WINTERTON is something of a Mecca for birdwatchers. The dunes are home to many species and the village is on the migration route.

But the unexpected arrival of a European Bee-eater this month brought birders flocking, eager to catch a glimpse.

They were up with the larks and heading to the dunes in the hope of spotting the colourful little visitor. Although common in southern Europe, the bird is rarely seen in our part of the world.

According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds there have been more sightings of them in recent years and they are now breeding in the UK. The belief is that they are coming north as a result of climate change.

But even if you don’t manage to spot a European Bee-eater, there are plenty of other beautiful birds to be seen, from Goldcrests and Redwings, to Bramblings, Reed Buntings and shrikes.

In summer the dunes are filled with the twittering sound of Skylarks while the beach becomes home to an internationally important colony of Little Terns who nest there.

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