Great Livermere has produced more sightings of rarities, both county and national, than any other site in the Hinderclay 17 area. The main attraction is the large, shallow artificial lake - the Broad Water, the Long Water and Ampton Water. Black terns are recorded annually, while winter counts of Caspian gulls on the lake and the adjoining pig field have exceeded 100 birds. A wide variety of wildfowl occur on the lake, with up to 12 pairs of shelducks nesting. The Ampton Estate supports a large commercial game shoot, and the abundance of pheasants and red-legged partridges attracts raptors. Over 60 red kites are regular early in the year, and some remain to breed. (The keepers are notably raptor friendly.)
The Broad Water is easily viewed from the public footpath that leads from Great Livermere village. The most recent rarity was a squacco heron in September 2023.