The chance to see some of Norfolk's most spectacular wildlife is being offered when a new-look visitors centre opens its doors for winter weekends for the first time.

Eastern Daily Press: A Marsh harrier. Pic: Noel BarkeA Marsh harrier. Pic: Noel Barke (Image: Noel Barke)

The refurbished visitor centre at Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Hickling Broad and Marshes National Nature Reserve will be open for long weekends - Friday to Sunday - all through the winter.

As dusk falls, hundreds of marsh harriers - a bird which remains rarer than golden eagles as a British breeding species - plus hen harriers, merlin and barn owl can be watched coming in to roost at Hickling.

This year's NWT's winter wildlife survey is all about raptors. Each season, the trust asks local people and visitors to record three species on their map to help monitor wildlife across the county and gain an understanding of the distribution of a species.

Sightings can help identify areas that are especially important for wildlife and identify species in decline or under threat.

Eastern Daily Press: Red Kite. Pic: Chris Mills.Red Kite. Pic: Chris Mills. (Image: Chris Mills)

People are invited to go in search of three iconic raptor species: marsh harriers, red kites and buzzards.

To submit your records visit www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/spotter or email wild@norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk.

All three may be seen at Hickling, but NWT is keen for sightings everywhere in Norfolk.

Eastern Daily Press: Hickling visitor centre. Pic: Steve CoxHickling visitor centre. Pic: Steve Cox (Image: Steve Cox)

Eastern Daily Press: A Buzzard. Pic: Elizabeth DackA Buzzard. Pic: Elizabeth Dack (Image: Elizabeth Dack)