The Best of South Devon by Land & Sea

November 2023

‘This tour was a fabulous mix of cruises and land-based walks around wildlife hot spots in South Devon, staying at the magnificent Berry Head Hotel with its unbroken views over Tor Bay’, says tour leader Mike Langman.

‘Our cruises produced a good mix of birds and other wildlife, including an unexpected sighting of a Basking Shark, Common Seals and the more usual Harbour Porpoises and Grey Seals. Bird highlights included a Spoonbill, a very late Arctic Tern, Avocet, Brent Geese, a pair of Egyptian Geese, Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Greenshank, Purple Sandpiper, Great Northern Diver, Kingfisher, Common Scoter, Kittiwake, Gannet, Peregrine Falcon, Fulmar, Guillemot, Razorbill, Curlew and Shelduck.

On land, the National Nature Reserve delivered the hoped-for Cirl Buntings (10+), Firecrests and some Earth Tongue fungi. A visit to Haldon Forest brought plenty of Crossbills and Siskins, with Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Nuthatch at the feeding station, while highlights at Man Sands included Teal, calling Water Rails and Cetti’s Warblers, Stonechats and several good sightings of Firecrests.

At Beesands Ley, more Cetti’s Warblers were heard calling, Tufted Ducks fed on the ley and several Stonechats were present. Back at Slapton Ley, there were plenty more wildfowl including Goldeneye, Gadwall, Little and Great Crested Grebes but it was a Great White Egret that stole the show, at one point flying right in front of our hide! Around the nature trail were a couple more Firecrests, Chiffchaff, Cetti’s Warbler and unseen but vocal Water Rails to bring to a close a wonderful few days!’

 Islay's Winter Wildfowl

November 2023

‘Our tour began well, with an early morning Otter fishing the shore just outside the hotel and a trilling flock of Waxwings flying past’, writes tour leader Neil McMahon. ‘After breakfast we explored Loch Indaal, quickly notching up many Red-throated Divers, waders, the first of the geese and a Merlin with prey. On to Gruinart where Peregrine, Hen Harrier, regiments of Barnacle Geese and Whooper Swans awaited us and we were lucky to pick out vagrant Cackling and Todd's Geese. Our afternoon walk to Ardmore Point provided a White-tailed Eagle directly overhead, Chough, Twite, Hen Harrier and lots of Rabbits, Brown Hares, Grey Seals and Roe Deer!

Jura brought us herds of Red Deer, Great Northern Divers and a pretty vicious hailstorm! Stonechats, another Hen Harrier, tame Redwings and Song Thrushes all delighted and we finished the day on Islay with Scaup and Pale-bellied Brent Geese.

The last full day found us at Portnahaven and the Rinns, where we connected with a majestic Golden Eagle, more White-tailed Eagles, a brief Hen Harrier, hares, deer and flocks of assorted geese including handsome Greenland White-fronted Geese. A Waxwing showed briefly at our hotel first thing and our last venue was to the north shore of Loch Indaal, yielding a Glaucous Gull, Slavonian Grebe and Common Scoter amongst others.

Our ferry back to the mainland provided a platform for seeing Harbour Porpoises, more Otters and a variety of seabirds and seaducks and all of a sudden, our short tour to this magical part of Scotland was over.'


View tour

The Gambia in Style

November 2023

‘This was the first “Gambia in Style” tour of the new season, with the local guides returning from their villages to Mandina Lodges for the first time since April’, writes tour leader Dave Jackson. ‘We enjoyed many sightings of colourful birds including six sunbird, four bee-eater, four roller and seven kingfisher species, including the scarce Shining Blue Kingfisher, during our 8-day stay.

We visited a number of sites along the river by canoe, where it was difficult to know where to look with so many birds calling around us. We had excellent views of Senegal Parrot as it called from a bare branch allowing the photographers to obtain clear shots and Levaillant’s Cuckoo was a write-in for the checklist.

We visited Kartong, near the Senegal border, where a Northern Red Bishop displayed above our heads and Hooded Vultures fought over dead fish on the beach. After lunch, our senses were filled with the colours and aromas of the bustling Tanji Fishing Village as the locals caught and smoked their catch. Young beach vendors were overjoyed when we purchased herbs from them, possibly making a week’s takings in just a few minutes.

At Pirang hundreds of herons, egrets, storks and flamingoes filled the abandoned shrimp farm and familiar waders including Sanderling, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint had found a home for the winter. Our bus pulled up right next to an Abyssinian Roller struggling to swallow a locust as we were leaving for Bonto Forest, where a Northern White-faced Owl roosted near the entrance.

Other highlights included the Guinea Baboon troupe that carried their babies into the lodge complex and relaxed along the boardwalk one afternoon, and the attentive staff who served us freshly cooked food throughout our stay.’

View tour

France – Wallcreepers & the Camargue

November/December 2023

‘Our short break to the Camargue and surrounding sites produced some magical winter birding once again’, writes tour leader Neil McMahon. ‘Staying at our traditional hotel on the outskirts of Arles, we visited a number of localities to see the classic birds of this special region and historic sites on limestone escarpments for the fabled Wallcreeper.

At Marais du Vigueirat, the mammals almost stole the show with some diurnal Wild Boar and fabulous Coypus! Water Pipits, our first flamingoes, Kingfishers and Marsh Harriers set the scene for the next few days, when other highlights included huge Western Swamphens, numerous Glossy Ibis, hundreds of Common Cranes, White and Black Storks, pink Slender-billed Gulls, Penduline Tits and even a Moustached Warbler.

The medieval village of Les Baux quickly provided sightings of Blue Rock Thrush, Crested Tit and Firecrest and a sublime find of four confiding Alpine Accentors! However, for the first time ever, we couldn't find a Wallcreeper here. At our last venue of the afternoon, our luck turned with the discovery of a magnificent Eurasian Eagle Owl. Happily, at the 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard, success did come in the shape of our target bird – a confiding Wallcreeper! The supporting cast included Rock Sparrow, Crag Martin and Short-toed Treecreeper.

Our night drives provided sightings of Wild Boar and Red Fox, while Le Parc Ornithologique gave very close views of battalions of Greater Flamingoes, numerous herons and egrets and fast-feeding Spotted Redshanks, Avocets and Black-winged Stilts. Yet more Western Swamphens and Penduline Tits were the icing on the cake before our dash to the airport after our quality winter birding treat!'


View tour