Our county’s wonderful stretches of wide, open beaches are, understandably, a great draw in summer for both visitors and locals. North Norfolk’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designation is not only for its delightful views, but the incredible wildlife too. However, the popularity of our beaches, including those classified as nature reserves, places increasing pressure on them. 

Three species of Norfolk beach-nesting birds, the ringed plover, oystercatcher and little tern are at risk from increased disturbance, and their vulnerability has led to a gradual decline in their populations. Hundreds of years ago, when our coastal beaches were vast lonely places, they were a sensible and safe place to nest. The modern world means that these birds now face numerous challenges when attempting to raise a family. General human disturbance can prevent them settling, and accidental damage, by an unsuspecting foot on their well-camouflaged eggs, is sadly a likely possibility. 

Dog ownership continues to grow in the UK, and off-the-lead dogs on our beaches, which nesting birds find particularly threatening, is an increasing and significant problem. This never-ending encroachment means that our beach nesters become squeezed into ever-decreasing areas, and this can result in higher occurrences of natural predation. Rising sea levels and more frequent summer storms also prove an issue.

However, help is on hand and, with the cooperation of all beach users, these beautiful seashore birds can be saved and hopefully helped to recover. Around the coast of Norfolk, conservation organisations, including the National Trust, RSPB and Norfolk Wildlife Trust, collaborate to help protect these precious, but highly vulnerable birds. At NWT Holme Dunes nature reserve, staff and volunteers ‘rope off’ three areas to protect shore-nesting birds. One of the most obvious and vocal is the little tern. Arriving with us in April, after a winter spent on the west coast of Africa, the little tern is a dainty bird, often referred to as a sea-swallow. And like the more familiar blue-bird, it has a long, forked tail and swept-back wings. It is pure white, with powder-grey wings and a black crown. Unlike any other UK tern, it sports a bright yellow bill. Norfolk is an important county for nesting little tern, with almost half of the UK population (roughly 700 pairs) attempting to nest in scattered colonies around our coast. During the spring and summer nesting season, NWT has a team of volunteers patrolling Holme Dunes beach. Along with recording bird behaviour and nesting activity, the volunteer wardens help the public to understand the problems these birds face.

As well as little tern, the Holme beach volunteers keep a watchful eye on oystercatchers and ringed plovers too. The oystercatcher or ‘sea-pie’, as it was once known, is the most conspicuous wader on the beach. It has bold black and white plumage, carrot-coloured bill and pink legs. Gary Hibberd, NWT Holme Dunes Reserve Warden, has a few pointers on recognising oystercatcher and ringed plover behaviour when they are disturbed at the nest or with chicks. ‘The oystercatcher is a noisy bird during the summer, especially when incubating eggs and rearing its young — an indicator that you may be too close to a nest or chicks. The ringed plover is a smaller, compact bird, it has a white belly and light brown wings, a black breast band, black and white face, with a brown crown. ‘‘

The ringed plover has probably suffered the most due to seaside recreation. Gary stated that its behaviour is very different to the oystercatcher. ‘It will hurriedly leave the nest, with a worried ‘puew’ call, hoping to draw you away. When they have young, both adults will be ‘panic-stricken’, often adopting the ‘broken wing’ behaviour, a sure sign they have young nearby. Ringed plover chicks feed themselves, and it is during this period that they are most vulnerable. At Holme Dunes they often choose to forage on the upper strandline or around the muddy pool away from the cordons.'

Help us protect beach-nesting birds at the coast this summer

1. Keep away from fenced-off breeding areas.

2. Follow signage and guidance from beach wardens to minimise disturbance.

3. Keep dogs on leads in areas where you are asked to and responsibly dispose of dog mess.

4. Be mindful in all areas of the beach and stay clear of breeding birds and their fledglings.