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One Day and Weekend Tours
For 2009 we are continuing to run tours to both Cley and Titchwell Nature Reserves both of which are suitable for beginners wishing to have a general introduction to the birds of Norfolk. These tours are also suitable for the more experienced birdwatcher as both reserves have a wide variety of species to be seen throughout the year which will appeal to all interests.
We will also continue to run another of our popular tours which is a more general excursion along the north Norfolk coast taking in a variety of sites and reserves in varying habitats to give you the opportunity to see a wider range of the species that are around at the time of your visit.
Please contact us to book a place on one of the above tours.
Geese, Waders, Ducks and Gulls at Cley NWT Reserve.
As September is now fast approaching, we are entering one of the most exciting periods of the year in the County, as in addition to the large number of resident and summering species that are still present, autumn migration is underway, and by the months end our wintering ducks and geese will also be returning.
Having started as early as July, the return wader passage is well underway with up to 25 different species frequenting the scrapes and mudflats. Good numbers of commoner migrant passerines will be moving through Norfolk on their southwards journey during the month with many species of Warblers, plus Wheatears, Whinchats, Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts etc. being the most frequently seen, and given the right weather conditions, their numbers will be swelled by scarce passerines such as Red-backed Shrike, Wryneck, Barred Warbler and Red-breasted Flycatcher, plus the potential of something even rarer. Also adding to the spectacle, northerly winds during the month will hopefully bring a good passage of seabirds offshore. See the Autumn summary in the Birds and Wildlife section for more details on the birds that can be expected at this time of year.
One-day and Weekend tours to enjoy the autumn migration are available throughout September, please contact us to check availability.
Snow Buntings. Wintering flocks are a popular attraction throughout the winter.
From mid-November our winter tours get underway with this period arguably being the best season in the county due to the sheer numbers of wintering birds that are present and that they stay in the county for many months.
The main highlights are the thousands of Pink-footed Geese that winter along the coast and which are truly a most spectacular sight and sound when large flocks fly overhead, an experience never to be forgotten. Also as amazing are the thousands of waders that are present on The Wash, with the highest tides pushing them towards land to form huge flocks, that when take flight, are again a sight not to be missed.
Other notable winter highlights include flocks of Brent and Bean Geese, many species of Ducks both on the freshwater pools and on the sea, where Divers and Grebes can also be found, Raptor roosts, flocks of Snow Buntings and the wintering population of Common Cranes which can number as many as 30. Also with other species such as Avocets, Marsh Harriers, Bearded Tits, Bittern, Little Egrets, Barn Owl etc thrown in too, wintertime has so much to offer.
For more details of the birds which can be seen during winter, please see the seasonal summary in the Birds and Wildlife section.
Our one day and Winter Weekend tours will begin from mid November and run throughout the winter. Please contact us to either discuss your requirements or to make a booking.
Pink-footed Geese flying across a Norfolk skyline are one of the memorable sights of a wintertime tour.
We try not to have a rigid itinerary for our tours as we find our clients have many different requirements as to where they would like to go and the birds and other wildlife they are most interested in seeing, and this is very often dependent on their level of experience and whether they have visited the area previously. Whilst some people are happy to devote an entire day concentrating on a very limited number of species, others much prefer a more general tour of the area seeing a wider range of species, so we usually just run a tailor-made tour to meet your specific interests and requirements. Just contact us to arrange a tour and to discuss the birds that you wish to see and we'll design a tour to suit.
As with all our tours, please bring with you appropriate footwear which ideally should be suitable for wet and/or muddy conditions and its always sensible, regardless of season, to bring waterproof and warm clothing as it can always stay in the car if not needed. Binoculars are essential, but your guide will have a telescope for the use by the group.
Either we can arrange to meet you at a specific location, e.g a reserve car park, or if you coose to stay at one of the places detailed in our accommodation section, this will enable you to be collected from you accommodation and travel round with your guide during the day (maximum of four people).
Lunch is not included in the price, and whilst we prefer you to bring a packed lunch, the visitors centres at both Cley and Titchwell do serve food and drinks, or we can find somewhere else suitable depending on our itinerary.
Depending on the tour/agreed itinerary, we will either generally meet at a pre-arranged venue, usually a reserve car park, at around 9.00 or 9.30, or your guide will collect you from your accommodation after breakfast. We will usually be out till around 5pm or dusk in the winter.
Upon booking you may be asked for a small deposit, with the balance payable on the day, and naturally further information regarding any of our tours can be given upon request.
Thousands of Gulls and Waders feeding on the exposed beach at low tide.
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