What countries or regions are good for solo birding? (3 Viewers)

[lgonz1008]

Not sure how easy this question is, but I wanted to know from the experience of birders here, what countries are good for an international birder to just travel on their own, little to no local guide services. This includes ease of driving, ease of identifying the birds (I doubt a trip to a rainforest region would be easy birding without a guide), how safe it is overall and how easy would it be to communicate if you only know English and Spanish.

I have some countries that kind of fit this criteria, but I want input from others to confirm if these places are good for solo birding and if you have other suggestions. Here are the countries I think work fine even if done alone:

• Argentina
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Spain
• South Africa?
• United States

Looking forward to hearing everyone's input since I know a few great birders here do their trips on their own or just with their significant other without employing a tour company or guide.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Countries that I've found relatively easy to do on those terms would be:

Namibia (probably simpler than South Africa, although that's not hard either)
Japan (though language can be a bit of an issue, but not major)
Thailand
Brazil (but only parts e.g. the Atlantic forest)
Ecuador (though a guide can be helpful)
Morocco/ Western Sahara
Pretty much any European country

 

[lgonz1008]

Countries that I've found relatively easy to do on those terms would be:

Namibia (probably simpler than South Africa, although that's not hard either)
Japan (though language can be a bit of an issue, but not major)
Thailand
Brazil (but only parts e.g. the Atlantic forest)
Ecuador (though a guide can be helpful)
Morocco/ Western Sahara
Pretty much any European country

Wasn't Brazil an issue with the language barrier and most of the birding being in rainforest?

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

Add Israel and UAE to that list.

 

[foresttwitcher]

Agree with Andrew about Europe (particularly Western, the Mediterranean & Fenno-Scandinavia), Thailand (although my time was very limited) and especially Japan.

 

[JWN Andrewes]

I found Belize pretty easy, though that was a few years ago now.

 

[DMW]

The great majority of my overseas birding trips have been independent backpacking trips, either solo or with one or two friends. In reality, it's quite straightforward and safe to do most countries like this.
As others have said, all of Europe (and Turkey, Morocco, Israel and Oman in the WP) is easy, as is Australia.
South Africa is also very straightforward, and safe so long as you are sensible, Namibia even more so.
Asia generally is the best continent for solo travel in my opinion. It's usually very affordable, good public transport, decent tourist infrastructure, and very safe. India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are personal favourites.

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Agree with Europe (especially UK, Spain, Poland), Morocco, Thailand all being straightforward - though a guide may come in use for the latter, particularly in forests.
I found Uganda pretty easy to bird independently, though some spots (e.g. Kibale, Budongo) definitely easier with a guide.
Fingers crossed for 2023...

 

[kb57]

I'm tempted to agree with those who say all of Europe is easy, along with Japan - but we are looking at this from a Palaearctic perspective, and if you've not birded on this side of the pond you might find some assistance helpful at first. That said, avian diversity is nowhere near as high as in tropical forest habitats, so it shouldn't take long for an experienced North American birder to get up to speed.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Wasn't Brazil an issue with the language barrier and most of the birding being in rainforest?

Not a big issue, particularly with Google Translate. I suspect if you speak Spanish you would be able to make yourself understood. I think rainforest is not a big problem solo in most cases. You may need to give it more time but you won't see everything even if you have a guide. Also, a lot of the birding in NE Brazil is in scrubby habitats, which are a bit easier.

I'd also echo the mentions of Oman and Turkey that others have mentioned. Although not of so much relevance to the OP, the US is probably the easiest country for an independent birder, at least as long as they get through immigration and can drive .

 

[jurek]

Do you mean a single birder without a guide, or two birders without a guide?

I mostly agree with others. However, Morocco / Western Sahara and Argentina require several multi-hour drives. These are much easier for two driving birders changing at the steering wheel. And splitting the cost of car rental is also helpful. During our time in Argentina, we were plagued with unreliable flights and car hire agencies, so having two people to alternately argue about the next logistical problem was also less tiring.

Never been to Oman. I think it is a good place to go without a guide. However, what about driving time and danger of breaking down in the desert?

 

[lgonz1008]

Add Israel and UAE to that list.

Israel being the one of the main flyways of the Palearctic region gives a good reason to make a trip during spring migration, good to know it's not that difficult to go through it.

 

[lgonz1008]

Agree with Andrew about Europe (particularly Western, the Mediterranean & Fenno-Scandinavia), Thailand (although my time was very limited) and especially Japan.

In the Scandinavian region, were you able to find the owls, woodpeckers and Capercaillie without much difficulty? Those are usually are usually the birds I think of from the region that appeal above all others.

 

[lgonz1008]

I found Belize pretty easy, though that was a few years ago now.

Belize seems like a good option, especially if you're a newcomer to the Neotropics and have a short time to discover a country.

 

[lgonz1008]

The great majority of my overseas birding trips have been independent backpacking trips, either solo or with one or two friends. In reality, it's quite straightforward and safe to do most countries like this.
As others have said, all of Europe (and Turkey, Morocco, Israel and Oman in the WP) is easy, as is Australia.
South Africa is also very straightforward, and safe so long as you are sensible, Namibia even more so.
Asia generally is the best continent for solo travel in my opinion. It's usually very affordable, good public transport, decent tourist infrastructure, and very safe. India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are personal favourites.

Glad to hear South Africa is safe, I keep hearing certain reports from some parts of the country that make me wonder how safe it is overall and Namibia is a beautiful surprise for solo traveling for sure.

In Malaysia was the birding in the mainland or Borneo? Did you have much difficulty finding your targets by sight or are you good with the bird calls?

 

[lgonz1008]

Agree with Europe (especially UK, Spain, Poland), Morocco, Thailand all being straightforward - though a guide may come in use for the latter, particularly in forests.
I found Uganda pretty easy to bird independently, though some spots (e.g. Kibale, Budongo) definitely easier with a guide.
Fingers crossed for 2023...

That's a surprising addition, Uganda is definitely on my travel list, but didn't think it would be an easy trip for most solo birders, but like you say, some spots require a guide even if you're fully prepared.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

In the Scandinavian region, were you able to find the owls, woodpeckers and Capercaillie without much difficulty? Those are usually are usually the birds I think of from the region that appeal above all others.

In my experience, some owls are tricky without knowing nest sites. I've still been able to find Northern Hawk-Owl and Northern Pygmy Owl myself, although in the former case I used the completely excellent Norwegian bird reporting system to help find the location. Capercaillie are pretty easy. Just drive forest roads enough and you should find some eventually (and often fairly quickly). Woodpeckers aren't too difficult, although early spring is certainly best.

 

[lgonz1008]

I'm tempted to agree with those who say all of Europe is easy, along with Japan - but we are looking at this from a Palaearctic perspective, and if you've not birded on this side of the pond you might find some assistance helpful at first. That said, avian diversity is nowhere near as high as in tropical forest habitats, so it shouldn't take long for an experienced North American birder to get up to speed.

All I can imagine to kill me with how similar they are and how bad I am in calls is probably the warblers and other LBJs. I'll definitely try to study properly where I'll land and search when I do the WP.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Never been to Oman. I think it is a good place to go without a guide. However, what about driving time and danger of breaking down in the desert?

The roads are generally very good in Oman, so that reduces travelling time. It's only really the 'empty quarter' that's time consuming and that's partly because there are few obvious birding stops to break the journey. Otherwise it's fine. You could have problems in remote areas I guess, although most birding spots aren't that remote.

 

[lgonz1008]

Do you mean a single birder without a guide, or two birders without a guide?

I mostly agree with others. However, Morocco / Western Sahara and Argentina require several multi-hour drives. These are much easier for two driving birders changing at the steering wheel. And splitting the cost of car rental is also helpful. During our time in Argentina, we were plagued with unreliable flights and car hire agencies, so having two people to alternately argue about the next logistical problem was also less tiring.

Never been to Oman. I think it is a good place to go without a guide. However, what about driving time and danger of breaking down in the desert?

I mostly meant without having to spend extra money for hiring someone. Like get a car and drive to a hotspot or region and just be able to ID most birds without wanting to give up because they stay just out of view.

Good to know about Argentina, I want to do all the birds families of the world, so it would help to visit the country for a few key families and most tours cost an arm and a leg compared to most other countries.