Date
Cost
Availability
Deposit
Single Supp
| 11 May - 18 May 2024 £2125.00 8 Spaces £400.00 £350.00
Book Now
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Leaders | Simon Eaves and Darren Rees |
Day 1 | Arrive Betws-y-Coed. 7 nights at The Royal Oak Hotel |
Days 2-7 | An exploration of North Wales to include South Stack and Newbrough on Anglesey, the Dee Estuary and its marshes, Conwy valley and estuary, moors of north east Wales,
plus the RSPB’s Ynys-hir Reserve. |
Day 8 | Depart after breakfast. |
Weather | The weather will be mixed (10°-20°C). Expect sun and showers, with gusty wind on exposed headlands |
Walking | Varied, from wide forest tracks, to clifftop paths. Walking boots are recommended. |
Meals | All included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8. |
Insects | Not anticipated this early in the season. |
Accom | Double, twin and single rooms all ensuite |
Group | 12 |
Come and explore the moorlands, hanging oak-woods,
wetlands and seabird colonies of North Wales - all from
our base in beautiful Snowdonia48uep6bbph|00000E4E|Spey_BESQL3|HolidayTypes|Subheading 48uep6bbphidval|NORTHWALES
| * Anglesey for tern colonies, plus South Stack for Choughs, Puffins and seabirds
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| * Welsh ‘hanging oaks’ at Ynys-hir for Wood Warbler, Redstart and Pied Flycatcher
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| * Based in beautiful Snowdonia National Park
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| * Classic upland species: Dipper, Ring Ouzel, Peregrine, Wheatear
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| * Traditional stronghold of Red Kites - plus new kids on the block - Ospreys!
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| * Dee Estuary for wetland and shore birds
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| * Chance of sky-dancing Hen Harriers on the Ruabon Moors
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Day 1 | We meet at our hotel in Betws-y-Coed,
in the heart of Snowdonia National Park,
where Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Goosander and
Common Sandpiper can be seen on the river
just over the road. The scenic woodland walks
close by may yield Treecreeper, Great Spotted
Woodpecker, Jay, Nuthatch and assorted tits.
Snowdonia is an ancient land of wild mountains
and wooded valleys; of rocky cwms and tumbling
streams, with a bird list that spans woodland and
montane species.
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Days 2-7 | We may start our exploration
of North Wales on Anglesey. The
RSPB’s South Stack Reserve offers spectacular cliff
scenery and we’ll get great views of the seabird
colonies, with masses of Guillemots and Razorbills
and a few delightful Puffins, as well as Fulmar, Peregrines, Ravens and sought-after Chough.
Adders are also a possibility here, as we enjoy the
coastal flowers such as Thrift, Sea Campion and
the lovely Spring Squill.
Elsewhere on Anglesey, at Cemlyn Bay we’ll enjoy
the comings and goings of the tern colonies,
busy with Sandwich, Common and Arctic Terns
- Roseate is a rare bird here now, but you never
know your luck – we’ve also seen Mediterranean
Gulls on our visits. We’ll follow in the footsteps
of famous artist Charles Tunnicliffe at the
delightful Cefni estuary, looking for Whimbrel and
Black-tailed Godwits and at nearby Newborough
Warren we hope to see cheeky Red Squirrels.
One day will be spent on the Dee Estuary, one
of the UK’s premier birding locations for wetland
and shorebirds and we’ll spend time exploring its marshes, busy with Avocet, Lapwing and Redshank, plus wildfowl such as Shoveler, Teal and Gadwall.
In May we’ve been lucky with Garganey, Spoonbill
and Wood Sandpiper and Great Egrets seem
to be making this their home these days.
On our round-up of the north shore we’ll also
visit Gronant beach, the site of Wales’ only Little
Tern colony.
We’ll need an early morning start when we drive
to the Ruabon Moors to watch Black Grouse,
with the males vying with each other
in the hope of attracting the females. These and
other moors such as Migneint, also support
populations of Red Grouse, Curlew, Skylark,
Wheatear, Stonechat and Merlin.
Perhaps our
greatest prize though, will be a glimpse of Hen
Harriers, that still cling on as a rare breeder in
Wales and we shall spend time scanning hunting
areas and if very lucky, may even see them
performing their spectacular sky-dancing.
The rugged slopes of the Ogwen valley and
Aber Falls are home to Ring Ouzels, as well
as rare breeding Twite and at the Conwy estuary,
there are more wetland birds to be found,
so expect Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Shelduck
and Red-breasted Merganser amongst many
others. Nearby, the distinctive headland of the
Great Orme is always worth a visit for its resident
Choughs (and feral goats) and seabird ledges and
there’s always the possibility of an unusual migrant
– maybe a Whinchat or Yellow Wagtail?
We’ll have a long day to the southern perimeter
of Snowdonia and the Dyfi estuary. The RSPB’s
Ynys-hir Reserve has a picturesque mix
of woodland and saltmarsh, with birds such
as Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler and Redstart,
as well as waders and wildfowl including Little
Egret, Lapwing, Snipe, Redshank and Teal.
Ospreys now breed nearby too, a wonderful
addition to the list of birds of prey, that includes
Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and for many
people the most Welsh of birds, the Red Kite.
The Kite’s tale is one of conservation success,
with re-introduced birds now seen across the
UK. However, we’ll take time to look for some
of the original population that have always called
Mid-Wales their home. What better sight than
this elegant red-tailed raptor soaring over the
‘hanging oaks’ of Wales.
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Day 8 | After breakfast we bid our fond farewells
to this delightful area.
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Just some of what we hope to see..
Yellow Wagtail | Peregrine | Red-breasted Merganser |
Whinchat | Arctic Tern | Ring Ouzel |
Chough | Roseate Tern | Dipper |
Dotterel | Hen Harrier | Redstart |
Puffin | Black Grouse | Pied Flycatcher |
Razorbill | Shoveler | Red Kite |
Guillemot | Ringed Plover | Osprey |
Fulmar | Shelduck | Wood Warbler |
"Seeing and hearing the Black Grouse lek from close-up was magical" Julia Bevan
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"The highlight of the holiday was seeing the Black Grouse lek which made getting up at 5 o'clock in the morning worthwhile" Liz and Keith Barton
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"Getting my first Garden Warbler in full view and singing was the tops but also the Black Grouse lek was magical and not to be missed, well worth the early start. Seeing a Hen Harrier hunting and catching a meal was also special, also not to be missed were the Choughs and Puffins at South Stack and mass of terns at Cemlyn. I had done this holiday before, about 5 years ago but it was different enough thistime to make it worth doing again and I love north Wales, especially Anglesey" Brian Wheeler
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"Within half an hour of arrival, finding that the Dipper I had left two years ago was still at the same nest site was extremely comforting after all the madness we have faced" Andrew Roberts
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"Great to see both male and female Crossbills together in breeding plumage at such close quarters" Richard Rigby
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"Crossbills in Snowdonia; Black Grouse and more Whinchats than we've ever seen on Worlds End Moor; South Stack (depsite the rain); Wood Warblers at Coed Hafod; Red Kites at Nant Yr Arian (estimated at 180!); Dovey Osprey Project's new visitor centre" Joyce and Tony Sawford
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"The beautiful countryside, the excellent guides, and their determination to make the holiday a success for everyone. The amazing and extensive knowledge of the guides. Wales in the sunlight. The number of birds seen. And everyone`s favourite and special moments." Margaret Moore
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"The whole trip was a list of highlights. The scenery, excellent sightings of the special birds, walking to Aber falls and other special places, and seeing Tunnicliffe's studio all under the guidance of excellent leaders." Angela Mackersie
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"We hoped to see Choughs and we got superb views. All before breakfast we had excellent sightings of Black Grouse lekking, a Red Grouse family, a Whinchat, Cuckoo and Whitethroat. Later that day a pair of Hen Harriers entertained us. What a day." Melanie & John Parker
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"Black Grouse lekking relatively adjacent to vehicles was very special. Watching the theatre of Hen Harrier sky-dancing from a high vantage point on a moor was spectacular especially with all the other "fly-bys" as it unfolded." Chris Piper
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"So many to choose from! A mean male Osprey teasing a poor female with food he then flew off with to another nest. Some 250 Red Kites at the feeding station. Finding a Mink, seeing a Stoat and a Water Buffalo! The Black Grouse lek was my third but the best views and sounds by some way, truly magical and worth getting up at 4.45 a.m. for!" Andrew Roberts
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"All the holidays I have taken with Speyside Wildlife have been excellent, but this trip was up there with the best. Every day was brilliant. The scenery was jaw-dropping, especially in the wonderful weather we had. Bird highlights included my first Ring Ouzel, sky-dancing Hen Harriers, a sky full of Red Kites, three nesting Ospreys and a hobby circling right over our heads. Magic moments included a Puffin carrying nesting material down a burrow and seeing Redstart and Pied Flycatcher in wonderful sunlit oak woodland, enveloped in the delicate fragrance of bluebells. The absolute highlight for me, though, was coming face to face with original Charles Tunnicliffe paintings and drawings and standing in his studio at Shorelands where he created so much of his work. What a privilege!" Joan Hunter
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"For us, the wildlife highlights were the superb close grandstand views of the Black Grouse lek, lit up by sunshine on beautiful moorland. We opened the van windows so we could hear the amazing bubbling calls, and we all took plenty of photos. Next, the skydancing Hen Harriers against a backdrop of the Snowdonia mountains, were unbeatable. Two Osprey venues with great futuristic hides and perfect mountain settings, and a Red Kite feeding station, with about 200 kites swooping around our ears were all fantastic. The Aber Valley with its bluebells and waterfall was gorgeous, and we obtained great views of pied flycatcher and restart, iconic birds of Wales. We enjoyed the seabird colonies on Southstack, with a few puffins tumbling down the steep slopes carrying nest material in their beaks. We even had glimpses of distant Ireland, and the whole Lleyn peninsula to Bardsey was laid before us.
It was a special honour to be taken to the lovely shore view former home of Charles Tunnicliffe, the famous bird artist, and even be given tea and biscuits and a guided tour by the friends of Darren who had bought the place. The holiday was varied, interesting and beautiful. Every day was special." Sue & Mike Jenkins
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"Being out on the moors and watching a male hen harrier 'sky dancing' was a true 'magic moment'. On one of our early morning walks we watched a dipper feeding its young and we could see it swimming under the water collecting the food. We never thought we would experience this in real life - not just on the television!" Penny & Keith Chantler
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"Being so close to a number of Black cock leks and not only seeing so many but hearing that amazing eery voculation was fabulous. However male Hen Harriers dancing and teasing the ring tails was such a terrific experience." Norman Haynes
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"The black cock lek was magnificent, much better than expected, really close enabling us to hear the constant "burbling". Well worth getting up very early on a cold frosty morning. The hen harrier "sky dancing" with the male bird constantly teasing her by not passing the food he was carrying was a once in a lifetime experience. I had never seen anything like it before. Then there was the ruff in breeding plumage illuminated by the sun, just incredible, I have only seen them in drab winter plumage previously. The visit to the disused slate quarry with the mountain goats on the spoil heaps (mountains would be a better description), views of the ring ouzel and the call echoing around the quarry with the ravens low overhead was not to be missed. If it had been a sunny day instead of the rain and murky conditions we had it would have been even better, I would have liked to stay all day with a chair and picnic, the view from here was superb with the backdrop of Snowdon with the cloud enveloping the top was very photogenic." Brian Wheeler
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