North Norfolk is an amazing place for wildlife and particularly birds.I am gradually working my way through the  RSPB visitor site book but the local areas around these sites offer so much more. Some great walks,isolated beaches and vistas can be found around these coastal areas which include Snettisham,Hunstanton,Thornham,Wells,Blakeney and Cley.

The views above are of Titchwell and Snettisham.

The best time to arrive at Snettisham is just before high tide ; we arrived at least 2 hours before. There is a car park fee to pay but if you are a RSPB member you just have to display your card; there are no toilets and no refreshments.

Cuckoos can be heard when you arrive ( if you’re lucky) and I managed to see one  amongst the leaves and branches of a tree which was swaying in the wind.

The walk to the beach takes you through a small woodland area with a lake and holiday homes to the right. At the end of the path you climb up the steps of the bank which give you spectacular views on either side.

Views from the bank

The beach is a magnificent site and you can see Lincolnshire across the Wash with its wind turbines and trees silhouetted  in the background.

On the beach can be seen many species of birds

Oyster Catchers,Ringed Plover,Spoon Bill,Common Tern, Black headed and HerringGull.

On the other side of the path are two hides from which you can observe the lakes inland, hedgerows separating  the lakes from the sea. Linnets dart in and out of the bushes. Avocets are breeding along with the gulls. Cormorants roost .The noise is loud as the birds compete for space. As I watched , three common terns screeched above my head and a lonely redshank, an egret, and a common sandpiper picked their way around the Islands.

Snettisham is well worth a visit .

We stayed at the Lifeboat Inn Thornham and the Abbott Ale was superb.