If you are looking to combine your holiday in Cromer, North Norfolk with some of the country’s finest birdwatching then bespoke guided birdwatching trips can be arranged if required.
Please visit Marcus Nash’s website for further information on his excellent guided bird tours around Norfolk.
Up to date sightings of what is currently around North Norfolk can be found here: Latest News
Birdwatching in Norfolk
Norfolk is widely regarded as one of the best counties for bird watching in Britain. This is due to its location, long unspoilt coastline and large variety of habitats. It also boasts some of the most famous and popular nature reserves in the country, including Titchwell RSPB and Cley NWT. Resident species include Bittern, Little Egret, Egyptian Goose, Marsh Harrier, Common Crane, Avocet, Barn Owl, Cetti’s Wabler, Firecrest and Bearded Tit. Rare breeding birds include, Peregrine, Honey Buzzard, Spoonbill, Stone Curlew, Woodlark and Dartford Warbler.
Another great attribute of Norfolk is you can go birding on any day of the year and always see something of interest. Winter is a great time to be in Norfolk, our summer breeding birds have long departed for warmer climbs but are replaced by northern birds moving south to shelter from extreme weather in Scandinavia and further north. Large numbers of wildfowl arrive including approximately one third of the world’s Pink Footed Geese. Birds of prey are well represented with Hen Harrier, Merlin and Peregrine replacing our summer visiting birds. The broads communal roost can be spectacular with over 80 Marsh Harriers, add to this a flock of ‘honking’ Cranes and it can make a truly memorable end to a good day out. In the west of the county, the wash attracts huge flocks of waders with its bountiful supply of food. Offshore, Divers and Grebes gather with the odd ‘white winged’ Gull from the arctic thrown in. Back on land, Thrushes, flocks of finches, Snow Buntings and Waxwings all arrive to take advantage of our relatively milder climate and food supplies. Owls can be very conspicuous, in a good year large numbers of Short and Long-eared over winter in the county and with short day light hours Barn Owls tend to be easier to see, this is also the best time to see Tawny Owls on their favoured winter roost sites.
In March a visit to the inland breckland area is essential, Stone Curlews tend to arrive mid month, Goshawks display throughout the month, Hawfinches are very conspicuous, Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers are in full display and other good birds like Woodlark, Firecrest, Crossbill are active. The end of the month sees the beginning of spring migration, with Swallows, Martins, Chiffchaffs and Willow warblers the first to arrive in the south of the county.
Spring is about migration and breeding, birds arrive in Norfolk to breed or stopover on their journeys north. April is one of the best months to be in the county, its not difficult to see over 100 species in a day. Birds return from Africa to breed in the county, including Warblers, Terns, Cuckoos, Turtle Doves & Nightjars. Wading birds pass through heading north to Scotland, Scandinavia or the far Arctic to breed, some species also stop to breed in Norfolk. April and May are also great months to catch up with scarce migrants and vagrants from the near continent and much further afield, 2009 saw the arrival of both Collared and Black-winged Pratincoles, the year before a Black Lark turned up in late April all the way from Kazakhstan.
June, especially the first week can still be very good for scarcities including Marsh Warbler, Common Rosefinch & Bee-eater. Even the odd mega rarity, in 2008 a Trumpeter finch stayed on Blakeney point for 4 days and Citril Finch in Burnham Overy Dunes in 2015.
July and August is a good time to look at birds of prey including rare breeders, such as Honey Buzzard and perhaps Savi’s Warbler, or even Bee-eater as in 2022! Other interest is usually provided by wading birds, return passage begins early and scarcities and the odd rarity are normally discovered amongst the flocks.
Moving in to Autumn, September is a great time for migration, with birds heading south en mass from their breeding grounds in Scandinavia and further north. If the ‘right’ weather conditions prevail large falls can occur. In 2008 large numbers of Redstarts, Pied Flycatchers and Wheatears were seen along with scarcer birds such as Red Backed Shrikes, and Wrynecks. Seabirds and Shorebirds can be seen in large numbers along with the odd rarity. As the month wears on Yellow-browed warblers arrive on easterly winds and the Geese return to Norfolk to over winter. Migration carries on all through October and into early November where just about anything can turn up, ranging from Hoopoes from the near continent to far flung vagrants like Pallas’s Warbler all the way from Eastern Asia. From mid to late November a chill in the air usually signals the return of winter.