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Description
Winterton Dunes is an extensive coastal acidic heathland featuring a variety of scrubs and trees spread throughout. For birders, the site is a fantastic place to find rare and scarce migrant birds, as well as enjoy some of the spectacular wildlife of the east Norfolk coast. It can be hard work at times, but persistance pays off at this site. Throughout the year, you could find Vestlig Sortstrubet Bynkefugl and Gulspurv in the dunes, alongside the usual common garden birds. Raptors frequent the fields inland of the dunes system including Rørhøg and Tårnfalk.
In the winter, a sea-watch may reveal large numbers of Rødstrubet Lom as well as Sortand and flocks of passing Knortegås. You may be lucky and encounter a Mosehornugle or Blå Kærhøg hunting the dunes. The large Grey Seal colony here attracts gulls, and alongside the expected Sølvmåge and Svartbag groups, you may be lucky and find a Kaspisk Måge or even Hvidvinget Måge or Gråmåge! Expect to see waders like Stenvender and Sandløber on the beach. The rocky groynes may hold Sortgrå Ryle also. Look out for Snespurv on the beach too!
Spring passage can be hit a miss in east Norfolk, but you would normally expect to see a Husrødstjert and a few Stenpikker to get the season going (from March onwards). Following this will be Munk, Gransanger, Løvsanger, Løvsanger and more. In April onwards, there may be Ringdrossel, Broget fluesnapper and Rødstjert to be found. Following a good spell of easterly winds, you may be on for something rarer. Typcial spring scarcities (typcially May and June) might include Rødrygget Tornskade, Kærsanger, Blåhals, Gulbug, Rosenstær and even Biæder!
Summer still offers migration opportunites, as the waders continue to move throughout July and August. There is a colony of Dværgterne on the beach some years, but view them from a respectable distance. It is not impossible to find a Sortterne or even a Rosenterne in the colony if you scan the colony carefully.
Autumn passage can be excellent here, and in the early part of the season (August to September), you might be lucky and find the likes of Vendehals, Gulbug or Lundsanger. A good passage of Broget fluesnapper is expected, along with smaller numbers of Rødstjert. As the autumn progresses (September to November), the opportunities to find Hvidbrynet Løvsanger, Fuglekongesanger, Høgesanger, Lille Fluesnapper and other seasonal delights increases, especially after easterly winds. Common migrants will also be flooding back in like Vindrossel, Fuglekonge, Bogfinke and Skovsneppe.
Sea-watching here is best in northerly or easterly winds, and these can bring Sule, Ride and Sortand closer in shore. An experienced sea-watcher may be able to find divers, grebes, auks and up to four species of Skua! Stormy conditions in late autumn can bring Thorshane, Stor Stormsvale and large numbers of Dværgmåge. You never know what you might see, so always worth bringing a scope.
Details
Access
Park in the beach car park at Winterton Village, and you can easily explore the dunes from here.
Terrain and Habitat
Sea , Dunes , Scattered trees and bushes , Moors/heathlandConditions
Flat , Dry , Open landscape , DustyCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
Can be usefulGood birding season
All year roundBest time to visit
Spring migration , Autumn migrationRoute
Wide pathDifficulty walking trail
Average walkAccessible by
FootBirdwatching hide / platform
NoExtra info
This site is a popular dog walking area, and also experiences high numbers of beach-goers in the summer. You can get away from the crowds by heading further away from the village itself.