PEAK DISTRICT, YORKSHIRE COAST & NORFOLK in SPRING

SUN 4 JUNE – SUN 11 JUNE 2023

SUN 2 JUNE – SUN 9 JUNE 2024

PRICES: from £1995pp

Single supplement: £195 Deposit: £300pp. Max group size 7. Leader Dave Pearce.

This exciting two-centre holiday is designed to cover a broad cross-section of upland and lowland bird species including spring migrants and breeding birds from several different habitats including moorland, woodland, heathland, wetland and coast. It is especially useful as an introduction to birding for beginners, or for those seeking speciality species.

We begin in South Yorkshire in the Dark Peak region of the Peak District, an area typified by extensive open areas of upland heather moorland, with steep-sided ‘cloughs’ or small valleys incised into the hills, often containing relict oak and birch woodland. Below the moorland edge, coniferous plantations, broad-leaved woodlands and water-supply reservoirs with fast flowing streams in the valleys add to the upland landscape and scenery. We visit a range of sites and look for key species which breed in this upland area, including Red Grouse, Golden Plover, Short-eared Owl, Merlin, Whinchat and Ring Ouzel on the moorland, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart, Wood Warbler and Crossbill in the woodland and adjacent habitats, Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper on the reservoir margins and we venture out for an evening visit to the moorland edge for Nightjar and Woodcock. From our base in the Peak District we take a day trip to the Yorkshire coast and the breeding seabird colonies at RSPB Bempton Cliffs where we will see a range of species including Puffin, Gannet, Kittiwake, Razorbill, Guillemot, Fulmar and Shag, most at close range from the cliff tops. We also have a leisurely walk around the nearby headland at Flamborough seeking migrants in the hedgerows and scrub and look out for Corn Bunting and Red Kite whilst driving across the Yorkshire Wolds on our journey to and from the coast. For the next part of the tour we travel south-east to Norfolk and our second base near King’s Lynn in West Norfolk. On the way we break our journey in south Lincolnshire to visit Frampton Marsh RSPB on the western margin of The Wash, one of the broadest estuaries in the UK. Here we spend time looking for migrant waders which may include Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint or perhaps a rarity, plus other migrants such as Little Gull and Black Tern and late winter visitors such as Brent Goose. Our hotel is well positioned for access to birding sites in Breckland where we look for Stone Curlew and Woodlark, in particular at Weeting Heath NWT, and a range of birds in the wetland fen habitat at RSPB Lakenheath reserve, including Crane, Bittern, Garganey, Bearded Tit, Cetti’s Warbler and several species of summer migrant warbler. We are also well placed for visiting Titchwell RSPB and Cley Marshes NWT, two of Britain’s premier birding sites on the North Norfolk coast. Our day birding on the Norfolk coast should give us many potential highlights, such as Dartford Warbler and Woodlark on the coastal heathland and a wide range of wetland and marshland birds including Bittern, Spoonbill, several wildfowl and wader species, gulls, terns, raptors and passerines.

A rewarding tour of the breeding birdlife of eastern and northern England! Number of centres: 2.

FRI 9 JUNE – FRI 16 JUNE 2023

FRI 14 JUNE – FRI 21 JUNE 2024

PRICES: from £1995pp

Single supplement: £335 Deposit: £300pp Max 7 clients. Leader Barry Embling.

South Wales is a lesser-known birding holiday destination just waiting to be explored! A region with much to offer, a strong diversity of habitats, easy access and remarkably varied landscape - and of course a great many birds. We begin in the east near the Welsh Borders in Monmouthshire before relocating to Pembrokeshire in the far south west. Both centres are ideally located to enjoy their respective birds and wildlife, with much to see in between too on a planned day exploring the Gower peninsula.

In Monmouthshire we visit extensive ancient woodlands, coastal wetlands, the uplands so typical of Wales and the nearby Black Mountains, which lie on the fringes of the Brecon Beacons National Park. From our centrally located accommodation, we look for moorland species such as Red Grouse and Wheatear and explore the unique ‘fridd’, a mixed scrubby and open bracken hillside habitat, where Cuckoo, Whinchat and Meadow Pipit may be found. Specialist woodland birds will be searched for, including Woodcock, Nightjar, Redstart, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and Firecrest. Along the coastal strip we visit the Severn-side RSPB reserve of Newport Wetlands, with its scarce breeding birds such as Bittern, Avocet, and Bearded Tit.

On our transfer day we visit Gower on our way to Pembrokeshire. The Gower peninsula is a quite beautiful and distinctive landscape with special local birds such as Chough and Dartford Warbler. The many nature reserves will be looking at their best, with wild flowers showing well at this time of the year.

Scenic Pembrokeshire is always an exciting place to visit, especially as it is such a long way from anywhere. Most well-known for its famous seabird colonies on the offshore islands, we plan to visit three of these - Skomer, Grassholm and Ramsey. We plan to land on Skomer and Ramsey, exploring these magical places on foot, both of which are famed for their Puffin and Manx Shearwater numbers. Our visit may coincide with the beautiful haze of blue and pink as the Bluebells and Red Campion are in flower, providing a colourful backdrop to the sheer cliffs which are often packed with thousands of Guillemot, Razorbill and Kittiwake. While not landing, by taking a boat around Grassholm the glistening white of over 39,000 pairs of Gannet will be quite the spectacle – a certain highlight among our seabird experiences! Time will also be spent exploring the mainland wildlife hotspots, visiting lakes, beautiful coastal bays and estuaries, with stops at favoured nature reserves and, if time allows, notable historic sites. Number of centres: 2.

For a full Wales experience this holiday can run back to back with our North Wales in Summer holiday (p51)!