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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 Taşkuşu and Sarı kirazkuşu in the dunes, alongside the usual common garden birds. Raptors frequent the fields inland of the dunes system including Saz delicesi and Kerkenez.
In the winter, a sea-watch may reveal large numbers of Kýzýlgerdanlý dalgýç as well as Kara ördek and flocks of passing Yosun kazi. You may be lucky and encounter a Kır baykuşu or Gökçe delice hunting the dunes. The large Grey Seal colony here attracts gulls, and alongside the expected Kuzey Gümüş Martı and Büyük Karasırtlı Martı groups, you may be lucky and find a Gümüş martı or even Grönland Martısı or Kutup martısı! Expect to see waders like Tasçeviren and Ak kumkuşu on the beach. The rocky groynes may hold Mor Kumkuşu also. Look out for Alaca kirazkuşu on the beach too!
Spring passage can be hit a miss in east Norfolk, but you would normally expect to see a Kara kızılkuyruk and a few Kuyrukkakan to get the season going (from March onwards). Following this will be Karabağlı ötleğen, Çıvgın, Söğütbülbülü, Söğütbülbülü and more. In April onwards, there may be Boğmaklı Ardıç, Kara sinekkapan and Kızılkuyruk 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 Kızılsırtlı örümcekkuşu, Çalı kamışçını, Mavigerdan, Sarı mukallit, Ala sığırcık and even Arıkuşu!
Summer still offers migration opportunites, as the waders continue to move throughout July and August. There is a colony of Küçük sumru on the beach some years, but view them from a respectable distance. It is not impossible to find a Kara sumru or even a Pembe Sumru 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 Boyunçeviren, Sarı mukallit or Yeşilimsi Çıvgın. A good passage of Kara sinekkapan is expected, along with smaller numbers of Kızılkuyruk. As the autumn progresses (September to November), the opportunities to find Sarıkaşlı çıvgın, çalıkuşu çıvgını, Çizgili ötleğen, Küçük sinekkapan and other seasonal delights increases, especially after easterly winds. Common migrants will also be flooding back in like Kızıl ardıç, Çalıkuşu, İspinoz and Çulluk.
Sea-watching here is best in northerly or easterly winds, and these can bring Sümsükkuþu, Karaayaklı martı and Kara ördek 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 Kızıl denizdüdükçünü, çatal kuyruklu fırtına kirlangici and large numbers of Küçük martı. 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.