Print pageStar species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Nearly 150 pairs of grey herons nest in the trees at Northward Hill. Activity at the heronry starts early in the year and continues through spring, when the young herons begin flying. |  |
In spring, lapwings come to the wet grasslands here to breed. Conditions have to be right for their chicks to be able to find food just after hatching. |  |
Up to 50 pairs of little egrets have recently joined the grey herons in the treetop heronry at Northward Hill. These startlingly white birds are have only colonised the UK in the past 15 years. |  |
Redshanks also breed on the damp grassland here. They are known as the 'sentinels of the marshes', due to their constant alertness and noisy alarm calls. |  |
Large flocks of teals pack onto the flooded grassland in winter. You can listen to their piping calls as they fly round in dense flocks. |  |