This is the question on the lips of many of the visitors I meet on the trails at North Warren. The Konik ponies which graze on the marshes during the winter have now headed back to Minsmere to make way for the Suffolk Redpoll cattle which graze the land over the summer months. The ponies are often visible at Minsmere as they are currently grazing in the ‘Konik field’ which can be viewed from the scrape trail between south hide and the sluice.
There are still horses to be seen at North Warren, a fantastic herd of Exmoor ponies graze the drier fields and a mixed herd of Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies can currently be found at Aldringham Walks.
Other highlights around North Warren at this time of year include a whole range of butterflies such as green-veined white, small copper, speckled wood, clouded yellow and green hairstreak, to mention but a few. With ringlet, meadow brown, gatekeeper and grayling amongst the ones that you can expect to find later in the season.
Dragonflies and damselflies are also out in force at this time of year and can be seen from many of the footpaths across the reserve; keep your eyes peeled for the less common species that can be found here such as the Norfolk hawker dragonfly and the small red-eyed damselfly.
A personal favourite of mine are the common lizards which can often be found basking in the sun on the boardwalk which runs through the fen and around the reedbed, the occasional slow worm can also be seen here. The fen is filled with wildflowers in June and into July including yellow rattle, ragged robin, purple loosestrife, and southern marsh orchid. This, combined with the swifts and swallows which can be seen feeding over the reedbed, make for a beautiful and peaceful walk in this part of the reserve.