Dorset Autumn Tour

 ​October 11th  - 18th  2019

£950 per person based on two people sharing a twin/double room. Single supplement £150

This 7-day tour based in Weymouth, concentrates heavily on coastal migration hot-spots and the wintering locations of many birds in this beautiful south coast county. Birds we shall look for include several rare species as well as regular migrants. On Portland anything can turn up at this time of the year but regulars include: Ring Ouzel, Firecrest, Yellow-browed Warbler, Ortolan and Lapland Buntings.Whilkst at Ferrybridge.Potland Harbour and the fleet we can look for Grebes and Divers, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser and perhaps an unusual Gull, Tern or wader.

For the last two years a Lesser Yellowlegs has made Lodmoor itswintering home and a Ring-necked Duck resides at Radipole Lake. The fleet usually houses Greater Scaup, sometimes Long-tailed Duck and plenty of Brent Geese which often have Black Brnt and Pale-bellied Geese in the with them.

 

The prime locations on the itinerary:

  • RSPB Radipole Lake 
  • RSPB Lodmoor
  • Weymouth Bay
  • Portland Harbour, Ferry-Bridge, The Fleet
  • Portland and Portland Bird Observatory
  • Wareham Forest
  • RSPB Arne

Day 1.

We meet up around noon at our superb Guest which is just a few minutes walk from the sea-front at Weymouth. Those arriving by train will be met at the station and driven the short distance to the guest house. For the afternoon will shall spend time at Radipole Lake looking for Bearded Tit, Cetti's Warbler and many species of gulls and ducks. Recently (autumn 2018) the pre-roost gathering of gulls has attracted Franklin's Gull,Ring-billed Gull amongst hundreds of Mediterranean Gulls.

 

     

 

Typical Itinerary for the 7-day tour

Day 1

Malaga/Gibraltar Airport collection - a visit to the Guadalhorce Natural Park. Plenty to see there with up 50 species recorded on a typical visit. A good chance of White-headed Duck, Monk Parakeet, Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Audouin's Gull, Zitting Cisticola, Red-rumped Swallow, Woodchat Shrike, Serin, Osprey, Booted Eagle and several species of wader.

Day 2 - 5

Visits to the beautiful, scenic mountains around Casares, Gaucin, Cortes, Jimena, Montejaque and Ronda may produce sightings of: Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Rock Sparrow, Pallid Swift, Alpine Swift, White-rumped Swift, Red-billed Chough, Griffon Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Bonelli's Eagle, Golden Oriole,Golden Eagle, Hawfinch, Wryneck, Cirl Bunting, Bonelli's Warbler, Orphean Warbler, Firecrest, Woodlark, Thekla Lark, Red-necked Nightjar.

A couple of days will be spent in the lowlands and on the coastal plains near Tarifa, Bolonia, Zaraha, Gibraltar & Vejer. Birds to look for there include: Rufous Bush Bobin, Olivaceous Warbler, Montagu's Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Purple Swamphen, Little Bustard, Stone Curlew, Collared Pratincole, Short-toed Lark, Calandra Lark, Bald Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron, Little Bittern, White Stork, Spoonbill, Little Swift, Slender-billed Gull, Caspian Tern, Lesser-crested Tern and the rare Ruppell's Vulture & Long-legged Buzzard.

Day 6

Return to Malaga/Gibraltar airport. A morning birding excursion if time allows to a local site.

 

What is included in our 7 day Andalucian tour?

  • Airport transfer.
  • Five night's accommodation with breakfast, home cooked evening meal and wine.
  • Four full days of guided birding and some birding on arrival and departure days.
  • The guiding services and all land transportation.
  • Picnic lunches and drinks on each day tour.
  • A "tick-list" of seasonal birds of the region.

What is not included?

  • Air fares.
  • Personal holiday insurance.
  • All items of a personal nature, i.e. Drinks and telephone calls.

Personalised Holidays

We also cater for individuals and small groups of two to six people. We can take you where ever you want to go within our tour region (100km range of Gaucin) and we can show you specific species if you have a 'wish-list'. This type of tour cost £107 per day per person (minimum 2 nights) and includes, full board accommodation, picnic lunches, checklist, use of telescope, binnoculars and guiding throughout. For a full 7-day break the cost is only £750!

If you are interested in arranging your own personnal holiday and want to choose your own tour dates please contact us with your date requirements using the contact form. We will e-mail you with a acknowledgement/confirmation within 48 hours.

Check for Availability Here

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