Norfolk Tours

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 different habitats. Unique areas like the Norfolk Broads and the Brecks boast their own highly specialised fauna and flora and the county boasts some of the most famous and popular nature reserves in the country, including Titchwell Marsh RSPB and Cley Marshes NWT.

You can go birding here on any day of the year and always see something of interest. Winter is a one of the best times – our summer breeding birds have long departed for warmer climes but are replaced by birds moving south to shelter from cold weather in Scandinavia and further north. Large numbers of wildfowl arrive, including approximately one third of the world’s Pink-footed Geese, as well as raptors, owls and specialised winter passerines like Shorelarks and Snow Buntings.

In February and March, a visit to the inland Breckland area and Thetford Forest is essential. Goshawks display above the trees, Hawfinches and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers can be more conspicuous before the leaves appear, other localised forest birds like Woodlark and Firecrest can be seen, Stone Curlews tend to arrive mid-March, and species like Crossbill and Great Grey Shrike are possibilities in some years.

Spring is about migration, with birds arriving in Norfolk to nest or stopover on their journeys north. April is one of the best months to be in the county – it’s not difficult to see over 100 species in a day. Birds return from Africa to breed, including warblers, terns, Cuckoos, Turtle Doves & Nightjars. Wading birds pass through heading north and May into early June is also a great time to catch up with scarce migrants from the near continent or further afield.

In Summer, Norfolk boasts some notable rare breeding birds like Bitterns, Cranes, Spoonbills, Stone Curlews, Woodlarks and Dartford Warblers, as well as more widespread wetland specialists like Marsh Harriers and Avocets. Nightjars can be heard churring on the heaths on warm summer evenings and our native Swallowtail butterflies can only be seen in the Norfolk Broads.

From as early as mid-June, the first Arctic waders already start to return south and by August and September, large numbers of waders have gathered here to feed and moult. This is the best time of year to witness the Wader Spectaculars up on the Wash, where huge swirling flocks of Knot and other species are pushed in ahead of the highest tides.

Moving on to Autumn, September is a great time for migration, with birds heading south en masse from their breeding grounds in Scandinavia and further north. Anything can turn up and if the ‘right’ weather conditions prevail significant falls of migrants can occur. Migration carries on all through October and into early November, and 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.

We offer a complete range of tours right the way through the year to showcase the best Norfolk has to offer across the changing seasons.