Great places to see wildlife in the East of England
Looking for the best places to see wildlife in East Anglia? From one of Europe's most important wetlands, which attracts thousands of migratory birds to the largest seal colony in England, there are signs of nature all around you. Here's a few places and experiences to add to your list.
Weird and wonderful insects





The rather beautiful elephant hawk moth
The rather beautiful elephant hawk-moth is named after the caterpillar’s resemblance to an elephant’s trunk. The adults are nocturnal, so come dusk you’re more likely to see them flying around places like Orford Ness. During the day, they’ll be found resting among the plants they feed from such as honeysuckle.
The magic of the micro-world at Dunwich Heath
Rare insects like ant lions, may not be easily seen. So why tell you about them? Well they're Britain's rarest predator and they can be found in the sandy banks at Dunwich Heath. In a scene straight out of science fiction, their larva lays in wait, lurking ready to pierce unfortunate prey with large mandibles!
The beetles of Hatfield Forest
Many nationally rare species of beetle have been discovered at Hatfield Forest in Essex. The veteran trees and fallen wood support large numbers of saproxylic beetles (deadwood beetles) including lesser stag, rhinoceros and longhorn beetles.
West Runton's speedy beetle
The adult green tiger beetle is one of the fastest running insects in the world. It is an awesome predator that hunts just about any insect or spider and can be easily identified by it's size and striking metallic-green colour. They enjoy the hot sandy paths as they chase after their prey at West Runton in Norfolk.
Rhododendron leafhoppers at Sheringham Park
Rhododendron leafhoppers are not native to Britain, they were introduced from North America in the 1900s and it's one of very few insects that feed on the sap of rhododendrons. In years when they are common, disturbing a rhododendron branch can cause leafhoppers to take evasive action, you'll see and hear them as they jump away with an audible clicking sound.
When you take a closer look at nature, it helps us watch over wildlife
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