FAUNA

The Broads are home to many species of wildlife.  From ducks and waterfowl to various warblers, these wetlands are obviously full of diversity even without a complete species list.   Below are some additional common breeding species found in the Broads.

BIRDS

http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/broads/pages/about6.html#bitterna

Bittern - (Botaurus stellaris)  the Bittern likes large reedbeds and marshland and moves though the water looking for fish to eat.  The Bittern also eats amphibians and insects.  The Bittern population has suffered a dramatic decline, but the Broads are now being managed to restore reedbeds and other habitat characteristics that the Bittern needs to be a successful ecosystem member.

http://www.birdphotography.co.uk/curlew.jpg

Curlew (Numenius arquata) - The Curlew is very popular, but there are worries about a decline because of more agriculture taking over its habitat areas. It likes damp upland pastures and fens or coastal marshes.  In the winter it moves to exposed mudflats and to saltmarsh at high tides. It likes to eat woms, shellfish, and shrimp.

http://www.diabloaudubon.com/birds/Pete%20Warden/Coot.jpg

Coot (Fulica atra) - The Coot is all black with a white beak and shield.  It likes shallow standing freshwater that is muddy and has lots of vegetation for breeding.  In the winter, it is sometimes forced to shallow coasts.  The Coot feeds on vegetation, snails and insect larvae.

http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/enforce/images/mallard.jpg

Mallard - (Anas platyrhynchos) The mallard is one of the larger duck species.  It breeds in all parts of the UK in summer and winter, wherever it can find good wetland habitat.  Some are migrants while some stay the winter.  It likes to live in a variety of places - large and small lakes, slow rivers, small pools and coastal marshes.  The Mallard eats seeds, acrons, berriers, plants, insects, and shellfish.

http://www.kolkatabirds.com/marshharrier8b.jpg

Marsh Harrier - (Circus aeruginosus) This is one of the largest harriers and is usually found in wetlands, though there are now some breeding on arable land.  In the winter, the marsh harrier likes tropical marshess and swamps.  They leave in September and October, but are back in April.  Marsh Harriers like to eat small birds and mammals.

                       

http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/oystercatcher%20180_tcm3-30258.jpg

Oystercatcher - (Haematopus ostralegus) The Oystercatcher is popular in the coastal areas of the Broads.  It like to breed on rocky beaches, dunes, and salt marshes.  Most of them will spend the winter on the coast trying to find food like mussels and cockles.  If they are inland, they eat worms.

                        

www.probertencyclopaedia.com/ j/Snipe.jpg

Snipe - (Gallinago gallinago) Snipe are wading birds that have short legs.  They like to nest on the ground in thick vegetation on wet moors or pastures so that they have soft ground and can get to shallow pools.  They eat small invertebrates like worms and insect larvae and are residents of the Broads year round.

                 

http://www.hainaultforest.co.uk/Tufted%20duck%20male1.JPG

Tufted Duck - (Aythya fuligula) The Tufted Duck is a medium-sized diving duck.  It avoids deep water and likes inland lakes or slow-flowing rivers.  It has remained populous because they can live near built-up areas.  It is found in the UK and in the Broads most of the year.  The Tufted Duck eats mollusks, insects and some plant species.

AMPHIBIANS

Common newt - (Triturus vulgaris) These newts like ponds and wetlands with abundant lead litter and vegetation. Like many other salamanders, the female deposits her eggs individually on aquatic plants. They look very similar to the Palmate newt, but in breeding seasons the common newt (also known as the smooth newt) males have a more developed wavy dorsal crest.  The females are different because the common newt has darker spotting on its throat.

http://www.natural-history-pictures.co.uk/Palmate.jpg

Palmate newt - (Triturus helveticus)  These newts have the same breeding habits as the common newt and are found in many of the same habitats.  They like shallow pools, but are also more tolerant of acidic water than the common newt.  The Palmate newt is found in all of Western Europe, but not ireland.  They feed on insects, larvae, water snails and worms and will sometimes flick out their tongue like lizards are typically known to do.

http://www.nature-photography.co.uk/Web%20site%20Other%20wildlife/images/Common%20frog%204.jpg

Common frog - (Rana temporaria)  This frog species is widespread in the British Isles, Central and Northern Europe.  They go into wetlands to breed at the Broads are an excellent place to live because both terrestrial and wetland habitats are available.

www.heswallphotosoc.co.uk/ images/Common-toad.jpg

Common toad - (Bufo bufo) The common toad has great protection from predators with its release of chemical substances which taste bad and irritate other creatures enough that they will leave them alone.  They do get eaten by some snakes and hedgehogs that aren't deterred, though.  Like the Palmate newt, they are present in the damp woodlands of Britain, but are absent from Ireland. They are in most of Europe, northwest Africa and Asia as well.

FISH
(found mostly in the ditches or dykes of drained marsh)

http://www.fishbase.org/Photos/PicturesSummary.cfm?ID=4482&what=species

European Chub - (Leuciscus cephalus) The Chub likes to be in creeks and can stand some brackish water.  It feeds on algae, vegetation, seeds, worms, mollusks, crustaceans and larvae.  Because of its diverse diet, it can be found in deeper wetland areas and survive well there.

http://jonahsaquarium.com/gastaculeatusmic.jpg

Three-spined Stickleback - (Gasterosteus aculeatus)  This fish is found in most European rivers and is very common throughout the world.  It likes vegetative areas over mud or sand, but can handle the coastal waters when at sea.  They travel in schools and make nests out of plants for their eggs.  The Three-spined Stickleback eats worms, crustaceans, larvae and adult insects, and small fishes.

MAMMALS

http://members.vienna.at/shrew/Image1.gif

Eurasian water shrew - (Neomys fodiens) The water shrew lives on the banks of both standing and moving freshwater.  It is also found in terrestrial areas adjacent to these wetlands.  This species have multiple litters per breeding season, but are solitary animals.  They prey mostly underwater and eat snails, mollusks, freshwater insects, and small fish, amphibians and frogs. They actually weaken their prey by secreting poison from the submaxillary gland.

http://pdubois.free.fr/mammiferes/images/ClethrionomysGlareolus.jpg

Bank vole - (Clethrionomys glareolus) The Bank vole has a wide range and the habitat in the Broads is among it.  Within the Broads wetlands, the Bank vole is found in riverine forests and banks of brooks as well as moist, but deforested regions like the marshlands.  They like to eat seeds and store food in the fall and winter.

MORE INTERESTING SPECIES IN THE BROADS AREA

Moving on to more specifc areas, the fens are home to many restricted species such as the swallow tail butterfly which is restricted to East Angila.  In addition, numerous dragonflies and damselflies are present.  Of particular interest is the Norfolk Hawker dragonfly which is also a restricted species only found in the area.  There are rare species of moths as well, including the reed leopard and Fen's wainscot.  The decrease of the bittern population is very evident in the Fens where it is one of the most popular birds with the bearded tit and marsh harrier.  As for mammals, the water vole can be found in the Fen dykes and the previously popular otter is the subject of a reintroduction program.  You can also see harvest mice and water shrews which make their home in the Fens.

swallowtail butterfly                                                       water vole                                                               otter

http://www.uidaho.edu/so-id/entomology/swallowtail%20butterfly.jpg

http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/images/water-vole.jpg

http://users.raketnet.nl/ciro/Otter_1.JPG

The Carr woodlands' unique habitat is the place where you can find both willow and long-haired tits, along with greater and lesser spotted woodpeckers and treecreepers.  Herons are also abundant in the Carr woodlands with breeding populations present.

 
                    willow tit                                          heron                                      greater spotted woodpecker

http://www.lros.org.uk/archive/Willow%20Tit_%20Burbage%               20Wood_%20November%201995%20(A.%20Baker).jpg

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/graphics/tricoloredherno3.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/i_love_sy/wildlife/             images/gallery/carolyn_chase_woodpecker.jpg

In the grazing marshlands, wildlife is also abundant and it is probably the best place for birdwatching. There are year-round common snipe, with breeding populations of redshanks and lapwing.  Other birds include oystercatchers, yellow wagtails, meadow pipits, barn and short eared owls, kestrels, skylarks, and herons. Birds are also present in other areas of the wetlands and the most interesting include Bewick's swans, white-fronted and pink-footed goose, golden plovers, pintail, and goldeneye.  The Broads are full of birds and waterfowl that make it an even more attractive recreation and sight-seeing area.

pink-footed goose                                                                        Berwick's swans

http://angusbirdingphoto.homestead.com/files/Pink_Footed_Goose_2.jpg

http://www.swanuk.org.uk/bewick's%20on%20lake.jpg

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