DATE: Saturday 3rd October 2026

TIME: 07:30am – 10:30am

NO BOOKING REQUIRED BUT …. Booking is by no means essential, so if it takes your fancy on the day, please just turn up as we would love to see you. However, it would really help us with our resource management to ascertain minimum numbers for each site so we know that each site leader has at least a couple of folk to help them with the spotting and recording as it isn’t a job that can be done as effectively alone. Also, in 2022 we had to cancel a site at the last minute due to leader illness and we were able to let those who had notified us that were coming know so they didn’t have a wasted journey and could re-direct to another site. Please let us know in advance if you know you are definitely coming via nenbc@aol.co.uk. Thank you!

Saturday 17 October 2026

Leader: Janice Darch

This walk has become a favourite autumn jaunt which will take us through the Somerton Estate and will return through Winterton North Dunes. The hedges of the estate are good for Brambling, finch and tit flocks, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, overhead Marsh Harriers are common and we have been lucky enough to see Common Cranes overhead on past walks. The dune coast can be very good for migrants and species such as Bluethroat, Wryneck, Red-backed Shrike and Barred Warbler are possibilities! Short-eared Owls can sometimes give stunning views in the dunes. Shore birds such as Dunlin and Sandling are usually on the shoreline which is easily accessible through a gap in the dunes and offshore scoter flocks are often seen. Grey Seal may already have started their breeding season on the beach. If there are any interesting birds on the South Dunes we will extend the walk to include them if people wish. Binoculars are essential to gain full enjoyment from the walk and if you want the added bonus of using a scope, please do bring your own along.

Start time:  09:00
End time: 13:00

Where to meet
Meet in the car park at Somerton Road Playing Fields.

Location
Park at Somerton Road Playing Fields, Winterton-on-Sea NR29 4AW. This is a free car park on the left-hand side as you enter the village.

Postcode
NR29 4AW (nearest)

OS map reference
TG 489 194

X Easting, Y Northing
648939, 319405

What 3 Words
ratty.relies.suppose

Walking distance
Around 5 miles

Accessibility
The walk is on easy tracks and sandy surfaces in the dunes. Largely level but there are some gentle slopes and uneven surfaces. Stout footwear is recommended as paths may be slippery or muddy particularly after rain.

No dogs please, except assistance dogs.

Facilities
Refreshment stops are not a formal part of this walk, although the ‘Dunes Café’ is located nearby at the beach. There are also public toilets at the Winterton on Sea beach car park but please note that this is not the car park where we are meeting. Both the café and toilets should be open in October, although this can’t be guaranteed.

DATE: Wednesday 21st October 2026

TIME: 9.00am to 11:00am
WALK LEADER: Trevor Williams
DISTANCE: Approximately 2-mile+ circular walk
ACCESSIBILITY: Could be anywhere on the estate dependent on what has been reported and likely to include grassy / muddy footpaths.

WALK B: A shorter walk for those who don't want to walk as far or as fast!
TIME: 9.30am to 11.00am
WALK LEADER: Nick Kimber
DISTANCE: No more than 1-mile circular walk
ACCESSIBILITY: We keep this walk slow and we will often just stroll down to the lake and back. There are a couple of benches en route. Paths may be uneven and could be wet underfoot.

For those who like a sit-down afterwards, many of us meet up for coffee and a chat post-walk in the café - all welcome!

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NO BOOKING REQUIRED: It is always nice to know if you are coming via nenbc@aol.co.uk but by no means essential so if it takes your fancy on the day, please just turn up as we would love to see you!

MEETING POINT: National Trust Main Car Park, Felbrigg Park [Postcode: NR11 8PP will get you to the main entrance | what3words: denoting.reminds.bags for the car park | Grid Reference: TG197394 for the car park]

PARKING AND SITE INFORMATION: Although access to the grounds is free to all and parking is free in the main car park for National Trust [NT] members with their machine-validated membership card, a parking fee is payable via the machines for non-NT members (£5 per vehicle). At time of writing, Sexton’s Lodge car park at the western end of the estate however remains free to all users and you can walk up from there along the internal estate road to our start point (about 10 mins). Do check out the NT website nearer the time though in case of any changes to their arrangements, including the free car parking at the Lodge. For further information see Felbrigg Hall.

ACCESSIBILITY: The walks are usually ‘off-road’ along dirt footpaths and tracks, across fields, through woods and can include a few stairs by the lake. As such, these events aren’t suitable for wheelchair users but please do contact us on nenbc@aol.co.uk to see which of our events can currently accommodate wheelchair users or could be adapted to do so or if you have any suggestions for walks that would be more suitable for the less mobile and we will aim to get something arranged.

FACILITIES: Toilets and café facilities available at Felbrigg Hall.

STAR STATUS: This walk is within the NENBC recording area so any bird species you see or hear can all count towards your personal NENBC Star Badges (Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum awards based on the number of species you have personally seen or heard in the club area and recorded on our website since becoming a member).

GOING GREEN!: If you are able to walk or cycle to the start point from home, that would be fantastic, and as the walk is within the NENBC recording area, all the birds you see or hear can contribute to your personal NENBC Eco-badges (Green or Super-Green)! The Weavers’ Way and many other public footpaths bisect the park, as does the regional cycle route formerly named route 30. Bicycle racks are also available in the main car park. The Park itself, Felbrigg village and Aylmerton are also served by public transport, but buses are not frequent and unfortunately may not fit with walk timings. Bus Timetable - Sanders. Alternatively, car-sharing is encouraged. Do have a chat with folks at any of our events and contact them via the messaging facility available on the member page of our website to arrange something for next time.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: Binoculars are always recommended to gain full enjoyment from your birding. We don’t specifically carry a scope on the walk unless one of our regulars brings theirs as it generally isn’t necessary but if you’d like to use one, please bring one along. Stout footwear is advised as paths may be slippery or muddy any time of year, particularly after rain. Young people aged 16 and 17 are welcome to attend unaccompanied with prior written consent from a parent or guardian who has also supplied a phone number where they can be contacted in an emergency but children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Sorry no dogs except guide dogs. 

DATE: Thursday 29th October 2026

 

TIME: 7.30pm to 9.30pm

 

JOIN IN: Gresham Village Hall and via Zoom

A BIT ABOUT THE SPEAKERS AND THEIR TALK: "We visited the Danube Delta in the summer before the war in Ukraine started. The border between Romania and Ukraine is just to the North, which makes it hard to visit at present so perhaps not so many people will be aware of the range of birds and wildlife in the area. Being summer there were large tern colonies, pelicans, bee-eaters and rollers amongst many others, all of which we photographed from boats or hides. We would like to share our pictures and experiences with you all. For anyone who does not know us, we are both birdwatchers and photographers, who belong to the U3A birdwatching group, Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the RSPB as well as NENBC. As keen photographers our talks include many photographs of the birds and their behaviour rather than lots of technical information and graphs."

AT THE HALL: Those of you attending in-person at the hall can expect a selection of home-made cakes plus tea, coffee, hot chocolate, wine and cold drinks during the interval and of course the chance to socialise with other members. We can cater for gluten-free or other requirements if you let us know in advance. We have a 2nd hand ‘natural world’ book stall for you to purchase from / contribute your no-longer-required stock to, supplies of our publications to buy (including our annual bird reports), a display of member photos and details on our upcoming events. We are happy to offer members’ old birding equipment for sale at our events (or in our newsletter) with a contribution going to club funds.

 

BOOKING ARRANGEMENTS: It is always nice to know if you are coming to the hall but by no means essential so if it takes your fancy on the evening, please just turn up as we would love to see you and we have plenty of space!

 

ACCESSIBILITY: The hall is wheelchair accessible. The level car park at the hall is shingle but we can reserve a space next to the entrance if you need it. 

 

GOING GREEN!: The hall isn’t really accessible by public transport but if you are able to walk or cycle to the event that would be fantastic! Alternatively, car-sharing is encouraged. Have a chat with folks at any of our events or message them through our website to arrange something for next time, or let us know and we will try to put you in touch.

 

DIRECTIONS: Gresham Village Hall, East Beckham Road off Church Lane, Gresham, Norfolk, NR11 8RT but note the published postcode might not take you to exactly the right spot! If you are coming through Aylmerton and Lower Gresham, turn right by the church (just after the school) and the hall is on your left. If you are coming through Gresham, turn left at the church (just before the school) and the hall is on your left. If you are dropping down from East Beckham, the hall is on your right opposite the church.

 

PARKING: Access to the hall car park is off East Beckham Road, opposite the church. There is additional parking on the road along the side of the church itself and an overflow car park has kindly been offered to us by Gresham Village School. The school car park is located on Cromer Road to the left of the school as you face it and at the left-hand end of the row of houses – about a 300m walk from the hall. Please park considerately to allow maximum number of cars in the car parks and on the road but with enough space for passing traffic to be able to get through, including agricultural vehicles. We can send you a map of the locality on request. 

 

FOR ANY QUERIES: Contact Carol on nenbc@aol.co.uk