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Sri Lanka - Birds, Leopards & Blue Whales

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 15 November to 2 December 2023

Overview: With so much to see in this wonderful little country, we have extended our original tour to 16 nights, enabling us to visit some of the wildlife rich areas in the North of the country, in addition to the well known sites in the southern and central regions. This will increase our chances of seeing key species like Sri Lanka Leopard and Sloth Bear.

We have chosen to stay at some of the best accommodation in Sri Lanka, so along with great food, we can enjoy comfortable, restful nights between our wildlife watching.

Sri Lanka's bird list tops 430, including 33 endemics, and with the help of a highly experienced English-speaking guide, who will be with us throughout the tour, we will see most of them, including the rare Serendib Scops Owl, which was only discovered in 2001! Our visit coincides with the presence of winter visitors, including waders from Siberia and songbirds from the Himalayas.

In addition to the abundant birdlife, other wildlife we can expect to see are Marsh Mugger Crocodile and various land mammals such as Grey Langur and Purple-faced Leaf Monkeys, Water Buffalo, Sambar and Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, Indian Fruit Bat, Sloth Bear, Leopard and Asian Elephant. On top of all this, our visit to the south coast is timed to coincide with a calm sea and the presence of Blue Whales, as well as several other whales and dolphins, which can often be seen from a boat at close range. Sri Lanka also has 244 species of Butterflies.

The price includes full board en-suite accommodation, all transport in Sri Lanka by air conditioned vehicle, all excursions and reserve entry fees, including four jeep safaris in national parks, and one whale watching excursion, plus bird checklist and the services of local guides & two Experience Nature guides.

The price does not include your flights (circa £550 return pp from LHR with Sri Lanka airlines). Your personal travel insurance, alcoholic drinks or items of a personal nature.

FULLY BOOKED

Cost: £2985

Deposit: £350

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Jewels of The Gambia

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 09 January to 23 January 2024

Overview: The Gambia has been a popular Birdwatching destination since the 1970's and is still probably the safest African Country to visit. No wonder our tour leader Ashley has visited over 20 times, leading one or two trips a year here since 2011.

As with all our trips, this is run at a relaxed pace, giving ample opportunity to enjoy the wildlife and in particular the many colourful bird species that can be found here. With 9 Kingfishers and 8 Bee-eater species for example, this guarantees to be a real feast for the eyes.

With little effort we can hope to see up to 300 bird species, with the photographers among us expecting to get quality images of a large percentage of these.

Throughout the trip we will have 3 guides and our own driver, making sure individual group members needs are catered for, so photographers for example can spend longer with a single species if they wish.

We spend time near the coast, but also travel inland to experience the real Gambia and it's various habitats and associated wildlife, including Hippo's, Bee-eater colonies, bird rich rice paddies and ancient forests.

Please contact Ashley for a full itinerary and do check out the Gambia gallery through the link below for further temptation.

The price below does not include flights.

2 PLACES AVAILABLE

No Single Supplement on this holiday!!

Cost: £2395

Deposit: £250

See images from this Wildlife Watching Tour here

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Burns, Birds & Highland Beasties

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 26 January to 02 February 2024

Overview: Our Burns Breaks for January 2022 and 2023 sold out within a week of launch, so early booking is recommended. See below to read about the optional extension to this holiday. We're even offering transport there and back from our base near Solihull West Midlands.

The Burns Night Gala Dinner at the Grant Arms Hotel is always fun, entertaining, with fabulous food and great service. The piper welcomes in the Haggis (other food available of course), which will be toasted by us all, led by David the hotel manager.

This great night will just be a part of this winter break in the Highlands as we visit various wildlife hotspots within the Cairngorm national park.

Snow isn't guaranteed even in this part of the world, but does add to the atmosphere of the break and we are more likely to encounter some on a trip to Cairngorm Mountain. Snow Buntings should be around the car park here at this time of year and we may even be able to catch a glimpse of Ptarmigan.

This area is stunning at all times of the year, but be sure to bring a camera for this one as if we do get snow, the landscape is truly breathtaking and makes the evening meal and a dram of whisky by the fire at the end of the day, go down even better.

A trip to the coast for some birdwatching can be very productive, with Waders like Purple Sandpiper, offshore Divers, Scoters and Long-tailed Duck being targets.

The Price includes -
* Five nights full board accommodation at the wonderful Grant Arms Hotel, within the Cairngorms national park.
* Transport and guiding throughout
* Burns Gala Dinner
* Cairngorm mountain visit looking for Snow Buntings & Ptarmigan
* Visit to Udale Bay RSPB and other coastal sites for wintering birds
* Visit to Findhorn Valley in search of Golden Eagle & Mountain Hare
* Hunt for Crested Tits and Red Squirrels in Anagach woods and Abernethy forest.
* Evening talk by Ashley

Transportation throughout is provided, including collection and drop of from Aviemore railway station, or Inverness airport if required. See below if you'd like a lift there and back..

NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ON THIS BREAK

Transportation by minibus is provided throughout this holiday, but you may also be interested in our offer to take you there and back for just an additional £95. Contact us for more information.

Those opting for the return transportation might be interested in an optional two night extension near Dumfries, where we'll not only enjoy some very nice accommodation and good food, but have a full day to explore the local wildlife.

SOLWAY FIRTH TWO NIGHT EXTENSION
This extension will include a visit to Caerlaverock WWT centre or Mersehead RSPB reserve and a chance to witness what is surely one of the best wildfowl spectacles in the British Isles, with thousands of over wintering Barnacle Geese and much more besides.

The cost of this extension to the main holiday is £419 includes two nights on a dinner bed and breakfast basis in a very nice local hotel, transportation throughout and cost of entry to the wetland centre and of course guiding throughout.

So the full weeks package including transportation there and back is just £1299

Just get in touch for further information.

FULLY BOOKED

Cost: £785

Deposit: £150

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Starling Murmurations, Red Kites and more in Mid Wales

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 18 February to 20 February 2024

Overview: A short break of two nights in a delightful, well positioned guest house in Aberystwyth, gives us perfect access to one of the most photogenic Starling Murmurations on the UK.

The birds roost on the pier as the sun sets directly behind them, making for some fabulous sights and excellent photographic opportunities. The beach here is also a good place to search for Purple Sandpiper in the winter months and nearby are some excellent sites for winter birding.

On our return journey we will visit Gigrin Farm for the afternoon feed, where up to 400 Red Kites come in from far and wide and put on a wonderful show of their acrobatics as they jostle for the food put out for them. Again this makes for some excellent photographic opportunities. For an additional charge you can hire one of the purpose built photography hides for that afternoon should that be your main focus.

The cost of the break includes your accommodation, breakfast, entry to Girgrin and we'll eat out locally for our evening meal for both nights which is also included in the price.


Also included is transportation there and back from the Solihull area of the West Midlands, or pick up on route if possible.

All in all a nice short break to tide you over between Winter and Spring with something to suit Birder and Photographer alike.

Why not take a look at my BLOG from the 2022 holiday.

The maximum group size is 8 people, with the following room options;

Double/Twin room @ £445 per person
Double room for single occupancy @ £490
Single room @ £445 (Just one available) BOOKED

FULLY BOOKED

For more information contact Ashley via phone or email 07704 189835 - experiencenaturetours@gmail.com

Cost: £445

Deposit: £150

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Winter Wildfowl, Waders & more in the Southwest

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 25 February to 01 March 2024

Overview: A different approach to other Devon based holidays we've run, in that we're providing transportation there and back from the Solihull area and we're adding a couple of sites in Somerset to the itinerary as we pass through.

We first ran this five night holiday in this format in February 2023 and it went incredibly well, with a very contented group who saw a grand total of 116 species of birds in that time.

Our stops en-route bore fruit with White-rumped Sandpiper & Humes Leaf Warbler on the way down and a cracking drake Garganey on the way back. While in Devon Goshawks, Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, Cirl Bunting, Black-throated Diver and no less than five Firecrests were seen, along with a fine selection of resident and overwintering birdlife.

As they've looked after our groups so well over the past few years we'll be based at the TLH Victoria Hotel in Torquay for five nights and this will be in fact the 14th holiday we've based at this hotel.

Although the itinerary will be relaxed, we'll have more days out birdwatching to enjoy than in the previous format and with our own minibus and Ashley at the helm, we can adapt the itinerary if anything unusual terns up nearby.

So what's included;
- Transportation throughout
- Five nights at the hotel including breakfast & evening meal
- Visits to various top reserves in the Southwest.

Overview;
Day 1 - We'll head off from the Solihull area at a sensible time, stopping on our way to Devon at the small but perfectly formed RSPB Greylake reserve. The reserve holds impressive numbers of wintering wildfowl to include Wigeon, Teal and Pintail, many of which can be seen at close quarters in front of the hide. Water Rail and Cetti's warbler are among other regularly seen birds here in winter.

Day 2 - After yesterdays travels its not to early a start and not far to travel for our first port of call. Broadsands is a pleasant cove which offers a great chance of seeing Cirl Buntings, which in the UK can only be found here in Devon. There's also a chance of finding Firecrest here to and its not unheard of to have Yellow-browed Warbler overwinter in the same area.
It's worth us taking a scan over the sea too, as Divers and Grebes are often seen in the winter months fishing in the sheltered waters here. Great-northern, Red-throated and Black-throated Divers are all possible, as well as Great-crested, Black-necked and Red-necked Grebes.
From here it's just along the coast to Berry Head where again Cirl Bunting are likely and an even higher vantage point to scan the sea. Gannets, Fulmar and various Gulls pass regularly as do Harbour Porpoise. The cafe on the head will provide us with a lunch stop.

Day 3 - A day to explore both sides of the Exe Estuary, starting at RSPB Bowling Green Marsh which offers excellent views of overwintering wildfowl as well as waders which will include Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank and Dunlin. After a stop off for a pub lunch we can explore RSPB Exminster Marshes, an extensive reserve holding large numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Pintail and Gadwall among other ducks. We've had sightings of all three Egrets here over the years as well as Spoonbill and Glossy Ibis.
Out on the adjacent estuary large flocks of Brent Geese, Curlew and Golden Plover join Shelduck and Red-breasted Mergansers which are all pretty much guaranteed at this time.
While still at a nice relaxed pace, we could see in excess of 60 species of birds today, so plenty to talk about over dinner.

Day 4 - Just a morning excursion and a short drive to Stover Country Park today. The woodland here holds Marsh Tit and Treecreepers, while the lake often has Goosander and Mandarin Duck among other wildfowl. Kingfisher can be seen too with luck and again a chance of finding Firecrest.
The afternoon is yours to enjoy the hotels extensive facilities or perhaps explore the near by Marina.

Day 5 - Heading further west for the day to Slapton Ley where mixed habitats provide a selection of birdlife. Seabirds, water birds on the freshwater lake, woodland species behind that, even some reedbed that hides other species. Snow Bunting can sometimes be found overwintering on the beech, while Stonechat and Rock Pipit are regulars. The lake can turn up rarer ducks like Greater Scaup and ring-necked Duck which join the Tufted Ducks, Shoveler and Pochard. Seabirds might include Little Gull, Divers and Grebes.
Where better place than to partake in some fish & chips for lunch perhaps between some good birding.

Day 6 - After a leisurely breakfast we'll begin our journey home, but with a stop en-route at RSPB Ham Wall reserve in Somerset, home to one of the largest Starling Murmurations in the country. We'll have time before the Starlings show to explore the reserve, looking for wintering waders and wildfowl, Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tit and Cattle Egrets.


So a lot to like for £113 per night I hope!

FULLY BOOKED

No Single Supplement on this holiday!!

If you'd like to book a place or have any questions please contact Ashley via email - experiencenaturetours@gmail.com, or by phone - 07704 189835

Cost: £565

Deposit: £180

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Relaxed Tobago

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 12 March to 22 March 2024

Overview: This holiday includes ten nights based at Cuffie River Nature Retreat, in the heart of this quiet Caribbean island, offering not only some fabulously colourful birdlife and countless photographic opportunities, but also ample time to relax in beautiful surroundings.

Often holidays to Tobago are combined with a visit to Trinidad, but this little island has a much more relaxed vibe and some great nature reserves and trails hosting a variety of colourful birdlife, many of which can't be seen on its larger sister island.

Our excursions will include visits to Little Tobago island, home to Red-billed Tropicbirds, Frigate Birds and a further variety of seabirds which nest around the islands at this time of year. Additional outings cover a range of habitat from lush rainforest, wetlands and the coast, thus increasing the variety of wildlife we shall encounter.

We have also planned an evening visit to the beach where we hope to witness Turtles hauling themselves ashore to lay their eggs. Impressive Leatherbacks that can exceed two meters in length and weigh 700kg nest here at this time of year along with the smaller Green and Hawksbill Turtles.

As the holiday title suggests, there will be ample time built in to explore the beautiful surroundings, swim in the pool or take part in optional photography workshops or additional birdwatching walks.

For a more detailed itinerary, Contact Ashley through the website, or via email on experiencenaturetours@gmail.com


This tour is limited to 10 places.


FULLY BOOKED

Cost: £2995

Deposit: £350

See images from this Wildlife Watching Tour here

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Highlands Wildlife & Whisky

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 27 April to 04 May 2024

Overview: The Grant Arms has been carefully chosen, not only for the excellent quality of this hotel and it's food, but because of it's location. We will be central to many of the Highlands best wildlife watching hotspots and the trip has been well planned to give you the opportunity to see much of Scotland's iconic wildlife and landscape.

At this time of year Ospreys and Slavonian Grebes will have returned to nest in the area and residents like Golden Eagle, Black Grouse and Pine Marten will be more visible than in other seasons. So visits to Mountain, Moorland, Lochs and lush Valleys will give us the best opportunities to get views of some special Scottish wildlife.

We'll visit the coast to see a selection of waders and seabirds, of which some will be resident and others still moving through to more northerly breeding grounds, as well as spending an evening in a very comfortable hide in the hope of seeing Pine Marten, Badgers and possibly more!
Local woodlands give us the best chance of Crested Tits, Crossbills and Red Squirrels and if we're very lucky Capercaillie.

A visit to a local whisky distillery will add a cultural twist to a very enjoyable, social and rewarding break.

The Price includes -
* Seven nights full board accommodation at the wonderful Grant Arms Hotel, within the Cairngorms national park.
* Transport and guiding throughout
* Tour of a local Whisky distillery
* Tickets for the Cairngorm funicular railway
* An evening in the famous Rothymurcus mammal hide.

Collection and drop off from/to Aviemore railway station, or Inverness airport may be arranged if required. An additional charge may apply dependant on timings.

NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ON THIS HOLIDAY

FULLY BOOKED

Cost: £1295

Deposit: £300

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Spring Migration in Lesvos

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 12 May to 19 May 2024

Overview: Spring in the tiny Greek island of Lesvos has long been renowned as one of the best places to experience bird migration in Europe.

Our visit will coincide with the later arrival of some breeding species like Bee-eaters from their wintering grounds and also the movement of other species as they head further north, including some little crackers like Red-throated Pipit, Thrush Nightingale and Red-breasted Flycatcher.

Early to mid May is renowned for the arrival of large numbers of Rose-coloured Starling as they pass through, along with White-winged Black & Whiskered Terns and possibly Great Snipe.

Some of the islands iconic breeding species will now be active feeding young so can be more easily found, so we'll be on the look out for Kruper's Nuthatch, Rock Nuthatch, Masked Shrike, Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Cinereous Bunting and Sombre Tit.

We'll visit raptor watch points where we'll look for Red-footed & Eleanora's Falcons, Honey Buzzard and maybe even Lavant Sparrowhawk among other more common species.

Basing ourselves in a small quiet hotel, right next to coastal lagoons and salt pans, we'll be in the right place at the right time and could see close to 150 species of birds during our week on the island.

This holiday will have our usual relaxed approach to birdwatching, quietly enjoying the wildlife in its environment, but a few early starts will be necessary to get catch the "early bird".

There is no doubt that this trip will be full of surprise encounters and plenty of wow moments for us among some stunning landscapes and hopefully under sunny skies. And while predominately a holiday for birders of all levels, there will no doubt be plenty of photographic opportunities throughout.

Whats included;
- 7 nights accommodation, including breakfast, dinner & lunch.
- Transportation throughout your stay.
- 2 birdwatching guides

Your flight is not included, but this holidays dates are based on return flights with Jet2 from Manchester.

Note - We will be running the holiday to Lesvos in Spring 2025, based around flights from London Stansted.
Please scroll down below to see the dates.

Double rooms for single occupancy are available at a supplement of £180

FULLY BOOKED

STILL SPACE ON THE 2025 HOLIDAY

Cost: £1495

Deposit: £300

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Spanish Pyrenees & Med Coast. Birds, Butterflies and so much more.

Type: Wildlife Photography Tour

Dates: 23 May to 02 June 2024

Overview: The Lammergeier is one of those must see birds and this tour gives you unrivalled opportunities to get up close to these amazing creatures.

We will use purpose built hides, overlooking where these birds feed throughout the year, high in the Spanish Pyrenees. Three hides offer different views of the birds, plus a forth hide close by overlooking a deep valley, offers the opportunity to photograph these birds against a spectacular mountain backdrop.

This fourth hide is almost guaranteed for very close views of Golden Eagle, as the locally nesting pair are fed regularly here by the hide owner. Nesting on adjacent cliffs, they often arrive just moments after the carrion is put in place.

Other regular raptors include, Griffon Vulture (over 400 birds during a feed) , Monk (Black) and Egyptian Vultures, Peregrine and Red Kites. In fact this is one of the only sites where you'll find all 4 of Europe's Vultures in one location. Booted Eagle are also seen here almost daily.

A fifth hide overlooks a natural pool, where regular Dartford, Bonelli's, Orphean & Subalpine Warblers, Rock & Cirl Bunting, Hoopoe, Crested Tit and plenty more besides come in to drink and bathe.

We will rotate use of each of the hides to give everyone ample opportunity of photographing or watching each key species on this holiday.

In addition to the birds, alpine flowers are numerous and over 100 Butterfly species have been recorded here, so plenty to keep all wildlife enthusiasts busy.

Sunsets are amazing up here at nearly 4000ft and to watch these with a cold beer at the end of the day, while Nightjars, Nightingales and Scops Owl call around you and Red Deer and Wild Boar emerge from the trees to graze, is it truly magical.

Holiday cost includes all transportation, accommodation and meals throughout your stay, plus use of the hides. Ashley will be on hand to offer advise to photographers where required and of course to spot the wildlife for you. The holiday dates are based on flights from Birmingham to Girona with Jet2. We will likely be travelling with you from Birmingham airport, if not we will meet you in Girona. However we advise reserving a couple of days either side of the holiday dates as flight schedules have changed a lot since the pandemic and could mean us flying to Barcelona El Prat airport instead.

We will also take time to explore the local area, where different birds and flora may be found. Plus Ashley will site pop up hides for photographers wishing to photograph some additional species. Red-backed Shrike is a particularly good opportunity.

Around the seven nights in the Pyrenees, we have three nights on the coast based near Empuriabrava. This adds a relaxing start and end to the holiday, where we can explore local wetlands for a different variety of colourful Spanish birds.

We can tailor the itinerary to suit you, with the right balance between, wildlife watching, walking, photography, or just downtime to relax in this tranquil setting.

The stay in the Pyrenees is on the site of a village that was abandoned in the 1970's. The new owner of the site has created a lovely dwelling which consists of three bedrooms for guest use, plus two further en-suite bedrooms in an adjacent building that will be available from Spring 2024.

So we can now comfortably accommodate a maximum group size of 7 people, plus two guides.

FULLY BOOKED

CONTACT US ABOUT A FULLY BESPOKE HOLIDAY FOR JUST 6 PEOPLE IN THIS LOCATION

Cost: £2299

Deposit: £250

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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St Kilda & Outer Hebrides Cruise

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 09 June to 17 June 2024

Overview: This holiday is based on board the Seahorse II, a comfortably converted former Norwegian ferry. Mid June in this part of the world gives us nine long days (17 hours between Sunrise & Sunset) to explore the breathtakingly beautiful Western Isles of Scotland.

We board the boat near Oban and chart a course to St Kilda, but also visit the isles of Mull, Canna, Harris, North Uist, Rum and Treshnish Isles, each beautiful in their own right. Weather permitting we will disembark for a wildlife walk each day and an opportunity to enjoy the landscape, and relax. Evenings we will drop anchor and maybe enjoy Kayaking or Paddle Boarding, perhaps even a swim or a snorkel in the 'relatively warm' Gulf Stream waters.

Evening meals will be taken in the open air when possible, overlooking the shore of an island that we may well have all to ourselves. The numbers of locally breeding seabirds will be at their peak, with this years birds taking to the air and water, with the Gannet colony on Stac Lee (St Kilda) being a must see.

Apart from a wide variety of oceanic birds, we will of course be on the look out for Whales and Dolphins, which could include Orcas, Hump-Back & Minke Whales and June gives us a very good chance to see Basking Sharks as well. The various bays we visit will be good places to see Seals and surely Otters.

All in all, we've carefully crafted a package to experience a very special part of the world, with fabulous food and great company.

We have the whole boat to ourselves and with just 9 guest places, 2 guides and 3 crew, it's a very exclusive holiday. The breakdown of cabins and prices is as follows;

3 x Single Cabin with wash basin and shared bathroom - £2995pp ALL SOLD
1 x Twin Cabin with basin & toilet - £2995pp SOLD
2 x Twin/Double Cabin with en-suite - £3295pp BOTH SOLD

Note - Whilst we currently have no cruise planned for 2025, please do contact us to express an interest in this holiday. New dates may be added or spaces may become available on existing holidays.

Cost: £2995

Deposit: £350

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Carcassonne, Wine Tasting, Fine Food & Birds of Southern France

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 14 September to 21 September 2024

Overview: This will be our third time taking group to stay in 'Maison Tranquil' and the name of this lovely property really sums up the holiday we have planned for you in this beautiful part of France. We'll have sole use of the property for the week of our stay.

Set deep in the countryside overlooking a lake, with its own heated swimming pool, this large country house with seven large en-suite bedrooms is the perfect place to stay, relax and enjoy the birdlife of the Languedoc region of Southern France.

The local area has a variety of habitats to explore including woodland, rivers, wetland, farmland and 'Garrigue' a heathland type of habitat found only in Mediterranean countries, which supports a diverse range of wildlife. We're also not too far from the foothills of the Pyrenees which will be worth exploring on this holiday.

Birdlife we might expect to see locally would be Firecrest, Tawny Pipit, Honey Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle, Hoopoe, Cirl Bunting, Rock Sparrow, Black Redstart, European Bee-eater, but going a little further afield on day trips out its possible to see various Heron species, Rock Thrush and perhaps some migrants as they head south for the winter.

An equal part of this holiday though will be put aside for relaxing in different ways. We've organised some wine tasting in the historic old village of Montoleiu, which is twinned with Hay-on-Wye in Herefordshire, both famous for the number of book shops they have. We'll spend time exploring this quaint village which sits in an elevated position with a river running either side of it.

We'll also spend a day visiting the nearby Medieval City of Carcassonne, which looks like it came straight out of a fairytale with its many turreted towers.

Our breakfast, most lunches and evening meals will be lovingly prepared by Wendy who has gained quite a reputation on our holidays as being quite a chef, so yet another reason to join us on this holiday.

We'll start the holiday with arrivals at Toulouse airport, where Ashley will be ready with a minibus to transfer us all to the house, roughly one hour fifteen minutes drive. The minibus will be used throughout for our transportation.

The cost of the holiday below does not include flights and is based on one person sharing a double/twin room. Three double rooms are available for single occupancy for an additional £250

Whats Included;
- All food, including any meals out are included in the price of this holiday, along with some wine with meals.
- Transportation throughout
- Wine tasting experience
- 7 nights accommodation at Maison Tranquil

Maximum group size is 7 people.

FULLY BOOKED

Cost: £1995

Deposit: £250

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Devons Birdlife, Migrants on the move

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 29 September to 04 October 2024

Overview: Join us in Devon for a five night, half board birdwatching break based at TLH leisure resort Torquay.

These holidays have attracted repeat visitors annually since we started running them in 2018 because of their great value, fab birding and have proved a great starting point for beginner and novice birders over the years.

As well as some of the wonderful resident birdlife in the area, we will be hoping to catch up with a few of the birds that pass through the South West on their Autumn migration. These could be American vagrants blown adrift by westerly winds, as well as European and Eastern species.

Regular autumnal visitors could include warblers like Yellow-browed and waders such as Curlew Sandpiper. Who knows what might turn up.

This break offers a great combination of quality birdwatching and excellent hotel facilities at an affordable price and is open to birdwatchers of levels.

Whats included:
- 5 nights dinner, bed & breakfast at the TLH Carlton Hotel
- Pre dinner drinks reception on the first night to meet your host/tour guide Ashley Grove and fellow bird watchers
- Full day & two half days birdwatching.
- A talk illustrated with images from Ashleys wildlife portfolio
- Transport for all trips is included.
- (Packed lunches not included but can be ordered at TLH Carlton Hotel, or purchased locally) 

To book a place, Contact TLH directly on 01803 400500

No Single Supplement on this break!!

PLACES REMAINING

Cost: £412

Deposit: £

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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The Scilly Isles in Style...

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 10 October to 18 October 2024

Overview: Having had a host of enquiries about this holiday for 2023 fall through due to people being put off by the journey to get to Cornwall in the first place, we've built in the solution..

We're now providing transportation from the Solihull area to Devon for a one night stay and then onward to catch our flights from Landsend for the week on the Islands.

The Isles of Scilly have long been known as a beautiful UK holiday destination, particularly so for birdwatchers. It's varied Islands have a warmer climate than anywhere else in Britain and host some fabulous flora and fauna.

We visit the islands in October for this holiday, when migration is in full flow and birds around the world are moving to their southerly wintering grounds.
The Scilly's annually have falls of migrants from western Europe at this time, including Hoopoe, Lapland Bunting, Black Redstarts and Wryneck, but stronger winds and weather fronts can bring in birds from eastern Europe, which produce yearly records of Yellow-browed Warbler, Rustic & Little Buntings, various Pipits, and Red-breasted Flycatcher for example.

Even more remarkable are the regular occurrences of American birds, or "Yanks" as they are known in the birding world, that can cross the Atlantic on the back of strong winds. Solitary Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Bobolink, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Black & White Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, American Robin and Blackburnian Warbler have occurred in recent years, with the later being the highlight for 2023.

So what we will see during our week of birdwatching is a real lottery, but what is guaranteed is some very comfortable accommodation, great food and the warm atmosphere of these tranquil islands.

Ashley will be keeping an ear to the ground and an eye on the web… to keep abreast of the latest bird news on the islands, so a fluid itinerary, with Island visits being guided by which will be most fruitful in terms of 'good birds', whether that be based upon reported sightings, or the most likely place we may find our own.

We will for sure visit Tresco at some stage, giving you the opportunity to visit its famous gardens, where we also usually take lunch with the Red Squirrels..

INCLUDES RETURN TRANSPORT FROM THE WEST MIDLANDS TO LANDSEND

Max group size of 11

Price includes;
- Return transport from the Solihull area to Devon & onward to Landsend for your flight.
- One night at the Victoria Hotel Torquay
- Seven nights half board accommodation at the wonderful St - Mary's Hall Hotel, St Mary's.
- Collection & drop off at St Mar's airfield
- Guiding throughout, by Ashley Grove & Wendy Palmer-Grove
- Three return boat tickets for off island day trips
- Entry to Tresco Abbey Gardens

FULLY BOOKED

Cost: £1890

Deposit: £350

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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North Norfolk Birds, long weekender

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 25 October to 28 October 2024

Overview: The Feathers Hotel is our base for this short break on Norfolks famously bird rich North coast. The timing of this break gives us the chance of not only catching some late migrants, but also the arrival of the counties Winter visitors.

Thousands of Waders and Wildfowl spend the winter months in around the salt marsh habitat of Titchwell, Cley-next-the-sea and other famous coastal sites nearby, so we'll explore these thoroughly.

Resident birds like Bearded Tit and Marsh Harrier are pretty much guaranteed at these sites, plus there's usually the odd rarity around like Black Brant, perhaps a Stint, Hen Harrier, Grey Phalarope and it's always worth spending time staring out to sea.

Various Diver & Grebe species spend the winter months at sea and can be picked up close to shore at various places along this stretch of coastline, along with regular sightings of Scoters and Red-breasted Merganser and auks.

The holiday includes the following;

- 3 nights on a half board basis at the Feathers Hotel Dersingham

- Transportation is included for this holiday by minibus and this includes a lift there and back from the Solihull area if required.

Room availability;

We have six Double/Twin rooms available. Double rooms are available for single occupancy for an additional £90.

Max group size is 12 people.

For more information contact Ashley on 07704 189835 or by email experiencenaturetours@gmail.com

2 ROOMS AVAILABLE

Cost: £590

Deposit: £150

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Portugal in Style. Lisbon Estuaries, Alentejo & Algarve

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 2 November to 10 November 2024

Overview: By popular demand we have a new holiday visiting Portugal to offer you.

Easily accessible from all of the UK's major airports, we start and finish in Lisbon, giving you the ideal opportunity to tag on a few extra days in Portugals capital city, experience its culture and also escape the British winter for a few more days.

The holiday itself explores three very different areas within a relatively small area, starting in the Tagus Estuary National Reserve which hosts a multitude of overwintering water birds at this time of year. Numerous waders use the tidal mudflats and lagoons to feed while the surrounding pastures and cork Oak woodland holds many more species.

After two days exploring this area we move onto the Castro Verde Plains where we look for common Crane, both Great Bustard & Little Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Calandra Lark, Thekla Lark and Stone Curlew which are all resident in this area as are various raptors to include Spanish Imperial Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle and Black-winged Kite. In the mountains nearby we'll search for Eagle Owl, Rock Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush and Golden Eagle among other mountain species.

From here we visit the Algarve and further wetland areas hold a very localised Audouin's Gull population, more wintering waders, Western Swamphen, Bittern, Little Bittern, Water Pipit, Penduline Tit, Sardinian & Spectacled Warblers, Iberian Magpie, Caspian Tern, Slender-billed Gull and Auduoin's Gull and possibly even Bluethroat.

During our week in Portugal we'll stay at three very well chosen hotels, each offering comfort, tranquility and some amazing food. As with all of our holidays the pace is gentle, putting the emphasis on relaxed birdwatching and as one of my regulars puts it, some first class "Apres Birding"... A holiday in the true sense of the word.

To make our final full day even more special and relaxed we've added an additional night in Lisbon, where we'll stay in a very comfortable hotel and eat out in a local restaurant to round off the trip. This puts you in a great position to do some exploring of Lisbons culture the following morning before your flight home. The airport is a short taxi ride from our hotel.

Whats included;
- Collection from Lisbon airport
- Transportation throughout in a comfortable vehicle
- 8 Nights in lovely accommodations
- Local guide plus one or two Experience Nature guides
- All meals including quality local wine with dinners
- Entrance fees to local reserves and a 40 Euro pp donation to Guadiana Valley Natural Park Conservation Project.

Not included;
- Flights are not included, but all major airports offer regular and reasonably priced return flights to Lisbon, often below £100 per person.
- On the final day the groups departure times to the UK's various airports may vary a lot so transportation to the airport is not included, but a taxi ride from the hotel should cost no more than £25 and can be shared of course.


The holiday will be limited to 12 people.

PLACES REMAINING

Cost: £2295

Deposit: £350

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Southern Ghana, Pangolins, Picathartes & much more

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 26 November to 9 December 2024

Overview: Situated in the heart of West Africa Ghana is a must visit destination for any birding and wildlife enthusiast. A comprehensive coverage of varied West African habitats from coastal wetlands and lagoons, moving inland through the coastal savannah into the rich Upper Guinea Rainforests that protect so many West African speciality species that include the Yellow-headed Picathartes, surely a must see for any birder.

This holiday gives us 14 days to explore these various habitats which will not only give us a wide variety of birdlife, and butterflies, but the best chance of seeing three of Africas four Pangolin species.

We'll be working alongside the very best guiding team in Ghana, using comfortable vehicles and staying in some great accommodation, with even an option to sleep in "posh tents" within the rainforest which will be an amazing sensory experience.

Flights are not included in the cost below, these will be direct flights from LHR with British Airways.

For a comprehensive itinerary please contact us via the button below or by email - experiencenaturetours@gmail.com or phone Ashley on Mob 07704 189835

JUST 5 PLACES AVAILABLE


Yellow-headed Picathartes image courtesy of Lucas Lombardo

Cost: £3299

Deposit: £350

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Burns, Birds & Highland Beasties. Plus Solway Firth extension

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 24 January to 31 January 2025

Overview: Our Burns Breaks for January 2022, 2023 and 2024 sold out within a week, so early booking is recommended. See below to read about the optional extension to this holiday. We're even offering transport there and back from our base near Solihull West Midlands.

The Burns Night Gala Dinner at the Grant Arms Hotel is always fun, entertaining, with fabulous food and great service. The piper welcomes in the Haggis (other food available of course), which will be toasted by us all.

This great night will just be a part of this winter break in the Highlands as we visit various wildlife hotspots within the Cairngorm national park.

Snow isn't guaranteed even in this part of the world, but does add to the atmosphere of the break and we are more likely to encounter some on a trip to Cairngorm Mountain. Snow Buntings should be around the car park here at this time of year and we may even be able to catch a glimpse of Ptarmigan.

This area is stunning at all times of the year, but be sure to bring a camera for this one as if we do get snow, the landscape is truly breathtaking and makes the evening meal and a dram of whisky by the fire at the end of the day, go down even better.

A trip to the coast for some birdwatching can be very productive, with Waders like Purple Sandpiper, offshore Divers, Scoters and Long-tailed Duck being targets.

The Price of £1005 includes -
* Five nights full board accommodation at the wonderful Grant Arms Hotel, within the Cairngorms national park.
* Transport and guiding throughout
* Burns Gala Dinner
* Cairngorm mountain visit looking for Snow Buntings & Ptarmigan
* Visit to Udale Bay RSPB and other coastal sites for wintering birds
* Visit to Findhorn Valley in search of Golden Eagle & Mountain Hare
* Hunt for Crested Tits and Red Squirrels in Anagach woods and Abernethy forest.
* Evening talk by Ashley

Transportation throughout is provided, including collection and drop of from Aviemore railway station, or Inverness airport if required. See below if you'd like a lift there and back..

SPACES AVAILABLE

NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ON THIS BREAK

Transportation by minibus is provided throughout this holiday, but you may also be interested in our offer to take you there and back for just an additional £95. Contact us for more information.

Those opting for the return transportation might be interested in an optional two night extension near Dumfries, where we'll not only enjoy some very nice accommodation and good food, but have a full day to explore the local wildlife.

SOLWAY FIRTH TWO NIGHT EXTENSION
This extension will include a visit to Caerlaverock WWT centre or Mersehead RSPB reserve and a chance to witness what is surely one of the best wildfowl spectacles in the British Isles, with thousands of over wintering Barnacle Geese and much more besides, including Hen Harriers which are a regular sight in this area in winter.

The cost of this extension to the main holiday is just £299 and includes two nights on a dinner bed and breakfast basis in a very nice local hotel, transportation throughout and cost of entry to the wetland centre and of course guiding throughout.

The price for this full week long 2 centre holiday including transportation there and back is £1399

Just get in touch for full information.

7 PLACES REMAINING

Cost: £1399

Deposit: £250

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Swedens Crane Migration, Grebes & Great Food

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 09 April to 13 April 2025

Overview: The Lake Hornborga area of Sweden plays host to one of the most incredible bird spectacles to be seen in Europe. From late March to mid April, thousands of Common Cranes stop here to feed up on their journey to more northerly breeding grounds. The quantity of birds varies from year to year, but we have timed this trip to catch the peak of the birds movement and hope to see between 15 and 30,000 cranes at this time. In 2019 the peak count reached upwards of 27,000 birds, plus of course a wide variety of wildfowl that are present at this time. A highlight of this trip will be the sight and sound of thousands of Cranes coming into the lake at dawn, which really has to be experienced.

Whooper Swans and Goldeneye that stay on to breed in the area are joined by White Fronted & Pink-footed Geese, Wigeon, Pintail, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Pochard and Tufted Duck in large numbers.
Other breeding birds in the area are setting up territory at this time and very evident are the grebes. Great-crested and Little Grebes are present, but in addition Red-necked and Slavonian Grebes breed here and often Black-necked pass through at this time, so it can be a Grebe bonanza.

We also visit other areas locally which are fabulous for birdwatching, sites where we could be lucky enough to see some birds that are either very rare in the UK, or don't occur at all. Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Black Woodpecker, Hawfinch, even Eagle Owl and Pygmy Owl are all possible.

Our base for the 4 nights is a converted water mill, where the owner prides himself in offering top quality, locally sourced and organic food and wine.
This tranquil riverside location has some wonderful local walks to enjoy and we also will have a canoe safari on one evening in search of Beaver which are relatively common in the area.

The gentle flow of the water and sound of bird song is only broken by the occasional splosh of a beaver submerging as we approach.

This break has a very relaxed pace to it, with ample down time to enjoy the locality and its wildlife and to round off the package, we have a meal in a very well recommended local restaurant on one of our evenings.

Flights are in addition to this price and are with British Airways from Heathrow, coming in usually between £150 and £250 return.

The minimum number for this trip is 5, with a max of 8. There is a single supplement charge of £245, but please let us know if you are willing to share.

6 PLACES REMAINING

Cost: £1475

Deposit: £300

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Spring Migration in Lesvos

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 24 April to 1 May 2025

Overview: Spring in the tiny Greek island of Lesvos has long been renowned as one of the best places to experience bird migration in Europe.

Resident species will now be on territory, so we'll look for singing Cinereous Bunting and Krüper's Nuthatch, along with Masked Shrike, Middle-spotted Woodpecker and Sombre Tit.

We should see other Shrike species arrive as the week progresses, Red-backed, Woodchat & Lesser Grey, along with Olivaceous Warbler and Hoopoes arriving in numbers to nest.

Rarer species also begin to move through at this time which may include Red-throated Pipit, Thrush Nightingale and Red-breasted Flycatcher, Great Snipe, Marsh Terns, Barred Warbler, River Warbler and Wrynecks.

We'll visit raptor watch points where we'll look for Red-footed & Eleanora's Falcons, Honey Buzzard and maybe even Lavant Sparrowhawk among other more common species.

Wetland areas are hotspots for much of the bird movement and Spotted Crake & possibly Little Crake are likely, along with Night Heron, Glossy Ibis & Purple Heron while overhead both Alpine & Pallid Swifts are possible among the Commons hawking for insects.

Basing ourselves in a small quiet hotel, right next to coastal lagoons and salt pans, we'll be in the right place at the right time and could see close to 150 species of birds during our week on the island.

This holiday will have our usual relaxed approach to birdwatching, quietly enjoying the wildlife in its environment, but a few early starts will be necessary to get catch the "early bird".

There is no doubt that this trip will be full of surprise encounters and plenty of wow moments for us among some stunning landscapes and hopefully under sunny skies. And while predominately a holiday for birders of all levels, there will no doubt be plenty of photographic opportunities throughout.

Whats included;
- 7 nights accommodation, including breakfast, dinner & lunch.
- Transportation throughout your stay.
- 2 birdwatching guides

Your flight is not included, but this holidays dates are based on return flights with Jet2 from London Stansted.

Double rooms for single occupancy are available at a supplement of £180

6 SPACES REMAINING

Cost: £1595

Deposit: £300

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Spanish Pyrenees & Med Coast. Birds, Butterflies and so much more.

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 5 June to 15 June 2025

Overview: The Lammergeier is one of those must see birds and this tour gives you unrivalled opportunities to get up close to these amazing creatures.

We will use purpose built hides, overlooking where these birds feed throughout the year, high in the Spanish Pyrenees. Three hides offer different views of the birds, plus a forth hide close by overlooking a deep valley, offers the opportunity to photograph these birds against a spectacular mountain backdrop.

This fourth hide is almost guaranteed for very close views of Golden Eagle, as the locally nesting pair are fed regularly here by the hide owner. Nesting on adjacent cliffs, they often arrive just moments after the carrion is put in place.

Other regular raptors include, Griffon Vulture (over 400 birds during a feed) , Monk (Black) and Egyptian Vultures, Peregrine and Red Kites. In fact this is one of the only sites where you'll find all 4 of Europe's Vultures in one location. Booted Eagle are also seen here almost daily.

A fifth hide overlooks a natural pool, where regular Dartford, Bonelli's, Orphean & Subalpine Warblers, Rock & Cirl Bunting, Hoopoe, Crested Tit and plenty more besides come in to drink and bathe.

We will rotate use of each of the hides to give everyone ample opportunity of photographing or watching each key species on this holiday.

In addition to the birds, alpine flowers are numerous and over 100 Butterfly species have been recorded here, so plenty to keep all wildlife enthusiasts busy.

Sunsets are amazing up here at nearly 4000ft and to watch these with a cold beer at the end of the day, while Nightjars, Nightingales and Scops Owl call around you and Red Deer and Wild Boar emerge from the trees to graze, is it truly magical.

Holiday cost includes all transportation, accommodation and meals throughout your stay, plus use of the hides. Ashley will be on hand to offer advise to photographers where required and of course to spot the wildlife for you. The holiday dates are based on flights from Birmingham to Girona with Jet2. We will likely be travelling with you from Birmingham airport, if not we will meet you in Girona. However we advise reserving a couple of days either side of the holiday dates as flight schedules have changed a lot since the pandemic and could mean us flying to Barcelona El Prat airport instead.

We will also take time to explore the local area, where different birds and flora may be found. Plus Ashley will site pop up hides for photographers wishing to photograph some additional species. Red-backed Shrike is a particularly good opportunity.

Around the seven nights in the Pyrenees, we have three nights on the coast based near Empuriabrava. This adds a relaxing start and end to the holiday, where we can explore local wetlands for a different variety of colourful Spanish birds.

We can tailor the itinerary to suit you, with the right balance between, wildlife watching, walking, photography, or just downtime to relax in this tranquil setting.

The stay in the Pyrenees is on the site of a village that was abandoned in the 1970's. The new owner of the site has created a lovely dwelling which consists of three bedrooms for guest use, plus two further en-suite bedrooms in an adjacent building.

We can comfortably accommodate a maximum group size of 7 people, plus two guides.


SPACES AVAILABLE

OTHER DATES MAY BE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

CONTACT US ABOUT A FULLY BESPOKE HOLIDAY FOR JUST 6 PEOPLE IN THIS LOCATION

Cost: £2499

Deposit: £300

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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Scotlands Highlands & Outer Islands

Type: Wildlife Watching Tour

Dates: 25 May to 03 June 2026

Overview: Continuing to expand our selection of UK holidays, this break explores the rugged islands of the Outer Hebrides as well as the stunning Cairngorm Mountains and National park.

Staying on North Uist for five nights, sandwiched between four nights in Grantown-on-Spey, we'll visit the islands of Benbecula and South Uist, as well as reliable sites around the Cairngorm national park for top birds like Slavonian grebe, Ring Ouzel, Black-throated Diver, Crested Tit, Osprey and Black Grouse.

Our time spent on the islands gives us the best chances in the UK to enjoy close views of Corncrake, Hen Harrier, Red-necked Phalarope and much more besides.

As with all our holidays, this will be run at the same relaxed pace, no rushing around ticking birds off lists, but watching the wildlife in its environment and soaking up the stunning scenery in good company.

The Price includes - 4 nights at the Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown-on-Spey and 5 nights at the Temple View Hotel, North Uist, to include breakfast, dinner and packed lunches.

Transportation throughout and if required and timings are suitable, free collection and drop off for Inverness airport or Aviemore railway station.
Also included is the price of the short ferry crossing between the Isles of Skye and North Uist.

Single Supplement - We have 3 rooms available for single occupancy, after that a double room can be taken for sole occupancy for an additional £490

Group size - 12 persons max, plus 2 guides

5 SPACES AVAILABLE

Cost: £1995

Deposit: £250

Request a full itinerary here

Contact me here to book your space.

or book your space online. (Requires a deposit).

       

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