Whitlingham Great Broad
The broad was created by gravel extraction and, at nearly a mile long, is the largest expanse of water in Norwich. You can take a video tour of the broad here, with more information here. This site has the largest numbers of damselflies in Norwich with many hundreds flying during the summer, as well as good numbers of most common dragonflies. Probably the easiest site to access for the disabled and those with pushchairs, there is a wide path around the broad. The broad is noted for its birds, with many rarities having been spotted here. Bird lists here.
Directions
From the County Hall roundabout, enter Trowse over the bridge and continue till you reach the bend. The turn for the broad is to the left, just after the village sign. Continue down the road till you see the signs for the car park (pay and display - season tickets available).Tour
Exit the car park by the bottom right exit and turn right up the metalled road till you see the start of the path. The first area you come to is a mowed area of grass leading from the path to the water's edge, with emergent reed and other vegetation at the shoreline. Drifting across the path will be Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies. To your left is a fenced off area holding a stone trough used by schools for pond-dipping. Check the leaves of the yellow flag in the trough for cast skins (exuviae), and the water for the nymphs of Southern hawkers that can sometimes be seen.
Halfway along this area of shoreline is the first of two wooden bridges across dykes - there is a good selection of water plants here: Water mint, Water forget-me-not and arrowhead. This area used to play host to Emperor dragonflies, but the breeding population was wiped out by gravel extraction activities late in 2004, and the site was not recolonised in 2005. However the Emperors returned in 2006 together with a number of Norfolk Hawkers!. These latter could be seen particularly well around the wherry sculpture on the shore and the dyke behind.
In June and July the area after this bridge is where the Common Blue damselflies are emerging, and close inspection of tussocks of grass will reveal exuviae and emergent damselflies. No attempt should be made to handle these teneral (newly-emerged) damselflies, as their bodies are soft and easily damaged.
The sheer quantity of exuviae can be breath-taking, with every clump turning up 10 to 20 skins. At peak times every step will raise a teneral common blue, their shining wings testament to their youth. You should note that emergence is dependent on the weather - most will emerge in the morning, but if the weather was cold or overcast then (but warmed up later) they may delay until the afternoon - and even at 6pm a few may still be seen.
Check also the stalks of dock, where many exuviae can be seen. (It's one exuvia, many exuviae by the way, and pronounced x-oo-vee-a and x-oo-vee-i). Occasionally exuviae are found on the pebbles on the beach, and we must assume these are individuals who left it too late to reach a good support. Pied wagtails can often be seen dining here, their beaks full of teneral damsels.
Continuing along the path, we come to the second bridge, again with a good variety of water plants. This is a good spot to examine the island in the broad, and the pillars that prevent boats from entering the conservation area. In winter the posts play host to cormorants, with several drying their wings in characteristic pose, while summer brings common terns to join the gulls.
The area after this was characterised by a high border of shrubs but these have been cut back in Spring 2006. This band of vegetation is where you will most likely find Brown, Southern and Migrant Hawkers hunting, both here and the other side of the path, where a patch of scrub provides good pickings from flying insects.
Moving on we come to the conveyor belt moving gravel from the digging across the water (soon to be a new nature reserve once the gravel extraction has finished). Check the off-shore plants here for possible Red-eyed damselflies, alongside the Common Blue and Blue-tailed.
At the corner of the broad there is a short path that leads down to the river - always worth a look for Banded Demoiselles and possible kingfishers and herons. The trees along here are good for tree-creepers and woodpeckers, as well as the usual small birds such as goldcrest, tits and finches.
Once round the end of the broad you are nearing the official wildlife area - due to ground nesting birds it is asked that you keep dogs on a lead in this stretch. This area is where the bulk of the Common Darters and Black-tailed Skimmers emerge, and teneral individuals can be seen rising out of the grass, while Migrant hawkers are often to be seen hunting here. This is a good spot to see oystercatchers and other small waders, along with the cormerants that rest on the island.
At the end of the open grass area, you reach a wooded track with a high bank between you and the river. There is usually a Southern Hawker patrolling here in August, and in June 2006 there was a Norfolk Hawker holding court. To your left you will reach the path down to the birdwatching hide - keep an eye open for reed buntings on the way down together with the scratchy call of Sedge Warblers and the explosive call of Cetti's Warbler.
Continuing along the path, the wooded area to ypur left is mainly notable for small birds such as whitethroat, blackcap and chiff-chaff, but the odd dragon will float by. There are paths down to fishing spots to your left and these are worth checking for chasers resting on reed heads. Both Broad-bodied and Four-spotted have been seen here.
Once round the end of the great broad, with it's new outdoor activity centre (where you can hire canoes by the way), you pass the little broad and reach the visitor centre - this has a cafe (open 10 - 4) with outdoor seating, allowing you to relax while scanning the water
Next
Heading back down Whitlingham lane will take you to Trowse Wood, Trowse Flower Meadow or Trowse Church, while continuing down the lane will lead you to Whitlingham Marsh.