2016 brochure 1

Transcription

2016 brochure 1

2016
Welcome to our 2016 brochure. We hope that you enjoy reading it, and perhaps find the trip that you are looking
for. We try to balance our destinations between long-haul and short-haul, and our departures between London and
regional airports. All our tours are suitable for life-long birders and first-timers alike, with the emphasis on enjoying
what we see, rather than trying to notch up as big a list as possible. For the third year in a row the strong pound
has allowed us to freeze many of our prices and keep to an minimum any increases.
Last year we introduced our new departure guarantee. We are so confident that our trips will run that we
will continue to offer this guarantee. If we are forced to cancel a trip due to lack of bookings, in addition to
returning your deposit we will give you a cheque for £50, or if you prefer, a discount of 5% (maximum £250)
on any future tour. We think we are the first and only company to offer this guarantee. During the last few
years, almost everyone who booked with us travelled on their tour of choice. For those who did not, we made every
effort to accommodate them on another tour. In practice, what we found is that far more people were disappointed
because a trip was already full before they tried to book. We urge you to book as soon as possible.
Our intention is to provide you with as much information as possible within these pages. We have purposefully
avoided using lots of glossy images and instead use the space to inform. Every trip has an in-depth write-up, giving
you a flavour of what you can expect from the tour. We try our hardest to make the write-up as fair as possible – it
is never our intention to make unrealistic claims. We also give you an idea about the physical demands of each
tour. Anyone who is in reasonably good health will find that the tours are suitable for them, although no two trips
are the same. We give a clear breakdown of the hotels we are using, as well as the airlines. Very importantly, we
spell out exactly what is included in the price, and what is not, so that there are no nasty surprises after you have
booked.
Having said all that, there is still much more we could tell you, and that is where our website comes in. Illustrated
with many beautiful photographs, the website is easy to navigate and gives you a real flavour of the stunning birds,
animals and landscapes that you can expect to come across. Space is almost unlimited, and so we are able to
write more about the trips, and also quote clients’ testimonials at the start of each destination write-up.
Of course, we understand that not everyone has access to the world wide web, and for this reason we are still very
easy to contact using more traditional methods. So, if you are unsure about the suitability of a trip, please don’t
hesitate to give us a call. We try to make sure the office is manned every week day and if the person in the office
does not have first hand experience of a particular trip, we will get someone to call you who does. We even
redecorated the office last year, so the experience of calling in for a chat is much more pleasant.
Over the years we have been privileged to lead tours for hundreds of customers, from all parts of the UK and
beyond. It is impossible to thank them all by name, even those whose trips are well into double figures. However, in
th
2015, two of our customers, John and Gill Dale, celebrated their 50 trip with Bird Holidays. As I write, they will
st
soon be packing for their 51 trip, and are already planning more beyond that. Pam Richards travelled with us on
our very first trip, to Mallorca, back in 1991, and has travelled with us at least once every year since.
Although we are obviously a business, our relationship with our customers and with our local guides is so much
more. There are many people who have become personal friends and the Birdfair, in particular, is a great way of
catching up year after year. A lovely aspect of our business is that we see long term friendships develop between
people who meet for the first time on a tour. People who share a common interest and join a trip as strangers, but
leave as life long friends.
Thank you to everyone who has travelled with us over the last 24 years. On behalf of Andy, Phil, Roger, John and
myself, we look forward to seeing you soon.
PAUL J. WILLOUGHBY,
BIRD HOLIDAYS, LEEDS, JULY 2015
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2016 DESTINATIONS AT A GLANCE
page
destination
dates
principal departure airport
(others are available)
EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
10
Oman
th
th
London Heathrow
th
th
London Gatwick
th
th
Leeds/Bradford and Manchester
25 Jan. to 7 Feb.
20
Georgia
27 April to 6 May
22
Coto Donana and Alentejo
30 April to 7 May
24
26
28
30
32
34
40
44
SW Turkey
Latvia
Greece
Finland
Estonia
Madeira
Spain – wolves, bears, cats
Estonia in autumn
nd
th
Manchester
rd
th
London Gatwick
2 to 12 May
3 to 10 May
th
rd
16 to 23 May
th
th
th
th
London Gatwick and Manchester
5 to 12 June
London Heathrow
6 to 13 June
th
London Gatwick
th
13 to 20 June
th
th
28 August to 4 September
th
th
17 to 24 September
Leeds/Bradford and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester
THE AMERICAS
th
th
th
th
12
Trinidad and Tobago
5 to 17 February
14
Panama
4 to 19 March
50
52
th
th
Falkland Islands and Ascension 13 to 26 November
Cuba
th
th
24 Nov. to 6 Dec.
London Gatwick
16 airports throughout the UK
RAF Brize Norton
REST OF THE WORLD
8
16
18
36
38
42
46
48
54
56
Ethiopia
Bhutan
Okavango and Victoria Falls
th
th
Heathrow and Manchester
st
th
London Heathrow
rd
th
9 to 26 January
1 to 19 April
3 to 16 April
th
London Heathrow
th
Bali, Java, Flores and Komodo 16 to 30 July
Mongolia
Madagascar
Malawi and Zambia
South Africa
Ghana
Taiwan
th
th
24 Aug. to 8 Sept.
th
th
10 to 26 September
th
th
th
th
8 to 27 October
5 to 18 November
London Heathrow and others
London Heathrow
London Heathrow
London Heathrow
th
th
th
th
London Heathrow
26 Nov. to 9 Dec.
27 Nov. to 9 Dec.
AND INTO 2017….
58
60
62
64
66
68
70
Myanmar
South India Safari
Yucatan
Northern India (Tiger trip)
NE Ecuador
Sri Lanka
Uganda
th
rd
10 to 23 January 2017
rd
th
23 Jan. to 7 Feb. 2017
st
th
th
rd
1 to 16 February 2017
th
th
th
st
14 Feb. to 1 March 2017
th
th
25 March to 8 April 2017
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London Heathrow and others
London Gatwick and Manchester
London Heathrow
London Heathrow
Enquiries
Our office is usually manned during normal office hours (10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday). Here we are happy to
answer any general questions about the holidays, such as flight timings and availability, as well as specific
questions about itineraries and birds. You can also request a copy of a previous trip report. Our details are:
Bird Holidays
10, Ivegate
Yeadon
Leeds
LS19 7RE
Phone: (0113) 3910 510
e-mail: info@birdholidays.co.uk
www.birdholidays.co.uk
Clients are encouraged to call in and see us, and the office is easy to find. However, we strongly recommend that
you telephone before making a journey as there may be times when none of us are there.
How to Book Your Holiday
All bookings should be sent to Bird Holidays at the above address using the booking form provided at the end of
this brochure. Booking forms can also be downloaded from our website. The amount of deposit required is given at
the end of each holiday write-up. Please make cheques payable to Bird Holidays Limited. We are pleased to
accept major credit cards and debit cards for payment of the deposit and final payment. However, in the case of
final payments made by credit card, we must reluctantly pass on to you the 2% charge levied by the banks.
We are always happy to accept provisional bookings. That is, you express an interest in a trip and we ‘pencil you
in’, with no financial obligation on your behalf. We will try to contact you when a trip becomes almost full. However if
you are unavailable (perhaps you are away on holiday), there is a chance that we may not have an option but to
give the last places to someone else. The only way to guarantee a place is to send your booking form and
deposit.
There is a discounted price for bookings received more than fifteen weeks prior to departure. In order that we can
secure the flights you want, we urge you to book as early as possible. We continue to welcome late bookings, but
the higher price reflects the airlines’ practice of raising seat prices as the planes become nearly full. Occasionally,
we can extend the discount date if we can secure the seats at the original price, so it’s always worth asking.
On receipt of your booking form we will send you a confirmation of booking, an ATOL certificate and a daily bird
log. We will also advise you of passport and visa requirements. Exact details of the flights are not always available
when the brochure goes to press and will be sent to you nearer to the date of departure.
It is important that you arrange travel insurance for your holiday. Financial Services Authority rules no longer allow
travel staff to sell insurance, without undertaking time-consuming and costly exams. If you wish to take out Holiday
Extras insurance please call 0800 093 1900 and quote AD205. Alternatively, please make some other
arrangements and let us know the name and policy number of your insurance.
On receipt of your final payment ten weeks prior to departure, we will send you detailed fact sheets with information
relating to joining the group. It includes hotel names, addresses and telephone numbers. It will also include
important information about the itinerary, health, money, weather, clothing, footwear, optical equipment and useful
bird books.
Following each holiday we will send you a full report of the birds seen, based on the log which is completed during
the tour. On some trips, we are able to put together a photographic CD, which we send out as a reminder of the
best moments.
All holidays in this brochure are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL
number is 5546. From the moment you book your holiday to the time you arrive back in the UK,
you can be assured of total financial protection. Such licensing is obligatory and provides you
with financial security and peace of mind.
Our ATOL licence is your guarantee that if we go out of business the Civil Aviation Authority
will provide the funds to enable you to complete your holiday and fly home, or, if you have not
begun your holiday, provide you with a full refund.
Please note than an increasing number of small operators offering cheap birdwatching
packages do not provide ATOL cover. If no ATOL is in place you may lose your money and be
stranded abroad. Companies based abroad do not provide ATOL protection.
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FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT BIRD HOLIDAYS
THE TOUR LEADERS
Our main assets are our five professional bird-tour guides. Paul Willoughby, Andy Woodall, Roger Barnes, Phil
Palmer and John McLoughlin will, between them, lead all of our holidays. By keeping the total number of principal
leaders to just five, we are able to maintain a ‘house style’ - relaxed but professional; experienced in birding and
tour management, but most importantly, ensuring the holiday is a fun experience for all. Our regular clients know
that the style of holidays will be quite similar, irrespective of who is guiding them. It should also be mentioned that
your leader will always be in the same hotel as you and will be there to cope with any little emergencies, 24 hours a
day.
All our tours have been thoroughly researched, not only for bird sites but also to find the most suitable hotels. This
is normally done by a Bird Holidays leader, but on rare occasions by our local guide. Most of our tours have been
tried, tested and perfected over a number of years.
We also have full public liability insurance for all our tour leaders.
The Bird Holidays leaders in front of our office in Yeadon. Left to right, Phil, Andy, John, Roger and Paul.
COST
Whilst our prices are competitive in comparison to other bird tour companies, at first glance you may consider them
to be more expensive than a conventional package holiday. However, the prices we quote are fully inclusive, with
no hidden extras. There are absolutely no extra charges for participating in all the holiday activities. Furthermore,
our programmes are so full, there just isn't the time or inclination to spend much money.
When comparing our prices to those of a self-organised trip, you must remember to add on the cost of midday
snacks, drinks, evening meals, car hire, petrol, road tolls, boat trips, local guides, drivers, bird information, maps,
reserve entrance fees, airport taxes, etc. We believe that you will find the difference is not as much as you first
thought and will be justified by the high standard of service that we provide. Of course, self-organised trips are not
protected by ATOL either.
FLIGHTS
Although specific airlines have been named in this brochure, we reserve the right to use alternative ones due to
schedule or fare changes. Flight times are correct at the time of going to press, but are subject to change when
airlines publish new schedules. In most cases, the leader will accompany you from the moment you meet up in the
UK airport to the moment you get back. However, there are occasions when the leader will travel to the destination
in advance, and occasions when he will remain in the country at the end of the tour. In such circumstances, clients
will not be accompanied through the airports. If being accompanied through the airport is a major
consideration for you, please call us to check the position on your chosen tour before you book.
EX-FLIGHT PRICES
We are happy to give you a price for ground arrangements only (without the international airfare) on any of our
holidays. Please contact our office.
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HOTELS
We realise that a good hotel is just as important as good birdwatching. The best birdwatching in the world can be
spoilt by run-down hotels, inedible food or noisy music in the middle of the night. That is why we carefully select
every hotel, not only to be close to the best birdwatching sites, but also to maintain the high standard that our
regular customers have come to expect. If a lack of choice forces us to use a hotel of a lower standard then this is
made clear in the brochure. Given the choice we use locally owned hotels to increase the benefit of eco-tourism to
local communities.
If you are travelling alone you may wish to consider the benefits and reduced cost of sharing a twin-bedded room.
Clients who are happy to share should leave blank the box headed 'Tick if single supplement required'. If you book
more than three months prior to departure and we are unable to match you to a room-mate, you get the
single room without paying the supplement. If you book less than three months prior to departure and no one
else wishes to share, then you will have to pay the single supplement.
EXTENDING YOUR STAY
We recognise that many of you will want to extend your holiday, or fly out early, for some independent travel. It is
possible to do this on any of our tours. Please call us to discuss your requirements. We make no additional charge
for arranging this, unless there is an increase in air fare that we will have to pass on to you. You must, however, let
us know at the time of booking, because once we have booked the flights it may be impossible to change them.
TRANSPORT
We usually use mini-buses or small coaches to travel around. Again, quality is the watchword. To ensure maximum
safety and flexibility, we try to use local drivers we know and trust, or the tour leader does the driving.
GROUP SIZE
We have given a specific maximum group size to each tour, which you can find at the end of the tour write-ups.
Tours which involve a lot of forest birding will have a smaller maximum than tours to see colonies of penguins. In
practice, group sizes are often smaller; our average group size for the last two years was about nine clients per
tour. On rare occasions we may exceed the maximum group size by one person in cases where there is only one
place left on the holiday and a couple wish to book. We only do this after giving careful consideration to vehicle size
and if the nature of the birding allows.
TIPPING
We ask you not to tip the Bird Holidays’ leader. Where a local guide or driver has been particularly helpful we may
organise a collection, but donations are never obligatory. Your leader will give you some guidance on amount if you
wish. Tipping of hotel staff and porters is completely at your discretion, and again, your leader will be able to
suggest an appropriate amount. Where tipping is expected in restaurants, your leader will pay this. On cruise ships,
the level of tipping is rather high, driven by the American tipping culture. However, on the ships we use, tipping is
anonymous and completely at your discretion.
OUR SMOKING POLICY
We operate a no smoking policy in the vehicle, in confined spaces (hides, etc), at meal times, close to other group
members in the field, and in shared accommodation. None of our principal leaders smoke. We always reserve nonsmoking rooms when possible.
PLAYBACK
The playing of bird sound recordings to facilitate a sighting is a contentious issue, and one to which some people
are strongly opposed. Others are grateful for the opportunity to glimpse species that are otherwise near impossible
to see. If used responsibly, we believe that playback is no different to the normal day to day interaction between
birds on neighbouring territories. We believe this is preferable to a group of birdwatchers lingering for an extended
time in a bird’s territory, dashing backwards and forwards with each glimpse. All our leaders use playback, but use
it sensibly, sparingly and with full regard to the birds’ welfare. In the interest of the birds’ welfare and of other
group members, we insist that clients do not use playback in the field.
PHOTOGRAPHY
We encourage you to take your camera, to capture those once in a lifetime moments. If you want advice about
which of our tours are most suitable for photography, please get in touch. Our leaders are experienced in getting
good views for the group, and this leads to many photographic opportunities. However, the principal objective of
our tours is watching, so you should be sensitive to other group members. For example, you should check that
everyone has finished watching a bird before you take a few steps closer. Please do not hold up the group too
often, and if you do, it should only be for a moment. ‘Borrowing’ the leaders telescope to do a little digiscoping is
okay if it is only occasional and does not prevent others from looking through it when they want.
Our leaders have little time to take photographs themselves. They will only take photographs after completing their
duties as a leader (i.e. after doing everything to ensure everybody has seen the subject as well as possible). We
will happily send a copy of any image taken to the people who were on that trip.
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THE HOLIDAYS THEMSELVES
The key to a successful holiday is a carefully planned itinerary giving the right balance between time in the field,
time spent travelling, free time and sightseeing. Furthermore, we believe that holidays are about having a good
time in friendly company, and in a relaxed atmosphere. A lot of satisfaction can be had from pushing oneself to the
limit of one’s physical ability. However, that is not what our holidays are about. Some companies take their clients
'twitching' from dawn till dusk and simply ignore all non-bird 'distractions'. Others believe that the most important
factor in deciding where to birdwatch is the provision of a coffee shop and having rolled up at 10am they stop for
elevenses. There is, of course, a wide range in-between these extremes and it is always important before booking
a holiday that you know exactly how it will be run.
We believe that we have got the balance of our holidays just right, listening to the comments and suggestions of
our clients. The emphasis throughout the holidays is on birds (not ignoring other wildlife), but when the opportunity
presents itself the leader will accompany you to a local place of interest. The key to it all is flexibility and our
leaders have great experience in judging what each group wants. Pre-breakfast birdwatching is normally low key
and optional. However, we usually take breakfast quite early so that everyone is out in the field whilst the birds are
still at their peak of activity. Packed lunches or picnics are generally the order of the day as they have the
advantage of convenience and flexibility, and can be enjoyed outside in beautiful scenery. Whenever possible, we
will plan toilet stops at visitors’ centres, service stations etc. However, this isn’t always possible, so you should be
prepared to use Mother Nature’s facilities on some occasions!
No two destinations are exactly the same with regard to the amount of effort required to join in all of the excursions.
For this reason we have given each holiday a paragraph or two explaining the pace to be expected. This can be
found at the end of each holiday description. The pace of the birdwatching also varies from site to site within the
same trip. Whenever possible we will walk through an area, but, especially around large wetlands, this is not
always practical. In this case much of the day will be spent in and out of the vehicle, but this type of watching is
kept to a minimum. Most of the holiday is spent walking through good areas at a sensible pace. Birdwatchers, by
their nature, are usually quite fit, and after a full day in the field the feeling is usually of pleasant tiredness. Anyone
with basic fitness, capable of taking regular short to medium walks, including some gentle uphills, whatever their
age, is perfectly capable of joining in most of the activities on any of our holidays. If a steeper walk is required to
see a particular bird, this is clearly explained. Of course, it doesn't matter whether you are an expert birder or a
complete beginner. We are happy to cater for all abilities on all our holidays.
A day's birdwatching will normally finish about one hour before the evening meal to give you time to relax and
change. Dinner times vary depending on local custom but average around 7.30pm. On some trips when there is a
chance of owls or nightjars, we will bring this forward an hour or so, and have a special trip out afterwards. These
evening trips can be very special indeed!
We differentiate clearly in the brochure between those trips that can be described as tours (where there are regular
hotel moves) and those that are single or twin centre. In all cases, we plan our itineraries to avoid unnecessary
hotel moves. For those people who do not want to 'live out of a suitcase' we try to find destinations where a one or
two centre holiday will provide a sufficiently wide range of habitats to ensure a rewarding experience. By joining us
you can be sure of seeing lots of birds in a variety of habitats, at a pace that allows sufficient time to appreciate and
enjoy what you are looking at.
Of course, if you wish to do something besides birdwatching there is absolutely no obligation to join the group on
every excursion.
Now that you know everything there is to know about us please read through our selection of exciting holidays. We
look forward to seeing you soon!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Most of the work in producing this brochure is done ‘in house’; the destination write-ups; the design and layout; the
photographs; the maps; and the artwork. We do not buy-in photographs from libraries. If this means that at times
our brochure is less flashy than it might be then we apologise. However, we are sure you understand that outside
help costs money and in the end it is you who would pay, by way of inflated holiday prices.
Nevertheless, we must thank all those people who have contributed. Thanks to the various local guides who have
helped with the destination write-ups. Thanks to the friends and family who have helped with proof-reading.
Particular thanks should also go to the small band of clients who help us pack brochures into envelopes every year.
6
CARBON BALANCED BIRDING
Travelling to see the world’s wildlife is thrilling and
has many positive spin-offs: contributing to local
economies in developing countries; supporting local
reserves and conservation groups; employing local
guides; and making new discoveries. Our industry is
a positive force except for one drawback which, back
in 2005, we decided to face head on.
altitudinal migration. In June 2005, the local council
adopted the puffleg as the ‘Emblem of Quito’.
In addition to the puffleg, the new reserve will
become home to such diverse birds as Rufous
Antpitta,
Barred
Fruiteater,
Sword-billed
Hummingbird, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-tanager and
the wonderfully named Superciliaried Hemispingus.
Many species of mammals have been recorded in
the area including Puma and Spectacled Bear.
The biggest problem inherent in travelling to
international biodiversity hotspots is our contribution
to global warming due to carbon dioxide emissions
from air travel. It occurred to us that, in working our
hardest to show people the wonders of the natural
world, we were adding to its destruction. It was clear
that, as a company, we had an obligation to address
our carbon footprint.
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
The World Land Trust used protocols laid down in the
Kyoto agreement to work out how much land would
be needed to fully offset our emissions. In fact, they
built in an extra 25% to take account of possible
variations and unknowns associated with the project.
For an ecotourism business which relies on air travel,
the best way to compensate is to plant trees, and lots
of them.
Bird Holidays have paid for the land and the
reforestation costs as well as the management costs
to 2025. We did not look to others to raise funds and
we have not increased our holiday prices to clawback the cash. The money came from the pockets of
our principal tour guides, Roger Barnes, Phil Palmer,
Andy Woodall, John McLoughlin and Paul
Willoughby.
In early 2006, we created a nature reserve in
Ecuador, by planting over 20,000 native trees on
deforested land that was used as cow pasture.
FLYING WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE
In calculating the area required, we took into account
flights taken by our leaders and our clients. We used
optimistic figures for client numbers so that both new
and existing clients can fly with us in the knowledge
that they are part of the solution, not part of the
problem.
It is possible to visit the reserve at the end of our
Ecuador tour, although you would need to stay an
extra night in Quito. On recent visits we have seen
Black-chested Buzzard-eagle, Great Sapphirewing,
Shining Sunbeam, Blue-backed Conebill, Blackchested Mountain-tanager and Red-crested Cotinga.
RESERVA BIRD HOLIDAYS
As the project progresses, trails will be established
on the new reserve and anyone will be able to visit it,
with a small entrance fee payable to the Fundacion
Jocotoco.
Bird Holidays funded the purchase of 65 acres of
land adjacent to the existing Yanacocha reserve near
Quito, Ecuador. Working with the local community,
the Fundacion Jocotoco owns and manages the new
reserve, and has planted more than 20,000 trees. A
mixture of native tree species has been used to
create an area of cloud forest which will become
home to a fantastic diversity of flora and fauna.
Seedlings were collected from the existing reserve
and grown in an on-site nursery until they were ready
to be planted.
Reserva Bird Holidays is a totally new reserve,
adjacent to an existing reserve of international
importance. It has created new indigenous forest
on degraded pasture land. It has been done to
remove the ‘carbon footprint’ on the environment
created by Bird Holidays and their customers
through air travel. It is also helping maintain
biodiversity, in particular by the protection of the
Black-breasted Puffleg and all the many species
that share its cloud forest habitat.
Fundacion Jocotoco works closely with the local
community and the new reserve is a wonderful
resource for education. Being close to Quito,
Yanacocha receives hundreds of visitors each year,
many in search of its rare birds.
KEY SPECIES IN CONSERVATION
Yanacocha is the only place in the world where the
Black-breasted Puffleg can be found. This beautiful
hummingbird inhabits stunted forest on ridge crests
and moves to lower elevations after breeding. The
new reserve will create vital additional habitat for this
critically endangered bird, particularly because of its
7
ETHIOPIA
birds and mammals in Ethiopia’s highlands
Ethiopia is unique among African
Kori Bustard and Beisa Oryx
countries in that it is the only one never
to be colonised. The physical barriers
that helped protect it also isolated the wildlife, resulting in a level of endemism unparalleled in mainland Africa.
There are over fifty endemic or near-endemic birds and many more local races. The Ethiopian Wolf is, of course,
the most famous mammal here and we have excellent chances of seeing it.
We will visit at the height of the dry season. Just as temperatures are dropping to their coldest in Europe, Ethiopia
is enjoying glorious sunshine with very little chance of rain, whilst the altitude keeps temperatures at a comfortable
level. At this time many northern migrants join the resident birds of Ethiopia. Lakes and rivers become magnets for
birds and other wildlife.
If your image of Ethiopia is of a dry, barren country with poor accommodation, think again. We will visit dry areas
but we will also visit many wetlands and lakes, lush montane woodlands and high mountains. Hotels and lodges
have improved beyond recognition in recent years.
We begin in the Awash National Park which is savannah and scrubland with a very impressive gorge. Next we visit
the lush northern section of the Ethiopian Rift Valley and sample some of its lakes and woodlands. From here we
will travel to the Bale Mountains for Ethiopian Wolf and many endemic birds. We then head over the Sanetti
Plateau and into the rich Harrena Forest coming out into the deserts and grasslands of southern Ethiopia. We
return through the Rift Valley, passing coffee plantations and woodland, to Lake Awassa and then on to Addis
Ababa. We also have a full day north of Addis looking for Gelada Baboons and more endemics.
include Black-winged Lovebird, Rosy-patched Shrike and
Martial Eagle. On the second evening we plan to visit a cave
where dozens of Spotted Hyenas may emerge before
dispersing across the park.
ITINERARY
SOUTHERN AWASH NATIONAL PARK
After our daytime flight we arrive in the evening and spend
our first night at a hotel close to the airport. Driving out of
Addis we will stop at a large wetland where we should find
Lesser Flamingos, Common Cranes, White Pelicans and
Marabou Storks. We will stay at the recently opened Awash
Falls Lodge which is within the park. We will drive across the
plains looking for Kori and Arabian Bustards. Buff-crested
Bustard may be seen doing their spectacular rocketing
display flight. Antelope here include the beautiful Beisa Oryx
which is restricted to the Horn of Africa. Other large animals
include Soemmering’s Gazelle, Salt’s Dik-dik, Olive Baboon,
Warthog, Vervet Monkey and Nile Crocodile. One of the
spectacular birds here is the Secretarybird. Other species
THE RIFT VALLEY LAKES
After two nights at Awash we drive south to the lakes of the
Great Rift Valley. Birds may include Bruce’s Green Pigeon,
Senegal Thick-knee, Black-crowned Crane, African Pygmy
Goose, and African and Lesser Jacanas. After several birding
stops we will arrive at Bishangari Lodge, Lake Langano. This
is an excellent lodge and we spend two nights here, birding
the grounds and surrounding area. Narina Trogon, Yellowfronted Parrot, Tambourine Dove, Abyssinian Ground-thrush
and Sharp’s Starling are just a few of the birds to be seen.
8
AWASSA AND BEYOND
We then cross the mountainous coffee-growing area and
descend into the lower Rift Valley, arriving in Awassa in the
afternoon. We will birdwatch in a local park, looking for
waterbirds such as White-backed Duck, African Pygmy
Goose and Hottentot Teal. The next day we will birdwatch
around Lake Awassa and also spend time in the hotel
grounds, which are excellent for birds. On day 16 we drive
back to the capital where we will stay overnight. We then
have a full day birding the area north of Addis. We will drive
through the plains up to the Jemma Gorge where we will look
for Gelada Baboons, Ruppell’s Black Chat, Lammergeier,
Spot-breasted Lapwing and many more species. We then
drive back to Addis for our late evening flight back to the UK.
On day six we visit Abiata-Shalla Reserve which is great for
raptors and we should get some new antelope species too,
such as Grant’s Gazelle. It is also a good site for Abyssinian
Wheatear. We then spend two nights at Simbo Beach Hotel
which is also on the shores of Lake Langano and has
excellent extensive, bird rich grounds.
THE BALE MOUNTAINS
On day eight we will drive from the Rift Valley into the Bale
Mountains. On the way we will be looking out for the endemic
Spot-breasted Lapwing, Abyssinian Longclaw and Erlanger’s
Lark. At some small crags we have a good chance of seeing
Cape Eagle-owl. We will drive to Goba which makes an
excellent base for our three night stay. On the first full day we
visit the Sanetti Plateau. As we ascend the plateau slopes we
should find Abyssinian Woodpecker, White-cheeked Turaco
and the Bale Parisoma. The Ethiopian Wolf tends to emerge
once the day has warmed up. The plateau is dramatic with a
unique flora including Giant Lobelias. Small pools provide a
home for Blue-winged Goose and Wattled Ibis. Rouget’s Rail
can often be seen by the road. We will also look out for
Moorland Francolin and Verreaux’s, Tawny and Golden
Eagles.
CLIMATE AND PACE
We can expect warm or hot weather every day, with very little
chance of rain. In the mountains it is cold first thing in the
morning. Breakfast will usually be around 7am. Basic fitness
is all that is required. Full days will be spent in the field and
short walks will be undertaken regularly. There is some uphill
walking but at a sensible pace.
ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD
On the second full day in the Bale Mountains we head to
Dinsho Lodge, the park headquarters. The woodland around
the lodge is home to the endemic Mountain Nyala, a beautiful
antelope. Bohor Reedbuck, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Klipspringer
and Salt’s Dik-dik are also regularly seen. This is probably the
best place to see Abyssinian Catbird, White-backed Tit and
Brown Woodland Warbler. The park guide may well know the
location of roosting Abyssinian and African Wood Owls.
Full board accommodation is provided with one night at the
Tazeze Hotel, Addis Ababa, two nights at Awash Falls Lodge,
two nights at Bishangari Lodge, two nights at Simbo Beach,
Lake Langano, three nights at Goba Wabe Shebelle Hotel,
two nights at Turaco Hotel, Negelle, two nights at Borana
Lodge, Yabello, one night at the United Africa Hotel, Awassa,
and the last night back at the Tazeze Hotel, Addis Ababa
(where we also have use of day rooms before our flight on
the last day). Hotels are of a good standard although Awash
Falls is simple and rather rustic. All rooms have en-suite
facilities. Lunch will usually be at a restaurant, but may be a
picnic. We will also have a couple of breakfasts in the field.
HARRENA FOREST AND NEGELLE
After three nights at Goba we cross the plateau to reach the
Harrena Forest where there is some excellent birding. As the
forest opens up we will see an attractive landscape of scrub
and isolated fig trees which is the prime habitat of one of
Ethiopia’s most sought after birds, the very attractive Prince
Ruspoli’s Turaco. It has a tiny world range and is, of course,
another Ethiopian endemic.
PRICE INCLUDES …..
All birdwatching excursions with expert leader and local guide
th
th
(starting with breakfast on 10 , ending with dinner on 25 ),
soft drinks at meal times, bottled water throughout, local
transport by mini coach and Nissan Patrol 4x4’s, reserve
entrance fees, park fees and international flights.
Driving on, we reach the hot southern plains. We are well off
the tourist route here but a new hotel in Negelle provides
clean, comfortable accommodation. A full day in the Negelle
area will be spent looking for specialists of this dry habitat. A
target bird is the Sidamo Lark, one of the most threatened
birds in Africa. It is confined to the Liben Plain where its
habitat is suffering from over-grazing and other agricultural
pressures. In the early morning it sings as it hovers just a few
metres above the ground. The rest of the time it is more likely
to remain firmly on the ground, scuttling mouse-like from one
tussock to the next.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Travel insurance. Cost of a tourist visa (US$50). Personal
items, alcoholic drinks, laundry.
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
Return flights from both Manchester and London Heathrow to
Addis Ababa (via Frankfurt) using the scheduled services of
Lufthansa. Outbound flight departs early morning; return flight
arrives back mid-morning.
THE SOUTH AND YABELLO
We drive through camel country as we continue on our circuit
round south-east Ethiopia. The highly localised White-tailed
Swallow can be found here along with many other interesting
species. We then head north looking for Vulturine Guineafowl
and Streseman’s Bush-crow. The bush-crow is quite common
within its range. A few kilometres before Yabello town we
arrive at Borana Lodge for a two night stay. This is another
new lodge and the accommodation is in very well appointed
chalets. The extensive grounds hold a large number of
species including Streseman’s Bush-crow, nesting Tawny
Eagle, Bearded and Nubian Woodpeckers, African Scops
Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Crested Francolin and Orangebellied Parrot. Various doves and small birds such as the
Purple Grenadier can be seen around the restaurant.
9
17 nights including
one overnight flight:
Principal leader:
Andrew Woodall
Local guide:
Negussie Toye
Maximum group size:
10 clients with one leader
and a local guide
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Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
26 September 2015):
£3730 per person sharing
(£280 single supplement)
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£600 per person
OMAN
where birds from Asia, Arabia and Africa meet
Oman is a peaceful, friendly country
with strong connections to the UK,
virtually no crime, and bird diversity
second to none in the Middle East.
Crowned and Spotted Sandgrouse
At this time of year, when the weather is just perfect, there is a very high density of wintering raptors. Greater
Spotted, Steppe and even Eastern Imperial Eagles are plentiful and give excellent views. Now rare and local, the
negevensis race of the huge Lappet-faced Vulture is regular at a couple of sites. Along the north coast magnificent
Great Black-headed Gulls are in full breeding plumage. Alongside them stand resident Sooty Gulls and wintering,
Steppe, Caspian and Slender-billed Gulls. Crested and Lesser Crested Terns gather together in large roosts. A
boat trip should give us close views of dolphins and Red-necked Phalaropes. We have permission to visit a large
private farm where migrants can be seen in their hundreds. Irrigated grasslands host flocks of waders and small
birds which, in turn, attract raptors including Pallid and Montagu’s Harriers.
Our excursion to the deserts of central Oman is to witness flocks of sandgrouse, as well as to search the oases for
other specialities such as the Hypocolius. The southern region is influenced by the Indian Monsoon, resulting in
flora and fauna unique in Arabia. The birds here have both African and Arabian influences, with Bruce’s Green
Pigeon, African Rock Bunting and African Paradise Flycatcher alongside South Arabian Wheatear and, with luck,
Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak. The localised Yemen Serin has become a regular sighting in the south.
Oman is a safe, welcoming country, if anything somewhat old-fashioned in terms of good manners and public
behaviour. We always look forward to returning, and this will be our eleventh visit.
ITINERARY
One morning we will visit the old port of Muscat, with its Sooty
and Slender-billed Gulls, Crested Terns and Western Reef
Herons. From here we will take an inshore boat trip on the
sheltered waters, where Steppe Gulls and Red-necked
Phalaropes congregate around pods of feeding dolphins.
Common, Bottlenose and Spinner Dolphins are the most
numerous. On one visit we watched 400 Common Dolphins
attacking sardines in massive shoals known as bait balls.
MUSCAT
Our base in Muscat will be the Majan Hotel, which is situated
near to the splendid Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. From
here we have easy access to the best sites along the
northern coast and the mountains inland of the capital.
The verdant parks and gardens of Muscat provide a good
place to start the tour and catch up with the commoner
species of the area. Grey Francolin, Laughing Dove, Little
Green Bee-eater, Pallid Swift, Isabelline Shrike, Purple
Sunbird, African Rock Martin, and White-eared, Spectacled
and Red-vented Bulbuls all occur. The Indian influence is felt
by the presence of Indian Roller, Common Myna and Indian
Silverbill.
THE DESERT AND QIT-BIT OASIS
Oman is isolated from the rest of Arabia by a vast desert
named the Empty Quarter. This desert encroaches into the
middle of the country thereby dividing it up, roughly, into three
zones: the Indian influenced north; the central desert and the
African influenced south.
10
We will take a short flight south to Salalah then drive deep
into the desert to the Qit-bit oasis, for a two night stay. The
next morning we will position ourselves at a nearby desert
spring to witness the arrival of hundreds of sandgrouse.
Spotted and the handsome Crowned Sandgrouse fly many
miles every day for this life-saving drink. The gentle yet farcarrying calls of these hardy birds are a memorable sound in
this spectacular landscape.
below them Desert Lesser Whitethroats and Menetries’s
Warblers chatter in alarm. This is a regular wintering site for
the sought after Red-tailed or Persian Wheatear.
Nearby cultivated farms hold flocks of larks and wagtails
including Bimaculated and Crested Larks, White, Yellow and
Citrine Wagtails. Scarcer pipits may include Buff-bellied,
Blyth’s or Richards Pipits as well as the commoner Redthroated. Wet areas hold less common wintering species
such as White-tailed Plover and Bluethroat. Large
congregations of Laughing and Collared Doves attract
hunting raptors. We have regular sightings of Pallid and
Montagu’s Harriers as well as Steppe, Greater Spotted and
Eastern Imperial Eagles.
The trees and pools around our guesthouse attract Desert
Wheatears, Eastern Black Redstarts, and Ménétries’s and
Asian Desert Warblers, while Hoopoe Larks often display at
this time. The list of migrant birds and rarities here is
amazing. Even the Grey Hypocolius has wintered recently;
we have seen them on our last three visits.
CLIMATE AND PACE
Our drive back to the southern coastal region takes us
through a mountain pass that is excellent for South Arabian
Wheatear, Arabian Partridge and Long-billed Pipit. Our first
groups of Tristram’s Grackles should be seen in the
frankincense trees that grow here and once provided Oman
with its biggest trading resource.
Warm, sunny days are the norm, and by visiting at this time of
year we avoid the very hot summer temperatures. Rain is rare
at this time. The average maximum daytime temperature is
around 25˚C. On some days breakfast will be taken at 8am,
allowing time for productive pre-breakfast walks in hotel
grounds. On other days breakfast will be at 7am so that we
can get into the field earlier. Basic fitness is all that is
required. Short walks will be taken on level ground at a
sensible pace. Full days will be spent in the field, but on
hotter days there will be a longer break in the middle of the
day.
SALALAH
In the quiet seaside town of Salalah we will settle into the
fabulous Salalah Hilton for a luxurious four night stay on the
coast, with Ruppell’s Weavers, Graceful Prinias and Shining
Sunbirds in the gardens. Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins
feed just offshore. Sightings of Ospreys are frequent, and
Socotra Cormorants pass by. Brown Booby and sometimes
the scarce Masked Booby can also be seen.
Full board accommodation is provided, with two nights at the
Majan Hotel in Muscat, two nights at the Qit-bit Hotel, five
nights at the Hilton Salalah Resort and three nights at the
Millennium Resort, Mussanah. All hotels are of good or
excellent standard, with good food, except at Qit-bit, which is
simple but clean. All rooms are en suite. Picnic lunches will
be the norm, although we will occasionally have lunch in
restaurants.
This region has a monsoon season, so the vegetation is quite
different. Acacia and Baobab trees are found, giving the area
a real African feel. African Silverbill replaces its Indian sisterspecies. Fan-tailed Raven is the common corvid, Verreaux’s
Eagle is resident and the striking African Rock Bunting is
easily seen. Wooded valleys are home to Palestine Sunbird,
African Paradise Flycatcher, Arabian Warbler, White-breasted
White-eye and Black-crowned Tchagra. Fruiting fig trees are
worth checking for the handsome Bruce’s Green Pigeon. The
coastal lagoons have a good range of wintering waterbirds
including Ferruginous Duck, Intermediate Egret and
Pheasant-tailed Jacana.
All birdwatching excursions with expert leader, full-board
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accommodation (starting with lunch on 26 , ending with
th
breakfast on 7 ), soft drinks at meal times, bottled water
throughout, local transport by mini-coach, internal flights and
international flights.
There are a couple of large farms here too, where we will look
for Sociable Plover, Bimaculated Lark and Pallid Harrier, and
various other migrants. A small breeding population of the
localised Yemen Serin has been found at a dramatic site in
the hills, where Bonelli’s Eagles and Striolated Buntings nest.
Travel insurance. Cost of obtaining a visa on arrival (£35),
items of a personal nature, alcoholic drinks, laundry.
Return flight from London Heathrow to Muscat using the
scheduled services of Oman Air. Outbound flight departs in
mid-evening; return arrives back early evening. Flights are
also available from Manchester with Etihad Airways which fly
to Muscat via Abu Dhabi.
The sun-drenched, southern coastal wetlands are a magnet
for a multitude of terns, waders, raptors and passerines, and
are set against a backdrop of the splendid Dhofar Mountains.
We regularly see several hundred Steppe Eagles here along
with smaller numbers of Greater Spotted and Eastern
Imperial Eagles and Crested Honey Buzzards.
BATINAH COAST
Flying back to Muscat, we will spend our final three nights on
the north coast. We will visit the Ras Sawadi peninsula where
the extensive beach is the winter home of Greater and Lesser
Sand Plovers. Sometimes we can pick out the distinctive
Terek Sandpiper amongst the more familiar species. Both
Crested and Lesser Crested Terns rest up on the sand
dwarfed by the ‘king of gulls’ the stunning Great Blackheaded Gull.
Inland the scrub woodland harbours an interesting mix of
resident and wintering species. The sociable Arabian Babbler
lives here in small family groups amongst the low vegetation.
Southern Grey Shrikes sit sentinel on the acacia trees, whilst
11
13 nights including
25 January to 7 Feb. 2016
Principal leader:
John McLoughlin
Maximum group size:
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
12 October 2015):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£600 per person
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TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
relaxed birdwatching in a tropical idyll
Situated just off the coast of Venezuela,
Magnificent Frigatebird and Red-billed Tropicbird
the twin-island country of Trinidad and
Tobago offers much more than just
idyllic tropical island scenery, excellent weather, good food and a friendly welcome. In the forests we will look for a
diverse selection of South American birds: hummingbirds, trogons, woodcreepers, tanagers and honeycreepers. In
the savannah grasslands we shall watch various kites, caracaras, nightjars and lapwings. Wetlands support an
abundance of birdlife from resident terns, skimmers, herons, gallinules and ibis to migrant waders from North
America. Finally, there are islands where we can see a selection of tropical seabirds such as frigatebirds,
tropicbirds, terns and boobies.
We shall spend seven nights on Trinidad, based at the famous Asa Wright Nature Centre, surrounded by tropical
forests. Here we shall see hummingbirds from the veranda as well as visiting a Scarlet Ibis roost and the most
accessible Oilbird colony in the world.
On day eight we shall fly to Tobago, the smaller of the two islands, measuring just 32 miles by 8 miles. If vibrant
Trinidad is South American in character, then Tobago by contrast has a Caribbean flavour. The local inhabitants
are very laid back and the birdwatching is appropriately relaxed. We shall spend our first three nights on the northeast coast at the Blue Waters Inn, in the fishing village of Speyside. We will see exciting seabirds and other
species which do not occur on Trinidad. Our last night will be at Crown Point at the western end of the island,
where we will visit nearby wetlands before our flight home.
ITINERARY
Along with the hummingbirds, many other forest species are
attracted to the bird-feeders by the veranda. Whilst sipping
delicious home grown coffee before breakfast we will be
treated to a natural festival of colour. Bananaquits, Great
Kiskadees, Green Honeycreepers, Purple Honeycreepers,
Blue-grey Tanagers, Silver-beaked Tanagers, White-lined
Tanagers, Barred Antshrikes, Yellow Orioles and Crested
Oropendolas all emerge from the forest and can be watched
at close range in large numbers. We will visit the display
grounds (or leks) of both White-bearded and Golden-headed
Manakins. A special effort will be made to find the unusual
Bearded Bellbird.
TRINIDAD
On Trinidad much of our birdwatching will be done at and
around our base, the Asa Wright Nature Centre. Situated on
a valley side at 1200 feet, the centre is surrounded by mature
rainforest and overgrown coffee and cocoa plantations. The
first birds to greet us will be the hummingbirds which come to
feeders on the centre's veranda. These include Copperrumped Hummingbird, White-chested Emerald and Whitenecked Jacobin. Nearby flowering plants attract other
hummers including Blue-chinned Sapphire, Green Hermit,
Little Hermit, Rufous-breasted Hermit and the delightful
Tufted Coquette. The latter is one of the smallest birds in the
world and yet it sports an elaborate plumage, making it one of
the most sought-after birds on the island. However, the star
bird at Asa Wright is the Oilbird, a nocturnal species which
roosts in caves. We should get good views of them near the
entrance to the cave during the day.
On the east coast about an hour's drive from our base is
Nariva Swamp. This extensive area of mangroves, fringed by
woodland, is a very productive place for birdwatching. Here
we have our best chance of seeing Pinnated Bittern, Black-
12
bellied Whistling Duck, Long-winged Harrier, Yellow-headed
Caracara, Azure Gallinule and Green Kingfisher.
After three nights at Speyside we will transfer to the Kariwak
Village Hotel near Crown Point for our last night. This
beautiful hotel has lovely gardens and superb food.
A great spectacle awaits us during an evening visit to Caroni.
A boat will take us into this mangrove swamp and we will be
greeted by the sight of hundreds of Scarlet Ibis flying to roost.
Their flaming plumage will be enhanced by the evening
sunlight, leaving a dazzling image in our minds. On previous
visits our boatman has regularly found a nocturnal Common
Potoo roosting on a broken stump during the day.
Being near the airport, Kariwak Village is a convenient place
to spend the last day. It is also just a short drive from
Tobago’s best wetland sites. Anhingas give great views,
along with Least Grebe, White-cheeked Pintail and Blackbellied Whistling Duck. Masked Duck, Sora Rail, Mangrove
Cuckoo and Prothonotary Warbler were amongst the
highlights of our last visit.
Just south of the Asa Wright Centre is an extensive area of
dry savannah where we can expect a completely different
range of birds. These may include Red-bellied Macaw,
Savannah Hawk, Ruby-topaz, Striped Cuckoo, Smooth-billed
Ani, Moriche Oriole and Yellow-rumped Cacique. An evening
visit should yield the Common Pauraque, a South American
nightjar, shouting out its name to proclaim its territory. There’s
also a chance of Common Potoo and White-tailed Nightjar.
CLIMATE AND PACE
We are visiting at the best time of year, when the temperature
is relatively cool and there is a low chance of rain. However, it
will get hot in the middle of the day, when we often take a
break. Breakfast will be taken at about 7.30am most
mornings. This will give us plenty of time to enjoy the 'birdsand-coffee' experience at the Asa Wright Centre as well as
take short pre-breakfast walks on the trails. On several days
breakfast may be taken earlier, to take advantage of the
cooler early mornings. Basic fitness is all that is required.
There will be some uphill walking on both islands, but this will
be at a sensible pace.
After seven days of birdwatching on Trinidad we will take the
short flight to Tobago, for the remainder of our holiday.
TOBAGO
Our birdwatching on Tobago will be very relaxed. There are
fewer species but a number of them do not occur on Trinidad.
Most importantly there are impressive colonies of tropical
seabirds found on islands off the north-eastern coast.
Full-board accommodation is provided, with seven nights at
the Asa Wright Centre (on Trinidad), three nights at the Blue
Waters Inn and one night at the Kariwak Village Hotel (both
on Tobago). All offer good quality accommodation with en
suite facilities and excellent food. During the day we will
sometimes take a picnic and other times eat at the hotel.
As on Trinidad, there is exciting birdwatching on our
doorstep. Blue Waters Inn, situated on the north-east coast,
is our base for the next three nights and is home to a host of
bird species. These include Grey Kingbird, Green Heron,
Broad-winged Hawk, Rufous-vented Chachalaca, Whitetipped Dove, Short-tailed Swift, Red-crowned Woodpecker,
Brown-crested Flycatcher and Caribbean Martin.
All birdwatching excursions with expert leader and local
th
guides, full-board accommodation (starting with dinner on 5 ,
th
ending with lunch on 16 ), soft drinks at meal times, bottled
water throughout, local transport by mini-bus, three boat trips,
reserve entrance fees, internal flight from Trinidad to Tobago
and international flights.
During our visit here we will take two boat trips. The first will
be to Little Tobago, an island off the north-east coast. Our
boat will leave Speyside and during the one mile crossing we
will be treated to views of numerous birds including
Magnificent Frigatebird. We will stay within a sheltered bay
where the sea is normally calm. Seabird colonies on the
eastern side of the island are home to large numbers of
Brown Boobies. Less numerous is the Red-footed Booby
which will nevertheless be seen regularly. The most delightful
seabird on Little Tobago is the Red-billed Tropicbird and
small numbers will be seen nesting. We may be fortunate in
seeing an Audubon’s Shearwater in its burrow, as well as
Short-tailed Swift and Caribbean Martin. Weather permitting,
we will also take a boat trip around St Giles Island, the next
island to the north. Here seabird numbers are truly
spectacular and should include hundreds of boobies,
noddies, tropicbirds and frigatebirds.
Travel insurance. Personal items, alcoholic drinks, laundry.
Flight from London Gatwick to Trinidad, returning from
Tobago, using the scheduled services of Caribbean Airlines.
Outbound flight departs late morning, return arrives back midmorning. Domestic flights from Manchester and other UK
airports are available on this tour. See booking form for
details.
We will visit the Central Forest Reserve, stronghold of the
White-tailed Sabrewing, a rare hummingbird. There is also
the chance of seeing Collared Trogon, Venezuelan
Flycatcher, Yellow-legged Thrush, Stripe-breasted Spinetail,
Olivaceous Woodcreeper, White-necked Thrush, Bluebacked Manakin and the dazzling Red-legged Honeycreeper.
Butterflies are particularly spectacular here, none more so
than the huge Blue Morpho. A nearby wetland site holds a
good range of species, including Northern Jacana and
American Purple Gallinule. Herons are represented by
Tricoloured, Green, Little Blue, Great White Egret, Snowy
Egret and Yellow-crowned Night-heron.
13
12 nights including
Principal leader:
Andrew Woodall
Local guides:
Kenny Calderon (Trinidad)
and Newton George (Tobago)
Maximum group size:
12 clients with one leader and
a local guide
th
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Cost with discount
(if you book before
rd
23 October 2015):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£600 per person
PANAMA
Central American birding made easy
Easy access to some of the best birdwatching on
the planet draws many people to this small Central
American country. Just outside the capital, the
Radisson Summit Resort is close to the lowland
rainforest of Soberania National Park and the
famous Pipeline Road. A couple of hours west, we
will search for foothill species in the vicinity of the
beautiful town of El Valle de Anton. A little further
west is the town of Santiago, from where we will visit
lowland wetlands as well as the Santa Fe highlands.
Further west still we will find ourselves close to the
border with Costa Rica. Here, the slopes of Volcan
Baru are home to abundant birdlife including the
amazing Resplendent Quetzal.
Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher
All accommodation is of a high standard, food is excellent and tap water is safe to drink. In addition to the abundant
birdlife (we can expect more than 400 species), there are many mammals that can be seen, all with the help of our
local guide. We will visit in the driest month, which also coincides with the start of the spring raptor migration.
We will arrive at Panama City on the evening of day one and transfer straight to the Radisson Summit Resort for a
four night stay. We then have two nights in El Valle and two nights in Santiago, followed by two nights near
Boquete and the last four nights near Volcan. On day 15, we will fly back from David to Panama City and connect
with our evening flight home.
in Central America. Access to the park is along Pipeline
Road. Many species which do not occur in neighbouring
Costa Rica are found here. We will go in search of Purplethroated Fruitcrows, Black-breasted Puffbirds, Broad-billed
Motmots, Golden-collared Manakins, Slaty-tailed Trogons
and Cinnamon Woodpeckers. We will hope to come across
an ant swarm, with its attendant birds which may include
Spotted Antbird, Ocellated Antbird, Northern Barred
Woodcreeper and Greater Ani.
ITINERARY
SOBERANIA AND CHAGRES NATIONAL PARKS
Arriving in the evening, we will transfer straight to the
Radisson Summit Hotel for a stay of four nights. Here we are
at the edge of the rainforest and yet just 20 minutes from the
city!
On our first morning we will quickly forget about the previous
day’s journey. In the grounds there are numerous parrots,
toucans and other colourful species that can be watched
sitting out on exposed perches to get the benefit of the first
warming rays of sun. Sloths and Capybaras can also be seen
in the grounds.
We will visit wetlands in the area, where we have a chance of
seeing Boat-billed Heron, Rufescent Tiger-heron, Agami
Heron, White-throated Crake, Grey-necked Wood-rail and
Lesser Kiskadee.
The engineers who built the Panama Canal realised that it
was vital to protect the surrounding forest. The trees regulate
the flow of water and prevent the canal from silting up during
the rainy season, while the system of locks relies on a steady
supply of fresh water for its operation. The Soberania
National Park was created to protect this forest and the result
is the best preserved and most accessible lowland rainforest
A short drive from our hotel will take us to some dry forest at
Chagres National Park where we can look for the common
but secretive Rosy Thrush-tanager, as well as Lance-tailed
Manakin, Rufous-and-white Wren, Crimson-backed Tanager
and the endemic Yellow-green Tyrannulet. Various mammals
are likely to be seen such as Two-toed and Three-toed Sloth,
Geoffroy’s Tamarin, Agouti, Coati, Mantled Howler Monkey
14
and Northern Tamandua. On one afternoon we can visit the
Miraflores Locks, and watch huge cargo ships passing
through the canal with just inches to spare.
At a nearby farm, shade-grown coffee plantations have plenty
of large trees in which numerous birds can be seen, including
Flame-coloured Tanager, Cherrie’s Tanager and Elegant
Euphonia. Migrant warblers from North America are found in
good numbers: Golden-winged, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted,
Chestnut-sided, Tennessee and Mourning Warblers are all
easier to see here than on their breeding grounds.
EL VALLE DE ANTON
Two hours west of Panama City, the pleasant town of El Valle
nestles in the crater of a huge extinct volcano. At nearly 2000
feet above sea level, temperatures are pleasant and life is
very relaxed. We will stay at the lovely Los Mandarinos Spa
Resort, at the edge of town. Nearby trails take us in search of
Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Red-crowned Ant-tanager,
Rufous-capped Warbler and the elusive Tody Motmot.
On day 15, we will drive the short distance down to David,
then take a morning flight back to Panama City. We will have
lunch at a small hotel in Cerro Azul, in the hills above the
airport, and spend the afternoon birding and relaxing in the
relative cool of this lovely spot. We will have day-use of a
couple of rooms, where you can shower and re-pack at your
leisure. It is then just a short drive down to the airport,
allowing plenty of time to catch our flight home.
The hills above El Valle are home to the unusual White-tipped
Sicklebill, a hummingbird which is attracted to flowering
heliconias. This is also a great place to search for Orangebellied Trogon, White Hawk, Blue-throated Toucanet, Brownbilled Scythebill, Tufted Flycatcher and Silver-throated
Tanager.
CLIMATE AND PACE
In the Canal zone and other lowland areas it gets hot, so we
will birdwatch during the cooler parts of the day. At higher
elevations the temperatures are very pleasant. March is the
driest month, although rain is nevertheless a possibility. Most
days we will make an early start but have a short siesta in the
afternoon. The birding sites are close to the hotels, so with
the exception of the transfer days, travelling is kept to a
minimum. Basic fitness is all that is required. There is some
uphill walking, but at a sensible pace.
SANTIAGO AND SANTA FE
On day seven we will leave El Valle and drive to Santiago,
birdwatching en route. Our first stop is Aguadulce, an area of
lagoons and salt pans on the Pacific coast. We will look for
Common Black Hawk and Mangrove Yellow Warbler, as well
as a variety of waders including Black-necked Stilt, Southern
Lapwing, Collared Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, Lesser
Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper and Western Sandpiper.
From Santiago, we will have a full day in the highlands of
Santa Fe. Here, the birdlife has a distinctly Caribbean flavour,
with Emerald, Speckled and Crimson-collared Tanagers,
Black-faced and Black-thighed Grosbeaks and Lattice-tailed
Trogon all likely. Black-crowned Antpitta and Yellow-eared
Toucanet are two highly sought possibilities.
Full-board accommodation is provided, with four nights at the
Radisson Summit Hotel near Gamboa, two nights at Los
Mandarinos Spa Resort in El Valle, two nights at La
Hacienda, Santiago, two nights at the Panamonte Inn,
Boquete and four nights at the Casa Grande near Volcan. All
accommodation is of a high standard with private facilities en
suite. Lunches will sometimes be packed, but more often will
be taken back at the hotel or at a local restaurant.
On day nine we will drive west to Las Lajas, where we have a
good chance of finding the endemic Veraguan Mango. We
will then continue on to the lovely Panamonte Inn, for a two
night stay.
th
guide, full-board accommodation (starting with dinner on 4 ,
th
water throughout, local transport by mini-coach, park
entrance fees, one domestic flight and international flights.
BOQUETE
The Panamonte Inn is a beautiful old fashioned hotel with
lovely gardens. The accommodation and food are superb. It
is close to Los Quetzales Trail where we can see Threewattled Bellbird, Sulphur-winged Parakeets, Prong-billed
Barbet, Golden-browed Chlorophonia and perhaps even our
first Resplendent Quetzal. The next day we will head to
Volcan for our final four nights.
Return flights from most UK airports to Panama City (via
Amsterdam) using the scheduled services of KLM. Outbound
flight departs early morning, return flight arrives back late
afternoon.
VOLCAN BARU
At 11,411 feet above sea level, the dormant Volcan Baru
dominates the western province of Chiriqui. Closely
reminiscent of the Costa Rican highlands, many species of
bird are found only in this region. Four nights at the excellent
Casa Grande Resort will give us a great opportunity to
explore the cloud forest which cloaks this mountain.
We will find a new range of birds here including Long-tailed
Silky-flycatcher, Ruddy Treerunner, Buffy Tufted-cheek,
Flame-throated Warbler, Collared Whitestart, Black-cheeked
Warbler, Sooty-capped Bush-tanager and Yellow-thighed
Finch. The forest resounds to the hauntingly beautiful songs
of Black-faced Solitaires and Ruddy-capped Nightingalethrushes. We also have a great chance of seeing the world’s
most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal. Hummingbirds
are a feature of this mountain. White-throated Mountain-gem,
Magnificent Hummingbird, Magenta-throated Woodstar,
Scintillant Hummingbird and Volcano Hummingbird are all
likely.
15
15 nights including
4th to 19th March 2016
Principal leader:
John McLoughlin
Local guide:
Euclides (Kilo) Campos
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
19 November 2015):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£600 per person
BHUTAN
spectacular birds in this beautiful Himalayan kingdom
Closed to the world for decades, Bhutan retains a
medieval charm untarnished by the modern world. It
is blessed with incredible mountain scenery and is
steeped in tradition and folklore, while being
extraordinarily rich in wildlife. There is now a good
tourist infrastructure but do not expect to bump into
many other westerners.
Eastern Bhutan has been recognised as one of the
top ten biodiversity hot spots in the world. Being a
Buddhist country, hunting is illegal and so many
species of bird and mammal are surprisingly tame.
What is especially important, from a wildlife
perspective, is that m uch of Bhutan’s land i s
protected in national parks.
Himalayan Monal and Tiger’s Nest Monastery
Our journey takes us through rural valleys and high passes topped with temples. In the past, the only way to see
the best of Bhutan’s birds was to camp, but there are now new hotels and charming guesthouses. The route allows
us to explore many different habitats, as well as visit spectacular dzongs (monasteries that doubled as forts and
now serve as administration centres). The most impressive is the incredible Tiger’s Nest.
Four of the world’s most stunning pheasants can be seen from the roadside. Close views of Blood Pheasant and
Satyr Tragopan are very likely, along with Himalayan Monal and Kalij Pheasant. The high elevation broad-leaf and
coniferous forests hold over a hundred species of rhododendron and many will be starting to flower. Here we can
expect to see some very special birds such as the sought-after Ward’s Trogon and Rufous-necked Hornbill. We
saw twenty species of mammal on a previous trip, including River Otter, Giant Red Flying Squirrel, Giant Malay
Squirrel, several species of monkey, Yellow-throated Marten, Pika, Sambar and Goral. We have also seen Red
Panda droppings, so our first sighting is perhaps not far away!
Tourism is strictly regulated and a high daily tariff deters the more casual visitor. Much of the money is ploughed
back into infrastructure for the preservation of the traditional way of life and natural landscape. This has led to
Bhutan proudly leading the world in ‘Gross National Happiness’.
PARO
We arrive in Bhutan after a short but spectacular flight and we
will soon be at our hotel just outside Paro. In the afternoon we
will check the river for Wallcreeper, White-capped Water
Redstart, Ruddy Shelduck, Ferruginous Duck and Blacktailed Crake. Here we may see our first Ibisbill along with
Plumbeous Redstart and River Lapwing.
ITINERARY
KATHMANDU, NEPAL
We arrive in Kathmandu after an overnight flight and drive
just half an hour to our hotel. Our first two nights will be spent
at the fantastic Gokarna Forest Lodge, set in 470 acres of
forest in the Kathmandu Valley. Here we can walk the trails in
the hotel grounds in search of Scaly Thrush, Ashy
Woodpigeon and Blue-throated Barbet, amongst others. We
will also visit some historic areas of Kathmandu. On day four
we will then fly to Paro in Bhutan.
BUMTHANG AND YONGKHOLA
The next day we take a short flight to Bumthang, famous for
its many temples, stupas and dzongs. Playful Red-billed
Choughs swirl around the old dzong and Wallcreepers should
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still be at a low elevation. We will search for Rufous-breasted
Accentors, and Blue-fronted, Plumbeous and White-capped
Redstarts. The next morning we will go in search of
displaying pheasants. The incomparable Satyr Tragopan is
undoubtedly the star and the hairs on your neck stand up
when a fiery red male walks towards you through twisted
rhododendron roots. The Blood Pheasant is the smallest and
possibly the prettiest of our targets.
Our last two nights in Bhutan will be spent near Paro. We will
arrive early enough to allow time for a walk to view the Tiger’s
Nest Monastery. The next morning we will make an early start
and climb by bus up to Chelai Pass. Here we have further
chances to see Satyr Tragopan, Himalayan Monal, Kalij
Pheasant and Blood Pheasant along with Yellow-billed Blue
Magpie, White-browed Rosefinch and Fire-tailed Sunbird.
Finally, we will fly back to Nepal in the early morning. We will
have the whole of the day in Kathmandu, with its exotic
markets and richly carved shrines. In the evening we will fly
back to the UK.
We will continue south and east to the Upper Yongkhola
Valley, where we will stay for three nights at a wonderful new
lodge. Birding from the doorstep can produce Himalayan
Greenfinch, Oriental Turtle Dove and Common HawkCuckoo. The park is a great place to find such jewels as
Ward’s Trogon, Rufous-necked Hornbill, White-browed
Shrike-babbler, Long-tailed Broadbill, Red-faced Liocichla,
Scarlet Finch, Barred Cuckoo-dove and Mrs Gould’s Sunbird.
Streak-breasted Scimitar-babbler and various parrotbills hide
in the bamboo, while Tickell’s Leaf-warbler and Greater
Yellownape require less patience. At dusk, Collared Owlets
and Giant Red Flying Squirrels become active.
CLIMATE AND PACE
At lower elevations it is normally hot, with a chance of
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Higher up it is normally cold
in the morning, but as the sun comes up it is very pleasant.
Rain is a possibility, but is unpredictable. Early to rise and
early to bed is the norm in Bhutan and this fits in well with the
best birding times. There is some uphill walking, done at a
sensible pace. To view the Tiger’s Nest Monastery involves a
fairly long uphill walk, but we will allow a whole afternoon, and
since there is no rush this can be done at your own pace. We
drive over some high mountain passes but most of the birding
is done where the altitude is below 8000 feet.
CHUMMEY AND TRONGSA
Chummey is a charming rural area where Gold-billed Blue
Magpies come to drink at traditional water-powered prayer
wheels. This is a superb area for the Himalayan Monal. They
call from the rocky hillsides in the morning and we can expect
good close views. Dark-breasted and Beautiful Rosefinches
sip nectar from flowering rhododendrons, while Red-headed
Bullfinches accompany White-winged Grosbeaks through
bushes stunted by centuries of grazing by Yaks.
Full-board accommodation is provided. We have two nights at
the Gokarna Forest Lodge (Meridien Hotel), Kathmandu, one
night at the Janka Resort, Paro, two nights at Bumthang,
three nights at Yongkhola, one night at Chumey Nature
Resort, two nights at the Yangkhil Resort, Trongsa, one night
at Phobjika, two nights near Punakha and two nights back at
the Janka Resort, Paro. Hotels are all of a good standard,
with private facilities en suite. There is no camping.
We then continue to Trongsa where our hotel overlooks an
impressive dzong. Himalayan Cutias inspect mossy trunks,
rock bees attract Yellow-rumped Honeyguides and we will
check the streams for the three species of forktail we have
seen here previously. Two nights here will also give us time
to explore the beautiful Zhemgang Valley, with its rich birdlife
and regionally endemic Golden Langur.
nd
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water throughout, local transport by mini-coach, park
entrance fees, Bhutan visa, domestic and international flights.
PHOBJIKA
From Trongsa, we head to Phobjika, climbing out of the valley
and passing crags where Nepalese House Martins shelter.
Following the edge of the Black Mountains, we cross Pelela
Pass. The hills are peppered with Yak herder’s camps.
Russet Sparrows, Red-billed Choughs and Hoopoes nest in
the roofs of wooden houses. Our hotel has great views of
pastures that ring to the sound of Oriental Skylarks.
Travel insurance. Cost of obtaining a Nepalese visa (approx.
US$40). Items of a personal nature, alcoholic drinks, laundry.
Return flights from London Heathrow to Kathmandu using the
scheduled services of Qatar Airways, then to Paro using Druk
Air. Outbound flight departs mid-evening, return flight arrives
back early afternoon. Domestic flights from Manchester
and other UK airports are available on this tour. See
booking form for details.
An early start the next day takes us back to Pelela Pass. The
frost-stunted juniper forest is home to some of the best
birding in the Himalayas. The call of the Satyr Tragopan
echoes in the morning air as roving parties of Rufous-vented,
Grey-crested, Black-throated, Yellow-cheeked and Yellowbrowed Tits pass by. Rufous Sibias and Mrs Gould’s
Sunbirds take an early drink from flowers. We have the
opportunity to fill a few gaps in our laughingthrush list too, as
Black-faced and White-throated are common here.
PUNAKHA
We will spend two nights in the stupendous Puna Tsang
Chhu Valley where we will try to see the beautiful Redheaded Trogon. The Spotted Wren-babbler is frequently
heard in roadside vegetation and we will make every effort to
see one. Other birds should include Ultramarine, Sapphire
and Verditer Flycatchers. The valley is home to the critically
endangered White-bellied Heron, which may number as few
as 50 birds! We have managed a sighting on every trip. This
is a great area for raptors too with Pallas’s Fish-eagle and
Mountain Hawk-eagle both regular.
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18 nights including
two overnight flights:
1 to 19 April 2016
Principal leader:
Andrew Woodall
Local guide:
Dorji Sonam
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
st
th
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
17 December 2015):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£1000 per person
THE OKAVANGO DELTA, CAPRIVI
AND VICTORIA FALLS
the best of Botswana, Namibia and Zambia
The Okavango Delta is one of the last great wetland
wildernesses on the planet and probably the most
important Ramsar site in the world. Namibia’s
Caprivi Strip is a long narrow extension of land
running nearly five hundred kilometres along the
northern border of Botswana and is one of the
world’s birding hotspots, with around five hundred
species recorded in a relatively small area. Victoria
Falls is not only one of the seven natural wonders of
the world, it also has superb wildlife habitat
surrounding it. On this holiday of a lifetime we will
visit all three of these awe-inspiring locations.
Saddle-billed Stork
Each year this papyrus-filled bowl becomes saturated by
rivers that rise in the Angolan highlands, running down
through Namibia’s Caprivi Strip and into Botswana,
terminating in the dry Kalahari Desert. The many habitat
zones in and around the delta support an abundance of life.
ITINERARY
KALAHARI
Arriving in Windhoek, Namibia, we will drive east into the
Kalahari Desert. As we enter the world of the San Bushmen,
we will be observed by the many rollers, shrikes, eagles and
hornbills that sit atop roadside acacias. Red-capped Lark,
Groundscraper Thrush, Ashy Tit, Acacia Pied Barbet, Greater
Scimitarbill, Kalahari Robin and Rufous-vented Tit-babbler
are typical of the many bushbirds that occur in this land,
grazed by Oryx and Kudu. Perhaps a Meerkat will stand to
attention as we pass by. We will spend our first night at Zelda
Guestfarm, in Namibia, and our second at Thakadu Lodge
across the border in Botswana. During this time we will also
get the chance to go on a walk with a bushman, learning a
few secrets about the desert that these people call home.
Xaro Lodge, located at the base of the panhandle, is situated
beside papyrus beds, bordered by large trees that are home
to one of the stars of this trip. Pel’s Fish Owl is a large
copper-coloured teddy bear of a bird, and we have two nights
here to search for it. On our last tour we had five sightings.
Touring the delta by boat, every twist and turn of the channels
reveals birds. Some, like Wire-tailed Swallow, even perch on
the boat, while Southern Carmine and White-fronted Beeeaters chase the many dragonflies. Allen’s Gallinule, Black
Crake, Lesser Jacana, Saddle-billed Stork and flocks of
White-faced Whistling Ducks are wary of the African Fish
Eagles. Photographers struggle to know which way to point
their lenses as there are Elephants, Crocodiles, Sitatunga,
Reedbuck and Lechwe. Two herons feature highly, the rangerestricted Slaty Egret and the shy and nocturnal Whitebacked Night Heron.
OKAVANGO DELTA
Heading north, we then follow the western edge of the
Okavango Delta, to the wildlife-rich corridor known as the
Panhandle.
Visible from space, the Okavango Delta is an emerald green
gem in the Kalahari Desert and arguably the continent’s most
pristine wildlife area. Home to around half of the continent’s
elephants and key predators like Cheetah and African Wild
Dog, conservationists have also begun moving small
populations of threatened species like Rhinos here for safekeeping.
THE CAPRIVI STRIP
On day six we will head north along the upper reaches of the
Panhandle, until we enter the Caprivi Strip. This narrow strip
of land, annexed by Germany in 1890 in a deal that allowed
them access to the Zambezi and further east, has habitats
quite different to anywhere else in Namibia. This remote area
18
receives few visitors, while the lack of fencing allows animals
to move freely between reserves in Botswana and Namibia.
After two nights at this stupendous site we have a short
journey to Livingstone Airport, flying back to Windhoek and
then onward to the UK.
We will have three nights in the Caprivi, travelling its length to
eventually reach Chobe. Mahango is the premier reserve in
the Caprivi and has a fine selection of mammals very different
from Etosha and southern Namibia. Oribi, Roan and Sable
are highly prized antelope and there is a reasonable chance
to see Wild Dog as well. Miombo and mopane woodlands are
home to specialties like Racket-tailed Roller, Dickenson’s
Kestrel, Arnot’s Chat and Southern Ground Roller. Crimsonbreasted Shrike scold us from the acacia trees. Marshy
grasslands are home to Pink-throated Longclaw, Goldenbreasted Bunting and Coppery-tailed Coucal, while the rare
Wattled Crane breeds here. Many raptors and waterbirds
pass through on migration. Parties of Abdim’s Stork are often
accompanied by Yellow-billed Kite, European Hobby and
Brown Snake-Eagle. Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Bradfield’s
Hornbill, Black-collared Barbet, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird,
Retz’s Helmetshrike, Magpie Shrike and Monotonous Lark
are also found here.
CLIMATE AND PACE
The days should be warm to hot, with cooler nights. We will
be visiting at the end of the wet season, when rain is less
likely but not impossible. The cooler morning temperatures
and peak in wildlife activity mean that we must rise early to
make the most of the opportunities available. The pattern
involves early morning and late afternoon excursions, resting
and relaxing, or travelling, between these times. Basic fitness
is all that is required. Walking will be at a sensible pace
mostly on the flat. The terrain at Victoria Falls is the only
exception, with an optional walk to the bottom of the falls.
Temperatures can be high, and we will take things easy
during the heat of the day.
Full-board accommodation is provided in good hotels, lodges
and camps. We shall spend one night at Zelda Guestfarm,
one night at Thakadu Lodge, two nights at Xaro Lodge, one
night at Mahango Lodge, Caprivi, two nights at Kalizo Lodge,
Caprivi, two nights at Garden Lodge, Chobe, two nights at the
Kingdom Hotel, Victoria falls. Thakadu, Xaro and Kalizo are
permanent tented camps. All accommodation has private
facilities en suite.
CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
On day nine, our journey takes us back over the border into
Botswana for two nights, exploring Chobe National Park. A
combination of game drives and a boat cruise allows us to
experience Africa as it was 1000 years ago – full of animals.
Chobe is said to contain the highest concentration of
elephants in the world, with an estimated winter population of
around 46,000. We will see a wide range of antelope, stalked
by Lions, including the strikingly colourful Chobe Bushbuck.
This is the only area south of the Zambezi River where Puku
can be seen.
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guide, full-board accommodation (starting with lunch on 4 ,
th
ending with lunch on 15 ), soft drinks at meal times, local
transport, all safari activities and boat trips, park entrance
fees and international flights.
Over 350 bird species have been recorded. These include a
whole swathe of wetland species, with families like
kingfishers, bee-eaters, herons and storks well represented.
The boat ride should reveal Saddle-billed Stork, Long-toed
Plover, Pink-backed Pelican, and African Skimmer, with a
Malachite Kingfisher at every bend.
Travel insurance. Cost of obtaining a Zambian visa (approx
US$50 and obtainable on arrival in Zambia). Items of a
personal nature, alcoholic drinks, laundry.
Heuglin's Robin is a delight to hear in the early morning.
Diederik Cuckoo, Emerald-spotted Dove, Purple Roller,
Amethyst Sunbird, Orange-breasted Bush-shrike and Crested
Francolin are common birds of the bush, while a Greater
Honeyguide may try to attract our attention.
Return flight from London Heathrow to Windhoek (via
Frankfurt), using the scheduled services of Namibian Airlines.
We return to Windhoek from Victoria Falls also with Namibian
Airlines. Outbound flight departs mid-afternoon, return flight
arrives back late morning. Domestic flights from
Manchester and other UK airports are available on this
tour. See booking form for details.
On day 11 we will then travel to Zambia’s Mosi-oa-Tunya,
‘The Smoke that Thunders’.
VICTORIA FALLS
In 1881, F.C. Selous wrote “…Victoria Falls - One of, if not
the, most transcendentally beautiful natural phenomenon on
this side of Paradise", and who could argue? We shall visit
this breathtaking curtain of water, and there is also has great
birding nearby. Rock Pratincoles nest on the boulders
surrounded by rushing water, Schalow’s Turacos and
Trumpeter Hornbills take fruit from trees on the cliffs of the
gorge, while Meyer’s Parrots, Broad-tailed Paradise
Whydahs, Shaft-tailed Whydahs, Copper Sunbirds and
Stierling’s Wren-warblers can be found among the bushes. A
boat trip on the Zambezi will allow us to search for African
Finfoot, an elusive species, but we have a great track record
for finding them. Giant Kingfishers and Pied Kingfishers fly
over Hippopotamus as they move ahead of our boat, and
African Darter circle high overhead. We have even seen
African Scops Owl during a cruise here. Sometimes a Bat
Hawk patrols over the hotel.
19
13 nights including
3 to 16 April 2016
Principal leader:
Phil Palmer
Local guide:
Willem Ganeb
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
rd
th
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
19 December 2015):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£1000 per person
GEORGIA
superb birdwatching at the crossroads of Europe and Asia
Join us on this, our third tour to the stunningly
beautiful country of Georgia. Journey north over the
Jvari Pass for a breathtaking visit to the Greater
Caucasus, where the birds complement the
impossibly beautiful mountain landscape. Majestic
Golden Eagles and magnificent Lammergeiers soar
across the snow-covered peaks. Wallcreepers
busily build their nests amongst the rocks and
crevices, whilst the calls of both Red-billed and
Alpine Chough echo off the canyon walls.
In contrast, the Kakheti region of south-east Georgia
Caucasian Black Grouse
is a land of rolling steppe and dry savannah. The
birds and landscapes here are similar to those found
in Anatolia and specialist species include Rufous Bushchat, Menetries’s Warbler and Isabelline Wheatear. Home to
an abundance of raptors, at times the sky is filled with Black and Griffon Vultures. Several pairs of Eastern Imperial
Eagles breed in areas we will explore, along with Saker, Long-legged Buzzard, Levant Sparrowhawk and Lesser
Kestrel.
imposing snow covered Mount Kazbegi. We have a three
night stay which gives us time to explore the valley and
surrounding mountains. In the early morning we take a stroll
at the base of the steep slopes. The eerie curlew-like calls of
Caucasian Snowcock will soon become familiar to us as they
call from high up amongst the rocky crags. Occasionally a
pair will wander out in full view. The localised Caucasian
Black Grouse is also found here. They prefer grassy slopes
adjacent to patches of dwarf rhododendrons. At times several
males can be seen doing their fluttering displays, particularly
if a female deigns to wander into their lekking territory.
ITINERARY
KAZBEGI MOUNTAIN
Our flight will take us to the country’s capital, Tbilisi. Since the
dramatic Rose Revolution, now over a decade ago, Tbilisi
has blossomed into an attractive, vibrant and cosmopolitan
city. We will stay overnight in a comfortable city centre hotel
before embarking on our eight day tour.
After breakfast we will travel into the Greater Caucasus
mountains, breaking the journey with some birding at the
Szhinvali Reservoir. The verdant beech woods in the valley
here are home to Black and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers.
Both Semi-collared and Red-breasted Flycatchers should be
on territory. Persian Squirrels are also found in the forest.
Later in the day we shall explore the corries and abandoned
farmsteads higher up the valley. Here we will find Rock
Thrush, Alpine Accentor, Black Redstart, Red-fronted Serin
and Twite. If the weather is clear we should witness the
passage of migrating flocks of Steppe Buzzards, which are
often joined by Black Kites, harriers and accipiters.
Higher up, just before the pass, is an interesting monument
erected in Soviet times. It stands atop a sheer cliff which is a
nesting site for Wallcreeper, Ring Ouzel and Black Redstart.
Alpine Choughs pose on the railings and we shall be on the
look out for the imposing Lammergeier, as well as enjoying
some simply stunning mountain scenery. As we continue over
the pass we will check the roadside for Caucasian Water
Pipit, Snow Finch and the strikingly pale Caucasian Shore
Lark.
On day four we take a short drive uphill to the famous
landmark sat on the ridge above Stepantsminda. The
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Tsminda Sameba is a 14 Century church which has become
a symbol of the nation. With fierce determination it clings to
its lofty isolated perch, defying the elements and the rigours
of time. We will look for the scarce inhabitants of the rocky
mountainside. Two sought after species breed in this
beautiful and remote landscape, the Guldenstadt's Redstart
Late in the afternoon we will reach Stepantsminda. This
quaint village nestles in the valley bottom, beneath the
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and Great Rosefinch. Both can be difficult to find, but poor
overnight weather may push them down to within our reach.
songs from the reedbeds. This is also a regular site for
Armenian Gull.
The woodland below Tsminda Sameba holds singing Green
Warblers and Mountain Chiffchaffs. The surrounding
meadows harbour many Common Rosefinches whose simple
whistled song carries far in the clear mountain air. Barred
Warblers and Corncrakes breed in meadows in the valley
bottom.
Back in the capital we will be treated to a typical Georgian
banquet washed down with local wines and traditional beers.
The following morning we will head back to the airport in good
time for our flight home.
CLIMATE AND PACE
In the mountains it is often clear but chilly, although rain is a
possibility. In contrast, the south is normally warm and dry.
Breakfast will be taken at 8am on most mornings, allowing
time for short pre-breakfast walks. At Stepantsminda we will
depart at 6am on one morning, in order to be out early to see
the snowcock. Full days will be spent in the field and basic
fitness is all that is required. At Stepantsminda there will be
some uphill walking which we will manage according to the
abilities of the group. Transport will be provided to take the
group to the higher valleys and vantage points to reduce the
need for any strenuous walking.
CHACHUNA AND THE IORI VALLEY
After three days in the mountains we will head south-east to
the Kakheti region. After passing Tbilisi, the landscape
gradually changes from vineyards and orchards to rolling
plains, sandstones cliffs and buttes. Our destination is the
Chachuna Nature Reserve in the Iori Uplands, spending a
night in the historic town of Dedoplistskaro to break the
journey.
The birdlife here is very diverse. Long-legged Buzzards and
Montagu’s Harriers hunt over open fields. Vivid blue Rollers
and colonies of multi-coloured Bee-eaters occupy the sandy
cliffs of the dry river beds. Lesser Grey and Woodchat
Shrikes are common in the roadside scrub, whilst Isabelline
Wheatears chat and scold. Calandra Larks display over the
cereal fields and Black-headed Buntings seemingly occupy
every weedy corner. As the landscape becomes more arid
Black-eared Wheatears and Short-toed Larks appear. In the
heat of the day huge Black Vultures and Griffon Vultures soar
on the thermals. Tight flocks of migrating Rose-coloured
Starlings flash their pink hues as they speed by.
Full board accommodation is provided with one night at the
Hotel Kopala, Tbilisi, three nights at the Hotel Kazbegi, one
night at the Dedoplistskaro Hotel, two nights at the Chachuna
Reserve, one night back at the Dedoplistskaro Hotel, and the
final night back at the Hotel Kopala, Tbilisi. The hotel in Tbilisi
is a lovely traditional Georgian hotel and the restaurant offers
a panoramic view of the city. At Chachuna we stay in
bungalows which provide simple clean accommodation with
comfortable beds and hot showers. All rooms have en suite
facilities. During the day we will take a picnic lunch or eat in a
cafe or restaurant.
We have a two night stay at some lovely tourist bungalows
alongside the Dali Reservoir, which was built in the Soviet
era. Luckily the proposed irrigation project did not come to
fruition and the area still retains the delicate balance of
habitats which makes the birdwatching so interesting.
All birdwatching excursions with expert leader and a local
guide, full board accommodation (starting with breakfast on
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the 28 and ending with breakfast on the 6 ), soft drinks at
meal times, bottled water throughout, local transport by mini
coach, reserve entrance fees, international flights.
The reservoir is home to small numbers of Ruddy Shelduck
and the occasional Pygmy Cormorant. Migrant herons drop in
on their way through, as do flocks of terns and waders. A
colony of Lesser Kestrels occupy the deserted pump houses
on the dam wall, whilst the striking Levant Sparrowhawk
displays over the adjacent riparian woodland. Other breeding
raptors here include Saker Falcon and Eastern Imperial
Eagle. We should have an opportunity to study both species
near their nest sites. Black Francolins call from the scrubby
areas, whilst Rufous Bushchats sing from prominent perches.
Menetries’s and Eastern Orphean Warbler are very common.
The rocky bluffs hold Chukar, Rock Nuthatch, Rock Sparrow,
Rock Bunting and Blue Rock Thrush.
Travel insurance, personal items, alcoholic drinks, laundry,
snacks and drinks in airports. Please note: UK citizens no
longer require a visa to enter Georgia.
Return flights from London Gatwick (via Istanbul) to Tbilisi
using the scheduled services of Turkish Airlines. Outbound
flights depart late morning, return flight arrives back late
afternoon. Domestic flights from Manchester and other
UK airports are available on this tour. See booking form
for details.
Returning to Dedoplistskaro for another night, we will have
another opportunity to birdwatch the transition areas between
dry steppe and areas under cultivation. The species we will
be looking for include Spanish Sparrow and Ortolan Bunting.
The next day we will return to Tbilisi. Our journey will take us
through the wine growing region of Signagi. Georgia is
famous for its wine and claims to be the home of viticulture.
Archaeologists have traced back the production of wine in the
region to 6,000BC. The Georgian method of wine making
utilises clay pots or kvevris in which the grape juice is
fermented. It also happens to be the site of one of the oldest
Christian monasteries in the world. Chukars call from the arid
rocky slopes. Crag Martins and Blue Rock Thrushes are
common. Small wooded gullies hold singing Green Warblers,
Red-breasted Flycatchers and Nightingales. On the way we
will stop at a small steppe lake to look for passage waders
such as Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint and Red-necked
Phalarope. White-winged Black Terns are sometimes seen in
their hundreds. Great Reed Warblers shout out their raucous
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9 nights:
27 April to 6 May 2016
Principal leader:
John McLoughlin
Local guide:
Zura Javakhishvili
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
12 January 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£300 per person
COTO DONANA AND ALENTEJO
the best of southern Spain and Portugal
Spain and Portugal are popular holiday destinations
for birdwatchers from the UK, and with very good
reason. They are great places for birds, with a
pleasant climate in the spring. It is a short three hour
flight to Faro and by mid-afternoon we can be
birding in the Coto Donana. We will spend four
nights at the picturesque town of El Rocio on the
edge of the marismas and then three nights at
Mertola in the Alentejo, the beautiful Portuguese
plains.
Great Bustards
We know of good sites for Black-shouldered Kite,
Little Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Penduline Tit and Red-necked Nightjar. In one of
their last strongholds, Great Bustards can be seen displaying. The thrill of the quest will take us on in pursuit of
Crested Coots and White-headed Ducks, two of Europe's rarest breeding birds. Purple Gallinules can be watched
at close range attending to their tiny young. Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron and Night Heron will all be seen nesting.
By arranging a two-centre, seven night holiday we will have the benefit of a full range of habitats, where we can
find many of the region’s special birds.
ITINERARY
La Rocina holds similar species, plus many small birds
including Savi's, Reed, Great Reed, Cetti's, Fan-tailed and
Melodious Warblers, Crested Tit, Stonechat, Woodchat
Shrike and Short-toed Treecreeper. The Spotless Starling is
common. Another Iberian speciality found here is the Rednecked Nightjar. We shall try one or two reliable sites on
evening or early morning visits.
THE COTO DONANA
Europe's second largest delta, where the River Guadalquivir
enters the Atlantic, is home to some of the rarest birds on the
continent. Justifiably one of the world's most famous
reserves, Donana plays host to large numbers of birds of
prey. Black Kite, Red Kite, Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle,
Griffon Vulture and Marsh Harrier are the commoner raptors,
along with the rarer Black-shouldered Kite and Spanish
Imperial Eagle.
A whole day will be required to explore the vast marismas to
the east of El Rocio. Hoopoe and Bee-eater, two of Europe's
most colourful birds, are both very common here. There is a
continuous presence of raptors, and other specialities include
Marbled Duck, Calandra, Short-toed and Lesser Short-toed
Larks and Spectacled Warbler, with the chance of Pin-tailed
Sandgrouse. Birds found throughout the whole of this
fantastic area include Squacco and Night Herons, Little and
Cattle Egrets, Kentish Plover, Yellow-legged Gull, Turtle
Dove, Little Owl, Pallid Swift, Woodlark, Southern Grey Shrike
and Nightingale.
Marshes at El Rocio provide feeding grounds for thousands
of birds at the time of our visit. Passage waders are
numerous, particularly Little Stint, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper,
Black-tailed Godwit, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet and Ringed
Plover. Collared Pratincoles breed here in good numbers,
and are regularly seen flashing their chestnut underwings as
they chase flying insects. Spoonbills, Greater Flamingos and
White Storks are common. Terns feeding over the marshes
include Whiskered and Black, with the occasional Gull-billed,
Caspian and White-winged Black.
White-headed Duck came back from the brink of extinction in
Spain in the late twentieth century and is now flourishing. We
will visit a breeding site on the east bank of the Guadalquivir.
The Crested Coot, one of the rarest breeding birds in Europe,
is also present in small numbers. Red-crested Pochards and
Pools and a reedbed at Acebuche give us the opportunity to
watch, at close range, the Purple Gallinule. Other birds seen
include Little Bittern and Red-crested Pochard. Azure-winged
Magpies are very common in the stone pines.
22
breeding-plumaged Black-necked Grebes complete a
wonderful picture. At Brazo del Este there are Penduline Tits
and Purple Gallinules too.
CLIMATE AND PACE
Spring in southern Iberia is often warm or fairly hot, but with a
chance of cooler weather or even rain, particularly on the
plains. Breakfast will be taken at about 7.30am most
mornings, with the option of one or two short pre-breakfast
excursions. Basic fitness is all that is required. Full days will
be spent in the field and short/medium length walks on the
flat will be undertaken. There will be little or no uphill walking.
ALENTEJO
On day five we will head west, visiting coastal wetlands at
Huelva before crossing the border into Portugal. The
Alentejo, a region in south-central Portugal, is typical of the
rolling plains which extend eastwards into Spain. Great
swathes of wild flowers provide a memorable sight and attract
masses of butterflies. So impressive is the carpet of mainly
white wild flowers that it has given rise to the local name
‘Campo Branco’ meaning White Country.
Full-board accommodation is provided, with four nights in the
Hotel Toruno, El Rocio on the edge of the Coto Donana and
three nights at the Beira Rio, Mertola, in Portugal’s Alentejo.
All rooms have en suite bathrooms. Packed lunches will be
taken most days.
Many excellent birds are within reach of our base. We will
visit a reliable site for Great Bustard to watch displaying
males. Flocks of over 50 have been seen in this area. Little
Bustards are common too, and we also have a chance of
Black-bellied Sandgrouse. The overhead wires are regularly
dotted with Southern Grey Shrikes. Woodchat Shrike, a true
Mediterranean speciality, is also found here in good numbers.
Quails can be heard making their distinctive calls and Redrumped Swallows sweep over the meadows. Montagu's
Harriers are common; the superb males being a regular sight
as they hunt over fields full of wildflowers. Indeed, they
provided one of the highlights of a previous trip when a male
was watched at close range being mobbed by an angry
Lesser Kestrel. Other raptors likely include Black Kite, Red
Kite, Black-shouldered Kite and Black Vulture. Bonelli’s,
Golden and Spanish Imperial Eagles occasionally hunt over
this area too.
All birdwatching excursions with expert leaders, full-board
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accommodation (starting with dinner on 30 , ending with
th
breakfast on 7 ), soft drinks at meal times, local transport by
mini-bus, international flights and airport taxes.
We will fly from Leeds/Bradford to Faro, using the scheduled
services of Jet2. The outbound flight departs early morning
and the return flight arrives back mid-afternoon. It is also
possible to join this trip from other airports including
Manchester. Please contact us for details.
The plains and small farms are favourite breeding areas of
Roller, Calandra Lark, Crag Martin and Lesser Kestrel, and
we will also watch the Spanish Sparrows that breed in the
untidy White Storks’ nests. This latter species breeds here in
as high a density as anywhere in Europe.
Great Spotted Cuckoos are regularly seen in this area, along
with their hosts, Azure-winged Magpies. Other localized
species likely to be found here are Red-necked Nightjar,
Spotless Starling and Collared Pratincole. Larks include
Thekla, Short-toed and Calandra. The largest colony of
Lesser Kestrels in Portugal breed around the ancient town of
Mertola. This is, in part, due to a nestbox scheme. A similar
scheme has also been very beneficial to nesting Rollers.
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7 nights:
30 April to 7 May 2016
Principal leaders:
Andrew Woodall
Maximum group size:
7 clients with one leader or
13 clients with two leaders
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
15 January 2016):
Full cost:
Deposit:
£300 per person
On day eight we will drive to Faro airport in good time for our
flight home.
Azure-winged Magpies
23
SW TURKEY
eastern birds and Ephesus (plus a great chance of Brown Fish Owl)
Turkey is rated as one of the most exciting
birdwatching destinations in the Western Palearctic,
yet it is still relatively unexplored. The main reason
for this is the sheer size of the country. As a
consequence we are not likely to bump into any
other birdwatchers.
Being such a huge country the prospective visitor
has a choice. You can travel many hundreds of
miles from west to east, north to south and back, in
search of every single species. Alternatively you can
base yourself in one relatively small, but diverse
Brown Fish Owl
area, get to know it well and enjoy what is to be
found. We have chosen the second option and will
concentrate on the south-west, where typical Mediterranean birds are joined by a number of eastern specialities.
Famous for its rich culture, ancient ruins, good food, friendly people, reliable climate and golden beaches, SW
Turkey can offer you all of these and more. White-throated Robin, Kruper's Nuthatch, Dalmatian Pelican, Redfronted Serin, Collared Pratincole, Masked Shrike, Cinereous Bunting, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Eleonora's Falcon,
Spur-winged Plover, Smyrna Kingfisher, Caucasian Shore Lark, Finsch’s Wheatear, Snow Finch and Ruppell's
Warbler are among the many exciting birds present in this area at the time of our visit. Add to these the recently
rediscovered Brown Fish Owls near Antalya and you have the ingredients for a truly outstanding birdwatching
holiday.
We will fly to Antalya, and our first hotel is just a short drive away. From here we will look for the fish owl, before
moving on to Koycegiz, where we will spend four nights. From Koycegiz we will explore a variety of wetland and
mountain sites, including the Dalyan Delta. On day seven we will drive to Pamukkale, visiting the famous travertine
pools as well as searching for Cinereous Bunting and Finsch’s Wheatear. Finally, we will drive to Bafa, our base for
the last three nights, birding at Lake Karine and Bafa Golu, as well as allowing time to visit Ephesus.
shores of the lake and steep-sided, pine clad mountains
complete the idyllic picture. A variety of interesting birds such
as Squacco Heron, Penduline Tit, Great Reed Warbler and
Masked Shrike can be found just a short walk from the hotel.
ITINERARY
GREEN CANYON
We arrive in Antalya in the afternoon and drive straight to our
hotel. The next morning we will make an early start to look for
the spectacular Brown Fish Owl. Until recently this bird had
mythical status in the Western Palearctic. Then it was
discovered that several pairs were thriving in flooded canyons
north-east of Antalya. We will take our own boat to one such
site, at Green Canyon, where we have an excellent chance of
seeing them at their daytime roosts.
Lake Koycegiz and the Dalyan Delta are joined by a narrow
channel which passes the town of Dalyan. The area is most
easily explored by boat and we shall spend a half day
travelling along the reed-fringed lake and down channels
leading to the delta and then to the sea. We will explore the
ruins of Kaunos, with its impressive amphitheatre and Rock
Nuthatches, and marvel at the ancient Lycean rock tombs.
THE DALYAN DELTA
On day three we will drive to Lake Koycegiz, our base for the
next four nights. The Hotel Panorama Plaza is situated on the
Perhaps the most sought-after breeding bird here is the
Smyrna Kingfisher. It is, however, rather scarce and we will
24
need to keep a sharp eye out in order to find it. Much more
numerous is the delightful Penduline Tit which can be found
in the reedbeds and waterside trees throughout the area.
Migrant terns include both Whiskered and White-winged
Black. The lake is one of only two places in Turkey where
Nile Soft-shelled Turtles are found; we know of a spot where
we can watch them without causing disturbance.
Lake Karine is a huge brackish lagoon which is internationally
important for its breeding Dalmatian Pelicans. Also present
are Caspian Terns, Lesser Kestrels, Long-legged Buzzards,
Marsh Sandpipers and Kentish Plovers. In the afternoon we
will explore a track leading along the south edge of the lake
where a breeding colony of Ruddy Shelducks should have
small ducklings. Collared Pratincoles hawk over the marsh
and Isabelline Wheatears occur in the drier areas.
In the drier areas we can expect to see Eastern Olivaceous
Warbler as well as Cetti's and Fan-tailed Warblers and Blackheaded Wagtail. Rufous Bushchat is best found by listening
for its thrush-like song. Masked Shrike and Ruppell's Warbler
are two more local specialities and can be found alongside
the more familiar Bee-eaters, Crested Larks, Red-rumped
Swallows, Black-eared Wheatears, Woodchat Shrikes,
Spanish Sparrows and Rollers. Birds of prey in the area
include Levant Sparrowhawk, migrant Red-footed Falcons
and regular Eleonora's Falcons. One evening, after dinner,
we will try to see a Scops Owl.
We will also visit the western shore of Bafa Golu, where a
similar range of birds can be found. If the water levels are
favourable, thousands of migrant waders can be seen.
The world famous archaeological site of Ephesus is just an
hour’s drive to the north. We will set aside three hours for our
visit. Even the most die-hard birder could not fail to be
impressed, but just in case, there are Rock Nuthatches, Blue
Rock Thrushes and Long-legged Buzzards in and around the
ruins!
The mountains behind Koycegiz rise quickly to over 7000
feet. We can ascend to over half this height on the road to
Arla. The main prize here is the Kruper's Nuthatch, an
endemic to the region. Short-toed Eagles can be watched
hovering over distant ridges. In the woods there are both
Middle Spotted and Syrian Woodpeckers as well as the
localised Sombre Tit. Jays are particularly numerous, the
local race exhibiting rather dark plumage and a black crown.
Further down the valley in the more open areas we will watch
for the highly vocal Black-headed Bunting singing from low
bushes as well as the stunning Black-eared Wheatear.
CLIMATE AND PACE
Most years we experience warm or hot weather, with little or
no rain. On a couple of occasions we have had unsettled
weather lasting several days. Breakfast will normally be taken
at about 7am. We will need a much earlier start for the fish
owls. Basic fitness is all that is required. Full days will be
spent in the field and short/medium length walks will be
undertaken regularly. There will be very little uphill walking,
even in the mountains, which will be done at a sensible pace.
Full-board accommodation is provided, with two nights at the
AC Hotel, Antalya, four nights at the Hotel Panorama Plaza at
Koycegiz, one night at the Richmond Pamukkale Hotel and
three nights at an excellent hotel at Bafa. All rooms have an
en suite bathroom. Packed lunches will be taken every day.
A day trip to Gulubeli Pass, east of Dalaman, will reveal lots
of mountain species. We discovered this site in 1999, where
a road cuts through some of the most dramatic scenery in
Western Turkey. With snow-capped peaks in all directions,
Red-fronted Serin is fairly common and Crimson-winged
Finch is possible. The main prize in this area is the Whitethroated Robin, a bird which combines beauty, scarcity and a
restricted range, in stunning natural surroundings. On past
visits we have never failed to find them at an easily
accessible site. Other species include Chough, Wryneck,
Caucasian Shore Lark, Black Redstart, Ortolan, Woodlark,
Rock Sparrow, Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting and Snow Finch.
Cretzschmar's Buntings can easily be found, the males
betraying their presence with their four-syllable song. Also
common in the area are Ruppell's and Eastern Orphean
Warblers and Blue Rock Thrush, and we have a good chance
of Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler.
nd
accommodation (starting with dinner on 2 , ending with lunch
th
on 12 ), soft drinks at meal times, bottled water throughout,
local transport by mini-bus, boat trips, entrance to
archaeological sites and international flights.
Travel insurance. Cost of visa - obtained by a simple online
registration and payment of £15 (we can help if you do not
have access to the internet). Personal items, alcoholic drinks,
laundry.
PAMUKKALE
On day seven we will drive up to Pamukkale, a spectacular
world heritage site and great birding destination. Hot springs
emanating from the hillside deposit calcium carbonate in
semi-circular formations known as travertines. These natural
pools have attracted visitors for hundreds of years. We can
paddle in the ‘healing waters’, but we will also be on the
lookout for three of the regions specialities, Cinereous
Bunting, Olive-tree Warbler and Finsch’s Wheatear.
Direct flights from Manchester to Antalya, returning from
Bodrum with a major charter carrier. Outbound flight departs
mid-morning, return flight arrives back late evening. It may
also be possible to fly from London. Please phone for details.
BAFA, KARINE AND EPHESUS
On day eight we will drive west to Bafa, our base for the last
three nights. We will spend a full day at Lake Karine. With the
ancient ruins of Miletus in the background, the marshes are
particularly attractive. Spoonbills and Glossy Ibis can be
watched at close range; Garganey and Wood Sandpipers
feed side by side in the water meadows; Bee-eaters hawk
insects overhead; and Spur-winged Plovers display on the
drier areas. Past visits have yielded some of our best
sightings, including both Great Snipe and western Turkey's
third ever White-tailed Plover!
25
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10 nights:
2
to 12 May 2016
Principal leader:
Paul J. Willoughby
Maximum group size:
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
17 January 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£300 per person
LATVIA AND LITHUANIA
two jewels in the Baltic
Being rich in game and wildfowl, Latvia was once
the luxurious secret hide-away for the Prussian
aristocracy. Later, the Soviet elite would enjoy
weekends hunting in its marshes and ancient
forests, or strolling along the deserted Baltic
beaches searching for amber washed up by the tide.
For this reason, Latvia’s rich natural resources have
survived intact to the modern day. The peace-loving
Latvians have been welcomed into the European
Union and much of their landscape is protected. A
low population density means that there is little
threat to the wild areas; something few countries
can still boast.
Male Capercaillie
Our tour takes us into forests full of Elk, Red Deer, Beaver and Wild Boar. Martens and Red Squirrel are frequently
seen. Woodpeckers leave their mark on every tree; we may see all eight Latvian species on the trip. Green
Sandpiper and Goosander doze by golden marigolds in inky pools shaded by black alders. Ural Owls breed in
neighbouring Lithuania, and a trip over the border will give us a good chance to see this phantom of the forest.
Our customers have been captivated by the beautiful location of our hotel in Kemeri National Park. The charming
rural landscape is ablaze with golden, flower-filled meadows that stretch over the horizon, dotted with dew ponds
and medieval manor houses. Here we are served up large portions of premier bird species such as Roller,
Corncrake, Montagu’s Harrier, Black Stork and Lesser Spotted Eagle. Vast swaying reedbeds resound to the boom
of Bitterns, only becoming silent when White-tailed Eagles approach. Flamboyant Ruffs jostle for the right to mate,
and other waders include Temminck’s Stint and Spotted Redshank. Capercaillie and Hazel Grouse come to pick up
grit at the roadside once their pre-dawn dances have ended; there are high populations of both here.
Cape Kolka is the best location in spring to see movements of passerines. A spike of forested dunes jutting into the
Baltic is overflown by flocks of finches, buntings and larks on their big push north. In the right conditions,
Bluethroats, Common Crossbills, Golden Orioles and hundreds of wagtails fall from the sky. Watching the sea
brings an exciting mix of divers, scoters and Long-tailed Ducks, with Rough-legged Buzzard, Merlin, pipits and
finches all hugging the coast. Pallid Harrier is one of four species of harrier that we may find. There is a surprise
around every corner. Birding is in its infancy here, and new discoveries are frequently made.
contest, while Crested Tit is likely to be one of the first birds
we see.
ITINERARY
KEMERI NATIONAL PARK AND BIRZAI
After a short flight we will land by the medieval city of Riga
and our hotel is not far away. It was once a top-secret Soviet
retreat where Brezhnev’s daughter practised ballet with only
bird song to accompany her. It is hidden in a mossy forest,
beside a small peaceful lake. Pied Flycatchers compete with
the many Wood Warblers for top billing in this woodland song
With two nights here we will make trips to a range of lakes,
reedbeds and forests. Inside Kemeri National Park there are
numerous trails that allow us to seek out the many species of
woodpecker. Black and Grey-headed shout the loudest, so
are usually the first to be seen. The rotting spruces are
perfect for good populations of Three-toed Woodpecker. We
have enjoyed great views of them on every trip.
26
It might tempt fate to say that Middle Spotted Woodpecker is
guaranteed; but they nest by our hotel and are certainly not
rare. White-backed Woodpecker, too, is reliably found. Green
Sandpipers utilise old Fieldfare and Redwing nests and
Golden Orioles add an exotic touch to these primeval-looking
northern forests. The striking white-headed race of Longtailed Tit would turn any birder’s head. They often interrupt
breakfast by appearing at the hotel window.
adjacent meadows draw Lesser Spotted Eagles. Corncrake
will be arriving and even wolves are seen occasionally.
We will travel to Birzai in Lithuania, passing fish ponds and
meadows frequented by Osprey, and Montagu’s and Marsh
Harriers. This is made easier as there are no border
restrictions now. Our friends in Birzai monitor breeding Ural
Owls that use natural holes rather than boxes. In good vole
years there may be up to 30 pairs in the area. Two nights in
the area give us an excellent chance of finding these ghostly
birds. In addition, the forest is superb for woodpeckers,
Icterine Warblers, Red-backed Shrikes, Red-breasted
Flycatchers and Pygmy Owls, whilst marshes next to our
hotel are home to breeding Little Crakes.
Surrounding fields, copses and deserted orchards provide
homes for Ortolan Bunting, Hoopoe and Serin. Together with
a remnant population of Crested Lark and Tawny Pipit, it feels
strange to see species associated with the Mediterranean
breeding alongside birds from the taiga zone. Even the gaudy
Roller reaches this far north.
After our final morning’s birding, we will drive back up to Riga
for our flight home. If you would like to extend your stay with a
city break, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Our timing means that skeins of Taiga Bean Geese will be
pausing to refuel. Ruff dance, Snipe drum and Garganey
grunt, as water levels drop in the precious watermeadows.
Black-tailed Godwit conduct aerial displays and seven
whistles betray the occasional passing Whimbrel. Our eyes
will be open for the many Temminck’s Stints or occasional
Broad-billed Sandpipers that pass through. Larger lakes,
smothered with reeds, are home to many Great Reed
Warblers. The voice of Savi’s Warbler and Bittern are brought
to us on the wind while Penduline Tits carry pussy willow fluff
to their hanging nests. Three species of marsh tern (Whitewinged, Black and Whiskered) test the stability of flattenedreed foundations in readiness to lay, and Common Cranes
will already have eggs.
CLIMATE AND PACE
Weather is changeable, in fact, rather similar to British
weather at this time of year. Breakfast will be taken at about
7am most mornings, with optional pre-breakfast trips at Cape
Kolka to fit in with migration patterns. Basic fitness is all that
is required. Full days will be spent in the field and reasonable
length walks on the flat will be undertaken regularly.
Full board accommodation is provided, with two nights at
Kemeri National Park, three nights at Cape Kolka and two
nights at Birzai. All accommodation is of a very good
standard, with excellent food. All rooms have en suite
facilities. Lunch is usually packed, and taken in the field to
maximise birding opportunities.
CAPE KOLKA AND THE BALTIC COAST
Our journey to Cape Kolka takes us along the Baltic coast.
Among the ice age erratics, migrants pause on their journey
north. Red-backed Shrike and Bluethroat are expected and,
by scanning flocks of Grey-headed and Blue-headed
Wagtails, we will hope for one of the many Citrine Wagtails
now breeding in Latvia. Wryneck and Thrush Nightingale will
be noisily proclaiming ownership of blossoming fruit trees. A
snippet of a Common Rosefinch’s ‘pleased-to-meet-you’ song
may betray the first of the season.
guide, full-board accommodation (starting with breakfast on
th
th
4 , ending with lunch on 10 ), soft drinks at meal times,
bottled water throughout, reserve entrance fees, local
transport by minibus, international flights.
We have three nights here, and our activities are governed by
weather and wind direction. Like Falsterbo in the autumn, this
place offers us a chance to witness the spectacle of mass
bird migration. Dawn could see thousands of Siskins and
other finches heading out to sea. Among them are Woodlark,
Golden Orioles and Common Crossbills. The latter are easy
to pick out as they chip to each other in flight. Their stocky
cousin, the Parrot Crossbill, nests in pines on the cape itself,
and occasionally drinks from car park puddles. At sea, large
numbers of Velvet and Common Scoters loaf among
breeding-plumaged Long-tailed Duck. A procession of eiders
and divers provides the opportunity for us to pick out rarer
fare. Our recce yielded a breeding-plumaged White-billed
Diver among many Black-throated. Caspian Tern is likely,
while one year we found Latvia’s second Iceland Gull here.
Direct flights are available from London Gatwick to Riga using
the scheduled services of Air Baltic. The outbound flight
leaves late afternoon, with the return arriving late afternoon.
Flights are also available from Manchester, Leeds and many
other regional airports using KLM, for a small supplement.
By late morning, raptors have gathered above the point.
Sparrowhawk and Buzzard are the most numerous, with
smaller numbers of all four harriers, Merlin, Hobby, Golden
and White-tailed Eagles and Rough-legged Buzzard.
Something rare is noted here annually and almost any
European raptor could occur in spring.
BIRZAI, LITHUANIA
Leaving Cape Kolka on day six we take the road known
among local birders as the ‘Grouse Safari’. Just inland, the
woods hold good numbers of Capercaillie and Hazel Grouse
and our journey could produce sightings of either. The
27
rd
th
7 nights:
3 to 10 May 2016
Principal leader:
Phil Palmer
Local guide:
Karlis Millers
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
18 January 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£300 per person
NORTHERN GREECE
a spring visit to one of our favourite destinations
Our visits to the Kerkini region have
Black-headed Bunting
always been amongst the most popular
of our European trips. We base the tour
at a single hotel where we stay for seven nights. The hotel is beautifully situated against a backdrop of forested
mountains and overlooking Lake Kerkini. The variety of birds, butterflies and wildflowers is simply astonishing - this
is a great place to spend a week in the sun enjoying the wildlife.
Scenically the most impressive wetland in Northern Greece, Lake Kerkini also holds more birds than any of the
others. Over 300 species have been recorded in the national park, including 137 that breed. Surrounded by hills
and mountains, the birdwatching spectacle is one of the country’s best kept secrets.
Greece’s geographical position has resulted in a diversity of birdlife which comprises a mixture of species from
Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa and Asia. Lake Kerkini lies on an important migratory flyway between East
Africa and Northern Europe. The timing of our visit means we shall experience a taste of this vast migration as well
as a multitude of species which make this area their home.
Exciting Balkan species include Dalmatian Pelican, Rock Partridge, Rock Nuthatch, Sombre Tit, Masked Shrike
and the localised Olive-tree Warbler, whilst the Mediterranean influence brings Little Bitterns, Purple and Squacco
Herons, Collared Pratincoles and Slender-billed Gulls. Other birds include Lesser Grey Shrikes, Penduline Tits and
Grey-headed Woodpeckers. Golden, White-tailed, Short-toed, Booted and Lesser Spotted Eagles all breed in the
forests surrounding the lake.
Great White Egret, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, Night
Heron and Spoonbill.
ITINERARY
LAKE KERKINI
Our base for the seven nights is the excellent Hotel Erodios,
overlooking Lake Kerkini. The hotel is beautifully situated,
and pelicans, storks, herons and raptors are a regular sight
from the restaurant area. A Golden Oriole provided an
untimely distraction to breakfast on one occasion!
Over 200 pairs of White Storks nest on roofs and telegraph
poles in the surrounding villages. Many of their nests contain
colonies of busy Spanish Sparrows. Several pairs of Black
Stork also breed within the national park. Black-necked
Grebes breed in small numbers, whilst Whiskered Terns and
Black Terns do so in varying numbers each year.
The most conspicuous bird on the lake is Dalmatian Pelican;
at least 70 pairs nest on specially constructed platforms. The
spectacle is enhanced by numerous White Pelicans which
gather here each spring. By boat we can explore a mixed
colony of cormorants and herons that breed in flooded
riparian forest at the north end of the lake. Alongside huge
numbers of Great Cormorants there are Pygmy Cormorant,
Wildfowl present include Ferruginous Duck and Garganey,
whilst, of the raptors hunting the area, the Lesser Spotted
Eagle is the most evident. Little Bitterns and various crakes
skulk in overgrown ditches whilst Kingfishers flash their
brilliant colours. Damp areas attract Black-headed Wagtails
and Cetti's Warblers, and in nearby woodland and farmland,
Rollers, Golden Orioles, Nightingales, Hoopoes, Masked
28
Shrikes and Lesser Grey Shrikes can be seen. We will look
for three special warblers; Olive-tree, Eastern Olivaceous and
Eastern Orphean. On recent visits we have been fortunate in
finding flocks of recently arrived Eleonora’s Falcons and
Rose-coloured Starlings. On an evening excursion we may
see Little Owl, Scops Owl, Eagle Owl and European Nightjar.
We can expect large numbers of Mediterranean Gulls, plus
smaller numbers of Slender-billed Gulls. Kentish Plover nest
in large numbers, and there is normally a large non-breeding
flock of Greater Flamingos. Passage waders use this site,
including Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper,
Temminck’s Stint, Spotted Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper and
Little Stint. The site is excellent for rarities: Red-necked
Phalarope, Broad-billed Sandpiper and Terek Sandpiper have
all featured on our previous visits!
SIDIROKASTRO
Surrounded on three sides by rocky hills and a gorge, the
town of Sidirokastro nestles unobtrusively into the Greek
countryside. Behind the town a road leads up through
maquis-covered hills to a ruined Byzantine castle where Redrumped Swallows are common and Sardinian Warblers
chatter. On the rocky slopes Black-headed Buntings, Blackeared Wheatears and Rock Sparrows can be seen, and both
Woodchat and Red-backed Shrikes are common. Nearby
woodland holds Syrian Woodpecker and Hawfinch.
Impressive rocky cliffs are attractive to Crag Martins and
Alpine Swifts, and we can also expect to find Eastern
Subalpine Warbler, Rock Nuthatch and Blue Rock Thrush.
CLIMATE AND PACE
Warm, sunny weather is the norm, although we have had rain
on occasions. It is usually cooler in the mountains. Breakfast
will be taken at about 7.30am most mornings. Basic fitness is
all that is required. Day-long birdwatching excursions will be
made with short/medium length walks on the flat. Visits to the
mountains will involve a little uphill walking, done at a
sensible pace.
Full-board accommodation is provided with seven nights in
the wonderfully situated Hotel Erodios by Lake Kerkini. All
rooms have en suite bathrooms. Packed lunches will be
taken every day.
A road winds up a nearby valley, through a rocky gorge and
wooded hillsides, leading to a high plain where Golden
Eagles and Long-legged Buzzards hunt. Juniper-clad slopes
carpeted in wildflowers are home to Ortolan Buntings and
Eastern Orphean Warblers. Calandra Larks sing over the
plain, Rock Sparrows call from rocky outcrops and Eastern
Bonelli’s Warblers are busy establishing territories.
th
accommodation (starting with lunch on 16 , ending with
rd
breakfast on 23 ), soft drinks at meal times, bottled water
throughout, local transport by mini-bus, boat trip and
KERKINI MOUNTAINS
High mountains to the north and east dominate the
landscape. We are fortunate in that good roads cut into them,
allowing access to both mid- and high-elevation habitats.
Birds of prey will be uppermost in our minds. At lower levels
Levant Sparrowhawks and Short-toed and Booted Eagles can
be seen, giving way to Eurasian Sparrowhawks and
Goshawks higher up. In the mid-elevation mixed woodland
Sombre Tits are amongst the highlights. We also know of a
beautiful Alder carr that is frequented by the rare Balkan form
of White-backed Woodpecker.
Return flights from both London Gatwick and Manchester to
Thessaloniki using the scheduled services of Easyjet.
Outbound flight departs early morning; return flight arrives
back early afternoon.
In recent years, our drive to 5000 feet has provided some of
the best and most unexpected sightings. An excellent road
winds its way through old-growth pine forest to the rocky
alpine zone. In the former we have seen Black Woodpecker,
Crested Tit, Crossbill and Nutcracker. On reaching the bare
scree slopes we will search for the localized Rock Partridge,
Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting.
KALOCHORI
The diversity of birdlife around Lake Kerkini is outstanding for
an inland site. Nevertheless, there are some species which
can only be found on the coast, so our visit to Kalochori
should be very productive.
th
rd
7 nights:
16 to 23 May 2016
Principal leader:
John McLoughlin
Maximum group size:
Cost with discount
(if you book before
st
31 January 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£300 per person
Eleonora’s Falcon and Barn Swallow
29
FINLAND
owls, owls and more owls, plus some of Europe’s rarest birds
If you enjoy attractive, unspoilt countryside and
beautiful owls then this is the holiday for you.
Anyone visiting Finland for the first time would have
no difficulty experiencing the former. However, to
find the owls and many other exciting northern birds,
local help is a necessity. We have enlisted the help
of Finnature, a bird tour company run by Jari
Peltomaki,
renowned
Finnish
birder
and
photographer. In addition to searching out Hawk
Owl, Ural Owl, Great Grey Owl, Pygmy Owl and
Tengmalm's Owl we will look for other northern and
eastern
specialities
including
Rough-legged
Buzzard, Capercaillie, Hazel Grouse, Terek
Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Three-toed
Woodpecker, Arctic Warbler, Siberian Tit, Waxwing,
Siberian Jay, Pine Grosbeak and the enigmatic Red-flanked Bluetail.
Great Grey Owl
During this holiday you will feel a sense of remoteness. Indeed, with a population density of just 17 people per
square kilometre (England has over 400) you will quickly forget about congested roads and cluttered cities. We
have chosen a two centre holiday for this one week visit, in order to maximise the birdlife and habitats, but
minimise the travelling. By flying to Oulu, our first base, we will be in the heart of Finland's best wetlands on day
one. After three nights we will drive to Kuusamo, near the Russian border, just south of the Arctic Circle. Here we
will spend the rest of the week looking for eastern specialities.
We first visited Finland in 1996, and operated this itinerary almost annually for the next eight years. So after a gap
of more than ten years we are thrilled to relaunch this trip, helped by a strengthening Pound against the Euro.
which were once the sea bed. This results in an abundance
of wildlife habitat which is impossible to cultivate.
ITINERARY
LIMINGANLAHTI
Having flown to Oulu, our base for the first three nights, we
will find ourselves on the doorstep of Liminganlahti, Finland's
most important wetland. Typical birds we can expect here
include Common Crane, Slavonian Grebe, Short-eared Owl
and Finland's national bird, the Whooper Swan. Our next two
days will be spent exploring this area.
On the lakes we can expect to find Black-throated Diver,
Velvet Scoter, Bean Goose, Caspian Tern, Little Tern and the
splendid Smew. The Red-necked Grebe is a recent colonist.
In the damp meadows and marshes waders breed in
abundance. These include Temminck's Stint, Whimbrel,
Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper and the
delightful Red-necked Phalarope. The rare Terek Sandpiper
chooses the lake shores of Liminganlahti as its only Western
European breeding ground. Ruff may be seen at a lek where
males in their elaborate summer dress dance and squabble
for the attentions of the duller Reeve.
Located on the north-east corner of the Gulf of Bothnia, this is
an area of outstanding natural beauty. Being just 200km
south of the Arctic Circle, the area spent much of the last ten
thousand years buried under thick ice. The weight of this ice
forced the bedrock down into the earth's crust. Since the end
of the last ice age the land has been 'springing' back, at a rate
of about 1cm per year. As a result the landscape is constantly
changing, with marshes being continually created in areas
Small birds breeding around the marshes include Wryneck
and Grey-headed Wagtail, and we may be lucky and find a
30
Blyth's Reed Warbler. In the drier areas there are Greenish
Warblers, Red-backed and Northern Grey Shrikes, Common
Rosefinch and Ortolan. Woodlands in the area hold Black,
Three-toed and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.
Full-board accommodation is provided, with three nights at
the Finlandia Hotel near Oulu and four nights in the Original
Sokos Hotel in Kuusamo. All rooms have en suite bathrooms.
Packed lunches will be taken most days.
No visit to this area is complete without sightings of the
northern owls. We can expect to see Eagle Owl, Ural Owl,
Short-eared Owl, Great Grey Owl, Pygmy Owl and
Tengmalm's Owl. Even the enigmatic Hawk Owl appears
here in good vole years. This task would be impossible
without the help of our Finnish guides, who diligently locate
nests during the early spring when the birds are calling.
guides, full-board accommodation, soft drinks at meal times,
bottled water throughout, local transport by mini-bus, reserve
entrance fees, return flight to Oulu (via Helsinki).
KUUSAMO
On day four we will drive to Kuusamo, our base for the
remaining four nights. Situated on the Russian border, we will
birdwatch around Kuusamo as well as visit the Oulanka
National Park and the forests at Valtavaara. We shall
birdwatch at marshes and water meadows in search of
species such as Broad-billed Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank
and Bluethroat.
Return flight from London Heathrow to Oulu (via Helsinki)
using the scheduled services of Finnair. Outbound flight
departs early afternoon, return flight arrives back early
evening. Domestic flights from Manchester and other UK
details.
There will be an optional ‘grouse drive’ one evening for a
couple of hours after dinner. This may produce sightings of
Willow Grouse, lekking Black Grouse, Hazel Grouse, plus
cranes and perhaps an Elk.
A day will be spent in the nearby Oulanka National Park
where highlights may include Brambling, Parrot Crossbill,
Capercaillie, Black Woodpecker and the delightful Waxwing.
Two particularly special birds, the Siberian Tit and Siberian
Jay, also occur in the area. During the afternoon we will drive
a little further north to cross the Arctic Circle, birdwatching in
Southern Lapland.
Valtavaara National Reserve is found just to the north of
Kuusamo. This impressive taiga forest holds such exciting
eastern specialities as Pine Grosbeak, Arctic Warbler, Threetoed Woodpecker, Rustic Bunting, Little Bunting and Twobarred Crossbill. Inquisitive parties of Siberian Jays become
more and more bold, sometimes taking crumbs from the
hand! However, the highlight here is the rare Red-flanked
Bluetail. With the help of our Finnature guides we have had
good views on each of our trips.
On day eight there will be a little time for some birding near
the town before we head back to Oulu, arriving in good time
before our flight home.
CLIMATE AND PACE
Finland’s climate is similar to that of Scotland at this time of
year. It may be warm and settled, but rain is also a possibility.
The best way to sum it up is changeable, so we will be
flexible with our plans to make the most of what is available.
Breakfast will normally be taken at 7am. Beware of tour
groups which take you birding through the night in search of
'night singers'. Our experience has shown that this is largely
unnecessary. There are 24 hours of daylight at this time of
year and we are careful not to overstretch ourselves because
of this. Basic fitness is all that is required. Full days will be
spent in the field and short/medium length walks will be
undertaken regularly. Most of the country is flat, but there will
be some uphill walking at Valtavaara in search of Red-flanked
Bluetail, done at a sensible pace.
31
th
th
7 nights:
5 to 12 June 2016
Principal leader:
Paul J. Willoughby
Local guide:
provided by Finnature
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
20 February 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£300 per person
ESTONIA
late spring in the northern forests and orchid meadows
Estonia has become a firm favourite in
the Bird Holidays calendar. Having
completed an incredible 18 successful
tours to this small and beautiful country we are still enthralled by the surprises it has to offer.
Great Snipe
More than half the country is still covered in forest and woodlands and much of the rest is made up of extensive
wetlands and slow flowing rivers. Where the forests and the marshes end there are numerous small farmsteads.
Here the photogenic buildings of all shapes and hues blend into the backdrop of overgrown gardens and wildflower
meadows.
The timing of our visit is important. All the summer visitors will have arrived and the forest meadows will be full of
orchids and other wildflowers. Our daily excursions are designed to take advantage of this abundance of nature.
The air is crisp and clear, full of the scents of the pine, spruce and birch trees which dominate the Siberian-like
forests. The Baltic summer may be fleeting but experiences an explosion of life. Long evenings are filled with
colourful sunsets, with the calls of Corncrakes standing out amongst vibrant birdsong.
Amongst the forest and bogs we should expect to find some great birds including Ural Owl, Capercaillie, Hazelhen,
Black Stork and Lesser Spotted Eagle. Woodpeckers are good indicators of forest health and we should encounter
all the resident species. The late spring migrants will have arrived, such as Greenish, Barred, River, Marsh and
Blyth’s Reed Warblers. Estonia's wetlands are situated on the Baltic flyway and are used as a brief stopover for
migrants en route to Siberia. All in all this tour will be a wildlife spectacular, a celebration of north-eastern Europe in
spring.
breeding species. Marsh Sandpipers also breed here now,
and are beautiful in their summer plumage. At times the
flocks of feeding Black Terns are joined by their graceful
cousins the White-winged Black Tern.
ITINERARY
TARTU
On arrival in Tallinn, the country’s capital, we will head south
east towards Tartu. A country hotel will be our base for the
first three nights of the tour. In the plain of the Emajogi River
we will check the marshes for Great White Egrets, Common
Cranes, Garganey and Red-necked Grebes which all breed
here. The old polders of Soviet times have been reclaimed by
nature and provide home to a host of wetland birds. Black
Terns and Little Gulls nest on rafts of floating vegetation.
Bitterns boom from the extensive reedbeds, whilst the wet
meadows resound to the rasping calls of Corncrakes. At dusk
they are joined by Spotted Crakes and reeling Savi’s
Warblers. Over the last 15 years we have seen Citrine
Wagtail increase from being a rarity to become a regular
Breeding White-backed Woodpeckers and Penduline Tits are
found in the riparian woodland. The latter will be feeding
young in their intricate nests suspended from riverside trees.
Honey Buzzards display over the forest clearings. Sightings
of Osprey and Lesser Spotted Eagle can also be expected.
The Black Stork is a rare breeding bird but one or two pairs
occur in the surrounding forest. Black Woodpeckers will be
active feeding their hungry young. The verdant woodlands
echo to the trilling of Wood Warblers and the distinctive songs
of both Pied and Red-breasted Flycatchers.
32
Along the back roads amongst the colourful hamlets singing
Blyth’s Reed Warblers favour the overgrown gardens. Marsh
Warblers prefer the weedy field edges whilst River Warblers
can be found alongside the meandering streams. A tranquil
picnic spot beside an old mill allows us to reflect on a bygone
age.
On day eight we will head back to Tallinn for our flight home.
CLIMATE AND PACE
Estonia in June can be a mix of warm sunny days and cooler
nights, but occasionally it may be rainy. Breakfast will be
taken at about 7.30 am. Basic fitness is all that is required.
Full days will be spent in the field and short/medium length
walks on the flat will be undertaken regularly. There are no
uphill walks.
In the evening we will look for lekking Great Snipe which
gather in the water meadows where their jousting reaches a
climax as dusk falls. This site has also proved to be a good
place to observe nocturnal mammals such as Badger, Beaver
and Wild Boar. Nightjars and Woodcock are common in the
forest near our hotel and there is always the possibility of
seeing Ural Owl.
Full-board accommodation is provided with three nights near
Tartu and four nights near Haapsalu, both at lovely rural
hotels. Both are of good standard and all rooms have en suite
facilities. Lunches will be taken at local restaurants along with
the occasional picnic..
MATSALU BAY
On day four we will head west towards Estonia’s premier
wetland reserve, Matsalu Bay. It was made into a national
park just over a decade ago. Our base for the next four nights
will be another quiet and comfortable country hotel.
accommodation (starting with lunch on 6th, ending with lunch
th
on 13 ), local transport by mini-bus, ferry to Saaremaa
Island, reserve entrance fees, boat trip, international flights.
Matsalu is one of the most important wetlands in Northern
Europe. At its heart is an open coastal bay where the forest
gives way to water-meadows and vast reedbeds. In spring
the shallow lagoon becomes a vital staging ground for
migrant waterfowl. This is a natural paradise for birdwatchers
and boasts some 175 breeding species of bird. White-tailed
Eagles hunt nervous wildfowl whilst Marsh Harriers quarter
the reeds. Displaying Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits
join the lekking Ruff in the wet meadows.
Return flights from London Gatwick to Tallinn using the
scheduled services of Easyjet. Outbound flight departs early
morning, with return landing late afternoon. Flights from
Manchester can be arranged for a supplement, but may
require an overnight in Tallinn.
In the coastal bays colourful Arctic bound waders feed
voraciously in the shallows. Jet black Spotted Redshanks
occur alongside two toned Grey Plovers. We shall seek out
Broad-billed Sandpipers amongst the tundra bound Ringed
Plovers. Temminck’s Stints shuffle around the meadow pools
whilst displaying Dunlins buzz overhead. One evening we will
take a boat trip along a slow moving river to look for Beavers
and reedbed birds. Great Reed Warblers are abundant as are
Savi’s Warblers and we may also spot the occasional
Bluethroat.
In the surrounding woodlands and gardens colonies of noisy
Fieldfares raise their young. Wrynecks too are common,
along with Thrush Nightingales, Icterine Warblers and
Hawfinches. Barred Warblers and Red-backed Shrikes nest
amongst the juniper scrub. The weedy meadows are full of
Whinchats, whilst Common Rosefinches whistle their
greetings from roadside copses.
Attractive woodland flowers and orchids will be in full bloom
whilst many butterflies and dragonflies will have taken wing.
We shall visit the ancient forest meadows around the bay to
look for them. Some 36 species of orchids can be found in
Estonia. The highlight will be a day trip to Saaremaa Island to
witness the astonishing spectacle of fields full of glorious
Lady Slipper Orchids.
A short drive from Matsalu Bay will take us to the forested
area of Leidissoo. Many of the best birds here are either
uncommon or rather shy, so a certain amount of luck will be
required to see them. Black Grouse and Capercaillie should
be more reliable as they leave their traditional lek sites in the
morning. Three-toed Woodpeckers and Nutcrackers nest in
the old growth forest where Hazel Grouse too, can be found.
Crested Tits and Common Crossbills call from the pines
whilst the forest echoes to the sound of feverish Cuckoos.
Estonia is one of the few European countries to retain healthy
populations of European Beaver, Brown Bear and European
Elk. All are naturally shy and difficult to see, but we have
seen all three on previous tours.
33
th
th
7 nights:
6 to 13 June 2016
Principal leader:
John McLoughlin
Local guide:
Margus Pensa
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
Cost with discount
(if you book before
st
21 February 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£300 per person
MADEIRA
endemic landbirds and enigmatic seabirds
The Atlantic’s Floating Garden, as Madeira is
affectionately known, is blessed with a wonderful
spring-like climate, almost year-round. The floral
display is at its best in May and June, which is a
bonus for us as this is a great time to see the
seabirds for which the islands are famed.
The Desertas Islands lie tantalizingly close to the
south-east coast of Madeira. The highlight of our trip
will be a visit to Deserta Grande, with the rare
privilege of staying overnight. From the boat we will
scan for Pilot Whales, Bryde’s Whales, dolphins,
Madeira Firecrest
Desertas Petrels and Cory’s Shearwaters. As night
falls the place comes alive with the calls of Cory’s
Shearwaters, Bulwer’s Petrels and Madeiran Storm-petrels. Every birdwatcher should try to visit a petrel colony at
night at least once, as it is an unforgettable experience. On this tour we visit two! On one night we will be taken by
licensed guides to a Zino’s Petrel colony, high on Pico do Arieiro, one of Madeira’s highest peaks. As night falls we
can listen to the eerie calls and perhaps glimpse one of the world’s rarest seabirds, which nest here and nowhere
else on earth.
The system of levada paths allows the visitor to explore magnificent and rugged mountains with relative ease. In a
landscape of jagged peaks and waterfalls we can make easy walks along paths that follow the contours of the hills
in search of the birds native to the laurel forest.
We will be based at the lovely Monte Mar Palace Hotel at Punta Delgada, on the north coast of the island, leaving
here for one night when we visit Deserta Grande. The low bird diversity on Madeira means that we have planned
an easy itinerary. Nevertheless, there will be plenty to occupy us for the week, and during any spare time we can
relax or watch for seabirds, whales and dolphins from the hotel grounds.
bold white supercilium and has totally different calls. The very
distinctive Madeiran Chaffinch is also related to its mainland
counterpart, and may one day be split as a species in its own
right. Other species represented by local races include
Blackcap, Sparrowhawk, Grey Wagtail and Blackbird.
ITINERARY
THE LAUREL FOREST
Sub-tropical laurel forest covers extensive parts of the northfacing slopes, sustained by moisture from the north-east
trade winds. Dramatic peaks of extinct volcanoes offer a
spectacular backdrop. Amazing vistas remind us of the high
Andes, and whilst the species diversity is low, almost every
bird we see is either an endemic species or race.
Walking the levadas, lined with Madeira Geraniums, we will
have lots of time to enjoy the birds, flowers and insects. The
only native reptile, the Madeiran Wall Lizard, scurries across
rocky outcrops while Madeiran Speckled Wood and Indian
Red Admirals flit over sunny glades. The endemic Madeira
Cleopatra is attracted to the flowers of the Pride of Madeira, a
spectacular relative of Viper’s Bugloss. We have allowed two
mornings for levada walks, and these will be easy walking.
The forest at Ribeiro Frio is a delight to visit, whilst the
spectacular Risco waterfall should be on everyone’s itinerary.
Trocaz Pigeons occur only on this one island, in this one
habitat, making their very existence precarious. Their habitat
has been reduced by man’s activities in the past. Happily,
today all the remaining laurel forest is protected in the huge
Parque Natural. The sprightly Madeira Firecrest is quite
common in the laurel forest as well as inhabiting mountain
scrub. Related to the mainland Firecrest, it lacks that species’
34
PONTA DE SAO LOURENCO
The dramatic Sao Lourenco Peninsula juts out from the
eastern end of Madeira and offers a completely different
experience. The basalt rocks have been eroded down to
become colourful sea-cliffs and bizarrely shaped rock towers.
Plain Swifts rip through the air. Berthelot’s Pipits sing from
rocky pinnacles. Rock Sparrows are commoner here than
elsewhere on the island and Canaries flit from bush to bush.
Peaks of long extinct volcanoes jut up above a sea of cloud.
The amazing sunsets alone are worth coming for. As
darkness falls we will make our way to the colony, with the
assistance of a licensed guide. We can listen to the wild calls
of these rare birds as they return to their colony, and perhaps
glimpse a bird overhead in the moonlight.
CLIMATE AND PACE
Madeira enjoys a spring-like climate, year round. Not too hot,
not too cold, but just right. Warm days are the norm, with a
low chance of rain. The low species diversity means that this
will be a relaxed trip. Walking on the levadas is mostly flat
and very easy. The levadas we have chosen are not those
infamous ones with steep drops and no hand rails. On the
Sao Lourenco Peninsula the path goes up and down hills,
which we will do at a sensible pace. To visit the Zino’s Petrel
colony we have a 30 minute walk on a well made path with
hand rails, returning in the dark with torches. The night on
Deserta Grande is an amazing experience, but you will need
a certain spirit of adventure. You can sleep on land under the
stars or under a shelter, or on the boat. It should be very mild,
and we will provide blankets and a soft mat.
THE DESERTAS ISLANDS
On day four we will visit the Desertas Islands, with the rare
privilege of staying overnight on Deserta Grande. Our boat is
the lovely Ventura do Mar and the sailing time from Funchal
is three to four hours. The waters between Madeira and the
Desertas are very deep, and upwellings bring nutrients to the
surface, making it an excellent feeding ground for seabirds.
As we leave Funchal Harbour we should be able to pick out a
few Roseate Terns. We will soon come across big numbers of
Cory’s Shearwaters, forming large rafts on the sea. Further
out we will see our first Bulwer’s Petrels. Much larger than the
storm-petrels, these masters of the air fly effortlessly over the
waves. Desertas Petrel, which breeds only on Bugio in the
Desertas, should be seen in small numbers. We will keep a
sharp eye out for whales and dolphins, the most frequent
species being Bryde’s Whale, Short-finned Pilot Whale, and
Spotted and Bottle-nosed Dolphins.
Full-board accommodation is provided at the Monte Mar
Palace Hotel, Punta Delgada. There will be one night on
Deserta Grande. We will keep our rooms at the Monte Mar
throughout, so there’s no need to pack and repack, taking just
a day/night bag on the boat. The hotel is of a high standard
with en suite bathrooms.
We will land in the afternoon and explore the area around the
wardens’ hut. Perhaps they will show us a Bulwer’s Petrel
nesting amongst the boulders, whilst our onboard naturalist
will explain about the efforts to save the Mediterranean Monk
Seal. In the evening we will have a barbecue, then wait for
night time, when the air comes alive with the sounds of
nesting seabirds. Cory’s are the most vociferous. Bulwer’s fly
around in the dark, crashing clumsily into boulders before
shuffling into their nests. Madeiran Storm-petrels have a
distinctive call, like the sound of rubber shoes on a polished
floor. They are common and can be seen fluttering over our
heads. Against a backdrop of a billion stars, this is a
performance that will live in the memory for a long time.
Eventually we must settle down for the night, and you can
choose to wrap yourself in a blanket under the stars or return
to the boat. Next morning we will head back to Funchal. We
will arrive back in time for lunch, and you can spend the rest
of the day relaxing or catching up on lost sleep!
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mini-bus, two boat trips, reserve entrance fees and guides
fees, and return flight to Funchal.
Return flights from Leeds/Bradford and Manchester to
Funchal using the scheduled services of Jet2. Outbound flight
departs mid-morning, return flight arrives back mid to late
evening. London flights are also available, please phone for
details.
MORE SEABIRDING
In addition to the Desertas trip, we will do another boat trip
later in the week, providing further opportunities for birds,
whales and dolphins, plus Loggerhead Turtles.
Our hotel is also perfectly situated for watching the sea. On
the occasional free afternoon you can look out for pods of
dolphins, the blow of a Bryde’s Whale, or a seabird feeding
frenzy which may contain a rare Barolo’s (Little) Shearwater.
One final seabird deserves a special mention. In 1903,
naturalist Ernesto Schmitz obtained a specimen of a petrel in
Madeira. It was almost forgotten about for the next 80 years.
Local man Alec Zino took it upon himself to refind, then
protect, the nesting grounds. The Zino’s Petrel or Freira de
Madeira, is now fully protected and his son, Frank Zino, runs
the Freira Conservation Project.
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7 nights :
13 to 20 June 2016
Principal leader:
Andrew Woodall
Maximum group size:
7 clients with one leader or 13
clients with two leaders
Cost with discount
(if you book before
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29 February 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£300 per person
BALI, JAVA, FLORES AND
KOMODO
birding across the Wallace line
Working independently, Charles Darwin and Alfred
Russel Wallace developed the theory of evolution.
While Darwin’s theories began on Galapagos,
Wallace’s activities centred on Indonesia, where he
collected specimens for British museums. Wallace
noticed that the distribution of creatures from Asia
extended south as far as Java and Bali. Although
many had evolved far enough to become different
species, they remained firmly allied to Asian
families.
Leaving Bali, Wallace crossed the Lombok Strait, a
distance of just 35 miles, and noticed a dramatic
Komodo Dragon and Barred Doves
change. The creatures east of this line, such as on
Flores and Komodo, had Australian ancestry.
Wallace found cockatoos and friarbirds, whilst the bulbuls and woodpeckers had been left behind in Java and Bali.
Like Galapagos, each of the islands we will visit has its own unique fauna and flora. Some, like the Javan Whiteeye or Javan Plover, differ very little from their close relatives. Others, like the Javan Kingfisher and Bali Starling,
are striking in their differences. The Dragons of Komodo recall a time past. A time when giant lizards roamed the
earth. These prehistoric leviathans are not out of place among the dramatic volcanic islets here.
Today, Wallace is a hero celebrated by naturalists who named many species after him. The endemic Wallace’s
Hanging-parrot, Wallace’s Scops Owl and Wallacean Drongo are amongst the many species we hope to see. The
first half of our tour is spent looking for endemic birds on Bali and Java. The most iconic of these is the Bali
Starling, of which only a handful of wild birds survive. Then a short flight across the Wallace Line takes us to Flores,
with its own charm, isolation and endemics. From here, we will visit Komodo and Rinca: both UNESCO sites where
‘there be dragons!’
abundance, many of which are endemic. Flame-fronted
Barbet, Blood-breasted Flowerpecker, Javan Owlet,
Indonesian Honeyeater, Yellow-throated Hanging Parrot and
Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon all occur here.
ITINERARY
BALI AND JAVA
Our flight from the UK takes us to Bali, a beautiful Pacific
island topped with volcanic peaks and scattered with temples.
As you would expect of this destination, the infrastructure is
very good, with quality hotels and a network of good roads
that allow us to explore the island.
In the afternoon, we will descend from the Central Highlands
to reach the coast at Bali Barat National Park, our base for
the next two nights. Here we have a full day birding in search
of Javan Kingfisher, Javan Plover, Javan Banded Pitta and
Green Junglefowl. Two members of the starling family here
are critically endangered and this is the best place in the
world to see them. On Bali, the Black-winged Starling is found
only in this park. Despite being much rarer, the Bali Starling is
From the airport we will drive to Bedugul, passing coastal
lagoons which hold Small Blue Kingfisher and Javan Pond
Heron, before arriving at Bali Handara Kosaido for our first
night. Our hotel is nestled inside the crater of an extinct
volcano. The following morning we will find mountain birds in
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easier to locate due to its colour. This snow-white bird has a
blue face and long crest, but its beauty led to its demise. In
2006 only six wild birds were left! A concerted effort has
increased the number to about 50, but it remains one of the
rarest birds in the world.
We will visit Danau Rana Mese where we will look for the
splendid White-rumped Kingfisher. We should also find the
Great-billed Parrot, Brown Quail and endemic Goldenrumped and Black-breasted Flowerpeckers.
Finally, we will return to Labuhan Bajo, for one night, in
advance of our flight back to the UK.
On day five we will take a short ferry ride to East Java where
we will spend two nights at Ketapang. Here we will be birding
at Baluran National Park and Ijen Nature Reserve, two of the
best places to find Javanese endemics. The forest holds
Pink-headed Fruit Dove, Sunda Minivet, Black-banded
Barbet, White-crowned Forktail, Sunda Bush-warbler, Sunda
Warbler, Ruddy Cuckoo-dove, Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon,
and Grey-cheeked Tit-babbler; all watched over by the Javan
Hawk-eagle.
CLIMATE AND PACE
It is likely to be hot and sunny throughout this itinerary, but
with a small chance of rain. At higher elevations it should be a
little cooler. Breakfast will be taken at about 6.30am most
mornings to take advantage of the cooler morning period.
Basic fitness is all that is required. Full days will be spent in
the field and reasonable length walks will be undertaken
regularly. There are some uneven paths and some uphill
walks, all taken at a gentle pace.
FLORES, KOMODO AND RINCA
After a second morning of birding in Java, we cross back to
Bali and head to Denpasar, ready for our flight to Flores.
Arriving at Labuhan Bajo in Flores, part of the Lesser Sunda
archipelago, we will check into our hotel for three nights and
do a little local birding that afternoon. This region is well
known for its volcanic activity; Krakatoa lies along the same
chain of islands, a thousand miles to the west. The setting is
wonderful, with palm-fringed beaches and golden sunsets
over triangular peaks. However, this beauty hides terror, for
the following day, we go in search of dragons.
Full-board accommodation is provided, with one night at the
Bali Handara Kosaido Resort, Bali, two nights at the Adi Assri
Resort, Bali, two nights at the Ketapang Indah, Java, one
night at the Harris Tuban Hotel, Bali, three nights at the Jaya
Karta Hotel, Labuhan Bajo, Flores, two nights at the Ruteng
Seminary Mission, Flores, one night back at the Jaya Karta
Hotel, Labuhan Bajo, Flores. All hotels are of a good
standard. The Mission at Ruteng has rooms that are rather
plain, but nevertheless clean and comfortable. All rooms are
en suite. Lunch will normally be at restaurants, but
occasionally we will take a packed lunch.
Komodo and Rinca are two small volcanic islands where the
Komodo Dragon has been isolated for millennia. Taking a
boat trip to these islands is one of the world’s greatest wildlife
experiences. As we meander through coastal waters that
resemble a Lost World film set, we can watch Black-naped
Terns and piratic Lesser Frigatebirds. Once ashore we can
expect close views (not too close though) of the Komodo
Dragon. Wardens ensure our safety, since the dragons sleep
with one eye open.
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bottled water throughout, transport by minibus, boat trip,
reserve entrance fees, ferry, domestic flights and international
flights.
Barred Doves are wary of Variable Goshawks, while Whitebellied Sea-eagles soar above the cone-shaped peaks. Being
remote, these islands still hold good populations of birds and
animals that have suffered severe declines elsewhere. With
ten percent of the world population of the critically
endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo on these two tiny
islands, we must be alert to their calls. Orange-footed
Scrubfowl forage at the feet of grazing Timor Deer. Slight
regional differences to some of the common birds make the
possibility of seeing an undescribed species here very real.
Travel insurance. Cost of obtaining a visa (approx. £20 and
obtainable on arrival in Bali). Personal items, alcoholic drinks,
laundry.
Flights from London Heathrow to Bali (via Singapore), using
the scheduled services of Singapore Airlines. Outbound flight
departs mid-evening, return arrives back mid-afternoon.
There is a nine hour stop over in Singapore on the return
journey, where it is possible to get a hotel room in the transit
area (without clearing customs). It is also possible to fly
from Manchester and other UK airports. Please phone for
details.
The next day we will birdwatch at the west end of Flores,
which has a very different feel to Bali. Flores is less
developed and certainly not as touristy. We will birdwatch
along the Potowangka Road where we will look for endemics
including Flores Minivet, Flores Leaf-warbler and Flores
Green Pigeon, a species often difficult to see.
At this time of year, migration has just begun and raptors
follow the island chain towards Australia. This is a major route
for Chinese Sparrowhawk, Oriental Honey-buzzard and Black
Baza. We should also be mindful that the recently described
Flores Hawk-eagle could pass overhead at any time.
We will then head to Ruteng in the Flores interior, for two
nights, birding along the way. The volcanic landscape is
painted with terraces of rice paddies and woodland patches.
Along the road, we have a chance of finding Wallace’s
Hanging Parrots feeding in fruiting trees. The Wallacean
Drongo and Wallace’s Scops Owl, birds that commemorate
the great man’s name, also live here.
Birding in the forest at Puarlodo should produce the stunning
Flores Monarch and perhaps, with patience, an Elegant Pitta.
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14 nights including
16 to 30 July 2016
Principal leader:
Phil Palmer
Local guide:
Hery Kusumanegara
and other wardens/rangers
Maximum group size:
and local guides
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Cost with discount
(if you book before
nd
2 April 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£1000 per person
MONGOLIA
sandgrouse in the Green Gobi and Siberian migrants in the taiga
Mongolia is a superb birding destination, and one
which conjures up visions of the past: Mongol
hordes rampaging across the plains, led by the
great warrior leader Genghis Khan. Even today,
once away from the capital, you will get the feeling
that you have stepped back in time. Mongolia, the
‘land of blue sky’, is where the great Siberian forest
meets rolling steppe and the vast Gobi desert. It is
one of the last unspoilt travel destinations in Asia.
Low population densities mean that we will
White-naped Crane
encounter extensive uninhabited tracts of
grassland, desert and mountain. Harsh winters, wind
and sun have sculpted an incomparable landscape of open sweeping plains and jagged mountain ranges.
Mongolia is a huge landlocked country covering an area twelve times the size of Great Britain. It is home to over
440 species of birds which include globally scarce species such as Swan Goose, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Whitenaped Crane, Altai Snowcock, Oriental Plover, Henderson’s Ground Jay and Saxaul Sparrow. Raptors are plentiful
in this vast country, with good populations of Lammergeier, Black Vulture, Upland Buzzard and Saker Falcon.
As well as staying in the modern day capital of Ulan Bator, this holiday will explore two key areas of the country. To
the north-east of the capital lie the Khentii Mountains, the highest mountain range in eastern Mongolia. Here, at the
southern end of the vast Siberian taiga, are mountains covered in beautiful larch and birch forest. These are the
breeding grounds of Pallas’s Warblers and Red-flanked Bluetails as well as home to Hazelhen and Black Grouse.
In the south of the country we will visit the Gobi Desert where an amazingly green desert steppe stretches as far as
the eye can see. The journey takes us to ancient Saxaul forests, to the mountains of the Gobi Altai and to high
desert sand dunes which acquire a strange purple hue as the sun sets.
hold migrant Olive-backed Pipits and Arctic and Yellowbrowed Warblers.
ITINERARY
ULAN BATOR AND THE TUUL VALLEY
Our base for the first two nights is the capital, Ulan Bator, a
bustling mix of the old and the new. The focus of the city is
Sukhbataar Square, surrounded by palaces, parliament
buildings and modern office blocks. A small park at the
southern end is a good site for migrants such as Brown
Shrike, Taiga Flycatcher and Dusky and Arctic Warblers.
Red-billed Choughs scavenge on the steps of the Stock
Exchange, whilst overhead Black-eared Kites circle,
accompanied by the occasional Black Vulture.
As we approach the fringes of the Terelj National Park,
Steppe Eagles hunt marmots and susliks which peer at the
visitor from their roadside mounds. Mixed flocks of Oriental
Rooks and Daurian Jackdaws feed in the meadows.
THE SOUTHERN GOBI
On day four we will take a morning flight to the southern city
of Dalanzangad, gateway to the Green Gobi. Our local guide
will take us across seemingly trackless steppes to witness
some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet.
Remnant Saxual forest at the famous dinosaur cliffs of
Bayanzag are home to Daurian Shrike, Steppe Grey Shrike
and Asian Desert Warbler. With luck we may encounter the
striking Saxual Sparrow or the even rarer Henderson’s
Ground Jay.
To the east the valley of the River Tuul opens out. It is in this
valley we shall first encounter rural Mongolia and some of its
rich and varied birdlife. Azure Tits join roving tit flocks in the
willows lining river banks. Further up stream, stretches of
mature riparian woodland support both Black and Three-toed
Woodpeckers. Daurian Redstarts flit between the trees which
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Accommodation is in traditional Ger camps, the felt-lined
homes used by nomadic Mongols. These small camps are
designed to have low environmental impact and are powered
by wind generators and solar panels. We cross low mountain
ridges to reach the spectacular dunes at Hongoriyn Els, a
place of amazing beauty as the sun sets. At the time of our
visit the steppes are covered in flocks of Pallas’s
Sandgrouse; over 5000 were encountered on one of our
previous visits. Even more abundant are flocks of Mongolian
Shore Larks and Asian Short-toed Larks, with Mongolian
Trumpeter Finches in flocks too many to count! Elusive
Goitered Gazelles may be encountered on the plains and last
time we were also lucky enough to see two wolves. The rare
Oriental Plover breeds on the steppe and, with luck, we may
encounter a post breeding gathering of these elegant waders.
Lanceolated Warbler, Red-flanked Bluetail, Pine Bunting and
Long-tailed Rosefinch. Pallas’s Warblers join mixed species
flocks, along with Azure, Marsh and Willow Tits in the riverside trees. Steppe Eagles hunt the picas and susliks whose
burrows dot the meadows around the camp. It is a truly
magical place.
Finally, on day 15 we will drive back to Ulan Bator, spending
one night there before our flight back home.
Please note: The domestic flights on this itinerary fill up
a long time in advance and so we urge you to book early
to avoid disappointment.
CLIMATE AND PACE
Autumn days in Mongolia are superb, with settled warm
sunny weather being the norm. In the mountains it can be
cold at night. There is a slight chance of rain both in the
mountains and lowlands. Breakfast will be taken at about
7am most mornings, perhaps slightly later if the previous day
has been tiring. Basic fitness is all that is required. Full days
will be spent in the field and short/medium length walks on
the flat will be undertaken regularly.
The sandgrouse come to drink at a small river which runs at
the base of the dunes and the freshwater acts as a magnet to
migrating birds. Waders include Temminck’s and Red-necked
Stints, and Swinhoe’s and Pintail Snipes. Flocks of Baikal and
Swinhoe’s Wagtails and Blyth’s and Richard’s Pipits attract
passing Pied and Pallid Harriers. The adjacent steppe holds
varying numbers of Isabelline, Pied and Desert Wheatears. In
the marshes, Siberian migrants include Olive-backed Pipit,
Bluethroat, Pallas’s Reed Bunting and Lanceolated, Pallas’s
Grasshopper and Thick-billed Warblers.
Full-board accommodation is provided with two nights in Ulan
Bator, five nights in the Gobi Desert (three camps), one night
in Ulan Bator, five nights in the Khentii Mountains (two
camps) and the final night back in Ulan Bator. In Ulan Bator,
rooms are of a very good standard and have en suite
facilities. Outside the capital we will be staying in Ger camps,
the traditional Mongolian way. Rooms have proper beds and
a wash basin. There are separate toilets and wash rooms and
meals will be served in a restaurant or a converted Ger.
Into the high mountains on days seven and eight, we will
search for specialities in Yolyn Am, the Valley of the
Lammergeier. In the gorge there are Wallcreepers, the
endemic Koslov’s Accentor, as well as both Brown and Alpine
Accentors. Godlewski’s Buntings may come to drink at the
stream and we may see both Great and Chinese Beautiful
Rosefinches. Up on the high slopes Siberian Ibex graze, wary
of their main predator, the Snow Leopard. A sighting of one of
these majestic cats is highly unlikely but, by following the
ibex, we may detect a party of Altai Snowcock. These strange
birds inhabit the highest ridges of the mountains. We can
scope the crags from below whilst enjoying eye-level views of
Lammergeiers and Himalayan Griffon Vultures. The peaks
here are full of raptors including Golden Eagle and numerous
Saker Falcons.
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accommodation, (starting with lunch on the 25 and ending
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with breakfast on the 8 ), soft drinks at meal times, bottled
water throughout, local transport by mini-bus, reserve
entrance fees, international and internal flights.
KHAN KHENTII
A morning flight back to Ulan Bator on day nine gives us time
to relax and sightsee in the city. On day ten a drive to the
east of the capital takes us to Gun Galut National Park for the
next two nights. This is home to the endangered White-naped
Crane. These magnificent birds should still be present at the
time of our visit, along with flocks of migrating Demoiselle
Cranes. A splendid pair of Siberian Cranes was the highlight
of one visit, while Little Whimbrel and Relict Gull have also
featured. Several large lakes hold impressive numbers of
wildfowl and waders. Amongst them we should find Swan
Geese, Bar-headed Geese and Eastern Taiga Bean Geese.
Large flocks of Pacific Golden Plovers and Spotted
Redshanks occur as well as smaller waders such as Rednecked Phalarope. Along the lake margins migrants include
Buff-bellied and Red-throated Pipits, Little and Lapland
Buntings and perhaps a Siberian Rubythroat or two.
Travel insurance. Entry visa (£40, but currently waived). Items
of a personal nature, alcoholic drinks, laundry.
Return flight from London Heathrow to Ulan Bator (via
Istanbul) using the scheduled services of Turkish Airlines.
Outbound flight departs late morning, return flight arrives late
evening. Domestic flights from Manchester and other UK
details.
Moving on into the mountains, our next base for three nights
is at an idyllic summer Ger camp situated in a meadow
between a white water river and larch covered mountains.
Here, at the southern edge of the Siberian taiga, bird
communities reflect this extensive forest habitat. Deep in the
forest we may encounter the shy Hazelhen. The Black-billed
Capercaillie occurs here but is even harder to find. Lingering
breeding birds are joined by migrants from further north.
These include Great Grey Shrike, Red-throated Thrush,
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15 nights including
24 Aug. to 8 Sept. 2016
Principal leader:
John McLoughlin
Maximum group size:
10 clients with a leader
and an interpreter/guide
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Cost with discount
(if you book before
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11 May 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£1000 per person
NORTHERN SPAIN’S MAMMALS
wolves, bears and wildcats in the Cantabrian Mountains
Spain is home to a wealth of rare birds and
mammals. Over the years we have developed more
itineraries to this rich country than anywhere else.
Now we have a new tour, on which we can show
you three special mammals, Iberian Wolf,
Cantabrian Brown Bear and Wildcat. What may
surprise the visitor is that these mammals are very
reliably found, with the help of our knowledgeable
local guides. The wild and unspoilt habitat that
supports these endangered mammals is also home
to masses of birds, so this itinerary should appeal to
all. Wallcreeper, Alpine Chough, Alpine Accentor,
Snow Finch, Golden Eagle and Griffon Vulture are
among the avian highlights.
Iberian Wolf
After arriving at Bilbao airport we will drive to our
first hotel, at Riano, in the Picos de Europa. A healthy population of Iberian Wolves live in the mountains here,
while Wildcats can be found in the daytime in fields near our hotel. On day four we will drive west to the pretty
village of Pola de Somiedo, in the heart of the Parque Natural de Somiedo. This is the stronghold of the Cantabrian
Brown Bear, an endangered subspecies of the widespread Brown Bear. Usually hidden in the vast beech woods,
they venture onto the open hillsides to gorge on autumn berries at this time of year. On the afternoon of day seven
we will drive back to Bilbao, staying in a hotel next to the airport in advance of our flight home.
creatures is very high. Sooner or later the adults should
return and we will watch them engaged in their social
activities such as feeding, playing, territory marking and
bonding.
ITINERARY
PICOS DE EUROPA
Arriving around lunchtime, we will soon be on the road
heading west from Bilbao. A new motorway offers spectacular
views along the coast whilst allowing us to cover the miles
quite easily. Once we head inland the scenery quickly
changes and the stupendous limestone peaks of the Picos de
Europa appear on the horizon. We will make our way to
Riano, at the southern end of the national park, our base for
the first three nights.
While waiting and watching for wolves, there are lots of other
things to see. Red Deer are numerous on the mid-elevation
slopes whilst Cantabrian Chamois, a type of alpine antelope,
is found higher up. Griffon Vultures soar overhead, whilst
both Golden Eagle and Peregrine are occasionally seen. This
is passage time too, so groups of Honey Buzzards, plus
occasional Marsh and Montagu’s Harriers, Short-toed and
Booted Eagles, and Black Kites should be seen passing
overhead. A few Egyptian Vultures should also remain after
the breeding season.
The next morning we will make our first excursion to look for
wolves. There are some 18 to 20 packs of Iberian Wolf in the
area. Every spring our local guides try to locate four or five of
the most accessible packs, getting to know their daily
routines. They make a special effort to find the places where
the adults leave their young when on hunting trips, and it is to
one of these spots that we will head. So the hard work will
have already been done. All we have to do is get up quite
early, go by 4x4 into the mountains, walk the last bit to get
into position, then wait. The whole operation is so well
organised that our chances of seeing these secretive
We can venture higher up into the mountains to look for both
Alpine Accentor and Snow Finch. Wallcreeper, too, is reliably
found in these high mountains. Citril Finch is rather scarce,
but following a productive breeding season we have a chance
of finding them. At lower altitudes we can walk through beech
woods that hold Black Woodpecker, Firecrest and Crested
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Tit. Middle Spotted Woodpecker is possible too in the cherry
orchards.
time. When looking for birds, bears and wildcats, the pace will
be relaxed.
A special mention should also be made of another star
mammal here. In late summer local farmers, practicing a very
traditional method of farming, cut hay from the fields in the
lush valley bottoms. This exposes the burrows of countless
numbers of small rodents. The normally shy Wildcats come
out of the beech woods in the late afternoon and can be seen
hunting in broad daylight. There is a very healthy population
here, and studies have shown that they are not subject to
hybridization with domestic cats. With care and patience we
can expect great views of this fantastic predator.
the Hotel Presa, Riano, three nights at the Hotel Casa Mino,
Somiedo and one night at the Holiday Inn at Bilbao Airport.
All hotels are of a good standard and all rooms have an en
suite bathroom. Packed lunches will be taken every day.
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guides, full-board accommodation (starting with lunch on 28 ,
th
ending with breakfast on 4 ), soft drinks at meal times,
bottled water throughout, local transport by mini-coach and
4x4 and international flights.
PARQUE NATURAL DE SOMIEDO
On day four we can do some final birdwatching, or perhaps
try our luck with another wolf pack, before heading west
towards Asturias. The Parque Natural de Somiedo is located
in the central area of the Cantabrian Mountains and covers
over 40,000 hectares. As in the Picos, farming methods are
very traditional, leading to it being declared a UNESCO
biosphere reserve in 2000. We will spend three nights in the
heart of the reserve in the village of Pola de Somiedo.
Direct flights from Manchester to Bilbao, using the scheduled
services of Easyjet. Outbound flight departs early morning,
return flight arrives back midday. It may also be possible to fly
from London. Please phone for details.
The park is most famous for its population of Cantabrian
Brown Bears. Of approximately 200 bears that live in the
mountains of northern Spain, more than 30 individuals live
around Somiedo. Normally shy and reclusive, the chances of
seeing one is almost nil. However, for a few weeks every year
the population ventures from its beech forest home onto open
hillsides to feed on the fruits of blackberry and bilberry. When
the Rhamnus alpina (a type of buckthorn) fruits, they lose all
self control and gorge themselves silly. Our local guide knows
all the best spots to find one, and during our time here we can
expect sightings of adult males, adolescents and females with
young.
We will not neglect the birding here either. Crag Martin, Black
Redstart, Red-billed Chough, Red Kite, Goshawk, Rock
Bunting, Dipper and Firecrest are amongst the assorted
birdlife that can be found. If Wallcreeper eluded us in the
Picos we can try again here. Migrants crossing the high
passes will include many northern species such as Garden
and Willow Warblers, Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers. Iberian
Chiffchaff is the most numerous breeding warbler and should
still be present at this time. Butterflies will still be on the wing,
including Swallowtail, Cleopatra and Queen of Spain Fritillary.
th
th
7 nights:
28 Aug. to 4 Sept. 2016
Principal leader:
Paul J. Willoughby
Local guide:
Bernardo Canal (wolves) and
Luis Fernandez and Marcos
Simon (bears)
Maximum group size:
and local guides
Cost with discount
(if you book before
nd
22 May 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£300 per person
After three days we will reluctantly head for Bilbao, where we
will spend the last night before our flight home. En route we
can stop off at Santona Marshes on the north coast. This is
an important stop-over site for migratory Spoonbills. The
saltmarsh is also a temporary home of Mediterranean Gull,
Avocet, Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit,
Pintail, and Shoveler. Then finally, after a night near the
airport we will head home, with memories of some of the best
mammal watching in Europe.
CLIMATE AND PACE
The weather in this part of Spain is quite different to the rest
of the country, being cooler, with a higher chance of rain.
That said, this is a lovely time of year to visit, and we can
expect warm dry days. It will be cooler at high altitudes.
Breakfast times will vary depending on what our plans are for
the day. When looking for wolves and bears it may be
necessary to have an early breakfast. On these days we will
have a long rest in the middle of the day to compensate. At
other times, breakfast will be around 7.30am. Basic fitness is
all that is required. In order to look for wolves, there will be a
certain amount of walking. The terrain depends on where the
wolves chose to den, but we will take the easiest options. The
walking can be done at your own pace, with no pressure of
Cantabrian Brown Bear
41
MADAGASCAR
lemurs, chameleons and endemic birds in the land that time forgot
Some
100
million
years
ago
Sickle-billed Vangas
movements in the earth’s plates caused
a huge chunk of land to separate from
mainland Africa, beginning a remarkable evolutionary experiment that continues today. Instead of evolving quickly,
many of Madagascar’s species are little changed, resembling ancient families that have since disappeared from the
mainland. The result is wonderful birds, mammals, insects and plants that can be found nowhere else on earth.
The twentieth century brought great devastation to the island. Fortunately, however, large pockets of forest have
survived in the more remote areas, and international pressure combined with the wishes of the Malagasy
themselves has turned the tide. The government declared that it intended to formally protect ten percent of the land
by 2009 and the creation of large national parks has helped to achieve this. Ecotourism plays its part too, and
whole communities benefit from the tourists that come to marvel at the wonderful wildlife.
Madagascar is a huge island and it is important to plan an itinerary that gives a good balance between maximising
wildlife sightings and not too much travelling. Roads have been improved, hotels are now very good and the food is
delicious. We will spend our first night at Antananarivo, before starting our journey south through the country. Three
nights at Ranomafana will then give us a wonderful assortment of forest birds, along with endangered lemurs. At
Isalo we will enjoy some of the island’s best scenery as well as seeing the endemic Benson’s Rock Thrush and
endearing Ring-tailed Lemurs. Two nights at Tulear give us time to visit the Red-tailed Tropicbird nesting island of
Nosy Ve, as well as to search for Red-shouldered Vanga, discovered as recently as 1997. At Ifaty we can relax by
the Indian Ocean, close to the famous spiny forest of octopus trees, baobabs and bottle-trees. This area is home to
some very rare endemic birds, including Long-tailed Ground-roller. Finally, we will arrive at the forest of Perinet,
home of the Indri, whose wailing calls perfectly capture the essence of Madagascar.
All these wonderful birds will be complemented by other rare and exotic creatures, from huge Parson’s
Chameleons to Giraffe-necked Weevils, Tenrecs to Leaf-tailed Geckos, and Mouse Lemurs to miniscule Leaf
Chameleons. The culture is fascinating too, with the south being very African, whilst Tana has strong Asian
influences. It should also be mentioned that one could not wish to meet a friendlier people than the Malagasy, who
always have a ready smile despite many living in great poverty.
Ranomafana is arguably the most important site in
Madagascar for both birds and lemurs. In fact, it was the
discovery of the Golden Bamboo Lemur which triggered the
creation of the park in 1991. It is also the only accessible
location for the even rarer Greater Bamboo Lemur. We also
have the opportunity to see the exquisite Milne Edward’s
Sifaka. Birding along the main trails presents opportunities to
see various members of the endemic Malagasy bird families.
ITINERARY
RANOMAFANA NATIONAL PARK
After our daytime flight we will arrive in the capital,
Antananarivo (Tana for short) and go straight to our hotel, just
ten minutes from the airport. The next day we head south on
a captivating journey along the spine of the country towards
Ranomafana, breaking the journey with a night at Antsirabe.
42
With luck we should find Henst’s Goshawk, Pollen’s Vanga,
Pitta-like Ground-roller, Brown Mesite, Madagascar Woodrail, Velvet Asity, Forest Rock Thrush, Forest Fody and
Cryptic Warbler. An adjacent forest reserve at Vohiparara is
home to the striking Yellow-bellied Sunbird-asity, a species
we will not encounter elsewhere. The Rufous-headed
Ground-roller is also a possibility, along with the mouse-like
Brown Emutail. We will check marshes en route for numerous
Red Fody and Madagascar Stonechats, as well as
Madagascar Snipe, Hammerkop and Grey Emutail.
Flufftail is occasionally glimpsed, along with Madagascar
Wood-rail, White-throated Rail, Madagascar Pygmy
Kingfisher, Red-fronted Coua and the amazing Blue Coua. In
the evening we hope to find Rainforest Scops Owl and
Madagascar Long-eared Owl, whilst the cryptically-plumaged
Collared Nightjar may be seen at a daytime roost.
After a final morning’s birding at Perinet we will head back to
Tana, arriving in good time for our late evening flight home.
CLIMATE AND PACE
After three days in this superb area we will continue south to
Isalo, a dramatic area of sandstone escarpments, spectacular
canyons and grassland.
We can expect hot weather in the lowlands, and warm or hot
weather at Perinet and Ranamafana. September is a rather
dry month, but rain is nevertheless possible at these two
sites. Breakfast will be taken early (7am or earlier). Due to the
high mid-day temperatures we plan to do morning and late
afternoon excursions, with time off in between to siesta. Basic
fitness is all that is required. At Perinet and Ranomafana
there are several short but steep slopes. Elsewhere, the
terrain is mostly flat and the walks are easy.
TULEAR, ISALO AND IFATY
Two days at Isalo will give us plenty of time to explore the
area. We will have a good chance of seeing a group of Ringtailed Lemurs, as well as the beautiful Verreaux’s Sifaka and
Red-fronted Brown Lemur. Benson’s Rock Thrush occur in
the canyons. Madagascar Harrier-hawk, African Marsh Owl,
Madagascar Partridge, Madagascar Coucal, Malagasy
Kingfisher, Madagascar Lark and Madagascar Paradise
Flycatcher should all be seen, as well as Souimanga Sunbird
and White-headed Vanga.
Full-board accommodation is provided with one night at
Relais des Plateaux, Tana, one night at Royal Palace,
Antsirabe, three nights at the Setam Lodge, Ranomafana,
two nights at Satrana Hotel, Isalo, two nights at Caliente
Beach Hotel, Tulear, two nights at Les Dunes Hotel, Ifaty, one
night back at Relais des Plateaux, Tana and two nights at the
Andasibe Hotel, Perinet. All are very comfortable, with en
suite facilities and good food. Lunch will normally be at the
hotel, but may be packed when we expect to be away during
the middle of the day.
The next day we will drive south to Tulear, for two nights.
Birding en route at Zombitse, where one of Madagascar’s
most localised birds, the Appert’s Tetraka can be found,
along with White-browed Owl, Giant Coua, Greater Vasa
Parrot and Cuckoo-Roller.
In the evening good numbers of Madagascar Nightjars can be
seen as well as Torotoroka Scops Owl. The next morning we
will take a boat to Nosy Ve, an island with a nesting colony of
Red-tailed Tropicbirds. We will then have a cool drink at
Anakao beach, where the localised Littoral Rock Thrush
should be waiting for us. In the afternoon we will look for the
endemic Red-shouldered Vanga and Verreaux’s Coua.
guides, full-board accommodation (starting with breakfast on
th
th
11 , ending with dinner on 24 ), soft drinks at meal times,
local transport by mini-coach, reserve entrance fees, boat
trip, internal flight, international flights and airport taxes.
On day 10 we will drive to Ifaty, spending two nights at the
lovely Les Dunes Hotel. One of the planet’s most endangered
habitats, the now fragmented spiny forest, is home to some
weird and wonderful plants and animals. Our local guides
have an uncanny ability to find the special birds here
including Long-tailed Ground-roller, Thamnornis, Sub-desert
Mesite, Running Coua, Sub-desert Brush Warbler, Archbold’s
Newtonia, Hook-billed Vanga and Lafresnaye’s Vanga. Noisy
groups of Sickle-billed Vangas provide one of the highlights of
this trip. Nearby pools and coastal marshes hold Madagascar
Plover, Greater Flamingo and Hottentot Teal.
Travel insurance. Cost of a visa (approx. £40 and obtainable
on arrival). Personal items, alcoholic drinks, laundry.
Return flight from London Heathrow to Antananarivo (via
Paris) using the scheduled services of Air France. Outbound
flight departs early morning, return flight arrives back early
afternoon. It may also be possible to fly from Manchester and
other UK airports to Paris. Please phone for details.
ANDASIBE-MANTADIA NATIONAL PARK
After a short internal flight we will arrive back in Tana,
spending the night here. The next morning we will visit Lake
Alorobia, where highlights may include Dimorphic Egret and
Madagascar Pond Heron, with a chance of Meller’s Duck
amongst the thousands of wildfowl here. These may in turn
attract a rare Madagascar Harrier. Later in the day we will
drive east to Perinet, for two nights. Here, Madagascar’s most
accessible rainforest is home to many lemurs and birds. The
forest resounds to the haunting cries of the Indri, the largest
of the lemurs. We also hope to see Common Brown Lemur,
Furry-eared Dwarf Lemur and Eastern Lesser Bamboo
Lemur, as well as the beautiful Diademed Sifaka.
Our hotel is ideally placed for exploring the area. The most
highly sought-after birds are the ground-rollers, and we may
well see all four species that occur here. Parties of forest
birds mainly comprise species found nowhere else on earth,
such as Spectacled Tetraka, Madagascar White-eye, Blue
Vanga and the remarkable Nuthatch Vanga. Madagascar
43
15 nights including
10 to 25 September 2016
Principal leader:
Paul Willoughby
Local guides:
at each site we will use the
services of very good local
guides
Maximum group size:
and local guides
th
th
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
28 May 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£1000 per person
ESTONIA IN AUTUMN
crane migration and rutting elk in this unspoilt corner of Europe
Estonia is one of our favourite places to
Nutcracker
visit and this year we are offering an
autumn tour to some of the best sites it
has to offer. It will be a two centre holiday during which we will visit some of the country’s prime spots for bird
migration.
Matsalu Bay is perhaps the most important site on the East Atlantic/Baltic flyway. In the autumn it becomes a
staging post for thousands of Common Cranes. Countless numbers of wildfowl are on migration too, including
Barnacle Geese, White-fronted Geese and Tundra Bean Geese. These large concentrations of wildfowl inevitably
attract raptors and this is a great place to see White-tailed Eagles. Both Marsh and Hen Harriers hunt the marshes
and meadows where we have also seen the rarer Pallid Harrier.
The Gulf of Finland is the narrow eastern arm of the Baltic Sea which lies between Estonia and the southern tip of
Finland. The massive autumn migration of hundreds of thousands of ducks, geese and swans and tens of
thousands of waders and divers is concentrated in this narrow waterway. This is a spectacle which every
birdwatcher should experience as a multitude of waterfowl take the flyway from their breeding grounds in the
Russian Arctic to their wintering grounds in Europe.
Estonia still retains some 50% forest cover, a good proportion of which consists of old growth forest. Amongst the
forest and bogs we will look for Capercaillie, Hazel Grouse, Black Grouse and, of course, Nutcracker. This typically
elusive woodland species becomes more confiding in the autumn. Woodpeckers are good indicators of forest bird
diversity and we should encounter several resident species including Black, White-backed and Three-toed.
There are over 500 Brown Bears and an estimated 12,000 Elk still roaming around in Estonia. Autumn is the time
for rutting Elk and they become easier to observe when they have their minds on other things! A highlight of the trip
will be the opportunity to make an overnight stay in a bear observation hide. Here we have the chance to see, at
close quarters, one of Europe’s most impressive mammals, the Brown Bear.
winter stores. Capercaillie is a majestic inhabitant of the
Western Taiga forest and Hazel Grouse is common. Where
there are clearings in the forest, Black Grouse feed out in the
open. Along forest tracks the tell-tale signs of passing bears
and elk are very obvious.
ITINERARY
ALUTAGUSE
Having arrived in Tallinn we will transfer to our hotel in
Rakvere in north-eastern Estonia for a stay of three nights.
The forests of the surrounding Alutaguse are proving to be
exceptional for watching woodpeckers and grouse as well as
for mammal activity. The list of woodpeckers here is
impressive and we should see Black, White-backed and
Three-toed Woodpeckers. At this time of year Jays and
Nutcrackers will be in evidence as they gather food for their
Crested Tits are a common bird here as is the distinctive
borealis race of Willow Tit. Northern Long-tailed Tits with their
striking white heads form roving parties through the woods.
As the leaves start turning and autumn takes its hold, we will
44
witness the start of the passerine migration from the Baltic. At
its peak thousands of common birds, Starlings, Song
Thrushes,
Blackbirds,
Goldcrests,
Chaffinches
and
Bramblings depart for warmer climes.
A half hour drive from Haapsalu will take us to the forest bogs
of Leidisso. Although forest birds are usually rather shy, we will
have a second opportunity to look for Nutcrackers,
woodpeckers and Hazel Grouse. This area also harbours Elk
and we have made regular sightings of Pine Marten here. Late
flying butterflies can be found in the autumn sunshine such as
the attractive Camberwell Beauty.
Other possibilities here include birds of prey such as
Goshawk and Golden Eagle, whilst Lesser Spotted Eagles
will be moving south. Night birds are always a challenge.
However, towards dusk we may encounter Nightjar or
exceptionally a Ural Owl. For those who wish, there will be
the opportunity to make an overnight stay in a bear
observation hide. Here we have a chance to see, at close
quarters, one of Europe’s most impressive mammals, the
Brown Bear. Raccoon Dog and Red Fox are also regular
visitors to the feeding station in front of the observation hide.
On day eight we will be head back to Tallinn for our flight home.
Alternatively, why not extend your stay and spend a couple of
days and nights in Tallinn? We can arrange for your
accommodation in the heart of the city. The Old Town and other
attractions can easily be visited on foot.
CLIMATE AND PACE
MATSALU BAY
On day four we will head westwards to our second hotel, near
Haapsalu. It is well situated for visits to Estonia’s premier
reserve, Matsalu Bay, as well as for watching migrants moving
through the Gulf of Finland.
Matsalu is a Ramsar site and one of the most important
wetlands in Northern Europe; a vast coastal bay where forests
give way to water meadows, extensive reedbeds and a large
but shallow lagoon. The bay provides a staging post for
thousands of migrating wildfowl, in particular Bewick’s Swans,
Barnacle Geese and Eurasian White-fronted Geese. Amongst
them we could also find Tundra Bean Geese or the odd vagrant
such as a Red-breasted or Lesser White-fronted Goose. Up to
20,000 Common Cranes gather around the bay and the sights
and sounds of their roosting flights is an unforgettable wildlife
experience.
We have two days to explore Matsalu. This is the mating
season of the Elk which is abundant in the extensive forests.
There are several places we know where we can observe these
huge creatures grazing in wet meadows. Along the winding
rivers we may also spot European Beaver as they emerge later
in the day.
On one day we will visit the coast to look for migrating birds
passing the north-west tip of Estonia. A staggering one million
Long-tailed Ducks pass Spithami and Poosaspea on migration.
Velvet and Common Scoters, Goldeneye, Common Eider, and
Black-throated and Red-throated Divers all pass through in
favourable winds. Migration can be unpredictable, but has the
potential to provide surprises. We could hope to see a Whitebilled Diver or perhaps even a Steller’s Eider or two.
This is also a good place to observe migrating birds of prey as
this is the narrowest crossing point in the Baltic. During one of
our visits to the area we recorded fourteen species of raptor
including Rough-legged Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Osprey,
Lesser Spotted Eagle, Black Kite and Pallid Harrier.
The headland here is also an exceptional place to witness
passerine migration. This may be in the form of visible
migration, when thousands of songbirds can be seen passing
overhead. It can also involve grounded migrants that are resting
and replenishing their fat reserves before continuing their
journey. In the dune slacks and meadows we will search for
migrants such as thrushes, flycatchers and warblers. These
also attract the attentions of passing Sparrowhawks and
Merlins or, if we are lucky, a splendid Great Grey Shrike.
45
On our previous visits we have enjoyed beautiful autumnal
weather, with warm days and clear skies. However, this is not
guaranteed, and changeable weather with cooler
temperatures and rain are possible. Breakfast will be taken at
about 8am. Optional pre-breakfast walks will be possible in
the vicinity of the hotels. Basic fitness is all that is required.
Full days will be spent in the field and short/medium length
walks on the flat will be undertaken regularly. There are no
uphill walks.
Full-board accommodation is provided with three nights at the
Westenbergh Hotel in Rakvere and four nights at a lovely
rural hotel near Haapsalu. Rooms are of a very good
standard with en suite facilities. Lunch will usually be taken at
a local restaurant, with the occasional picnic. There is an
option for one night in the bear observation hide at Alutaguse,
with food and bedding provided. We will keep our rooms in
Rakvere, so no need to pack and unpack. The hide is fitted
with comfortable bunk beds and a toilet.
All birdwatching excursions with expert leader, full board
th
th
lunch on 24 ), soft drinks at meal times, local transport by
mini-bus, reserve entrance fees and international flights.
Return flights from Manchester to Tallinn using the scheduled
services of Ryanair. Outbound flight departs mid-morning,
with return landing late afternoon.
7 nights:
17th to 24th September 2016
Principal leader:
John McLoughlin
Local guide:
Margus Pensa
Maximum group size:
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
4 June 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£300 per person
MALAWI AND ZAMBIA
the warm heart of Africa
Malawi is both quintessentially African
Schalow’s Turaco
and yet unique. Whether you have
been to Africa many times before or it
is your first visit to the Dark Continent, this is an ideal destination. Malawi was voted the friendliest country in Africa
in a recent poll by Lonely Planet, and is renowned for its warm welcome and open smile. It is also quite a small
country with good roads, which make a big difference when it comes to travelling around. The absence of lions in
Malawi allows us to do a lot of birding on foot.
Our time in Zambia will be more like a traditional safari, with the fantastic birdlife of South Luangwa complemented
by mammals such as Lion, Leopard and Giraffe. This national park is justly famous as one of the great wildlife
parks of Africa. There will be game drives twice a day, relaxing between times at the beautiful Kafunta Lodge. We
will visit a breeding colony of Southern Carmine Bee-eater, and see other birds that we may not have seen in
Malawi, such as Grey Crowned Crane and Three-banded Courser.
We will be sufficiently north of South Africa and Namibia and south of Kenya to make the flora and fauna
surprisingly different from those destinations. Hundreds of bird species occur; almost four hundred were seen on
our last visit. We can also expect a good selection of mammals including Elephant, Hippopotamus, Buffalo, Spotted
Hyena, Warthog and Burchell’s Zebra.
boat trips from the lodge. Pel’s Fishing Owl is regularly seen
fishing during an evening boat trip, and we have even seen
them from the restaurant. Besides abundant Nile Crocodiles
and Hippos, birds should include many species of heron, ibis
and stork, including the amazing Saddle-billed Stork. Water
Thick-knees and Long-toed Lapwings can be seen along the
banks. In the trees are Lilian’s Lovebird and the rather
secretive Brown-headed Parrot. Half a dozen species of
kingfisher and several species of bee-eater can also be seen.
A speciality is the rare Boehm’s Bee-eater which is actually
both common and confiding around the grounds. They nest in
burrows dug directly into the ground, sometimes in the middle
of the dirt tracks used by the safari jeeps!
ITINERARY
LILONGWE, MALAWI
After our overnight flight, we will welcome the fact that our
lodge for the first two nights is just a short drive from the
airport. Exploring the extensive grounds of Kumbali Lodge,
we will look for Schalow’s Turaco, Heuglin’s Robin and
Scarlet-chested Sunbird. We will visit Lilongwe Nature
Sanctuary where there is African Broadbill, Hildebrandt’s
Francolin and Half-collared Kingfisher.
LIWONDE, MALAWI
We will then have four nights at the superb Mvuu Camp in
Liwonde National Park. The Shire River is the only outlet from
Lake Malawi and the Liwonde Reserve encompasses the
huge wetlands that surround it just to the south of the lake.
We take a boat to the camp where the gardens run down to
the river. This area has the highest density of Hippos
anywhere in the world, and we will get amazingly close views.
They even come on to the hotel lawns during the night. Many
birds can be seen around the grounds. We will take several
Elephants are very common here and though we are allowed
to wander around on foot we are always accompanied by an
experienced tracker. A large area of the park has also been
protected by a security fence where Black Rhino breed.
46
LAKE MALAWI
Malawi is famous for the huge lake that constitutes almost a
third of the surface area of the country. Our base for the next
two nights is Chintheche Inn, which lies approximately half
way down the western edge of the lake. The hinterland
behind the lake offers a range of excellent habitats from the
delightful Miombo forests with their open nature to much
thicker evergreen forests. Birds include Hammerkop, Palmnut Vulture, Brown Snake-eagle, Tambourine Dove, African
Barred Owlet, Pennant-winged Nightjar and Black-collared
Barbet. We will take half a day off here for swimming and
relaxing, although those that want to will find plenty of
opportunities for birdwatching in the hotel gardens and
surrounding area.
CLIMATE AND PACE
At this time of year the temperature is very comfortable. We
can expect warm days, hotting up in the lowlands in the
afternoons. Upland areas are pleasantly warm, with chilly
nights. Rain is unlikely throughout. Breakfast will mostly be
taken early (7am or earlier). On other days it may be taken
later to give us time for pre-breakfast walks. Due to the fairly
high mid-day temperatures we plan to do morning and late
afternoon excursions, with time off in between to siesta.
Travelling is made a pleasure due to the high standard of
most roads and small size of the country. Basic fitness is all
that is required. There will be a little optional uphill walking at
Nyika. Otherwise the terrain is fairly flat.
NYIKA AND VIPHYA, MALAWI
We will drive north to the Nyika Plateau and spend a good
deal of the day stopping and birding along the way. We will
stay at Chelinda Lodge for three nights, deep in the Nyika
reserve. Nyika has a different feel to the rest of Malawi, being
situated on a high plateau and having a much more open
nature. It gets cold at night and all the rooms have blazing log
fires. At Nyika we should see large herds of the huge Eland
Antelope along with smaller numbers of Burchell’s Zebra,
Reedbuck and the beautiful Roan Antelope.
Full-board accommodation is provided, with two nights at
Kumbali Lodge, Lilongwe, four nights at Mvuu Camp in
Liwonde, two nights at Chintheche Inn, Lake Malawi, three
nights at Chelinda Lodge, Nyika, two nights at Luwawa Forest
Lodge, Viphya, three nights at Kafunta River Lodge, South
Luangwa and one night back at Kumbali Lodge, Lilongwe. All
rooms have en suite facilities. The standard of food is very
good and Malawians like the full English breakfast rather than
the continental style. Except on travelling days, lunch will
normally be taken at the lodges.
Spotted Hyenas and Spotted Eagle Owl can be heard from
your bed. On optional night drives we stand a good chance of
mammals such as Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Porcupine, Civet,
Genet and Thick-tailed Mongoose.
th
guides, full-board accommodation (starting with lunch on 9 ,
th
ending with breakfast on 26 ), soft drinks at meal times, local
transport by mini-bus and safari Land Cruisers, all boat trips,
site entrance fees, international flights and airport taxes.
Birds of prey include Pallid Harrier, Dark Chanting Goshawk,
Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk, Augur Buzzard, Wahlberg’s
Eagle and Verreaux’s Eagle. A small population of Wattled
Crane are still hanging on here and we have had superb
views of this extraordinary bird on previous visits. Other
specialities of the area include Red-winged Francolin,
Denham’s Bustard, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Bar-tailed
Trogon, Moustached Tinkerbird, Angola Swallow, Blue
Swallow, Bar-throated Apalis, Cinnamon Bracken-warbler,
Mountain Yellow Warbler and Malawi Batis.
Travel insurance. Cost of obtaining Malawi and Zambian
visas (total US$125 and both obtainable on arrival). Items of
a personal nature, alcoholic drinks, laundry.
Flights are from London Heathrow to Lilongwe (via Addis
Ababa), using the scheduled services of Ethiopian Airways.
Outbound flight departs mid-evening, return flight arrives back
early morning. Domestic flights from Manchester and
other UK airports are avaiable on this tour. See booking
form for details.
After two full days birding the plateau we will spend the next
day driving and birding Nyika and will arrive in the late
afternoon at Luwawa Forest Lodge on the Viphya Plateau.
Good birding is to be had in the garden. Birds include Bronze
and Copper Sunbirds and African Wood Owl. The elusive
African Broadbill gave great views here on our last visit. Scaly
Francolin is found nowhere else in Malawi. The next day we
will have a full day birding on the Viphya Plateau.
SOUTH LUANGWA, ZAMBIA
After two nights on the Viphya Plateau we will drive over the
border into Zambia and have a picnic lunch, arriving at
Kafunta River Lodge in South Luangwa in the late afternoon.
We will have two full days to explore the park, with morning
and afternoon game drives on both days. This is a great area
for Leopards, Lions, Elephants and Giraffes. Birds include
Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Grey Crowned Crane, Saddlebilled Stork, Crested Barbet and Three-banded Courser.
After three nights here we will spend a leisurely day driving
back to Kumbali Lodge. The following morning we will head to
the airport for our flight home.
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19 nights including
8 to 27 October 2016
Principal leader:
Andrew Woodall
Local guide:
Abasi Jana
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
th
th
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
25 June 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£1000 per person
SOUTH AFRICA
the Cape to Kruger – a classic itinerary
South Africa is a land of contrasts with an incredible
diversity of natural habitats, ranging from arid
deserts to moist forests; rugged mountains
encircling open grasslands; woodland of various
types; wetlands; and the unique Cape floral
kingdom. South Africa has a high standard of
accommodation, fine restaurants, excellent roads
and a great number of national and provincial parks
and private game reserves.
Our tour starts in Cape Town at the southern tip of
the African continent. We stay for three nights on
the Cape Peninsula and experience the best of
Cape Sugarbird and African Penguins
the many birding hotspots in this stunningly scenic
region. W e then move north for two nights a t
Langebaan, adjoining the magnificent West Coast National Park, which encircles a ten mile long tidal lagoon.
We then fly direct from Cape Town to the world famous Kruger National Park. Here we stay for four glorious nights.
Kruger is well known as the home of the “Big Five”: lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino. We will also
encounter a lot more exciting mammals and numerous brightly coloured birds.
Finally, we will drive a short distance west to Mount Sheba, for our final three nights. Offering easy access to
superb Afromontane forest and montane grassland, Mount Sheba is a lovely place to end the tour. Orange Groundthrush, White-starred Robin, Narina Trogon and Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher are amongst the exotic birds that
are found here.
Red-chested Cuckoo and Spotted Eagle Owl should be
present and Black Saw-wing Swallow flies low over the
valleys.
ITINERARY
THE CAPE PENINSULA
Having arrived in Cape Town in the evening, we will transfer
straight to Simon’s Town on the Cape Peninsula, a lovely
seaside town with Royal Navy origins. Our base for the next
three nights, the Whale View Manor Guesthouse, is right by
the beach, with beautiful views across False Bay. Our guide,
Patrick, lives in Simon’s Town and knows just where to find
the area’s special birds.
Later in the day we will head back to Simon’s Town and visit
Boulders Beach, where there is a large breeding colony of
African Penguins. You will be able to see and photograph
these birds at very close range. Other birds found here
include Swift Tern, African Black Oystercatcher and Cape
Cormorant, while Rock Hyrax scamper across the boulders.
On our first morning we will visit Kirstenbosch. These world
famous botanical gardens nestle below the steep slopes of
Table Mountain and are a wonderful venue for a relaxing
stroll, with pleasing landscapes and spectacular indigenous
plants. These, in turn, attract numerous birds such as
Orange-breasted Sunbird, Malachite Sunbird and Cape
Sugarbird. Common birds include Cape Bulbul, Cape Batis,
Olive Thrush, Cape White-eye, Karoo Prinia, Hadada Ibis,
Dusky Flycatcher, Cape Turtle Dove and Cape Spurfowl.
The next day we will drive round False Bay to Rooi-Els and
Betty’s Bay. This spectacular stretch of coast is a great place
to see Southern Right Whales, which come close inshore to
breed at this time of year. The endemic Cape Rockjumper is
a speciality of the area, and while looking for it we may also
come across Victorin’s Scrub-warbler, Ground Woodpecker,
Cape Robin-chat, Cape Siskin and Cape Rock-thrush. In the
afternoon we will visit False Bay Environmental Park, where a
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whole range of new species await us. White Pelican, Greater
Flamingo, Cape Teal, Red-billed Teal, Cape Shoveler and
Yellow-billed Duck are found on the pans. Levaillant’s
Cisticola is the commonest warbler, and we may also see
Little Rush-warbler and Lesser Swamp-warbler.
the beautiful Orange Ground-thrush, as well as Blue-mantled
Crested Flycatcher, Barratt’s Warbler, Olive Woodpecker,
White-starred Robin, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler,
Narina Trogon, Knysna Turaco and Emerald Cuckoo. Bush
Blackcap is another speciality, but can be difficult. Protea
bushes hold Gurney’s Sugarbirds and Drakensberg Prinias.
LANGEBAAN AND WEST COAST NATIONAL PARK
On day four we will make an early visit to the Cape of Good
Hope Nature Reserve, before the tourist buses arrive. This
iconic site is worth a visit for the scenery alone, but we will
also be alert for the beautiful Cape Grassbird, as well as
Ostrich, Jackal Buzzard, Grey-backed Cisticola and Cape
Bunting. Offshore we may see Cape Gannets and Whitechinned Petrel, while if there have been onshore winds we
might even glimpse a distant Shy Albatross. Mammals on the
cape include Mountain Zebra, Eland and the rare endemic
Bontebok. Later in the morning we will head north up the
coast to Langebaan, our home for the next two nights.
After the challenges of forest birding, the open country
grassland and rocky bluffs of the Dullstroom area offer an
easier experience. Buff-streaked Chats and Sentinel Rockthrush perch up like wheatears, and we will scan the open
country for Black-winged Lapwing, Southern Bald Ibis,
Wattled Crane, Blue Crane and Denham’s Bustard.
Two full days in the area will give us ample time to do it
justice. Finally, after lunch on day 13 we will drive to
Johannesburg, arriving in time for our evening flight home.
CLIMATE AND PACE
Most of our time here will be spent in the West Coast National
Park. The enormous tidal lagoon in the park is an
internationally recognised birding hotspot. Thousands of
migrant waders converge on this site after their long flight
from breeding grounds in the Arctic. There will be familiar
birds such as Whimbrel, Red Knot, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed
Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint, alongside less
familiar Marsh Sandpiper, Kittlitz’s Plover and Three-banded
Plover. The scarce Chestnut-banded Plover should also be
found at one site. Southern Black Korhaan may be seen
displaying, while the area is an important site for the beautiful
Black Harrier. In the scrub there are numerous Bokmakieries
and smaller numbers of Karoo Scrub-robins, plus Cape
Weaver, Yellow Bishop and White-throated Canary.
We can expect dry, sunny weather in the Cape. Kruger is
likely to be hotter, with a chance of short sharp showers. The
cooler temperatures and early wildlife activity mean that we
must rise early to make the most of the opportunities
available. Basic fitness is all that is required. There will be
very little uphill walking, done at a sensible pace. We also
have one early start to get to Cape Town airport on day six.
the Whale View Manor Guesthouse, Simon’s Town, two
nights at the Farmhouse Hotel, Langebaan, two nights in
chalets at the Skukuza Camp in Kruger, two nights in chalets
at Notten’s Camp, Sabi Sands (Kruger), and three nights at
the Mount Sheba Resort. All are of a good standard and all
rooms have an en suite bathroom. Lunch will normally be at
the hotel restaurant, but occasionally we will take a picnic.
From Langebaan, we will also visit Lambert’s Bay, home to
thousands of pairs of Cape Gannets. We can watch them at
point blank range, alongside numerous Cape Fur Seals.
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
On day six we will drive to Cape Town and take a direct flight
into the mighty Kruger National Park. The park is the size of
Wales and has the greatest diversity of animal life of any
national park worldwide. Our time in the park is split between
two camps, Skukuza and Notten’s Camp. The former is
located near the Kruger Gate, and is perfectly situated for
finding a range of mammals and birds. The latter is one of the
original private camps and offers an unsurpassed safari
experience, with guides who are able to find us most, and
maybe all, of the big five. We can see the beautiful Purplecrested Lourie, Brown-headed Parrot, Brown-hooded
Kingfisher, Eastern Black-headed Oriole, Little Sparrowhawk,
Orange-breasted Bush-shrike, Woodland Kingfisher, Lilacbreasted Roller, Yellow-billed Hornbill, African Green Pigeon
and Scarlet-chested Sunbird. Large birds include Martial
Eagle, Southern Ground Hornbill, Saddle-billed Stork, Whiteheaded and Lappet-faced Vultures and Secretarybird. From a
hide by Lake Panic we should see Giant and Malachite
Kingfishers, plus the energetic Black Crake and a lot of
activity from a colony of Spotted-backed Weavers.
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bottled water throughout, transport throughout by minibus, all
safari activities, reserve entrance fees, domestic flight and
Return flight from most UK airports to Cape Town, returning
from Johannesburg (both via Amsterdam) using the
scheduled services of KLM. Outbound flight departs early
morning, return flight arrives back mid-afternoon.
Mammals include White Rhinoceros, Giraffe, Greater Kudu,
Plains Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Cape Buffalo, Hippopotamus,
African Elephant, Bushbuck, Lion and, if we are lucky, African
Wild Dog and Cheetah. Spotlighting at night may reveal a
Spotted Hyena or Leopard. Around the camps we may find
Greater Bushbaby, Honey Badger and Small Spotted Genet.
MOUNT SHEBA AND DULLSTROOM
After four superb days and nights of safari activities we will
leave Kruger and head west, into the northern Drakensberg
range. Staying at the Mount Sheba resort for three nights, we
will have Afromontane forest on our doorstep. We will look for
49
13 nights including
5 to 18 November 2016
Principal leader:
Phil Palmer
Local guide:
Patrick Cardwell
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
th
th
Cost with discount
(if you book before
rd
23 July 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£600 per person
THE FALKLANDS AND ASCENSION
albatrosses, penguins, steamer-ducks and more, in this remote British outpost
On previous Bird Holidays tours we have visited the
Falkland Islands as part of an extensive subAntarctic wildlife cruise. After a few years without a
trip, we thought it was time to return, not as part of a
cruise, but as an outstanding destination in its own
right.
Rockhopper Penguin
During the Southern Hemisphere summer th e
islands are home to thousands of breeding seabirds. The rugged South Atlantic scenery complements the
memorable experience of the wildlife spectacle.
Breeding seabirds include four species of penguin, the iconic King Penguin being one of the highlights of this trip.
Three quarters of the world’s Black-browed Albatrosses nest, whilst hordes of Elephant Seals and Sea Lions
occupy the beaches on several islands. Pods of Killer Whales loiter offshore as they wait for the young seal pups to
venture into the sea.
Carcass Island will again feature, but this time we will stay on the island itself. Here our first penguins will be the
burrow-nesting Magellanic Penguins. The island is particularly important for birds and holds a good population of
the endemic Cobb’s Wren. The Striated Caracara is present in high numbers. Red-backed Hawks and Falkland
Skuas patrol the penguin colonies, whilst Southern Giant Petrels maraud offshore. Staying on the island will give us
the freedom to explore at our leisure and experience a pristine environment in almost complete isolation. Our
second home from home will be on the famous Sea Lion Island, the most southerly inhabited island, located off the
East Falkland mainland. Here the most numerous penguin is the Gentoo and some 4000 pairs breed. In contrast
we can watch the pint-sized Rockhopper Penguins hurl themselves ashore from the rolling surf.
Flying in from Brize Norton, we land at Mount Pleasant on East Falkland. On the return journey we will take the
opportunity to stopover on Ascension to enjoy the sub-tropical climate, amazing scenery and exotic seabirds.
the island. This provides nesting sites for Magellanic
Penguins as well as smaller birds such as Grass Wrens and
Blackish Cinclodes. Breeding waterfowl include the Ruddyheaded Goose. Freshwater pools attract Silvery and Whitetufted Grebes, Crested Duck, Chiloe Wigeon, Yellow-billed
Pintail and Silver Teal.
ITINERARY
DARWIN
Having arrived on an overnight flight we will spend the first
night at Darwin. Situated by the East Falkland isthmus, it is
close to Goose Green and San Carlos, place names which
will resonate with visitors from the UK. Familiar birds in this
area include Upland Goose, Correndera Pipit and the
strikingly red Long-tailed Meadowlark.
Around the settlement, ornamental cabbage palms and
cypress trees provide an almost tropical feel to the place.
This habitat attracts small birds such as the ubiquitous Blackchinned Siskin.
CARCASS ISLAND AND WEST POINT ISLAND
Islands off the north-west coast of West Falkland comprise
some of the most rugged and beautiful parts of the
archipelago. None are more beautiful than Carcass Island,
our base for the next three nights. Carcass Island is rat free,
allowing native vegetation and wildlife to thrive. The endemic
Cobb’s Wren frequents the rocky shoreline. Huge stands of
native Tussac Grass have been able to re-colonise much of
Given favourable weather conditions we will take a day trip
out to West Point Island. Here we have the opportunity to visit
a mixed Black-browed Albatross and Southern Rockhopper
Penguin colony. These wonderful birds are quite fearless and
allow close approach for observation and photography. The
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striking male Kelp Goose, which breeds on rocky outcrops, is
virtually pure white whilst the female’s blackish plumage
matches the colour of the rocks.
Boatswainbird island lies off the east coast and can be
reached by boat from the main island. The term
‘boatswainbird’ refers to the tropicbirds which nest on the
island and two species occur, Red-billed and White-tailed
Tropicbird. Other species nesting on this small rock include
Madeiran Storm-petrel. The attractive Fairy Terns nest
alongside two species of booby, the Red-footed and Brown.
Both Brown and Black Noddies nest on the ledges of this
seabird island.
On the boat journey to and from West Point, and in the bays
around the island, we can expect to come across pods of
Peale’s and Commerson’s Dolphins.
SEA LION ISLAND
On day six we will head south to Sea Lion Island, our base for
the next two nights. Only five miles long, it is a small island,
yet boasts a range of habitats including heathland, stands of
Tussac Grass, fresh water pools, beaches and rocky cliffs. A
large colony of braying Gentoo Penguins breeds very close to
our accommodation. During the Austral spring the beaches
are littered with Southern Elephant Seals of all ages. The
Blackish Cinclodes, or Tussacbird, seeks out tasty pickings
amongst the loafing seals.
After the cool weather of the Falklands, we will enjoy the subtropical warmth of this island. Green Turtles will have started
to lay their eggs on the island’s beaches. If the opportunity
arises we will go out one evening to observe them at close
quarters. Offshore, Rough-toothed and Bottle-nosed Dolphins
occur in small numbers.
CLIMATE AND PACE
On the Falklands the weather can be variable, with daily
temperatures ranging from 6˚C to 12˚C. It is often sunny, with
showers moving through quickly. Windy days are common.
On Ascension it will be a lot warmer and rather humid, the
average high being 28˚C. Breakfast will be taken at about
7.30am most mornings. Basic fitness will be required, with
some walking on uneven ground. There will be some uphill
walking, at a gentle pace.
Although penguin numbers have declined over the last fifty
years, there are still some 300,000 pairs of Southern
Rockhopper Penguins nesting around the islands. We shall
enjoy watching these rowdy birds surf ashore before hopping
up the cliffs to their breeding colonies. Nesting Falkland Blueeyed Shags seek security amongst the noisy penguins.
Other species to look out for include Southern and Northern
Giant Petrels, Black-browed Albatross, White-chinned Petrel,
Sooty Shearwater, Falklands Skua, Snowy Sheathbill,
Dolphin Gull, Magellanic Snipe, Rufous-chested Dotterel, and
Two-banded Plover. White-rumped Sandpipers, long distance
migrants from Arctic Canada, winter on the beaches here.
Full-board accommodation is provided, with one night at
Darwin House, three nights in a traditional guest farmhouse
on Carcass Island, two nights at Sea Lion Lodge, Sea Lion
Island, two nights at the Malvina House Hotel, Stanley and
three nights at the Odissian Hotel on Ascension. All
hotels/guesthouses are of a good standard and all rooms
have en suite bathrooms. Many of the meals will be made
using locally farmed organic produce.
Travel between the outer islands will be on the colourful air
taxis, the FIGAS Islander aircraft. This allows for magnificent
views of the island scenery en route.
STANLEY
Next we visit the islands’ capital, for a two night stay at the
newly refurbished, and highly recommended, Malvina House
Hotel. This small town, with a population of only 2000, still
retains its Victorian charm. Beneath the brightly painted
rooftops, the Falklands’ subspecies of Austral Thrush nests in
the quaint gardens. The waterfront is a good place to look out
for the flightless Falkland Steamer Duck, an island endemic.
Rock Shags nest on an old shipwreck here.
guides, full-board accommodation (starting with dinner on
th
th
14 , ending with dinner on 25 ), soft drinks at meal times,
bottled water throughout, all ground transportation and boat
trips, site entrance fees, Ascension Island entry permit,
internal flights and international flights.
A day excursion from Stanley takes us to the King Penguin
colony at Volunteer Point. Here, at the northern edge of their
range, over a thousand pairs of King Penguins breed. A great
conservation success story, they returned to breed in the
Falklands in 1971 and have increased ever since. This
species has a two year breeding cycle so there will be mix of
activity and age classes around the colony. There should be
many of last season’s well grown downy young as well as
adult birds settling down to nest.
Flights are with a major civilian airline, chartered by the RAF
and operated out of RAF Brize Norton, to the Falklands (via
Ascension). Outbound flight departs late evening, return flight
arrives back early morning. These are limited to just ten
civilians per flight, so it is essential that you book as
soon as possible.
After a second night in Stanley we will prepare for a morning
departure to Ascension Island, and a three day stopover on
the way back to the UK.
ASCENSION ISLAND
The rocky volcanic outcrop of Ascension Island sits all alone
in the mid-Atlantic. It is a major breeding site for seabirds.
Thousands of birds nest on Boatswainbird Island, including
the endemic Ascension Frigatebird. Small numbers of
frigatebirds are now also nesting on the mainland, made
possible by the eradication of the island’s feral cats. Sooty
Tern is on the increase, now that its main predator has gone.
A large colony is situated on the lava plain next to the airport.
13 nights including
13 to 26 November 2016
Principal leader:
John McLoughlin
Maximum group size:
Cost with discount
(if you book before
st
31 July 2016):
51
th
th
(single supplement –
please contact us)
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£1000 per person
CUBA
colourful, extraordinary, fascinating (and that’s just the birds!)
This slim, 780 mile long island is the largest in the
Caribbean, and has all the attractions you would
expect from the region: sunshine, white beaches,
tropical forests and a laid back way of life.
But there is so much more to this unique island.
Firstly there are the birds. In addition to the various
Caribbean specialities such as Great Lizard-cuckoo,
Greater Antillean Grackle and Western Spindalis,
there are more than twenty five species which exist
only on Cuba. From the spectacular curl-tailed
Cuban Trogon to the smallest bird in the world, the
Bee Hummingbird, the endemic bird life is wonderful
Cuban Trogon
and, mostly, quite easy to see. W intering North
American wood warblers, ranging from colourful
Northern Parulas to stripy-headed Worm-eating Warblers are an avian bonus. Palm Warbler, known locally as
‘Common Warbler’, can be found all over the island at this time of year.
Secondly, there is the culture. Cuba remains a colourful version of communism, with huge billboard images of
heroes such as Che Guevara, reminding visitors of its turbulent past. There is a downside, of course, for many local
people live in poverty, shops are empty and goods are not available. Consumerism has not arrived in Cuba, while
Havana appears frozen in the 1950’s, with gloriously crumbling Spanish architecture and the famous vintage
American cars still in daily use. The history and influences are puzzling and contradictory, but, like the bird life,
always fascinating.
We start our tour in Pinar del Rio Province in the verdant west of the island. Then we spend a night in Havana
before heading eastwards along very quiet highways to a completely different habitat on the coral islets of the north
coast. From the cays we travel to the palm groves of Belen Reserve via Camaguey, before heading back west to
the Gran Parque Natural Montema, more commonly known as Zapata, by the Bay of Pigs.
Cuba is in a state of change, as the US embargo on trade is finally being lifted. Do not expect supermarkets stuffed
with products from all over the world or superfast wifi just yet, rather locally grown food and traditional ways of life.
Many folk believe the old Cuba may soon be ‘upgraded’ beyond recognition. Cuba is unique, exceptional and
memorable, and now is the time to go.
Pines are the home of Olive-capped Warblers. Travelling
through the countryside we will see traditional farmers eking
out a living from the land. We may perhaps spot a roller. Not
one of the avian variety, but a woman rolling one of the
famous handmade cigars on her thigh. We will look for our
first Antillean Palm Swift, West Indian Woodpecker, Whitecrowned Pigeon, Cuban Trogon, Cuban Pygmy Owl, the
Cuban sub-species of Red-legged Thrush and the jewel-like
Cuban Tody. There is even an outside chance of the rare
ITINERARY
SAN DIEGO DE LOS BAÑOS
After arriving at Jose Marti Airport, in south west Havana, we
will drive west directly to our first hotel. We will have two
nights in San Diego de los Banos to explore this rural area of
lush forest and limestone outcrops. The nearby La Guira Park
and Cueva de los Portales are good for local specialities
which include Scaly-naped Pigeon, Cuban Solitaire, Cuban
Bullfinch and Yellow-headed Warbler. Stands of Caribbean
52
Gundlach’s Hawk, whilst American Redstarts, Northern
Parulas and Red-legged Honeycreepers will probably find us.
Woodland patches are temporary home to plenty of migrant
wood warblers including Black-and-white, Swainson’s and
Black-throated Blue Warblers.
LA HABANA
From Los Banos we will set off for an afternoon in Havana.
Here we will get a taste of the Cuban son music, the vibrant
street life and the amazing architecture including such
landmarks as the replica White House and the sweeping
Malecón promenade. Turkey Vultures circle overhead whilst
ancient Oldsmobile, Buick and stretch Lada taxis cruise
around.
CLIMATE AND PACE
We can expect dry, sunny weather throughout with only a low
chance of rain. Cuba often feels humid. If the weather turns
especially hot we will birdwatch the mornings and late
afternoons, thus avoiding midday when birds can be quiet.
Our tour involves easy walking on the flat almost everywhere.
We will have a Cuban-style evening meal and stay overnight
in this famous, World Heritage city.
Full-board accommodation is provided, with two nights at
Mirador de San Diego, one night at Hotel Armadores de
Santander, Havana, two nights at Sol Cayo Coco resort, two
nights at Finca La Belen Ranch and four nights in chalets at
Playa de Larga, Zapata. Accommodation is of a
good/medium standard and all bedrooms have en suite
bathrooms. Cuban hotels are perfectly clean and comfortable
but we must make it clear that the services are not on a par
with modern western standards. Lunch will normally be at the
hotel or restaurant, but occasionally we may take a picnic.
Cuban food is non-spicy and rather plain outside the cities,
though mostly sustainable and organic.
CAYO COCO
After a dose of culture we will head east, to the cays. This is a
beautiful area of low-lying coral islands along the northern
coast which was developed for beach tourism, and where
foreigners on package holidays were once kept away from
the ‘real’ Cuba. But the cays are not just tropical beaches;
there are mangroves, tidal mudflats, littoral scrub and dwarf
woodland on the islands.
We will have two nights at a resort, spending our time birding
at a relaxed pace for a new set of specialities, including
Cuban Gnatcatcher, Oriente Warbler, Cuban and Thick-billed
Vireos and Zapata Sparrow. Our hotel is on Coco but we will
also visit the uninhabited cay, Paredon Grande. We can
expect Neotropic Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Black-crowned
and Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Pied-billed Grebe,
American Wigeon, West Indian Whistling-duck, Osprey,
Laughing Gull and Royal Tern. Semipalmated Plover,
Killdeer, Willet, Stilt Sandpiper and numerous other passage
waders refuel here.
All birdwatching excursions with expert leader plus an
English-speaking Cuban guide throughout, supplemented by
bird specialists at the main sites, full-board accommodation
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(starting with dinner on 24 , ending with lunch on 5 ), soft
drinks at meal times, bottled water throughout, transport by
coach, reserve entrance fees, and international flights. We
also include your Cuban Tourist Card which functions as a
visa.
CAMAGUEY AND LA BELEN
On day seven we leave the idyllic cays behind, driving across
the impressively long causeway inland to Camaguey for
lunch. We will take a short look around this historic city before
continuing on to Belen, for two nights. We will stay on a
working ranch with a simple rural lodge near unspoilt lowland
forest interspersed with palm groves. This is where we will
search for the highly localized Cuban Palm Crow, the rare
Cuban Parakeet, Plain Pigeon, Cuban Grassquit and the
massive-billed Giant Kingbird along with commoner species
such as Red-tailed Hawk and Cuban Emerald.
Travel insurance. Personal items, laundry, alcoholic drinks
(except at Sol Cayo Coco which is all-inclusive).
Return flight from most UK airports to Havana (via
Amsterdam) using the scheduled services of KLM. Outbound
flight departs early morning, return flight arrives back midafternoon. Direct flights are also available from London
Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic, at similar times.
ZAPATA PENINSULA
We will then drive back westwards, passing fields of sugar
cane (sugar was once the only export). We will settle into our
hotel at Playa de Larga for four nights. As well as having
Cuban Parrot, Cuban Crow and plenty of other birds in the
grounds, this hotel is centrally placed to cover Zapata, the
most diverse birding region on the island. The Cienega de
Zapata National Park, Salinas de Brito and other excellent
sites are close at hand. The local guides keep tabs on the
birds and will be invaluable in locating Cuban Black Hawk,
Bee Hummingbird, Fernandina’s Flicker, Cuban Green
Woodpecker, Cuban Nightjar, Bare-legged and Stygian Owls,
Zapata Wren and more. We will make a special effort to see
the four species of secretive quail-doves, as they are
particularly magnificent birds.
Brackish lagoons attract Caribbean Flamingo, Anhinga,
Reddish Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, American White Ibis,
Wood Stork, Clapper Rail, Caspian and Royal Terns, Black
Skimmer, Short-billed Dowitcher and Least Sandpiper.
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12 nights including
24 Nov. to 6 Dec. 2016
Principal leader:
Roger Barnes
Local guide:
at each site we will use the
services of a very good local
guide
Maximum group size:
10 clients with one leader and
local guides
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Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
11 August 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£600 per person
GHANA
from the Upper Guinea Rainforest to the edge of the Sahal
Ghana stands out as a beacon of hope
Yellow-headed Picathartes
in a r eg ion des per ate f or c hange .
English speaking, friendly, safe and
hassle-free, the visitor receives a warm welcome throughout the country. For the birdwatcher, a visit offers
sightings of Upper Guinea endemics in the humid south and easy birding in the dry northern savannahs. Perhaps
most significantly, Ghana is home to the most reliable site of the Yellow-headed Picathartes in the world.
A relatively short flight from the UK takes us to some of the most accessible tropical birding in Africa. Outstanding
local guides and a first rate field guide make for a very rewarding experience, whilst an ever improving
infrastructure (the road to Mole NP is surfaced all the way today) makes our visit all the more comfortable.
We start our journey with two nights in Accra, where we have productive visits to Sukamono Lagoon and Winneba
Plain. Next comes a five night stay on the edge of Kakum National Park, with its famous canopy walkway. Bird
diversity is very high here, and we need all the time we have to find those special Upper Guinea endemic birds. We
then journey north, punctuated by a visit to the Picathartes site and nights in Kumari and Techiman. On our way
there are forest sites that are home to the dazzling Blue-moustached Bee-eater and Congo Serpent-eagle. When
we reach Mole National Park it will be clear that the journey was worthwhile, for the sight that greets the visitor is
not easily forgotten. Perched on a small escarpment, the hotel overlooks a waterhole that proves attractive to birds
and mammals alike, with dry woodland and savannah stretching out as far as the eye can see.
grassland that is home to Lizard Buzzard, Black-bellied
Bustard, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Black Coucal, Yellow-throated
Longclaw, Red-winged Warbler, Copper Sunbird, Blacknecked Weaver, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Black-rumped
Waxbill and Orange-cheeked Waxbill.
ITINERARY
ACCRA AND THE SUKAMONO LAGOON
Our flight will arrive in Accra in the early evening, and it is just
a five minute drive to our hotel. Ghana is in the same time
zone as the UK, so we can look forward to a good rest with
no jet lag. The next day we will visit Sukamono Lagoon, a
coastal wetland that was designated a Ramsar site in 1992.
Large acacias in the car park are frequented by dazzling
Purple Glossy Starlings, whilst groups of Piapiacs search
more open areas. Skulking Yellow-crowned Gonoleks betray
their presence by loud calls. Once we reach the water’s edge
we will be greeted by a plethora of wetland species. Whitefaced Whistling-duck, African Jacana, Black Heron,
Hammerkop, Spur-winged Plover and Marsh Sandpiper
should all be present. Winding Cisticolas and Plain-backed
Pipits are found on the edge of the marsh.
KAKUM NATIONAL PARK
Kakum National Park protects a critically important area of
Upper Guinea rainforest; the most accessible in the country.
Five nights at Rainforest Lodge puts us close to the park, and
in particular to the famous canopy walkway, the only such
structure in Africa. Over 1000 feet long and 130 feet high, it is
suspended between huge emergent forest trees. Our ground
agents are able to arrange access for us before the park is
open to the general public. Shortly after dawn, as the forest
slowly comes to life, we are treated to the rare privilege of
observing canopy life at eye level.
The next morning we will rise early to beat the Accra traffic,
and drive west towards Kakum. We will break this three hour
journey with a visit to Winneba Plain, a seasonally flooded
Some of West Africa’s most highly sought forest species can
be found, such as the stunning Black Bee-eater, Blue
54
Cuckoo-Shrike, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Sharpe’s
Apalis, Preuss’s Weavers, Grey Longbill and Chestnutbreasted Nigrita. Malimbes are a group of particularly striking
weavers. Red-headed, Blue-billed and Crested Malimbes can
all be seen here, whilst Red-vented occurs nearby.
Warthog, Bushbuck and Waterbuck. It is perfectly safe to
walk around the hotel area, which is good for Scarlet-chested
Sunbird, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Lavender Waxbill,
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu and Red-billed Firefinch. Evening
excursions should produce sightings of both Long-tailed and
Standard-winged Nightjars, with a chance of Greyish Eagleowl, and maybe a Small Spotted Genet.
As the day warms up, raptor watching can be productive from
the platforms, with the chance of Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, Palmnut Vulture, Congo Serpent-Eagle and Long-tailed Hawk.
Other species to lookout for include African Grey Parrot,
Yellowbill, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Hairy-breasted Barbet,
Ussher’s Flycatcher and Sabine’s Puffback. Sunbirds are
particularly well represented and include Collared, Little
Green, Olive, Fraser’s, Olive-bellied and Superb. The
prehistoric-looking Long-tailed Pangolin can sometimes be
found sunbathing on top of the canopy. At the other end of
the day we can wait until dark in the hope of glimpsing a
Brown Nightjar or Fraser’s Eagle-owl, as well as Pel’s
Anomalure, a type of flying squirrel.
Finally, after 12 thrilling days we will drive a couple of hours
east to Tamale Airport, taking a domestic flight which
connects with our return flight home.
CLIMATE AND PACE
Ghana enjoys a tropical climate, with year-round hot and
humid weather in the south and hot dry in the north. The rains
finish in October, so it should be mostly dry, although rain is
always a possibility. The Harmattan, a very dry and dust filled
wind, does not start until January, making this the optimum
time to visit. Breakfast will mostly be taken early (7am or
earlier). Due to the high midday temperatures we plan to do
morning and late afternoon excursions, with time off in
between to siesta. Basic fitness is all that is required. Walking
is mostly on the flat, but at Kakum there is a short uphill walk
to get to the start of the canopy walkway. Seeing the
Picathartes involves a gentle uphill walk of 30mins, with the
last section being short but steep. It is a long way from the
nearest town, so we will not get to our hotel until around 9pm.
There are many other great birding opportunities around the
national park. One such site holds Rock Pratincole and
White-throated Blue Swallow. At others there are Whitecrested Hornbills, Fire-bellied Woodpeckers, Black-winged
Orioles, Blue-throated Rollers, Rufous-sided Broadbills,
Oriole Warblers and Red-bellied Paradise-flycatchers. Our
local guide will help us make sense of the bewildering variety
of greenbuls which include Little, Little Grey, Plain, Slenderbilled, Yellow-whiskered, Golden, Honeyguide, Swamp Palm,
Icterine, Red-tailed and Western Bearded.
Full-board accommodation is provided, with two nights at the
Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra, five nights at the Rainforest
Lodge, Kakum, one night at the Royal Basin Hotel, Kumasi,
one night at the Encom Hotel, Techiman and three nights at
the Mole Hotel. Hotels are of a good standard, although Mole
is the exception, with the a/c not working and hot water being
brought to your room. All rooms have an en suite bathroom.
YELLOW-HEADED PICATHARTES
On day eight we will begin our journey north, a total travel
time of about 14 hours, but broken by two overnight stops.
We will visit a nesting site of the near mythical Yellow-headed
Picathartes. Once feared extinct in Ghana, these birds are
now protected by local villagers, and our presence here is a
classic example of how ecotourism directly benefits local
people and the conservation of rare species alike. We can
expect great views as they bound over rocks and from vine to
vine. Once replete, we will continue our journey to Kumasi.
guides, full-board accommodation (starting with breakfast on
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th
bottled water throughout, transport by mini-coach, reserve
entrance fees, domestic flight and international flights.
We will spend most of the next day birding in a patch of forest
just west of the Techiman road. Blue-moustached Bee-eater
is the foremost species; a range restricted bird which is
breathtakingly beautiful. Yellow-billed Turaco, Western
Nicator, White-tailed Alethe, Chestnut Wattle-eye and Redbilled Helmet-shrike are amongst a myriad of other forest
species. From here it is just a short drive to Techiman, our
next stop over. On day ten we will head north again, spotting
ever increasing numbers of raptors. Grasshopper Buzzard is
very common, with Dark Chanting Goshawk and Beaudouin’s
Snake-eagle also in evidence.
An entry visa must be purchased in advance (currently £50).
Return flight from most UK airports to Accra (via Amsterdam)
using the scheduled services of KLM. Outbound flight departs
early morning, return flight arrives back early morning. Direct
flights with British Airways from Heathrow are also available,
for a small surcharge.
MOLE NATIONAL PARK
Three nights at Mole National Park is a lovely way to
conclude our tour, with easy birding and good mammal
viewing opportunities. From our elevated position on top of a
small escarpment we can watch African Elephants visiting the
pools, whilst Red-throated Bee-eaters and Pygmy Sunbirds
flit around at eye-level. In fact, the hotel is so nicely situated,
you might feel tempted to spend the day right there, but this
would be at the expense of a huge range of other birds which
can be found in the dry woodland, riparian forest and
savannah. The list of species possible is very long and
includes Forbes’s Plover, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Northern
Carmine Bee-eater, Abyssinian Roller, Orange-breasted
Bush-shrike, Black Scimitarbill, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird,
Fine-spotted Woodpecker, White-crowned Robin-Chat,
African Golden Oriole, White-crested Helmetshrike and Blackbellied Firefinch. Any downtime can be spent relaxing on the
terrace, watching the comings and goings of Elephant,
55
13 nights including
26 Nov. to 9 Dec. 2016
Principal leader:
Paul J. Willoughby
Local guide:
provided by Ashanti Tours
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
th
th
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
13 August 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£600 per person
TAIWAN
Illa Formosa - ‘the beautiful island’
The beautiful island of Taiwan is one of
Taiwan Yuhina and Taiwan Sibia
the easiest and friendliest places to
watch bir ds in East Asia. Dazzlin g
species are common in the open woodlands of the upland areas. Taiwan Blue Magpie, Grey-chinned Minivet,
Flamecrest, Black-throated Tit and the wonderfully named Steere’s Liocichla (pronounced Leo-SIC-la) simply glow
in the trees. All this is set against a backdrop of magnificent mountain scenery, as depicted in the familiar Chinese
scroll paintings.
We have chosen this time of year primarily because of the weather. Taiwan gets a lot of rain, especially in the
spring and summer when the “Plum Rains” fall. November is drier, when sunshine and clear mountain views are far
more likely. In addition, at this time the resident endemics are joined by extra treats for western birdwatchers in the
shape of some fabulous wintering birds. These include Red-flanked Bluetail, Eyebrowed and Dusky Thrushes and
species that are difficult to see elsewhere, such as the endangered Saunders’s Gull and Black-faced Spoonbill.
Another benefit is fewer leaves on the trees, so little gems like Taiwan Yuhina and Taiwan Yellow Tit are easier to
watch.
Over eighty of the resident birds are endemic species or races and many of the latter are likely to be split in the
near future. So we believe everything is worth a good look, as almost all birds are rare, local or special in some
other way, providing high quality birding every day.
Taiwan is a safe, tourist-friendly country, with wonderful national parks, excellent infrastructure, a fascinating
ancient culture and delicious food.
TAINAN
A little further south is Tainan, our base for the next two
nights. From here we will visit Chiku, a wintering ground of
the very rare Black-faced Spoonbill; we can expect up to 300
of these endangered birds. It is a good time of year to find
Saunders’s Gull alongside a wide range of wetland birds in
this area, including Great Knot and possibly Asian Dowitcher.
ITINERARY
CHANGHUA
From the airport we will go straight to a nearby hotel for the
first night. The next morning we will set off south to
Changhua, seeing our first Chinese Bulbuls, Red Collareddoves, Pacific Swallows, Amur Wagtails and Long-tailed
Shrikes en route. Paddies are home to Oriental Skylarks,
Eastern Yellow Wagtails, and Grey-faced and perhaps Yellow
Buntings. Nearby is Aogu, the largest zone of estuaries,
lakes, rice fields and fishponds in Taiwan. It is the best place
to search for Eastern Marsh Harrier, White-winged Black and
Gull-billed Terns, Intermediate Egret and Greater and Lesser
Sandplovers. The sweet potato fields attract Pacific Golden
Plovers, and Red-necked and Long-toed Stints.
Tainan is the old capital, and we will no doubt see the Dutch
fortifications, Confucius Temple and other famous local sites
as we travel around.
GUANHUA
On day five we will leave the developed coastline and head
inland to the mountains, via Kwantien Reserve where we will
look for Greater Painted Snipe, Pheasant-tailed Jacana,
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White-breasted Waterhen, and Yellow and Cinnamon
Bitterns. At various sites in the foothills we will search for
Taiwan Hwamei and other specialities.
be at the excellent Fullon Skenkeng Hotel. From here we
have a choice of sites. Where we go depends upon our
guide’s local knowledge. There may be rare migrants to
search for in Yeliu Geopark, for instance, or we can try to
catch up on species we have previously missed.
En route to Anmashan we will break our journey with an
overnight stop at a top new site, Fireflies Lodge. An ex-hunter
turned conservationist has set up an excellent small hotel
near prime habitat. On our last visit, from his forest hides, we
had fabulous views of Swinhoe’s Pheasant, Snowy-browed
Flycatcher, White-tailed Robin and the almost mythical
Taiwan Partridge. We hope to repeat all those sightings.
Around the same area we have found Striated Prinia, Olivebacked Pipit, both endemic scimitar-babblers and more,
making this a must-visit place.
Throughout the trip we will see many wonderful landscapes,
and experience the best of Illa Formosa, with its classic
Chinese gardens, brash night markets, and fabulous temples.
CLIMATE AND PACE
We can expect warm weather in the lowlands, but cooler in
the uplands. Avoiding the hot and wet spring/summer, we
visit at the driest time of year. However, we should
nevertheless expect some rain from time to time. Breakfast
will normally be taken at about 7.30am, with some optional
pre-breakfast forays. Basic fitness is all that is required. Full
days will be spent in the field with short/medium length walks.
There are some uphill sections and some steps, but these will
be taken at a sensible pace and are optional.
ANMASHAN
During the ascent of Anmashan we will make birding stops,
and perhaps take a tea break at Shihjhuo where they grow
the finest tea in Taiwan.
We have two nights in this superb upland area, where many
of the endemic birds are found. We will explore bamboo
clumps, ancient forest with huge trees and stands of pine. At
this time many of the small birds are in mixed species flocks,
alive with colour and calls as they feed. We will look for
Flamecrest, Taiwan Fulvetta, White-whiskered Laughing
Thrush, Taiwan Sibia, Taiwan Barwing, Taiwan Varied Tit,
Owston’s Bullfinch and the rufous-bellied race of Nutcracker.
Eyebrowed, Pale and Brown-headed Thrushes usually winter
here.
Full-board accommodation is provided with one night at the
Gueylin Hotel near the airport, one night at the Guaulin Hotel,
Changhua, two nights at the Eva Hotel, Tainan, one night at
Fireflies Lodge, two nights at Anmashan Mountain Resort,
two nights at Hui-sen Forest Resort, and two nights at the
Fullon Skenkeng Hotel, Taipei. The accommodation is of a
high standard throughout. All rooms have en suite bathrooms.
Food throughout is good quality Taiwanese, with some
western alternatives at most places. Picnic lunches will be
taken some days, on others we will dine at restaurants.
At higher levels we can expect the beautiful Johnstone’s
Robin, White’s Thrush and Vinaceous Rosefinch, plus have
our best chance for Mikado Pheasant (we saw four on one
visit). This is where we will find the endemic Formosan
Macaque. Weather permitting, we may see the distant peak
of Jade Mountain (Yushan), at 12966 feet, the highest peak in
East Asia.
naturalist, full-board accommodation (starting with breakfast
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on 29 , ending with breakfast on 9 ), soft drinks at meal
times, all entrance fees, local transport by mini-bus,
international flights and airport taxes.
HUI-SEN
Our next stop, for two nights, is where we are very lucky to
have special permission to stay at a lovely University Study
Centre at Hui-sen. Surrounded by mid-elevation forest, we
will keep our eyes peeled for the bright red endemic form of
Maroon Oriole, Taiwan Barbet, Oriental Turtle Dove, Crested
Serpent Eagle, Crested Goshawk and Japanese
Sparrowhawk. Black Eagle, Silver-backed Needletail and
Fork-tailed Swift are all possible.
Return flight from London Heathrow to Taipei using the
scheduled services of Taiwan’s national carrier, Eva Air.
Outbound flight departs mid-evening; return arrives back
early evening. An alternative is to fly from a regional airport
with KLM (via Amsterdam), for a small supplement. Outbound
flight departs mid-afternoon, returning late morning.
In the pleasant grounds, the strange-looking Malayan Night
Heron often stalks on the lawns and groups of Taiwan Blue
Magpies feed undisturbed. Vivid Niltavas and Fire-breasted
Flowerpeckers certainly live up to their names and, with a
little luck, Brown Hawk Owls and Collared Scops Owls can be
seen.
Mixed flocks, often heralded by Grey Treepies, include
Taiwan Yuhinas, Japanese White-eyes, Green-backed Tits,
Rufous-faced Warblers, Grey-cheeked Fulvettas, Whitebellied Erpornis and Grey-chinned Minivets. Taiwan Barbets,
Daurian Redstarts, Red-flanked Bluetails and the crested
form of Coal Tit are all likely here. Nearby we will check a
mountain stream for Plumbeous Water Redstart, Formosan
Whistling-thrush and Little Forktail. This is a very peaceful
place to stay, and some of the famous autumn colour from
the maples may be lingering, along with a few hardy
butterflies, as it is quite sheltered here.
TAIPEI
On day ten we will drag ourselves away from the beautiful
mountains and head down to Taipei. Our last two nights will
57
12 nights including
27 Nov. to 9 Dec. 2016
Principal leader:
Andrew Woodall
Local guide:
Simon Liao
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
th
th
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
13 August 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£600 per person
MYANMAR (BURMA)
Burmese endemics and Spoon-billed Sandpipers in the ‘Land of the Golden Pagodas’
Burma, now known as Myanmar, finally
Spoon-billed Sandpiper a
opened its doors to the world in the
early part of the twenty first century and
visitors are once again able to enjoy the great treasures it possesses. In addition to its remarkable cultural heritage,
it is, without doubt, the most ornithologically diverse country in South East Asia.
Our tour will take us birding among paddyfields, to lakes and the coast, and then on to the beautiful and remote
forests cloaking Mount Victoria. Rarely visited by birders, it is home to the endemic Burmese Tit and White-browed
Nuthatch. Close to Mount Victoria is one of Asia’s best kept secrets. Over two thousand temples on the banks of
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the Irrawaddy River dating from the 9 Century make Bagan one of the great archaeological wonders of the world.
The Spoon-billed Sandpiper is on the brink of extinction. Bird Holidays and A r c C o n a j o i n e d f o r c e s w i t h t h e
Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force and BANCA (the Birdlife partner in Myanmar) to undertake conservation tours
to its wintering grounds, where hunting has been identified as the primary cause of its decline. Ecotourism is
playing its part in helping to save this wonderful bird. It provides work for local people, demonstrating the
sustainable value of a living Spoon-billed Sandpiper compared to a bird trapped for the pot. We also supply our
counts to the task force, helping in their vital work saving shorebirds in the East Asian Flyway.
Myanmar has a wealth of both natural and ancient treasures that has been off limits to travellers for many years. In
time the country may lose some of its rural charm, but for now we are able to enjoy the unspoilt landscape.
200 adults. We can expect to see this charismatic wader with
the help of ex-hunters who have now become guides. Phil
and our local guide, Lay Win, have more experience than
most when it comes to finding them. Phil has taken part in
three expeditions to find them in Siberia, while Lay Win
surveys wintering birds in Myanmar.
ITINERARY
YANGON
We will arrive in Yangon in the afternoon and will go to the
Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the most prestigious cultural
sites in Yangon. An amazing area of lion statues and golden
spikes, the pagoda also hosts an extraordinary wildlife
spectacle. Each day hundreds of drongos gather to roost and,
as light fades, millions of bats come out from the roof. Like a
column of smoke, the procession is spectacular and
seemingly endless, with Peregrines, Kestrels and Black Kites
all trying to catch one for supper.
Among the flocks of Lesser and Greater Sandplovers, we
have found many Terek and Broad-billed Sandpipers, Rednecked Stint, and Great Knot. Great Black-headed Gulls
stand tall amongst these. The next day we will return to the
coast for a full day to optimise our time spent in this important
area. On day five, we will drive to Sane Let Tin and take a
boat ride into the Gulf of Martaban. This will allow us to
explore the area better and walk among the birds over vast
areas of sand and mudflats, or paddle in shallow water.
GULF OF MARTABAN
From Yangon we will drive to Thaton for a two night stay. On
the way we will make the first of two visits to the coast. The
vast mudflats hold thousands of shorebirds, herons and terns.
The Myanmar coast holds most of the remaining population
of Spoon-billed Sandpipers, which is now perhaps less than
58
MOEYINGYI WETLAND
On our journey back to Yangon, we will visit Moeyingyi Bird
Sanctuary, a huge lake with plenty of emergent vegetation
supporting a rich variety of birds. Oxen plough the fields with
Asian Open-billed Storks in attendance. Drongos and mynahs
ride on the backs of water buffalo, periodically darting out to
take insects disturbed by their feet. The lake itself is home to
impressive numbers of birds and it is not unusual to see a
thousand Pintail in the air, accompanied by Spot-billed Duck,
Garganey, Lesser Whistling Ducks and perhaps a Falcated
Duck.
browed and Nepal Fulvettas, Grey Sibia, Whiskered and
Stripe-throated Yuhinas, and White-bellied Redstart.
From here, we return to Bagan for one night giving us plenty
of time to enjoy the birding and sightseeing around the
temples again, before taking a flight to Yangon, connecting
with our flight home.
CLIMATE AND PACE
In lowland areas the climate is mostly hot in the day and cool
at night. At Mount Victoria it can be cold in the night with cool
mornings at higher elevations. We do not expect rain but it is
possible. Breakfast time will be flexible to take advantage of
bird activity and tide times. There is some uphill walking at
Mount Victoria but at a sensible pace. Some of our wetland
birding may be done from a boat if conditions allow, but we
will also be walking on the beach and mudflats in search of
Spoon-billed Sandpiper.
At dusk we will watch as thousands of ibis, egrets and herons
fly to roost in nearby trees. Gorgeous male Pied Harriers
gather along with Eastern Marsh Harriers. One year we
counted more than 20 of each! Striated Grassbirds, Yellow
Bittern and Black-browed and Oriental Reed Warblers are
common in lakeside vegetation. Plaintive Cuckoos can be
found and Blue-tailed Bee-eaters pick off stray insects.
At night we will enjoy a dark starry sky at Moeyingyi, free from
light pollution. The following day we may be greeted by a
Black-capped Kingfisher, which regularly sits on the roof,
while wintering Siberian Rubythroats skulk in the
undergrowth. We have plenty of time to look for Long-toed
Stint and Citrine Wagtail and watch Pheasant-tailed Jacana,
Purple Swamphen and numerous Purple Herons, before
making our way back to Yangon for the evening flight to
Bagan.
Full board accommodation is provided, with one night at the
Pleasant View Hotel, Yangon, two nights at the Mya Nadi
Hotel, Thaton, one night at the Sane Let Tin, one night at the
Moeyingyi Resort, two nights at the Sky Palace Hotel, Bagan,
three nights at the Sky Palace Hotel, Mount Victoria and one
night back at the Sky Palace Hotel in Bagan. All are of a
medium to good standard, with en suite bathrooms. Meals
are served in the hotels or at restaurants and cafes.
BAGAN
Bagan is our base for the next two nights. Like Angkor Wat, it
is one of the great wonders of ancient Asia. We begin by
birding among the thousands of temples and pagodas that
hold massive golden Buddhas. Here we will focus on
Burmese endemics such as Burmese Bushlark, Hooded
Treepie and White-throated Babbler. There are Blue Rock
Thrushes, Plain-backed Sparrows, Rain Quails and several
bulbul species that will ensure we are kept busy. Laggar
Falcons watch from the tallest temples, from time to time
spooking River Lapwings and Small Pratincoles over the
Irrawaddy River. We will take a boat ride on this famous river
where we could see Sand Larks and White-tailed Stonechats.
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nd
water throughout, transport by mini-coach, boat trips, reserve
entrance fees and international flights. We pay a US$50 per
person fee towards a local former hunting community trust
fund that protects the Spoon-billed Sandpipers in the area.
Furthermore, Bird Holidays supports the work of the Spoonbilled Sandpiper Task Force and are Species Champions with
Birdlife International.
Travel insurance. Tourist visa (currently about £15). Personal
items, alcoholic drinks, laundry.
MOUNT VICTORIA AND THE CHIN HILLS
We will then drive to the lower slopes of Mount Victoria,
birding along the way. Rural Myanmar has charming ox-carts
and horses, while motorised vehicles are still quite scarce.
Indian Rollers, Smyrna Kingfishers and Brown Shrikes line
the roadsides, but White-rumped Falcon and Collared
Falconet are more highly prized.
Return flights from London Heathrow to Yangon using the
scheduled services of Singapore Airlines. Outbound flight
departs late morning, arriving back in the UK mid-afternoon.
Domestic flights from Manchester and other UK airports
are available on this tour. See booking form for details.
Mount Victoria is still relatively unexplored. The habitat
changes with elevation from dry deciduous forest, through
rhododendron to grassland at the peaks. We have three
nights here in which to explore. Only recorded at this one site,
the White-browed Nuthatch dwells among the mossy trunks
of highland trees. Two other nuthatch species also live here,
sharing branches with endemic Burmese Tits. Many others
such as Chin Hills Wren-babbler have restricted ranges,
making this place very special. Wintering Siberian birds rub
shoulders
with
Himalayan
species.
There
are
laughingthrushes, leafbirds and sunbirds. Minivets light up the
canopy, along with various leaf-warblers. Niltavas flit through
the bamboo as waves of fulvettas, minlas and scimitarbabblers pass by. The list of possibilities goes on and on, and
includes Brownish-flanked and Russet Bush-warblers,
Mountain
Bamboo-partridge,
Spot-throated
Babbler,
Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Blue-throated Barbet, Darjeeling
Woodpecker, Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike, Blue-winged,
Chestnut-tailed and Red-tailed Minlas, Rufous-winged, White-
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13 nights including
Principal leader:
Phil Palmer
Local guide:
Lay Win
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
th
rd
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
27 September 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£600 per person
SOUTH INDIA SAFARI
the best of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and southern Karnataka
India and its diverse bird life is as
vivid, c olourful and m em or able a s
anywhere on earth. We have planned
this tour to show you some of the best wildlife of the sub-continent, in a relatively small area.
Great Thick-knee
The Nilgiri Biosphere Region is an area of high bird endemism and is of global importance for wildlife generally, yet
it is only now being fully appreciated by birdwatchers. This tour takes us to a wide variety of habitats within this
zone. We will visit impressive stands of giant bamboo, dry scrubland, secret wooded montane valleys (sholas), lush
tropical forest and farmland. They all have their own special birds. Indian wildlife can be surprisingly approachable
and we are aiming for close views of waterbirds, nightjars, exotic forest birds, even ‘difficult’ specialities such as
Painted Bush-quail and more. The butterflies are spectacular and animals abundant; we will see wild Indian
Elephants and possibly twenty more mammal species.
We will experience the fascinating cultural backdrop of the Kingdom of Mysore; a stay in Ooty, the historical ‘Queen
of the Hill Stations’; the quiet rural life and pristine protected wilderness. Also, the climate of the uplands is very
comfortable at this time of year with warm sunny days and cool nights.
We have been leading tours to South India for many years and agree with the Tatler Travel Guide which rates
Kabini Lake, Nagarhole as one of the top five wildlife places in the world.
Rose-coloured Starling and other open county birds. After two
nights in Mysore we will head west to Nagarhole.
ITINERARY
MYSORE, CITY OF PALACES, KARNATAKA
After an overnight flight we will arrive in Bangalore in the
morning. We will then drive down to Mysore at a relaxed
pace, with lunch and some birding for common species on
the way. One stop will be at a wetland near Kokkare Bellur
where we will see jacanas, ibis, bee-eaters and raptors.
When in Mysore there will be the option to see the famous
Amba Vilas Palace.
NAGARHOLE NATIONAL PARK, KARNATAKA
Our drive to Nagarhole goes through rural areas which are
especially good for raptors. Black-shouldered Kite, Indian
Spotted Eagle, Pallid Harrier, and Crested Honey and Whiteeyed Buzzards are all possible. We will spend the next three
nights at Nagarhole. Our excellent lodge by Kabini Lake often
has Taiga Flycatcher wintering in the grounds. Red-naped
Ibis, Flame-throated Bulbul, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Malabar
Pied Hornbills, Malabar Flameback, Streak-throated and
White-bellied Woodpeckers, Indian Nuthatch, Asian Paradise
Flycatcher, Oriental White-eye, White-bellied Treepie and
Grey-breasted Cuckoo are amongst the wealth of birds in and
around here. With over 250 bird species recorded there are
plenty for us to find.
The next day we will take a morning boat ride at nearby
Ranganathittu Sanctuary for point blank views of the mixed
heronry, Great Thick-knee and Mugger Crocodile. Indian
Grey Hornbill, Stork-billed Kingfisher, White-cheeked Barbet
and the handsome Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher are also drawn to
this reserve. The afternoon will be spent nearby looking for
Singing and Jerdon’s Bushlarks, Malabar and Rufous-tailed
Larks, Ashy-crowned Finch-lark, Indian Roller, Indian Robin,
60
CALICUT, KERALA
Our final night will be spent at a tranquil lodge by the back
waters, where we expect to see Nilgiri Flowerpecker,
Brahminy Kite, terns, egrets and other common species.
Nagarhole is now the best place in South India to see
animals. On the boat trips and jeep rides regular sightings
include Indian Elephant, Indian Bison, Indian Wild Boar,
Chital and Sambar Deer, Asian Wild Dog, Short-clawed Otter
and the large, handsome Stripe-necked Mongoose. Bengal
Tiger, Leopard and Golden Jackal are also seen but less
often. If there has been a kill then we have a chance of
seeing vultures and Tawny Eagle.
On day 14 we will have a morning birding locally, then relax
at our hotel until our evening flight home.
CLIMATE AND PACE
MUDUMALAI, TAMIL NADU
On day seven we will head to Mudumalai. Our journey
through rural Karnataka has lots of interest: village scenes;
bird-filled marshes; and rocky outcrops; and so will take much
of the day, with picnic and birding breaks. We will arrive at
Masinagudi on the edge of Mudumalai National Park for a
three night stay in a lovely, low-impact lodge run by a local
family. The rooms are simple but the atmosphere and
surrounding wildlife have made it highly rated by visitors. You
can sit by the swimming pool to watch Chital Deer graze the
grounds in the evenings, as Jerdon’s Nightjar and Indian Pitta
start to call. On one visit, a Sloth Bear came to drink from a
pond at the edge of the grounds. Crested Hawk-eagle, Grey
Francolin, Jungle Bush-quail, Blue-faced Malkoha, Brown
Fish Owl, Bay-backed and Long-tailed Shrikes, White-browed
Fantail, Yellow-footed Pigeon, Indian Blue Robin and many
other species are present locally. White-rumped Shama can
be uncharacteristically showy in the bamboo here and there
is also a site for the now rare White-backed Vulture.
It is reliably sunny and dry at this time of year, although it is
cooler at higher elevations. On the last night (at the coast) it
will be hot and humid. On most days breakfast will be at 7am
so that we can go birding quite early, followed by midday
breaks. There will be a couple of optional earlier starts, such
as for a morning jeep safari. Birding sessions will usually
involve short/medium walks, almost all on the flat.
Birdwatching at Cairn Hill may entail some gentle uphill
walking.
Full-board accommodation is provided with two nights at the
Sandesh The Prince Hotel, Mysore, three nights at Serai
Kabini Resort, three nights at Jungle Hut, Masinagudi, two
nights at the Taj Savoy Hotel, Ootacamund, two nights at
Vythiri Resort, Wayanad and the last night at Kadavu Resort,
Calicut. All the accommodation is good quality, with en suite
bathrooms. We have chosen hotels known for their service
and food which includes international/western dishes.
Lunches will be at the hotels or, occasionally, a picnic.
There are areas of open woodland and dry savannah-like
bush where local guides will aid our search for the associated
birds, including Savannah Nightjar, Large Grey and Yellowbilled
Babblers,
White-naped
Flameback,
Hume’s
Whitethroat, Sykes’s Warbler, Blyth’s Pipit and, with luck, the
scarce White-bellied Minivet.
th
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water throughout, local transport by mini-coach, boat trips,
jeep rides, jungle activities, reserve entrance fees and
OOTACAMUND (OOTY), TAMIL NADU
Next we will travel by jeep up to this famous hill station,
stopping en route at a hill village where the endemic Painted
Bush-quail is regularly seen.
Travel insurance. Cost of obtaining an Indian visa (approx.
£90). Personal items, alcoholic drinks, laundry. Please note:
the Indian authorities are planning to introduce a visa-onentry system in 2016. We hope that it will be up and running
in time for this trip, saving us all time and money.
We will have two nights at Ooty. Part of the experience here
is being in an appropriate hotel so we stay at the Savoy, of
course, built by the British in 1841. It is a little faded but has
the feel of history especially in the wood panelled dining hall.
Log fires warm our rooms at night if there is a cold snap.
Return flight from London Heathrow, Manchester or Glasgow
to Bangalore, returning from Calicut, using the scheduled
services of Emirates. Outbound flight departs early afternoon,
return flight arrives back early morning.
At Cairn Hill we will birdwatch in the shola, a wooded valley
which is home to the highly localised Nilgiri Blue Robin. We
hope to see this, as well as the handsome Black-and-orange
Flycatcher, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Square-tailed Black Bulbul, Hill
Swallow and other birds restricted to this particular terrain.
Whilst staying at Ooty, we will visit Doddabetta, India’s
highest peak south of the Himalayas. We can drive to the
summit where Black-chinned Laughingthrush is reliably
found.
WAYANAD, KERALA
From Ooty we travel down to Vythiri for two nights. We will
see a change of habitat, in an area of the mid-elevation
foothills rarely visited by birdwatchers. Around our fine lodge
is some good tropical forest, giving us an opportunity to see
another range of birds. Malabar Whistling Thrush, Fairy
Bluebird, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Bar-winged Flycatchershrike, Forest Wagtail, Black-headed and Indian Golden
Orioles, Jungle Owlet, Orange Minivet, Malabar Barbet,
Rusty-tailed Flycatcher and Southern Hill Myna are just some
of the species here, along with a host of butterflies.
Handsome Malabar Giant Squirrels are common here.
61
15 nights including
23 Jan. to 7 Feb. 2017
Principal leader:
Andrew Woodall
Local guide:
Satheesh K. Nair
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
rd
th
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
10 October 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£600 per person
THE YUCATAN, MEXICO
endemic birds of the Yucatan Peninsula in the vicinity of five spectacular Mayan sites
There’s so much more to the Yucatan
Keel-billed Toucan
Peninsula than the famous coastal
r e s o r t s o f C a n c u n a n d P l a ya d e l
Carmen. The region’s lush tropical forests, coastal wetlands, dry thorn scrub and beautiful beaches combine to
make the Yucatan a premier bird-tour destination. The beauty of it all is that some of the best preserved habitats
are found alongside some of the most spectacular archaeological sites in the New World. Hidden in the forests are
countless Mayan cities and temples. On this tour we present you with a wonderful opportunity to visit the World
Heritage Site at Chichen Itza, as well as Tulum, Coba, Uxmal and Calakmul.
The Yucatan is a region of high endemism and many bird species found here occur nowhere else in the world.
Black Catbirds and Rose-throated Tanagers share the coastal mangroves with wintering American wood warblers.
In the scrub of the arid northwest resident specialities include Yucatan Bobwhite, Lesser Roadrunner, Yucatan
Wren and the tiny Mexican Sheartail hummingbird. Ocellated Turkeys still frequent the forests around Calakmul, as
do Great Curassows and the arboreal Crested Guan. Other endemics we hope to find include the Yucatan
Woodpecker, Yucatan Flycatcher and the gorgeous Grey-throated Chat. All in all this trip produces a wonderful mix
of colourful North American migrants, typical Mexican birds and exotic rainforest species. It is not surprising to learn
that we can expect to see over 250 species.
Our journey begins on the Caribbean coast at Tulum where turquoise seas meet sandy beaches. The tour then
heads south-west to Calakmul, which lies deep in the rainforest near the Guatemalan border. Following the Ruta
Maya we venture north to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and the beautifully preserved structures at Uxmal.
Finally we will then head back east to spend the final three nights at Chichen Itza. In each location we stay at
hotels situated adjacent to the archaeological sites, enabling us to explore the sites at our leisure before the heat of
the day.
mangroves also harbour Yucatan Vireos and a host of North
American warblers.
ITINERARY
TULUM AND COBA
On arrival at Cancun we will transfer to Tulum, our base for
the first three nights. This is the only place on the low lying
Yucatan Peninsula with coastal cliffs. The picturesque
remains of a once great Mayan city sit on these cliffs,
overlooking the turquoise Caribbean. Over these beautiful
waters rise Magnificent Frigatebirds, Brown Pelicans and
Royal Terns. The coastal mangroves here are perhaps the
best place to find the endemic Black Catbird. Fruiting trees
attract Plain Chachalaca, Caribbean Elaenia and Rosethroated Tanager. Around the ruins we will search for Orange
Orioles and Ridgeway’s Rough-winged Swallows. The
From Tulum we will visit the Mayan city of Coba. Here we will
have a fantastic introduction to the forest birds of the
Yucatan, as well as seeing a selection of well preserved
temples, ball courts and stelae. At Coba Lake there are
kingfishers, Anhinga, Pied-billed Grebe and Limpkin. There
are also plenty of Morelet’s Crocodiles. Three sets of
excavated ruins are connected by wide forest trails. Some of
the more common birds include Ivory-billed Woodcreeper,
Spot-breasted Wren, Red-throated Ant-tanager, Cinnamon
Hummingbird, Hooded Oriole, Black-headed Trogon, Groovebilled Ani, Common Yellowthroat and Melodious Blackbird.
62
CALAKMUL
The largest and one of the most important of the Mayan sites,
rivalling the magnificent Tikal in size, Calakmul was
discovered as recently as 1931 by Cyrus Lundell.
Yellow-throated Warbler, Blue-crowned and Turquoisebrowed Motmots and Hooded and Altamira Orioles can all be
seen in the hotel grounds.
Whilst at Chichen Itza we will make a day trip to the coast at
Rio Lagartos, where there is a mixture of coastal lagoons,
mangrove swamps and dune scrub. Here we can expect to
see a long list of exciting birds including Brown and American
White Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbill, Black Skimmer, Laughing
Falcon, Crested Caracara, Yucatan Woodpecker and
Vermilion Flycatcher. Specialities include the Yucatan
Bobwhite, Lesser Roadrunner, Yucatan Wren and an
endemic hummingbird, the Mexican Sheartail.
Calakmul now stands deep in the jungle close to the
Guatemalan border. We spend four nights here to give us
plenty of time to explore the archaeological site and the
surrounding forest. Large numbers of confiding Yucatan
Black Howler Monkeys and Central American Spider
Monkeys inhabit the impressive rainforest. Alarm calls from
Ocellated Turkeys sometimes betray the presence of a large
cat. Staff at the reserves visitor centre always seem to have
regular sightings of Jaguar to report!
After some final birding on the last morning we will drive to
Cancun, arriving in good time for our flight home.
Birdlife is abundant along the forest trails which lead to the
former city's magnificent temples. Army ant swarms cross the
tracks, attracting a host of birds including Mexican Antthrush,
Northern Barred and Ruddy Woodcreepers, Ovenbirds and
Grey-breasted Chats. The raucous sounds of Keel-billed
Toucans echo around the forest whilst Bat Falcons hunt from
the tops of the ancient structures. A feature of this site is the
good numbers of large birds to be found such as Ocellated
Turkeys, Great Curassows and Crested Guans. Thicket
Tinamous occur close to our very comfortable jungle lodge,
whilst Wood Thrushes, Indigo Buntings and Hooded Warblers
come to drink at a woodland pool.
CLIMATE AND PACE
Our visit is at the best time of year, when rainfall is at its
lowest and temperatures are at their most comfortable. It will
be hot and humid in the middle of the day, but there is often a
breeze on the coast. Breakfast will usually be taken at 7am.
On other days it will be later, to give us time to do a prebreakfast walk. Due to the high mid-day temperatures we
plan to do morning and late afternoon excursions, with time
off in-between to siesta. This is made all the easier as our
hotels are very close to the birding sites. Basic fitness is all
that is required. The Yucatan is very flat, and there will be
little uphill walking.
Nearby we can visit a bat cave to watch the evening
departure of thousands of Mexican Free-tailed Bats.
Overhead hundreds of White-faced Parrots fly to roost whilst
on one occasion a Collared Forest Falcon was attracted by
this bonanza of fast food.
the Hotel Don Diego de la Selva, Tulum, four nights at the
Hotel Puerta, Calakmul, four nights at the Hacienda Uxmal,
and three nights at the Hacienda Chichen Resort, Chichen
Itza. All accommodation is of a good standard and all rooms
have en suite bathrooms. Lunches will normally be at the
hotel, but at Calakmul we will take a picnic or eat in a
restaurant.
UXMAL
On day eight we will head towards our next Mayan site,
Uxmal, our base for the next four nights. As at all the sites,
there is good birding in the hotel gardens. Hundreds of pairs
of Cave Swallows nest in the ruins and Turquoise-browed
Motmots can easily be observed.
The forest holds a good selection of Yucatan specialities
including Yucatan Flycatcher, Yucatan Bobwhite, Whitebrowed Wren and Blue Bunting. Also found here are
Common Pauraque, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Green Jay,
Scrub Euphonia, Plain Chachalaca, Black-cowled and
Altamira Orioles, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Yellow-billed
Cacique, Singing Quail and Olive Sparrow.
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mini-bus, boat trip, site entrance fees and international flights.
We shall take a boat trip in the coastal mangroves at Rio
Celestun. Birds we can expect include Common Black Hawk,
Magnificent Frigatebirds, American Pygmy Kingfisher,
thousands of American Flamingos, Anhinga, Roseate
Spoonbill, Boat-billed Heron, Tricoloured Heron and Reddish
Egret. Amongst the passerines will be Northern Waterthrush,
Mangrove Warbler and Mangrove Vireo.
Return flights are from both Manchester and London Gatwick,
using the charter services of a major airline. Outbound flight
departs mid-morning; return flight arrives back early morning.
CHICHEN ITZA
On day 12 we will move on to Chichen Itza in central
Yucatan, our base for the final three nights. This is perhaps
the most celebrated Mayan site and one of the most
spectacular with its towering El Castillo pyramid and huge ball
court. In the quiet corners of the ruins and in the gardens of
our hotel where there are palms and fruit trees, birds are
abundant, especially early and late in the day.
We hope to see Grey Hawk, Bat Falcon, Vaux’s Swift, Cave
Swallow, Collared Aracari, Masked Tityra, Lineated
Woodpecker and Yellow-winged Tanager. Some of the
special birds here include Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Canivet’s
Emerald, Yucatan Jay and the beautiful Orange Oriole.
63
15 nights including
Principal leader:
John McLoughlin
Maximum group size:
st
th
Cost with discount
(if you book before
st
21 October 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£600 per person
NORTHERN INDIA
a classic tour combining birds, tigers and the Taj Mahal
For anyone with a love of natural
Bengal Tiger
history, the chance to see a magnificent
Bengal Tiger in the wild is an
opportunity not to be missed. At the Project Tiger reserve of Kanha, there is an excellent chance of seeing these
magnificent creatures, alongside numerous other animals and birds. Add to this a classic tour of Northern India’s
Golden Triangle: Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, plus the delights of Bharatpur and the Chambal River, and you have the
ingredients for a truly epic wildlife and cultural holiday.
The Chambal River is a great place to see Indian Skimmer, as well as Gangetic Dolphin and Gharial. At Bharatpur,
our quarry includes Black-necked Stork, Eastern Imperial Eagle and Sarus Crane. In the semi-desert of Rajasthan
we will look for Desert Wheatear, Indian Courser and White-capped Bunting. The forest at Kanha holds Red-naped
Ibis, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and Indian Scimitar-babbler. The Amber Fort and Taj
Mahal provide a distraction from the birding just long enough to give us an appetite for more birds. We will spend
two nights in Delhi, three nights at Dholpur near the Chambal River, two nights at Bharatpur, two nights in Jaipur,
one night at Raipur and four nights at Kanha, giving us plenty of time to find all these birds and more….
ITINERARY
BHARATPUR
On day six we will drive west to Bharatpur, and the Keoladeo
Ghana National Park, for a stay of two nights. En route we
will visit the Taj Mahal at Agra, allowing plenty of time to walk
around the grounds and inside this magnificent building.
DELHI
Our flight arrives in Delhi a little before midnight, so it is good
that our hotel for the first two nights is not far away.
Our first full day will be spent birding at a leisurely pace in the
vicinity of Delhi. In the morning we will visit the Yamuna River,
with its abundant ducks, waders, herons, gulls and terns. Key
species include Indian Shag, River Lapwing, White-tailed
Plover, Great Black-headed Gull, Brown-headed Gull, Rosy
Pipit, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Striated Babbler and Blackbreasted Weaver. In the afternoon we will visit Tughlaqabad
Fort.
Hardly needing an introduction, Bharatpur is one of the most
famous bird reserves in the world.
Walking along raised banks we can expect Bluethroats in
abundance, along with small numbers of Siberian
Rubythroats and Smoky Warblers. Waterside trees hold
Marshall’s Iora, White-browed Fantail, Yellow-crowned
Woodpecker and Indian Grey Hornbill. Being such a wellwatched area, many nocturnal birds can be seen at their
daytime roosts. Local guides can show us roosting Indian
Scops Owls, Oriental Scops Owls, Dusky Eagle Owls and
Spotted Owlets, as well as Jungle and Large-tailed Nightjars.
CHAMBAL RIVER
The following morning we will leave Delhi, travelling to
Dholpur, south east of Agra, for a stay of three nights. Here
we will take two boat trips on the Chambal River to see
Gharials, Muggar Crocodiles and Gangetic Dolphins, and we
have a great chance of Bar-headed Goose, Asian Openbill,
Indian Skimmer, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Great Thickknee and the globally-threatened Black-bellied Tern. Jungle
Cats are fairly common and we have seen several on recent
visits.
We will be hoping for a good monsoon prior to our visit which
will allow thousands of Painted Storks and other waterbirds to
nest. Pheasant-tailed and Bronze-winged Jacanas, Greater
Painted Snipes, Black Bitterns, Brown Crakes, Cotton Pygmy
Geese, Black-necked Storks, Common Cranes, White64
breasted Kingfishers and Citrine Wagtails are amongst the
multitude of birds we can expect to see. Eagles are one of the
main attractions of Bharatpur, as they give fantastic views.
Eastern Imperial, Greater Spotted, Indian Spotted, Bonelli’s
and Steppe Eagles were all seen at close range on our last
visit.
On day 15 we will fly back from Jabalpur to Delhi. We will get
back to Delhi mid-afternoon, giving us plenty of time to relax
at the beautiful Uppal Orchid Hotel before our flight home the
next morning.
CLIMATE AND PACE
Winter in northern India is rather mild, with warm days and
cool nights. Rain is very unlikely, but early morning mist is not
unusual. At Kanha it is likely to be hot in the middle of the
day, when we will take a siesta. Breakfast will normally be
taken at 7am, except at Kanha, when an earlier breakfast is
required before the 6.30am game drives. Long breaks during
the day at Kanha will allow people to catch up on their rest.
There is no uphill walking of any significance.
Bharatpur has suffered from a lack of water in recent times.
We are pleased to report that following a ruling in the Indian
High Court, there is a plan to supply water to the reserve
through newly constructed canals, restoring this globally
important site to its former glory.
On day eight we will have a full morning at Bharatpur before
driving to Jaipur in the afternoon.
JAIPUR
To most tourists, the riches of Jaipur comprise its magnificent
Amber Fort and the breathtaking gems and fine carpets on
sale behind dusty shop fronts. We can also appreciate the
stark rocky hillsides, beautiful lakes and exciting birdlife which
combine to make the city a must on any visit to Northern
India. We will spend half a day visiting the traditional tourist
sites, plus two half days of birding. Desert Wheatear, Eastern
Pied Wheatear, Long-billed Pipit, Grey-necked Bunting,
Indian Courser, Jungle Bush Quail, Sirkeer Malkoha and
Rufous-tailed Lark are all possible. Opposite our excellent
hotel is the Jal Mahal, a large lake which holds hundreds of
birds including Indian River Tern, Marsh Sandpiper,
Temminck’s Stint and Greater Flamingo.
Full-board accommodation will be provided, with two nights at
the Crown Plaza Hotel in Delhi, three nights at the Raj Niwas
Palace, Dholpur, two nights at the Bagh Hotel, Bharatpur, two
nights at the Hotel Trident in Jaipur, one night at the Gateway
Hotel, Raipur, four nights at the Hotel Baagh, Kanha and one
night at the Uppal Orchid Hotel, Delhi. All accommodations
are of a high standard and all offer continental cuisine as well
as a wide choice of local dishes. Most lunches will be taken at
our hotels.
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9 , ending with breakfast on 23 ), local transport by coach,
soft drinks at meal times, bottled water throughout, all safari
activities (jeep drives, boat trips), all reserve and site
entrance fees, domestic flight, international flights.
On day ten we will drive back to Delhi, stopping en route at
the wetland oasis of Sultanpur. The reserve is centred around
a jheel (a shallow lake surrounded by a raised bank) and
hosts nesting Painted Storks as well as Sarus Crane and
Spot-billed Duck. Black-shouldered Kites are particularly
common here. In the surrounding dry grassland and scrub we
can hope to find Indian Roller, Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Redbreasted Flycatcher, Large Grey Babbler and Red Avadavat.
Shrikes are a feature of the area, with Isabelline, Bay-backed,
Southern Grey and Long-tailed all expected. The most
conspicuous mammal here is the Blue Bull or Nilgai, a large
antelope. There is also the chance of Small Indian Mongoose
and Golden Jackal.
Travel insurance. Cost of obtaining an Indian visa (approx.
£90). Items of a personal nature, alcoholic drinks, laundry.
Please note: the Indian authorities are planning to introduce a
visa-on-entry system in 2016. We hope that it will be up and
running in time for this trip, saving us all time and money.
Return flights from London Heathrow to Delhi using the
scheduled services of British Airways. Outbound flight
departs late morning, return flight arrives back mid-afternoon.
Flights may also be available from other UK airports with
KLM. Please contact us for details.
KANHA
We will then fly to Raipur where we will stay overnight. The
next day we will drive to Kanha, birding on the way, arriving in
time for lunch.
We will spend four nights here, at the luxurious Hotel Baagh,
on the doorstep of India’s premier tiger reserve. Game drives
can be taken morning and afternoon, each day, by both jeep
and elephant. They offer us the best chance anywhere in the
world of seeing Tiger. We will, of course, also be birding,
looking out for the numerous species which inhabit the lakes
and forests. Oriental Darter and Red-naped Ibis are amongst
the waterbirds. In the air there are Red-headed Vultures,
White-eyed Buzzards, Crested Serpent-eagles and
Changeable Hawk-eagles. In the forest we can hope to see
Crested Tree Swift, Lesser Flameback, Small Minivet, Bluewinged Leafbird, Orange-headed Ground Thrush and Blackheaded Oriole. During the game drives we can expect
sightings of Red Junglefowl, Indian Peafowl, Woolly-necked
Stork, Alexandrine Parakeet, Verditer Flycatcher and Crested
Bunting.
65
15 nights including
Principal leader:
Andrew Woodall
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
Local guide:
Babloo Khan
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
26 October 2016):
Full Cost:
Deposit:
£600 per person
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NORTH EAST ECUADOR
mega diversity on the east Andean slope and Amazon
The east slope of the Andes, descending into the
Amazon basin, is one of the most biologically rich
regions on the planet. From the high peaks to the
lowland rainforest, every change in altitude brings a
corresponding change in birdlife. This includes
some of the most endangered birds in the
Neotropics, threatened almost entirely due to human
pressure on the land.
Just ten years ago a trip like this would have been
very challenging, with long journeys on bumpy roads
and poor accommodation. An improvement in the
Bare-necked Fruitcrow
infrastructure makes the logistics easy now. Short
journeys on excellent roads between beautiful
lodges, under the expert guidance of outstanding local guides combine to make this a bird-filled holiday second to
none.
Having arrived in Quito, we will head straight for Puembo Garden, a small family run hotel just east of the city.
Being 1500 feet lower in altitude than Quito, it is the perfect place to spend our first two nights. From here we will
visit Antisana Reserve, where Andean Condors soar over beautiful and unspoilt paramo. We will then travel east to
San Isidro, crossing the Papallacta Pass where we will look for high altitude specialities in the polylepis woodland.
Sword-billed Hummingbird will probably be the day’s highlight. We will then drop down to San Isidro, where a
beautiful lodge is surrounded by cloud forest in the subtropical zone. After three nights here we descend further to
Wild Sumaco, an outstanding new lodge built by birdwatchers. Situated in the foothills, the forest here is full of
colourful tanagers, and time spent on the verandah is very productive, with a dozen or more hummingbird species
visiting. Finally, we will travel into the lowlands, visiting the internationally important Yasuni National Park. Staying
at the perfectly situated Napo Wildlife Centre Lodge, we will have five days to immerse ourselves in the diversity of
the Amazon rainforest.
superb birding sites to visit en route, where we will look for
Giant Hummingbird, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Giant Conebill,
Black-backed Bush-tanager, Masked Mountain-tanager and
Torrent Duck. Birding is relatively easy here since the trees
are stunted and many birds are rather indifferent to our
presence. We will call in at Guango Lodge, with its garden full
of
hummingbirds,
including
Sword-billed,
Mountain
Velvetbreast, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Tourmaline Sunangel
and Glowing Puffleg.
ITINERARY
PUEMBO GARDEN
Our daytime flight arrives at Quito’s new airport late in the
afternoon. Just 15 minutes from the airport, Puembo Garden
is a haven away from the traffic and noise of the capital. From
here it is an easy journey to Antisana Reserve, a breeding
site for Andean Condor. As well as this iconic species, we
can also expect Carunculated Caracara, Silvery Grebe,
Andean Lapwing, Ecuadorian Hillstar and Stout-billed
Cinclodes. This is the only place in Ecuador that the rare
Andean Ibis can be found. Views of the snow-capped
Antisana Volcano are breathtaking when the cloud lifts.
CABANAS SAN ISIDRO
Once at San Isidro we will be in the heart of the subtropical
zone, a riot of life where luxuriant vegetation competes for
sunlight and every available niche is occupied by one avian
gem or another. San Isidro is perhaps best known for the
‘San Isidro’ Owl, an anomalous bird which has defied
On day three we will cross the Papallacta Pass and head
down the east slope to San Isidro. There are three or four
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classification. It looks somewhat like a Black-banded Owl, but
there appear to be slight differences and that species only
occurs at lower altitudes. We can expect good views of it
above our cabins as we walk to or from dinner.
Thrush, Oriole Blackbird, Fulvous-crested Tanager and Opalrumped Tanager. We can expect a good diversity of
mammals too, from Giant Otter to Red Howler Monkey and
from the bizarre-looking Monk Saki Monkey to the
unbelievably cute Golden-mantled Tamarin.
Every morning the bird show caused by insects attracted to
the lodge lights is a real treat. Jays, oropendolas, flycatchers,
woodcreepers, trogons, quetzals and warblers all come
flocking out of the forest to this buffet breakfast which the
lodge unwittingly provides. After our breakfast, we can
explore the trails or do some roadside birding, searching for
the mixed flocks which are so characteristic of the area.
Elusive antpittas are enticed into view by the offer of a juicy
worm; a White-bellied Antpitta was the star last year.
Handsome Flycatcher, Golden-headed Quetzal, Olive-backed
Woodcreeper, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Rufous-crowned
Tody-flycatcher and Black-eared Hemispingus add variety. In
the evening we might be lucky to find Andean Potoo and
Rufous-bellied Nighthawk. An excursion to the Huacamayo
Ridge will add yet more birds, including Black-billed
Mountain-toucan and Green-and-black Fruiteater.
Five nights will give us plenty of time to explore the area, as
well as allowing time to wander around the gardens of the
lodge, photographing butterflies or simply soaking up the
atmosphere of this beautiful place
Finally, on day 14 we will take the boat back to Coca,
connecting with a short flight back to Quito then our
international flight home.
CLIMATE AND PACE
A trip of contrasts. The climate is temperate or sub-tropical in
the Andes, making the birding a pleasure, although rain is
always a possibility. In the Amazon it can be hot and humid.
On most days breakfast will be at 7am, giving us plenty of
time in the productive morning period. In the Amazon,
breakfast will be at 6am since the mornings there are
particularly important. There will be free time after lunch to
rest. The highest altitude we stay at is 8000 feet (just two
nights), and while birding from here the pace will be very
slow. During the rest of the trip the pace will be fairly easy;
there are so many birds that there is no need to rush around.
WILD SUMACO LODGE
This beautiful new lodge offers access to an area which was
previously difficult to visit. Just 2½ hours further down the
road we drop another 3000 feet and find ourselves in the
heart of tanager country. Golden-eared, Orange-eared,
Paradise, Magpie, Spotted, Green-and-gold and Golden
Tanagers all compete for honours. A dozen or more
hummingbirds come to feeders and flowers by the verandah,
including Napo Sabrewing, Wire-crested Thorntail, Goldentailed Sapphire, Gould’s Jewelfront, Violet-fronted Brilliant
and Ecuadorian Piedtail. The lodge protects important forest
which is home to Military Macaw, Gilded Barbet, Montane
Foliage-gleaner, Lined Antshrike, Ornate Antwren, Ochrebreasted Antpitta, Blue-rumped Manakin and Golden-collared
Honeycreeper. After three nights here we will head down to
Coca in the Amazon basin.
Puembo Garden, three nights at Cabanas San Isidro, three
nights at Wild Sumaco Lodge and five nights at Napo Wildlife
Centre. All are good to outstanding and have en suite
bathrooms and hot water. Lunch will normally be at the hotel.
guides, full-board accommodation (starting with dinner on
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bottled water throughout, local transport by coach, boat trips
and other Amazon activities, reserve entrance fees, domestic
and international flights.
NAPO WILDLIFE CENTRE LODGE
From the busy port of Coca we will take a motorised canoe
downstream for 2 hours. From there we take a side channel
and paddle along the Ananguyacu Creek to the lodge. Before
we arrive at the lodge we can expect the first of many
Hoatzins, and perhaps even a family of Giant Otters.
The discovery of oil in the Amazon has put great pressure on
the indigenous communities. The Anangu tribe has resisted
the easy money that oil would bring and instead has built a
world class lodge on its land. Hunting and logging has been
banned and every local person is a stakeholder in this
project, which aims to improve their lot whilst maintaining a
relatively traditional way of life. What they have achieved is
nothing short of miraculous. It is such a privilege to spend five
nights here. Each day spent here increases our appreciation
of the amazing diversity, unsurpassed on the planet.
Return flight from most UK airports to Quito (via Amsterdam)
using the scheduled services of KLM. Outbound flight departs
early morning, return flight arrives back mid-afternoon.
During our time here we will make morning and afternoon
excursions along the various channels by boat as well as
exploring the seasonally flooded varzea forest and highground terra firma. NWC has perhaps the best canopy
platform in Ecuador, 120 feet up in a giant Kapok tree. We
can spend all morning watching Bare-throated Fruitcrows,
Spangled Cotingas, Blue-and-Yellow Macaws, and a
multitude of other canopy birds and mammals. There are just
too many birds to list in this area. Some 600 species have
been recorded within NWC’s boundaries, but to whet your
appetite we can mention Black-necked Red Cotinga, Zigzag
Heron, Agami Heron, Blue-throated Piping Guan, Laddertailed Nightjar, Great-billed Hermit, Yellow-billed Jacamar,
Black-fronted Nunbird, Long-billed Woodcreeper, Castelnau’s
Antshrike, Black-faced Antbird, Screaming Piha, Lawrence’s
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14 nights including
Principal leader:
Paul Willoughby
Local guide:
Roberto Cedeno
plus lodge guides
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
Cost with discount
(if you book before
nd
2 October 2016):
(£690 single supplement –
but £190 if you are happy to
share at Napo Wildlife Centre)
Full Cost:
£4880
Deposit:
£1000 per person
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SRI LANKA
the best sites and best birds of the island
Sri Lanka is famous for the endemism
Red-faced Malkoha
of its plants, birds and other animals.
Some 35 bird species have been given
full endemic status, including the wonderful Red-faced Malkoha, Ceylon Blue Magpie, Layard’s Parakeet, Ceylon
Swallow and Yellow-eared Bulbul. We have a good chance of seeing all of Sri Lanka’s unique species. The island
also attracts some very special wintering birds, and is home to an array of fabulous butterflies, making it one of the
world’s biodiversity hotspots.
For many years we have wanted to run a tour to this verdant, beautiful island, since the birds are special and most
are easily seen. But we had been put off by a lack of good accommodation near some of the birdwatching sites.
Now, after improvements in infrastructure, we are pleased to offer an innovative itinerary which includes the less
well known but wonderful Wilpattu National Park, and a high level of comfort throughout. The lower elevations are
hot and humid all year so good hotels make a real difference. For instance, Sinharaja is a fabulous rainforest
experience which is made all the better for staying at a nearby lodge with lovely rooms and a pool in a beautiful
hillside setting.
Despite its turbulent history, this island nation is now peaceful and quiet. On our tour we will encounter sacred
temples, the welcoming Buddhist culture, outstanding landscapes, and architecture from the European colonial
periods. All in all Sri Lanka promises a holiday full of spectacular, unique wildlife on a sun-blessed, tropical island
with a varied cultural backdrop.
Painted Stork, Asian Openbill and more. Mammals possible
include Asian Elephant, Ruddy Mongoose, Indian Wild Boar,
Sambar and Chital Deer. There is also a chance to see
Leopard. On our last morning we will take another safari
drive, then transfer to Sigiriya after lunch.
ITINERARY
WILPATTU
After an overnight flight, we will arrive in the morning and
head straight for Wilpattu for a two night stay. After lunch we
will birdwatch in the lodge grounds and immediate area for
our first endemics and commoner birds, including Southern
Coucal, the deep red Ceylon Swallow, Green Imperial
Pigeon, Blue-faced Malkoha, Indian Pitta, Coppersmith and
Ceylon Small Barbets, Green Warbler and Purple-rumped
Sunbird.
SIGIRIYA
Here there is more good birding right on our doorstep, so we
will explore the various local habitats during our three night
stay. Some of the forest and edge birds we expect are
Crested Hawk Eagle, Shaheen Falcon, Ceylon Grey Hornbill,
Jerdon’s Nightjar, Crested Tree Swift, Indian Swiftlet, Ceylon
Woodshrike, Pale-billed Flowerpecker, Dark-fronted and
Brown-capped Babblers, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Ceylon
Green-pigeon, Orange-headed Ground-thrush and Whitenaped Flameback. Along the way we may well find Toque
Macaques, Tufted Grey Langurs and Sri Lanka Giant
Squirrels, plus huge Land and Water Monitors. This area has,
Wilpattu is the country’s largest national park; located in a dry
zone but with many wetlands. We have chosen to include
Wilpattu, over the more frequently visited Yala, since the park
is much quieter. This allows for a more intimate experience
with the birds and mammals that we come across. Our first
full day will include a game drive, with chances to see Whitebellied Sea-eagle, Lesser Adjutant, Lesser Whistling Duck,
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like all the sites, good paths in areas that our local guide
knows well. The birding is consequently very enjoyable
without being especially challenging.
BLUE WHALE EXTENSION
There is the option of a two night extension in Mirissa. Two
boat trips out of this south coast town will give you the chance
to see the largest creature that has ever lived, the Blue
Whale, as well as four or five other species of cetacean.
KANDY AND NUWARA ELIYA
On day seven we will leave for the highlands, breaking the
journey with a night in the World Heritage city of Kandy. Here
we will visit the Buddhist Temple of the Sacred Tooth. Nearby
there is some fine birding where we will try for Brown Fishowl, Crimson-backed Flameback, Ceylon Scimitar Babbler
and Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, amongst other birds.
CLIMATE AND PACE
The lower elevations are hot and humid, but it is cooler in the
highlands, where rain is also possible. Early to bed and early
to rise is the comfortable way to see the wildlife. When the
birds rest in the early afternoons so will we. Most breakfasts
will be at around 6.30am. Mornings and late afternoons will
be spent in the field, involving short walks. There are a few
slopes, which will be taken at a sensible pace. There will be
some free time to enjoy the lodges’ facilities, whilst the
keener members of the group will waste no time since there
is birding on our doorstep throughout.
The following day will find us taking a relaxed, scenic route to
the Nuwara Eliya hill station and checking into the impressive,
colonial-style Grand Hotel for two nights. The town’s formal
gardens at Victoria Park attract Yellow-eared Bulbuls and
Ceylon White-eyes. It is also a regular winter site for the
striking Pied Thrush, Kashmir Flycatcher and Forest Wagtail.
From Nuwara Eliya we will visit Horton Plains, a protected
plateau at 2000m. We know of sites in the cloudforest and
grassland that do not require the usual hiking. We will search
for Ceylon Junglefowl, Indian Blue Robin, Ceylon Whistling
Thrush, Ceylon Bush Warbler, Tri-coloured Munia, Dusky
Blue Flycatcher, Ceylon Woodpigeon and Hill Swallow, with a
chance of raptors including Himalayan Buzzard. Purple-faced
Leaf Monkeys are often seen too.
Palm Garden Village Hotel, Wilpattu, three nights at Sigiriya
Village Hotel, one night at Suisse Hotel, Kandy, two nights at
The Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya, three nights at Rain Forest
Edge Lodge, Sinharaja, two nights at Kalu’s Hideaway, Uda
Walawa and one night at the Gateway Airport Garden Hotel.
All accommodation is of a high/very high standard and all
rooms have private facilities en suite. The food is good, with
regional dishes and western choices. Most lunches will be
taken at the hotels, with occasional packed lunches.
SINHARAJA
After our time in the highlands we will drive through some of
the island’s most scenic countryside down to our lodge at
240m. Three nights here will give us ample time to discover
the delights that Sinharaja has to offer.
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ending with breakfast on 1 ), soft drinks at meal times,
bottled water throughout, local transport by mini-coach, jeep
rides, reserve entrance fees and international flights.
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is the last tract of primary lowland
tropical rainforest left in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Rufous Babblers
lead the colourful bird waves of Malabar Trogon, Red-faced
Malkoha, Ceylon Crested Drongo, Orange and Small Minivets
and more. Dazzling butterflies include Ceylon Tree Nymph,
Blue Mormon and Ceylon Birdwing. Ceylon Blue Magpies
often betray their presence with a loud call before they
appear. Gangs of Ashy-headed Laughingthrushes pass by,
whilst Spot-winged Ground-thrush and Ceylon Scaly Thrush
rustle the leaf litter. We will search for Serendib Scops Owl
(which was only described in 2004), Chestnut-backed Owlet,
Green-billed Coucal, Legge’s Flowerpecker, White-faced
Starling, Ceylon Frogmouth and Ceylon Hill-myna. Huge Sri
Lanka Giant Squirrels crash through the branches, whilst
Kangaroo Lizards jump across the paths.
Travel insurance. Cost of visa - obtained by a simple online
registration and payment of £20 (we can help if you do not
have access to the internet). Items of a personal nature,
alcoholic drinks, laundry, tips.
Return flight to Colombo from either Heathrow, Manchester,
Birmingham or Glasgow (all via Dubai) using the scheduled
services of Emirates Airlines. Outbound flight departs early
afternoon, return flight arrives back late afternoon.
UDA WALAWA
On day 13 we will head to the southern dry zone. With two
nights at Uda Walawa, we will visit the national park as well
as having time to explore the environs of our lovely lodge. In
the park we hope to watch beautiful Orange-breasted Green
Pigeon, Grey-headed Fish-eagle, Indian Roller, Grey-bellied
Cuckoo, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Blyth’s Pipit, Yellow-eyed
Babbler, and Jerdon’s and Golden-fronted Leafbirds.
Barred Buttonquails are common but shy. Gender roles are
reversed and the females can often be heard singing in the
late afternoon. Asian Elephants are numerous here as are
Golden Jackals and mongooses. Nearby are sites for
Marshall’s Iora, Great Thick-knee, Indian Stone Curlew,
Indian Little Nightjar, Indian Scops Owl, Jerdon’s Bushlark,
Oriental Skylark and Ashy-crowned Sparrow-lark.
15 nights including
14 Feb. to 1 March 2017
Principal leader:
Phil Palmer
Local guide:
Chinthaka de Silva
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
69
st
Cost with discount
(if you book before
st
1 November 2016):
Full Cost:
rd
On day 15, after a morning’s birding we will head back to
Colombo, staying overnight in the smart Gateway Hotel by
the airport, before our flight home the next morning.
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Extension to 3 Mar:
£510 (£90 single supp.)
Deposit:
£600 per person
UGANDA
Gorillas and Shoebills…. need we say more!
Darkest Africa inspired epic sagas of discovery in
the Victorian Age. Livingstone and Stanley’s quest
for the Nile’s source filled newspapers. Reports of
fearsome beasts meant that only the most intrepid
explorers ventured into the bush.
Much has changed since those times. Uganda has
enjoyed unprecedented economic growth. An
excellent national park infrastructure gives economic
benefits back to the local people. The country is now
reaping great rewards as the true value of
Churchill's ‘Pearl of Africa’ is recognised.
Mountain Gorilla
Few African countries can match Uganda's diversity
of habitats, which are home to at least 23 Albertine Rift endemics among over one thousand bird species in an
area of similar size to the UK! We have run several wonderful tours, with over 450 bird species being the
supporting cast to intimate sessions with Gorillas and big game. The awesome Shoebill Stork, one of the
continent's almost mythical species has played a starring role. We will visit the dancing grounds of Grey Crowned
Cranes and see acrobatic Black Bee-eaters.
Despite Hollywood's attempt to portray the great apes as monsters, Dian Fossey’s work followed by Sir David
Attenborough's TV encounter have shown a gentler side to the endangered Mountain Gorilla. To sit just feet from
them and to see, hear and smell them is something that words cannot convey.
ITINERARY
The next day we will take an early morning boat ride in
search of African Finfoot. This is possibly the most reliable
site on the continent to find one. Hammerkop and Papyrus
Gonolek are possible before we drive to Bwindi Impenetrable
Forest National Park for a three night stay.
LAKE VICTORIA
On arriving in Entebbe we will check into our hotel for one
night. In the morning we will drive to Lake Victoria and take a
boat trip on her still waters. This provides a relaxed way to
look for African Pygmy Goose and Long-toed Lapwing while
African Jacanas trot over lily pads. Malachite Kingfishers dart
by and Carruthers’ Cisticola, the first of several papyrus
endemics, sing from the tallest stems. The star, however, is
the enormous Shoebill Stork that breeds here. Later in the
day we will drive to Lake Mburu for one night.
BWINDI
We will visit the higher elevation forest, one of the world's
great natural treasures providing home to various endemic
birds. Ten species of primate occur here including the
beautiful L'Hoest's and Blue Monkeys and, of course, the
magnificent Mountain Gorilla. With a world population of just
880, Bwindi is one of just two places where they still survive.
Our success rate of finding them is one hundred percent!
Tourist revenue is vital to the Gorillas’ survival. Our money
provides education and medical facilities for the locals who
are proud of the park and welcome tourists. Villagers are
even giving farmland back to nature, to increase Gorilla and
bird habitats. Uganda is one of those countries where you
feel that conservation is working for both people and wildlife.
LAKE MBURU
At Lake Mburu we should log Broad-billed Rollers, Marabou
Storks and Hooded Vultures, while Pied Hornbill and Ross's
Turaco are roadside birds. Wattled Plover and Red-chested
Swallow feed among Defassa Waterbuck, Tsessebe and
Burchell's Zebra. Bare-faced Go-away-birds, Nubian
Woodpeckers and Black-headed Bush Shrikes are found in
the giant Euphorbia. Pedigree Ankole cattle belonging to the
royal family are also found here.
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After a long hike we should, hopefully, find a party of Gorillas.
Intimate views just a few feet away is the norm, but there is a
birding option for those not wanting to do the trek. In addition
to tracking Gorillas, we will spend time searching for birds
along the trails that lead to a waterfall. We hope to see
Rwenzori Sunbird, Long-tailed Barred Cuckoo, White-starred
Robin, African Blue Flycatcher, Lhuder's Bush Shrike, and
Green and African Broadbills.
a vehicle, due to the presence of large mammals. Basic
fitness is all that is required. Walking will be at a sensible
pace with frequent stops to look at birds. There is some uphill
walking in hot humid conditions in the forest and it may rain
and be muddy.
Gorilla trekking involves a strenuous uphill walk in hot humid
conditions, rewarded by about one hour with the Gorillas (the
park has a better than 99% success rate). The length of the
walk is dependent on where the animals are that day but
usually lasts from 07.30 to 14.00hrs. There is the opportunity
to change your mind before trekking begins and get part of
your permit fee refunded. If you are unsure about trekking
conditions, please discuss it with us.
QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Leaving the forest on day six, we transfer to Mweya Lodge in
Queen Elizabeth NP, for two nights. Overlooking the Kazinga
Channel, we can watch Elephant, Buffalo and Hippo.
Uganda Kob Antelope rut among scenic volcanic craters and
in turn provide food for the famous tree-climbing Lions. Grey
Crowned Cranes have a dancing ground here. Black-bellied
Bustards rasp from termite mounds and Kurrichane Button
Quail creep through the grass.
Full-board accommodation is provided with one night at Sun
Inn, Entebbe, one night at Rwakobo Rock, Lake Mburu, one
night at Trackers Tavern, Rhija, two nights at Engagi Lodge,
Bwindi, two nights at Mweya Lodge, Queen Elizabeth NP, two
nights at Chimp Guest House, Kibale, one night at Masindi
Lodge, Budongo and the last three nights at Murchison River
Lodge, Murchison Falls. Hotels and lodges are clean and
pleasant with comfortable rooms. Accommodation at Kibale is
a luxury permanent tented camp. All rooms and tents have en
suite facilities. Lunch is usually packed.
A boat trip allows us to see waterbirds at close proximity,
which will delight photographers. African Skimmers flock here
and waders along the shore can include Caspian, Spurwinged and Wattled Plovers. Water Dikkops roost by tree
roots and Pied Kingfishers perch on the backs of Hippos.
Yellow-billed and Saddle-billed Storks are seen along the
shore, while African Fish Eagles are abundant!
KIBALE FOREST
Transferring to Fort Portal for two nights, we will visit Kibale
Forest, an area rich in butterflies and primates. Chimpanzees
are numerous here. Over 350 species of birds have been
recorded, and we hope to find the elusive African Pitta.
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26 , ending with lunch on 7 ), soft drinks at meal times, boat
trips, transport, park entrance fees and international flights.
BUDONGO FOREST
A walk along the Royal Mile allows easy access to the many
forest birds that may include rarities such as Scaly-breasted
Illadopses, Fire-crested Alethe, Yellow-browed Cameroptera,
Ituri Batis and Black Sparrowhawk. The next day we will head
to Murchison Falls National Park, for a stay of three nights.
Our optional travel insurance, payable at the time of booking.
Visa (US$50 on arrival). Personal items, alcoholic drinks,
laundry, tips. The optional Gorilla permit (£330) should be
requested at the time of booking.
Return flights from London Heathrow to Entebbe, using the
scheduled services of British Airways. Outbound flight
departs early morning, return flight arrives back mid-morning.
Flights from regional airports with KLM are also available.
MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
This beautiful area beside the River Nile has plenty of big
game and is the best site to find the amazing Shoebill Stork.
On Phil's first visit in 2004 he became spellbound by this
enormous grey bird with dark human-like eyes set in a
massive head dominated by a boat shaped bill! It remains his
favourite bird.
Gorilla permits sell quickly so, to secure one, we strongly
recommend you book as soon as possible.
On our third boat ride of the tour, we will explore the upper
reaches of the White Nile, below Murchison Falls. We should
see Nile Crocodile, Rock Pratincole and African Wagtail.
Chin-spot Batis, Black Crake, Northern Carmine and Redthroated Bee-eaters feed by our lodge overlooking the river.
Blue-headed Coucal, Buff-bellied Warbler, Giant Kingfisher,
Grey-crowned Negrofinch and Beautiful Sunbird are also
here. A Bat Hawk regularly hunts golden Egyptian Bats in the
evening.
14 nights including
25 March to 8 April 2017
Principal leader:
Phil Palmer
Local guide:
Alfred Twinomujuni
Maximum group size:
and a local guide
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On day 14 we will drive back to Entebbe, where we will take a
return flight home.
Cost with discount
(if you book before
th
10 December 2016):
CLIMATE AND PACE
Full Cost:
Gorilla permit:
£330 due at time of booking
Deposit:
£1000 per person
Our visit is in the dry season. Hot days are the norm, but
mornings in the uplands are cool and may be damp. Daytime
temperatures can be high, so early morning excursions are
made to maximise wildlife viewing opportunities. In parts of
Queen Elizabeth and Murchison viewing is only allowed from
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HOLIDAY EXTRAS TRAVEL INSURANCE
At Bird Holidays we believe that your safety is very important. It is a requirement, when booking your holiday, that
you arrange travel insurance with Holiday Extras, or alternatively arrange a policy with another insurance company.
We insist that your policy must provide for emergency medical expenses (minimum £1,000,000) and must have a
24 hour emergency telephone number. The extent of additional cover, such as insuring your belongings, personal
liability and cancellation cover is a matter for you to choose.
In order to arrange a policy with Holiday Extras, you should telephone 0800 093 1900 and quote AD205.
A summary of Classic Cover arranged with Holiday Extras Ltd and underwritten by Allianz Global Assistance is
given below. This summary is ONLY intended to outline the cover provided, and cover is subject to change after
production of our brochure. The certificate itself defines the cover and exclusions in precise terms. PLEASE READ
IT CAREFULLY. Should you find that this insurance cover is insufficient for your needs simply return the original
certificate within 14 days of issuing or prior to travel (whichever is the sooner). The premium will be refunded
provided no claim has been made.
Please note: This insurance can only be provided for people who live in the United Kingdom.
Cover for the insured person:24hr Personal assistance - £250
1. Cancellation or Curtailment - up to £5,000 (£75 excess).
2. Emergency medical and associated expenses - up to £10,000,000 (£100 excess).
3. Loss of passport - up to £300.
4. Delayed possessions - up to £100 after 12 hours.
5. Personal possessions - up to £2,000 (£75 excess).
6. Personal money - up to £300 (£75 excess).
7. Personal accident - up to £5,000.
8. Missed departure - up to £300 (£75 excess).
9. Delayed departure - up to £60 (£20 for each 12 hours). Abandonment - up to £5,000 (£75 excess).
10. Personal Liability - up to £2,000,000 (£60 excess).
11. Legal Expenses - up to £25,000.
12. End Supplier Failure - up to £5000.
Losses must be reported to the police within 24 hours. Damage by a carrier must be reported to them before
leaving the airport.
Reasonable care
You are required to take reasonable care to protect yourself and your property and to act as though you were not
insured.
Pre-existing Medical Conditions
There are medical exclusions on the policy document. You will need to check these to see if you need to telephone
the medical screening centre.
The insurance document includes details of a 24 hour emergency telephone number. This
service includes repatriation arrangements by air-ambulance where deemed to be medically
essential.
Holiday Extras can also provide you with annual travel insurance. Please contact them for a quote.
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BOOKING CONDITIONS
Bird Holidays is committed to a policy of fair trading and great care is
taken to see that you have a successful holiday. All of the arrangements
for your holiday are governed by the following booking conditions which
include your commitment to us and ours to you. In addition, your holiday
involves the provision to you of various services by independent parties
and the conditions of their agreements with you are also referred to below.
Our company name and registered office are Bird Holidays Limited,
10, Ivegate, Yeadon, Leeds, LS19 7RE.
Certificate. Where we are unable to do so for reasons of insolvency, an
alternative ATOL holder may provide you with services you have bought
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also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an
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under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable). If
we are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative,
through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of
insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to
(or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in
return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those
Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating
to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us (or
your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such
claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid
sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme.
YOUR COMMITMENTS TO US
1. Payment - When you confirm your holiday you must sign a booking
form accepting these Booking Conditions and pay the appropriate deposit.
The balance of the holiday price is due 10 weeks before the date of
departure of the holiday. If the balance remains unpaid after this date we
reserve the right to cancel your booking, retain the deposit you have paid
and invoice you for any consequential losses.
2. Cancellation by you - The deposit is paid to us as a sign of your
willingness to utilise travel arrangements and accommodation which we
reserve on your behalf. Should you, or any member of your booking, be
forced to cancel your holiday reservation you must do so in writing and
this must be signed by the person who signed the booking form. The
cancellation will take effect from the date that written notice was received
at our office. All cancellations are subject to a charge (payable by the
person who signed the booking form) based on estimated losses and
calculated as follows. For cancellations received more than 10 weeks
before departure the deposit and any shuttle flight paid for is forfeited. For
cancellations received 10 to 4 weeks before departure 80% of the total
cost is forfeited. For cancellations received less than 4 weeks before
departure the total cost is forfeited.
12. Bookings are accepted after receipt of the completed booking form
and appropriate deposit and after confirmation of the booking has been
sent to you. The company reserves the right to decline any booking
without explanation.
13. Alterations by us - We will do our utmost to provide the holiday
arrangements that have been confirmed, but we must reserve the right to
modify or cancel any holiday, flight schedule, accommodation or
arrangement if unforeseen circumstances amounting to force majeure
arise. In such circumstances we will inform you as soon as possible and,
should the change be such that it alters the nature of the holiday, we shall
offer you the choice of an alternative holiday or a full refund.
3. Alterations by you - The following sets out any charges applicable for
changes you may decide to make to your holiday reservation once you
have let us have your booking form and deposit. In all cases you must
notify us of your wishes in writing:
(a) A change of holiday within 10 weeks of departure will be treated as a
cancellation and charges will be levied as set out in Paragraph 2. above.
(b) If you wish to make any other alteration to your booking you will be
charged an alteration fee of £25 per person, plus any consequential costs
we incur.
14. Price Guarantee - The prices in this brochure are based on the
foreign currency exchange rates, tariffs and other costs prevailing at 4th
August 2015. Exchange rates are those quoted in the Financial Times on
4th August 2015. We reserve the right to pass on any increases in costs
after this date, although we will try to absorb them. Increases due to
currency fluctuations and flying cost arising after the date of the final
invoice will be absorbed by ourselves. In return for this guarantee, no
refund will be granted if the Pound rises above the 4th August 2015 rate.
4. Travel Insurance- It is a requirement, when booking your holiday, that
you arrange travel insurance with Holiday Extras or an alternative
insurance provider. This insurance must provide for emergency medical
expenses (minimum £1,000,000) and must have a 24 hour emergency
telephone number.
15. Group Size - We reserve the right to exceed the maximum group size
by one person in cases where there is only one place left on the holiday
and a couple wish to book.
16. Tour Leaders - Whilst we shall make every effort to keep the principal
leader and/or local guide secured for a tour, we reserve the right to
substitute another leader/local guide if due to ill health or for any other
reason the advertised leader/local guide is unavailable. Where two
leaders are given in the brochure but the number of bookings justifies only
one, we reserve the right to use just one.
5. A booking on a shared-room basis is only accepted on the
understanding that if a same-sex room mate cannot be matched then you
will be required to accept a single room and pay the appropriate single
supplement. This requirement is waived if you book more than three
months prior to departure. Rooms are allocated in the order at which
bookings are received. No smoking is allowed in these rooms.
6. On a holiday of this nature it is necessary that you abide by the
authority of the leader who represents us. Signing our booking form
signifies your agreement to this. If you commit an illegal act when on the
holiday, or if in the opinion of the leader your behaviour is detrimental to
the safety and welfare of the group as a whole, he may dismiss you from
the holiday without the right to any refund.
17. Whilst we do our best to operate programmes as advertised we
reserve the right to make changes to itineraries in the interests of safety
and for the general well-being of clients, or, more often, to take advantage
of local bird information. Where the holiday includes a cruise ship,
itineraries are subject to change due to weather, sea ice conditions, and
various other circumstances outside our control, and at the discretion of
the ship’s captain.
7. We strongly condemn the collecting of any living specimens from the
natural world. We empower all of our leaders with the right to dismiss any
member of a group insisting on collecting plant, insect or other living
material, as well as unduly or repeatedly disturbing a bird from its nest,
roost or feeding site. A person dismissed in this way shall have no cause
for complaint or refund and shall bear all the extra expenses of his/her
return home.
18. Tour Cancellation and Departure Guarantee - We reserve the right
not to operate a tour on which there are insufficient bookings 10 weeks
before departure. Full payment will be refunded. We will also either send
you a cheque for £50 per person or, if you prefer, give a discount on a
future booking of 5% (maximum £250) per person. This guarantee only
applies to bookings that have been accepted by us, where a booking
confirmation has been issued.
8. We operate a no smoking policy in the vehicle, at meal times, close to
other group members in the field, and in shared accommodation as in 5.
above. None of our principal leaders smoke.
19. Our Liabilities to you - Our tours visit remote places with often rough
terrain. You may be several hours away from medical support. Your
booking is accepted on the understanding of this and that you come on
the holiday entirely at your own risk. It is not possible for us to be
responsible for the actions or omissions of those involved in your holiday
over whom we have no direct control, such as employees of airlines,
hotels and transport undertakings. Naturally we cannot assume
responsibility for loss or expense due to war, riots, strikes, terrorist
activities or natural disaster. This does not affect your statutory rights.
9. All baggage and personal belongings are at all times at the passenger’s
own risk.
10. The passenger is responsible for ensuring that all travel documents
(eg. Passport, Visa etc.) are valid and effective.
OUR COMMITMENTS TO YOU
20. Bookings are accepted subject to the transport conditions and
regulations of the carriers and to the laws of the countries in which such
carriage is required.
11. Consumer Protection - We hold an Air Travel Organiser’s License
issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL number 5546). When you buy
an ATOL protected flight inclusive holiday from us, you will receive an
ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can
get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go
wrong. We will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL
21. In the unlikely event of a complaint, please refer to your leader. If the
problem cannot be resolved, please place your complaint in writing to this
office within 28 days of the end of the tour. All complaints will be dealt with
promptly.
73
OUR PRINCIPAL TOUR LEADERS
PAUL J. WILLOUGHBY
He has a wide range of natural history interests besides
birds, including plants, geology and, in particular, fungi.
Andrew's command of Spanish makes him an ideal tour
leader for Spain as well as Central and South America.
Paul is a director of Bird Holidays and a principal tour
leader, having originally set up Flamingo Holidays in
1990. Twenty four years of tour leading have left him
no less enthusiastic about birds or travel.
Since 1992, Andy has led 132 tours to 38 different
destinations. In 2016 he will lead trips to Ethiopia,
Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Bhutan, Coto Donana,
Madeira, Malawi, Taiwan, S India (2017) and N India
(2017).
For many years Paul was dedicated to local patch
birding, spending all his spare time at Flamborough
Head in East Yorkshire. More recently, family and work
commitments have taken over, but he still keeps his
‘eye in’ by spending about 80 days a year birding
abroad!
PHIL PALMER
Phil joined our team in 2000 as one of our principal tour
leaders.
Very little escapes Paul in the field and his friendly and
relaxed manner ensures that all members of the group
will have an enjoyable and rewarding holiday.
He is well known for his photographs and articles that
have appeared in many birding magazines. He is very
well travelled and amongst the highlights of his
expeditions was a trip to Peru on which he rediscovered two bird species not seen for many years
and photographed a species new to science. He is a
key member of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Taskforce
and in 2004, 2009 and 2012 helped the Russian Arctic
Academy and WWT to survey remote parts of their
Siberian nesting grounds.
Since 1990, Paul has led 170 tours to 47 different
destinations. In 2016 Paul will be leading tours to
Ecuador, Belize, SW Turkey, Finland, N Spain,
Madagascar, and Ghana, as well as trips for local bird
clubs.
ROGER BARNES
When working in India over 30 years ago Roger visited
Bharatpur and has been hooked on birds ever since.
Subsequently he has been on gruelling conservation
expeditions to South America and Africa, and his high
point was rediscovering the Helmeted Woodpecker in
Paraguay. Nowadays he prefers the gentler pace and
relative luxury of organised tours.
He was a council member for the Nottinghamshire
Wildlife Trust and chairman of their reserves committee
until quite recently. For the past 20 years he has been
involved in a project studying Nightjars. He is author of
‘First for Britain and Ireland’, the best selling book at
the 2000 British Bird Fair.
Since 2000, Phil has led 101 tours to 45 different
destinations. In 2016 he will be leading our trips to Sri
Lanka, Latvia, Bali, Okavango, South Africa, Myanmar
(2017) and Uganda (2017), as well as trips for local bird
clubs.
He has published papers on bird and mammal
conservation, and his illustration work includes the
Bradt guide to Ethiopia.
‘All the logistical hassle of setting up tours exactly as I
want is completely forgotten when I find myself with a
group of fellow enthusiasts, watching breath-taking bird
spectacles in some of the most beautiful places on
earth.’
JOHN MCLOUGHLIN
John has been involved with Bird Holidays since 1996
leading and co-leading our tours to various destinations
in Europe, North and Central America. In 2009 he
joined us as a full time leader.
His relaxed, yet assured demeanour is one of his
strongest points when away with our groups. His sense
of humour, well, that’s another story….
He is very widely travelled with his passion for
birdwatching taking him to many countries throughout
Europe, USA, Central and South America, China, India,
Thailand, the Philippines, Morocco and Namibia.
Since 2000, Roger has led 102 tours to 31 different
destinations. He is slowly winding down, in a very
protracted run up to retirement. In 2016 he will lead a
trip to Cuba, as well as several trips for local bird clubs.
Amongst his favourite birds are the trogons and in
particular the magnificent Resplendent Quetzal.
However, he is equally at home sorting out confusing
shorebirds. John has a quick eye and a natural
talent for bird identification and enjoys sharing his
observations with others.
ANDREW WOODALL
Andy has a BSc Honours degree in Ecology and has
taught Biology, Ecology and Ornithology at field centres
and evening classes. He went on to teach in schools,
but left to become a full-time wildlife artist. After a
number of years of guiding in his spare time Andy took
the quantum leap into full-time bird tour leading in
1999.
Since 1996, John has led 53 tours to 20 different
destinations. In 2016 John will lead trips to Oman,
Panama, Georgia, Greece, Estonia, Mongolia, the
Falklands and Yucatan (2017).
74
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2016 brochure 1

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