Great Britain

Great Britain

Great Britain

"Birding Hot Spots"

June 18-25, 2005

Long-tailed Tit

This week-long tour of the Norfolk and Midlands regions provides an exciting way to experience some of Great Britain’s best birding hot spots, including Snettisham, Titchwell Marsh, and Minsmere RSPB Reserves, as well as Thetford Forest in East Anglia, and the Queen’s own Sandringham House. We’ll see around 100 species, including a good selection of waterfowl, shorebirds, and landbirds.

Cost, from London, approximately $1,395.00 per person based on double occupancy. This package includes one week of birding (8 days) Sat-Sat, all meals and lodging, airport transfers (Gatwick, or Heathrow Airport), and local birding guides.

Itinerary

Day 1: After collection by mini-bus from the airport, and followed by a two-hour drive to the Sunningdale in Hunstanton, we’ll plan to arrive in time to take a walk along the sea edge before dinner. Birds we hope to see include Northern Fulmar, Common Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, Rock Pipit, and Sandwich Tern.

Day 2: We’ll spend the morning birding nearby at Snettisham RSPB Reserve, where large numbers of Common Terns and Black-headed Gulls nest. In the afternoon we’ll visit the Titchwell Marsh RSPB Reserve, situated on the beautiful north Norfolk coast, where a walk from the visitor center will take us down to the sandy beach past reedbeds and shallow lagoons. This day will give us opportunities for gentle walks to look for Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Little Stint, Marsh Harrier, Avocet, Black Winged Stilt, Ruff, Pintail, Red Knot, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Marsh Tit, European Goldfinch, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Bearded Tit, Little Egret, Grasshopper Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, and Linnet.

Day 3: We’ll get an early start on a one-hour drive to the magnificent Thetford Forest in East Anglia, which consists of a patchwork of pines, heathland and broadleaves providing the ideal setting for a refreshing and enjoyable day out. Here we’ll make four different stops to look for a variety of birds, including Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Eurasian Hobby, Eurasian Coot, Common Teal, Golden Oriole, Stone-curlew, Woodlark, Green Woodpecker, Common Buzzard, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Mute Swan, and Eurasian Sparrowhawk. After dinner we’ll visit a nearby site for the European Nightjar, Eurasian Woodcock, Tree Pipit, and possibly Northern Goshawk (mosquito nets are a great help here).

Day 4: This will be a full day trip to Suffolk, with several stops on the way, to visit the RSPB Reserve at Minsmere. Set on the beautiful Suffolk coast, Minsmere offers birdwatchers many nature trails through a variety of habitats. Here we’ll look for Pied Avocet, Marsh Harrier, Sand Martin, the rare Dartford Warbler, Eurasian Curlew, Savi's Warbler, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting, Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl, Common Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Heron, and much more. We may even hear a booming Bittern! If time permits we will call at a special raptor site for a possible view of Honey Buzzard.

Day 5: This morning we plan on a guided tour around the only house owned by the Queen, Sandringham House. On the grounds we should see Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Jay, Rook, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Nuthatch, and lots of history. Reluctantly, we’ll depart at noon for a special trip to a military site on the wash for a very rare visitor, Montague's Harrier. When we leave here we will have said goodbye to our Norfolk Guides and the Sunningdale Hotel, and head for the midlands of England and our hotel at Stamford. This is a two-hour drive and the countryside changes to rolling hills.

Day 6: Today will be spent driving to and walking at woodland and large lake sites for Red Kite, Common Crossbill, Osprey, Great Cormorant, Garganey, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Little Owl, Tufted Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Shelduck, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Common Cuckoo, European Robin, Wood Pigeon, Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Sandpiper, Eurasian Siskin, Common Redpoll, and Eurasian Tree Sparrow.

Day 7: We’ll spend all day visiting the premier reserve in the midlands, Rutland Water Nature Reserve, with three lagoons and nine miles of shore and open water. Young Ospreys have been translocated to Rutland Water as part of a reintroduction program, and in 2003 there were two successful nests. Many bird species can be found here and we’ll hope to add Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, Common Whitethroat, and Lesser Whitethroat to our trip lists.

Day 8: Today we’ll bid a sad farewell to our guides, and depart for the three-hour drive to the airport. We’ll leave with many unforgettable memories of the UK and it's BIRD'S, and its great countryside and people.

Many more species of bird will be seen on our journey, and who knows what surprises the new season might bring!

All content Copyright © 2002 Mark Suomala. All rights reserved. Revised: July 10, 2006 .

Pictures provided by Burbage Birders with contributions from Surfbirds.com and used by permission.

Mark Suomala
P.O. Box 625
Epsom, NH 03234
(603)798-3441