The Cotswold Water Park (CWP) holds 1000's of wintering wildfowl. On this half-day tour we will look for some of the scarcer species like Goosander, Smew and Pintail that visit this area in Winter. Please bring wellies as the paths do become very muddy at this time of year.
£40.00 per person, minimum of 2 people

The Levels is extremely rich in wildlife and wild flowers. It is one of the finest remaining lowland wetlands left in Britain and is also internationally important for wintering wildfowl.

The wetland is also one of the few areas of England where Otters flourish. The marshes that lie all around Glastonbury and as far west as the coast are collectively called The Avalon Marshes. Shapwick Heath, Ham Wall, Westhay Moor and Catcott Lows wildlife reserves all fall within The Avalon Marshes.

Today these wetlands are renowned for internationally important numbers of waterfowl who come here to feed and roost in winter. In summer Waders come here to breed and it is one of the best places in lowland England to see breeding Waders. Cattle grazing, hay and silage production maintain these large areas of countryside
£70.00 per person

Situated on the south coast of Sussex, Pagham Harbour is a great spot for birdwatching. The harbor itself has some superb habitats comprising, shingle beaches and copses. Wildfowl and Waders will still be present in good numbers. Sidlesham Ferry Pool can be home to some migrant waders such as Greenshank, Whimbrel and Little Ringed Plover. We will walk along the shore and spend the day looking out for the returning migrants.
£70.00 per person, minimum of 2 people
This tour only operates on Saturdays and Sundays

Situated in the south-east corner of the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset (grid ref SZ  03 77), a mile south of Swanage, lies Durlston Country Park  - 280 acres of very special countryside.

Few places in Britain equal Durlston. The bare statistics merely hint at the amazing diversity of wildlife: 33 species of breeding butterfly, over 250 species of bird recorded, 500 wildflowers, 500 moths and thousands of other invertebrates.  Durlston's special qualities stem from a combination of geography, geology, history and careful management which has created a mosaic of nationally important wildlife habitats: sea-cliffs, downs, ancient meadows, hedgerows, woodland, and dry-stone walls - each with their characteristic plants and animals. 

ARNE & POOLE HARBOUR
In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. Stonechats make their clacking call from the top of gorse and Great spotted woodpeckers hammer the tall pines. Cuckoos, Chiffchaff, Wheater and Dartford warbler amongst many others set up home on the reserve.

In summer, look out for dragonflies and damselflies flitting around, Arne is home to 22 different species! It's also a good place to spot the silver-studded blue butterfly, it tends to spend it's time around the wet heathland. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds, including osprey, heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. The Sika deer rutting season peaks in October/November, a great chance to see the stags strut their stuff. There's a profusion of fungi in the woods and fields such as the colourful fly agaric.

In winter, look out for large flocks of waders around Poole Harbour  including Avocets, Black-tailed godwits, and Dunlin gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm. Raptors such as Marsh and Hen harriers spend the winter at the reserve, and can be seen hunting during the day and then gathering to roost at dusk.

£70.00 per person, minimum of 2 people
This tour only operates on Saturdays and Sundays

May is the time to see and listen for warblers and nightingales. We will spend the morning looking for them around the Cotswold Water Park.
£40.00 per person, minimum of 2 people

Situated three miles west of Oxford City and lying alongside the River Thames, Farmoor Reservoir is ideally situated to attract migrating, wintering and breeding birds. Although surrounded by a concrete embankment the shoreline and wavewall can still hold good numbers of Waders, Wagtails & Pipits etc. There is a large Gull roost from late July through to mid April. The Pinkhill Reserve was established in 1990 and this has added to the species diversity of the area.

The reservoir is accessed from the B4044 Oxford to Eynsham Road. There is a large car park below the sailing club. A 'countryside' walk takes a scenic route around the perimeter or the two reservoirs can be comfortably traversed via the tarmaced paths and causeway.

Otmoor is, and increasingly so, an outstanding area for birds. In the winter there are large numbers of wildfowl and waders, over a thousand Wigeon and Teal, whilst raptors such as Merlin and Peregrine are regularly seen. The spring and autumn produces good numbers of passage migrants, including waders in the spring and Redstarts and Whinchats in the autumn. The best time for Marsh Harrier is late April to mid May. There are good numbers of breeding waders and recent RSPB work has increased the number of pairs of Lapwing and Redshank. There is little intensive agriculture left on Otmoor now, mainly on the eastern fringes, and large areas of Otmoor have benefited from extensive agriculture using traditional methods. As a result there are still good numbers of songbirds that are declining in the UK, such as Bullfinch, Skylark, Reed Bunting, Grasshopper Warbler and Turtle Dove.

Farmoor
Winter: Possible Diver species, chance of Slavonian or Black-necked Grebes, Goosander, Goldeneye, Smew, Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull, Caspian Gull,Med Gull  Bittern, Jack Snipe, chance of Water Pipit.
Spring/Autumn: Passage Terns inc Black, Sandwich and Little Terns, Little Gull, Garganey, passage waders including Bar & Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Rock Pipt, occasional Snow Bunting.

£70.00 per person