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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 Mărăcinar negru and Presură galbenă in the dunes, alongside the usual common garden birds. Raptors frequent the fields inland of the dunes system including Erete de stuf and Vânturel roșu.
In the winter, a sea-watch may reveal large numbers of Cufundar mic as well as Rață neagră and flocks of passing Gâscă neagră. You may be lucky and encounter a Ciuf de câmp or Erete vânăt hunting the dunes. The large Grey Seal colony here attracts gulls, and alongside the expected Pescăruș argintiu and Pescăruș negru groups, you may be lucky and find a Pescăruș pontic or even Pescăruș cu aripi albe or Pescăruș de ghețuri! Expect to see waders like Pietruș and Nisipar on the beach. The rocky groynes may hold Fugaci de mare also. Look out for Pasărea omătului on the beach too!
Spring passage can be hit a miss in east Norfolk, but you would normally expect to see a Codroș de munte and a few Pietrar sur to get the season going (from March onwards). Following this will be Silvie cu cap negru, Pitulice mică, Pitulice fluierătoare, Pitulice fluierătoare and more. In April onwards, there may be Mierlă gulerată, Muscar negru and Codroș de pădure 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 Sfrâncioc roșiatic, Lăcar de mlaștină, Gușă vânătă, Frunzăriță galbenă, Lăcustar and even Prigorie!
Summer still offers migration opportunites, as the waders continue to move throughout July and August. There is a colony of Chiră mică on the beach some years, but view them from a respectable distance. It is not impossible to find a Chirighiță neagră or even a Chiră roz 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 Capîntortură, Frunzăriță galbenă or Pitulice verzuie. A good passage of Muscar negru is expected, along with smaller numbers of Codroș de pădure. As the autumn progresses (September to November), the opportunities to find Pitulice cu sprânceană galbenă, Pitulice sprâncenată, Silvie porumbacă, Muscar mic and other seasonal delights increases, especially after easterly winds. Common migrants will also be flooding back in like Sturzul viilor, Aușel cu cap galben, Cinteză and Sitar de pădure.
Sea-watching here is best in northerly or easterly winds, and these can bring Corb de mare, Pescăruș cu trei degete and Rață neagră 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 Notatiță cu cioc lat, Leach's Storm Petrel and large numbers of Pescăruș mic. 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.