT emergency grazing number here.
There is no parking in the private road of Whitlingham Lane. If coming to Thorpe Marshes by car, please park on Yarmouth Road or Thunder Lane.
NWT guided walks
NWT monthly walks led by Chris Durdin
Thorpe Marshes guided walks should be booked, to keep track of numbers and to help contact people if there is a change of plan (e.g. severe weather or flooding).
Booking via NWT - bookings are made online via Eventbrite.
2025
Friday 28 March 10am
Tuesday 22 April 10am
Wednesday 21 May 10am
Monday 16 June 7pm
Thursday 3 July 7pm
NWT walks are free of charge and last about 2 hours at a slow pace. They start from the pedestrian railway bridge at the end of Whitlingham Lane.
Remember to bring binoculars and a camera if you have them.
If you'd like to borrow binoculars, please contact Chris: I usually bring one spare pair but more than that is heavy to carry if they aren't needed.
Boots are recommended as paths can be wet in places. Wellies are rarely needed for wading, though can be useful when grass is wet or paths are muddy in winter.
Walk meeting point: just over the bridge at the end of Whitlingham Lane.
This is the Whitlingham Lane off Yarmouth Road, opposite Thunder Lane, postcode
NR7 0QA.
What3Words for meeting point: audio/racing/tester
Additional guided walks can be arranged for small groups.
Other events
Dyke dipping: last Sunday morning of the month, May - September See NWT events listings e.g. 29 September 2024
Talks: we can offer a talk about NWT Thorpe St Andrew Marshes. Please contact Chris.
Stories
Norfolk schools get a taste of rare parsnips
NWT Thorpe Marshes features in greater water parsnip introduction project.
Dog issues: Local news story here.
Look out for
Blushing bracket on willow, 1 Dec 2024.
Blogs
Mostly blogs by Chris Durdin about Thorpe Marshes, plus some photo sets.
Blogs written for the NWT blog on the main NWT website are no longer online following reconstruction of the NWT website. This are still listed here, in italics, in case they are re-released,
However the links below the line take you to the previous 'blogger' site for NWT blogs, which remains online.
Red-necked grebe at Thorpe and Whitlingham February 2025
Photos on Facebook, August 2024
Thorpe Marshes, 18 August 2022, U3A group. Guest blog on the Honeyguide blogspot.
Guided walks, May 2022. On the Honeyguide blogspot.
Walking again at Thorpe Marshes (Water, Mills and Marshes project, November 2020)
Corncrake at Thorpe Marshes (June 2020)
Thorpe Marshes, a refuge in lockdown (May 2020)
Signs of spring at Thorpe Marshes (February 2020)
Three swans a-swimming ... on the path (January 2020); earlier version from December 2019.
A wet day in November (November 2019)
October at NWT Thorpe Marshes (October 2019)
Notes from Thorpe Marshes (August 2019)
Beetlemania (December 2018).
A Tale of Two Bugs (November 2018, on Honeyguide blog.
In Praise of Ivy (written October 2018).
Red bartsia bee discovered at Thorpe Marshes (September 2018).
Oasis in the drought (July 2018) plus photos on Facebook.
Norfolk hawkers at Thorpe Marshes (June 2018).
Thorpe Marshes in the 1960s part 2 (April 2018, on Honeyguide blog)
Thorpe Marshes in the 1960s (January 2018)
What are the chances of that happening? (August 2017) [by Derek Longe].
Sedge warblers return (April 2017).
The times they are a-changin’ (February 2017).
Gathering gadwall (January 2017).
Ovington Ramblers visit Thorpe Marshes (November 2016) [not by CD.]
Pretty damsels (September 2016).
Trapped! (May 2016).
Pop goes the weasel (February 2016).
Winter access to Thorpe Marshes (December 2015).
Willow Emeralds return to Thorpe Marshes (October 2015).
In for the count (September 2015), on Norfolk hawker and orange-tip surveys.
Coltsfoot at Thorpe Marshes (March 2015).
A Gem of an Emerald (September 2014).
Bartsia, mint and combing bee (August 2014).
Damsel delights (July 2014).
November flowers (November 2013).
Half moon highlight (October 2013).
Purple haze (August 2013).
Tree bumblebees at Thorpe Marshes (July 2013).
February at Thorpe Marshes (February 2013).
January at Thorpe Marshes (January 2013).
Other NWT blogs by Chris Durdin:
Bee Orchids get my vote, June 2017.
Cranes and Hickling Broad, November 2016.
Big Yellow bee orchids are back, June 2016.
The Meadow in the City, June 2015
NWT Thorpe Marshes Volunteer Group
This group meets once a month on a Friday at the pedestrian railway bridge at the end of Whitlingham Lane, Thorpe St Andrew. Activities vary and are a mixture of practical conservation work (especially in winter) plus surveying and wildlife ID.
Contact alanm@norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk to go on the circulation list about these, and to receive invitations to book a place.
Thorpe Marshes are at the end of Whitlingham Lane, Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich, NR7 0QA, OS Grid reference TG 266 083. Please note that this is the Whitlingham Lane which is North of the river, NOT the one accessed from Trowse.
Recording wildlife at Thorpe Marshes through NBIS
As part of the Heritage Lottery Funded Water, Mills & Marshes project, Norfolk Wildlife Trust is encouraging wildlife recording on the nature reserves at Upton Broad and Marshes and Thorpe Marshes.
This is through the Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service through an online process (click on red writing to see the 'wild walks' information).
We particularly welcome records of all/any mammals, amphibians and reptiles. For more experienced naturalists, reference to Thorpe Marshes wildlife reports (see this page) will also reveal where there is potential for new information, for example a wide range of invertebrates.
Willow Emerald, 17 August (Derek Longe).
Gallery of photos of dragonflies and damselflies of NWT Thorpe Marshes on Facebook here. Last updated June 2020.
Old news and features
New bench (December 2016) at the viewing area over St Andrews Broad, in memory of the two young people who lost their lives in the broad in summer 2015.
Changes at Thorpe Marshes, May 2016: new fences and gates are installed, plus a pond-dipping platform for education work. The shingle spit is now fenced off, on the advice of the Health & Safety Executive and police following drownings in summer 2015.
Drake domestic mallard x pintail at River Green, Thorpe St Andrew: photos here.
Nightingale: hear and see the bird near the reserve on YouTube here (Ricky Cleverly, 23 May).
Mediterranean gull photos from suburban Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich, January 2015, here on Facebook. Seen with group, 19 Jan. Last seen 10 February, not there in second half of February.
Local accommodation
Coming from some distance and visiting NWT Thorpe Marshes? Options for accommodation include:
Oaklands Hotel, Yarmouth Road
Other previously listed here have closed - have I missed anywhere?
Other links
More wildlife records from the Yare Valley on Yare Valley Wildlife.
Birds and beer blogspot from James, with sightings from Thorpe Marshes and other local spots.
Spindle berries, within the cattle corral.
Sycamore tar spot fungus: easy to find on autumnal sycamore leaves,
Creeping thistle with yellow foliage, by the riverside path. To explain, I have copied a quote: "This is caused by Pseudomonas syringae, a bacteria that produces a chemical called tagetitoxin, which poison chloroplasts and causes chlorosis."
Nodding bur marigold, photographed 7 September.
Water vole platform - a survey is underway. Please leave alone!
Common blue damselfly, including on paths such as here.
A cluster of leaves on the end of a willow twig, 29 March 2018, is a gall.
The gall is caused by a gall midge called Rabdophaga rosaria which forms camellia galls on the terminal bud growth of various willow species. Each gall consists of 30 or more closely packed leaves which are initially green but as they mature turn brown in late summer but unlike the leaves they stay on the tree throughout the winter with the pinkish midge larva still inside. The larva emerges in spring. The gall is apparently easier to spot than the gall midge.
The willow species will be easier to determine when in leaf.
ID, words and picture: Jenny Jones.
Whinchat (Ricky Cleverley), 1 Sept 2017
Buff-tip moth caterpillars on sallow, 23 August. Photo and ID by Derek Longe.
Tachinid fly Phasia hemiptera - a parasite, usually on bugs - on angelica, 14 August. Photo and ID by James Emerson.
Comma caterpillar on nettles by the concrete pad, 4 August. It is said to resemble a bird dropping.
Common redstart, juvenile, 17 July (David Porter).
Orange rust growing on meadowsweet Triphragmium ulmariae.
November butterfly: comma on ivy (1 November 2015)
Autumn colour on guelder rose, 27 October.
Ruddy darter: note the narrow waist and the black legs, which can be seen against the pale stone.
Velvet shank: on the woodland edge, this one on the guided walk on 17 Feb 2017.
Small Stag's Horn fungus Calocera cornea
Caddis fly: on hogweed is a good place to see them in autumn.
Marsh marigolds.
4-spot orb web spider, Araneus quadratus
Water rail: often vocal, always tricky to see. Several sightings of chicks this year.
Azure Damselflies, here egg-laying, typical posture 'in tandem'.
Common blue damselfly - big numbers.
Norfolk Hawker: regular in June and July (also late May this year).
Oedemera nobilis, thick-legged flower beetle, 29 May 2018, on an ox-eye daisy.
Jelly ear fungus, lots on an elder by the riverbank.
Sedge warbler
Hairy dragonfly - the first dragonfly of the season.
Stonechat (Ricky Cleverley), in the bramble patch area October to early April, though this year staying into May.
Orange balsam.
Great spotted woodpecker on an ash tree from the railway bridge (Derek Longe).
Guided walk, January 2020.
