OTHER WILDLIFE
THIS WHOLE SITE is superb for birds at any time of the year and very good for dragonflies in summer and autumn months. This National Nature Reserve is part of the Sandringham Estate and includes mire acid bog, green sandstone heath, woodland and reedbed. Its mire is very rare in this part of the country and the open areas attract a good proportion of the UK’S Nightjars to breed here. Evening is the best time to come and look for them, churring from dead stumps in the bog, and there should be a mixture of owls, such as Tawny, Barn and even Long-eared. The other notable species here is Wood Lark, from February onwards. Other birds to look out for include Tree Pipit, Grasshopper Warbler and Stonechat. The sandy ground is ideal growing for Scots Pine, so look out for Crossbills at any time of the year, but, again, the males sing from February onwards. Scan raptors from the high ground. Summer sees the return of the Hobby, with so many dragonflies to hunt, and 2015 saw breeding Marsh Harriers for the first time. Look out for displaying Goshawks in spring, along with Sparrowhawk and Buzzard, plus passing Osprey. Winter has seen a roost of mixed harriers but also hunting Roughlegged Buzzard and Merlin, while autumn once held a Black Kite of the eastern subspecies. Great Grey Shrikes have wintered on the bog, while a Lesser Grey Shrike has also occurred, along with Hoopoe. Spend some time with the dragonflies – a camera will help you ID them at home