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Destination | Netherlands |
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Dates | 9-12 February 2012 or 16-19 February 2012 |
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Price | from £399.00 |
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Group size | Min: 5 - Max: 10 |
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Difficulty |  Easy/Relaxed |
Expected Birds
Below is a list of the birds that we can reasonably expect to see at this time of year in this location.This is intended only as a guide and we cannot guarantee that we will see every species listed, however we may also see birds which are not listed
- Geese:
- Tundra
- Taiga Bean
- White-fronted
- Greylag
- Barnacle
- Dark Bellied Brent
- Lesser White-fronted
- Red-breasted
- Bewick's Swan
- Whooper Swans
- General Birds:
- Smew
- Goosander
- Scaup
- Bittern
- White Tailed Eagle
- Rough-legged Buzzard
- Marsh Harrier
- Hooded Crow
- Bearded Tit
Itinerary
Below is our planned itinerary for the trip, although we try our best to stick to our itineraries, occasionally it does become necessary to change things around a little bit due to the weather or the presence/lack of birds at particular sites during the time of our visit.
Catch an evening or early morning ferry from Calais and drive through France, Belgium and into the Netherlands. If arriving late on an evening we will head to our accommodation if it is a morning arrival we will be birding en-route.
Great birding on offer with Flevoland and the Lauwersmeer in Friesland/Gronigen are the two main areas we will be searching. The birding plan is spend time enjoying the huge numbers of geese such as Tundra and Taiga Bean, White-fronted, Greylag, Barnacle and Dark Bellied Brent. These birds can be found in tens of thousands but also hide Lesser White-fronted and Red-breasted Goose. Black Brant, Canada and Snow and Ross's Goose can also occur. Bewick's and Whooper Swans also spend the winter in the same areas in large numbers. Divers, grebes and duck also feature with large numbers of Smew, Goosander and Scaup being particularly attractive to us. Apart from the obvious lure of the geese we can reasonably expect Bittern, White tailed Eagle, Rough-legged Buzzard, Hen and Marsh Harrier, Hooded Crow, Bearded Tit, lots of waders and if we check the beaches Shore Lark, Lapland Bunting, Twite and Snow Bunting. If any rarer migrants are present we will endeavour to see them to get the best out of this trip. Please note this itinerary may be altered due to the weather or the presence/lack of birds at particular sites during the time of our visit.
Holiday date:
13-16 January (provisional dates)
Holiday Cost:
£399.00
Cost to WWT Members
£379.00
Learn more about the WWT and become a member
Deposit:
£150.00
Please read our Terms & Conditions for more information about Deposit payments
Single Room Supplement:
£30.00
If you are travelling alone but willing to share we maybe able to find a roommate for you to reduce the cost.
Please see the booking form for more information
What is included in the cost of your holiday?
All shared costs of transport to and around the Netherlands, all accommodation, services of the guide/guides. Drinks, meals and items of a personal nature are not included. We will use comfortable budget accommodation.
What is included in the cost of your holiday?
All shared costs of transport to and around the Netherlands, all accommodation, services of the guide/guides. Drinks, meals and items of a personal nature are not included. We will use comfortable budget accommodation.What you need to cover
Lunches and evening meals. Travel insurance (inexpensive cover available from supermarkets or Post Office).Other Information
Meet at Whitminster (Junction 13, M5) in Gloucestershire for departure (if leaving a car then arrangements need to be made) or en-route to Kent via M4, M25 etc. Breakfast can be taken at our accommodation, lunch stops will be made each day to collect provisions at a supermarket or suitable café. Evening meals can be sought either at a supermarket, our accommodation or a nearby restaurant. It is left up to what you want to do for flexibility. Insurance is not included and essential. Anser can help with insurance if you prefer not to book your own. Please note; Anser cannot be held responsible for changes or delays to Eurotunnel/ferries etc. We are limited in time so will need to concentrate on the target species and the weather may influence our birding.
Clothing & Equipment
It is best to be prepared for a cold winter day birding as in Britain. It can be very cold if northerly winds are prevalent. Stout, waterproof boots with ankle support and binoculars essential. A telescope is highly desirable and recommended but Anser guides will carry Leica/Swarovski telescopes, when birding from a car it is not really possible to share it around as you would in a hide or in the field.
Environment
Much of our birding areas are flat and level. Away from the tarmac roads you will encounter some wet muddy paths, possibly slippery boardwalks and steps into hides/towers. We will need to use the car/bus as a mobile hide for watching the geese.It's easy to book your holiday with Anser birding...
By Telephone: Simply call us on the number below and we'll set up your booking 01452 741591
By Post: Download a printable booking form (Word or PDF),complete it and send it to us.
Online: Simply complete the online booking form below for immediate reservationWe'll contact you to confirm and to arrange payments.
