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Naturetrek and similar bird holidays. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Owene
- Start date
Really good, I'd recommend them a lot. Was quite a variety of biding interests/styles on the trip and the guides managed to accommodate everybody really well. Saw some amazing birds and reptiles. As a teacher my options for trips are very limited so I'm not sure when or if I'll use them again but I was really happy with the trip. I've blogged about it from post 49 here.
Owen's lifetime of wildlife in a year.
March 19th Popped up to the local churchyard to have a look at the reptile mats. Mainly woodlice but one sleeping baby slowworm One of my main aims for the year was to see the final 2 native reptile species I’ve not seen (smooth snake and sand lizard) but I’d quite like to see the lot this...
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SimonLS
Well-known member
Thanks, interesting read - I plan to head there with them in the the next year or two.Really good, I'd recommend them a lot. Was quite a variety of biding interests/styles on the trip and the guides managed to accommodate everybody really well. Saw some amazing birds and reptiles. As a teacher my options for trips are very limited so I'm not sure when or if I'll use them again but I was really happy with the trip. I've blogged about it from post 49 here.
Owen's lifetime of wildlife in a year.
March 19th Popped up to the local churchyard to have a look at the reptile mats. Mainly woodlice but one sleeping baby slowworm One of my main aims for the year was to see the final 2 native reptile species I’ve not seen (smooth snake and sand lizard) but I’d quite like to see the lot this...
Mysticete
Well-known member
Oh I know that pain very well. The struggle is real...As a teacher my options for trips are very limited so I'm not sure when or if I'll use them again but I was really happy with the trip.
Owen's lifetime of wildlife in a year.
March 19th Popped up to the local churchyard to have a look at the reptile mats. Mainly woodlice but one sleeping baby slowworm One of my main aims for the year was to see the final 2 native reptile species I’ve not seen (smooth snake and sand lizard) but I’d quite like to see the lot this...
Welsh Peregrine
Well-known member
Agreed with the teacher holiday problem, which I thought was solved with retirement; just pre-COVID! Still got Argentina in, and hopefully Indonesia this summer.
It was great. If the lynx are a big draw for you I think the specialist trips are the way to go (although the trip after ours saw them) as winter is better but if it’s mainly birds you’ll have a great time
SimonLS
Well-known member
Mostly birds, but interested in all wildlife. I'd do the same tour as you, possibly extending it with the Extremadura and Gredos Mountains tour if the dates align. Some duplication but I'd like a double dose of Extremadura.
A woman on our tour doubled up like that, no idea how her Gredos tour went but I know the mountain section has the possibility of some really cool extra birds and I think the extra time in Extremadura would probably pay off, especially if you have different guides for the two sections. We didn't get Bonelli's Eagle, Black Bellied Sand Grouse, Eagle Owl or Black Winged Kite and only had one heard Red Necked Nightjar (not by me) and only two of us saw Golden Oriole (luckily including me) so I think more time in the general area just gives you more time to luck onto that one different soaring raptor even if you're at the same general sites you'll see different stuff and slightly different weather conditions or a week later will mean a totally different experience for butterflies.
I'd really recommend taking your own scope, the guides were more than happy to relay across anything you found, the guides will probably find far more than you but I got a lot more from it by wandering a bit and looking for myself at times.
I'd guess that with ebird and being happy to drive you could probably replicate a large percentage of the trip list independently for cheaper, there were a lot of birders at most of the sites we visited and if you have say more of a reptile or insect focus you obviously might want more control over where you go but I really enjoyed the guides contributions and getting to bird with others. the really big thing for me as someone with a (part time) job and a young child was just how amazing it was to do this all day every day for a week. It really taught me a lot.
SimonLS
Well-known member
Sorry just went back to the first page and saw you'd been on nt trips before. Ignore the general stuff I saidwhich ones have you done?
I've done quite a few.
In Europe: Switzerland (Wengen, Pontresina, Bettmeralp), Finland (Brown Bears), France (Provence/Camargue), Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily (in Spring), Canary Islands, Portugal (the prehistoric art one), and Menorca (in Spring)
Further afield: Zambia, Namibia, Equador and Galapagos, and Peru.
The Swiss tours focused on botany, but were good for butterflies and the mountain bird specialties. Also we didn't use mini buses for transport, just the local railways, cable cars and plenty of walking.
Corsica and Sardinia were very good for all round wildlife, with Corsica having the better endemic birds.
Sicily was excellent for migrants. The hotel was ideal for pre-breakfast walks. Set in a working vineyard we saw Bee-eater, Woodchat Shrike, Golden Oriole, and Subalpine Warbler, to name a few, in the grounds. One morning there were over 100 Bee-eater and another more than 10 Golden Oriole.
SimonLS
Well-known member
Satisfied customer indeed - I like the way they (usually) focus on birds but also cover other wildlife and local history as well. Doubtless other companies do, too.
Spain as mentioned, Italy and Romania for me when my circumstances allow.
