Birdwatching in Norfolk
Norfolk's unique position on the east of England means it is one of the most prolific locations for birdlife in the country. The diversity of the landscape and its habitats attracts and shelters a range of breeding species, and its coastline facing the North Sea ensures a wealth of migrant visitors.
If birdwatching is your thing then Norfolk is the perfect place for a visit - whatever time of year.
|  | | Woodland birds
If you enjoy spotting birds in a woodland environment you will not be disappointed by the number of places to visit in Norfolk.
Foxley Wood is Norfolk's largest ancient woodland and believed to be over 6000 years old. The nature reserve, which is run by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, is 12 miles North of Norwich. It is full of flowers and butterflies as well as being a wonderful place for ornithologists.
High Lodge visitor centre, in the heart of Thetford Forest, is Britain's largest lowland pine forest. Deep in the maze-like forest you can hope to see species including Nightjar, Crossbill, Woodlark and Tree Pipit.
Honeypot Wood, near Dereham, is another fine piece of Norfolk's remaining ancient woodland. It consists of a mixture of ash and oak and has had a history of coppice managing since records began.
| | Breckland birds
Weeting Heath near Thetford is THE foremost place to spot the Stone Curlew. This curious looking bird is notoriously fussy and the Norfolk Wildlife trust uses sheep and rabbits to maintain the heaths which ensure it thrives here. Weeting has the highest Stone Curlew breeding success in the country. Other birds regularly seen on the reserve include Woodlark, Green Woodpecker, Spotted Flycatcher and Little Owl.
Wayland Wood, near Watton, is a small patch of ancient woodland and nature reserve which is probably the best place in the country to see Golden Pheasant.
East Wretham Heath near Thetford is a picturesque Breckland nature reserve with a rich mixture of heath, mysterious meres and aged, crooked pines. Spring is the best time to visit.
| | | | Go West
The Wash is England's largest tidal estuary and lies to the West of Norfolk. The area is a combination of deep and shallow water, salt-marshes and mudflats and is one of the country's most important winter feeding areas for waders and wildfowl.
As the water covers the vast mudflats of The Wash on a big tide, Snettisham Nature Reserve is the place to see thousands of wading birds coming in to roost. Tens of thousands of wading birds are pushed off their feeding grounds and onto the roost banks and islands in front of the RSPB hides - an incredible spectacle.
In the middle of winter, a dawn or dusk visit to Snettisham may reward you with the flight of thousands of pink-footed geese or visit in summer when you are likely to see large numbers of common terns and black-headed gulls.
| | | In the North
The Norfolk Wildlife Trust's reserve at Holme Dunes is one of the north Norfolk coast's most attractive landscapes and the combination of mudflats, sand dunes, saltmarsh and reedbeds have an air of mysticism. It is an important bird-watching site where you can look for a huge variety of species including avocets, ringed plovers, redshanks, curlews and lapwings. Holme Dunes is another key site for winter wildfowl.
At Salthouse Marshes, further along the coast, a shingle bank protects the coastal grazing marshes and salt water lagoons from the voracious appetite of the North sea. Bird watchers can look out for black-tailed godwits, ruffs, redshanks and snow buntings as well as several thousand brent geese in the winter months
The wetland nature reserve at Titchwell Marsh is around 5 miles from Hunstanton. As you walk from the RSPB visitor centre to the sandy beach you will pass reedbeds and shallow lagoons which are managed specially to attract all manner of birds. One of the highlights of a visit to Titchwell in the summer is a potential sighting of a marsh harrier hunting over the reeds.
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Useful Links
Keeping an eye on birds
For more information on bird conservation have a look at the British Trust for Ornithology's web site.
BTO
Looking for a reserve?
This site has lots of information about nature reserves throughout Norfolk, and beyond.
Birds of Britain
Protecting birds
The RSPB is reponsible for protecting much of the birdlife in Norfolk. Find out more on their website.
RSPB
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