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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 Crnoglava travarka and Strnadica žutovoljka in the dunes, alongside the usual common garden birds. Raptors frequent the fields inland of the dunes system including Eja močvarica and Vetruška.
In the winter, a sea-watch may reveal large numbers of Riđogrli morski gnjurac as well as Crni turpan and flocks of passing Grivasta guska. You may be lucky and encounter a Ritska sova or Poljska eja hunting the dunes. The large Grey Seal colony here attracts gulls, and alongside the expected Srebrnasti galeb and Crni galeb groups, you may be lucky and find a Sinji galeb or even Islandski galeb or Severni galeb! Expect to see waders like Šljuka kamenjarka and Bela sprutka on the beach. The rocky groynes may hold Morska sprutka also. Look out for Snežna strnadica on the beach too!
Spring passage can be hit a miss in east Norfolk, but you would normally expect to see a Crna crvenrepka and a few Obična beloguza to get the season going (from March onwards). Following this will be Crnoglava grmuša, Obični zviždak, Brezov zviždak, Brezov zviždak and more. In April onwards, there may be Kos ogrličar, Crnovrata muharica and Obična crvenrepka 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 Rusi svračak, Trstenjak mlakar, Modrovoljka, Žuti voljić, Ružičasti čvorak and even Pčelarica!
Summer still offers migration opportunites, as the waders continue to move throughout July and August. There is a colony of Mala čigra on the beach some years, but view them from a respectable distance. It is not impossible to find a Crna čigra or even a Ružičasta čigra 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 Vijoglava, Žuti voljić or Zelenkasti zviždak. A good passage of Crnovrata muharica is expected, along with smaller numbers of Obična crvenrepka. As the autumn progresses (September to November), the opportunities to find Šarenokrili azijski zviždak, Palasov zviždak, Pirgasta grmuša, Mala muharica and other seasonal delights increases, especially after easterly winds. Common migrants will also be flooding back in like Mali drozd, Kraljić, Zeba and Šumska šljuka.
Sea-watching here is best in northerly or easterly winds, and these can bring Obična bluna, Troprsti galeb and Crni turpan 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 Siva liskonoga, Lastorepa burnica and large numbers of Mali galeb. 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.