2016 my gap year...a tad late maybe (1 Viewer)

Having just retired after twenty years as a foster carer Ian and I are going to make 2016 the year to go birding in the UK. I love birds and have recently discovered the joy of moths too so the idea is to go around the UK seeking all things with wings! Also just to enjoy adventuring together with time on our hands.

We want to see some of the sights of nature we have only seen in pictures. As many different birds, butterflies, moths, wild animals and creatures of the sea!!! What are the things we mustn't miss?

Now here is where I would really appreciate your help and advice. We live in Norfolk so that makes the start of the year very easy to plan, birding around our own county. I guess next we may stray down to Minsmere area.

We intend to go in search of the Great Bustards in April and then down to Devon, but exactly where we aren't sure. We are both in good health but not the most fit people on Bird forum so we won't be cliff climbing or similar but are very happy to walk.

Thinking of staying in the Bovey Tracey area, does that sound a good base? If so any idea where that is clean, nice but not costing the earth (self catering or B and B)

Later May/June time we want to go to Scotland via Northumberland. Again any ideas on where to stay.

We want to go to Wales later in the year but really that is as far as our thinking has got us.

I know lots of you on BF have been birding for a long while and I really hope you will help us to plan and make it a year not to forget.

Thank you

Gillian

Ooooh Gillian ... what a wonderful year you two have planned for yourselves.

For you Scottish bit.... you'll know Gordon Hamlett no doubt? Try and get hold of his book Best Birdwatching Sites in the Scottish Highlands.

And don't forget to add Blairgowrie to your itinerary so I can try and repay you for your wonderful hospitality!!! I'm still uploading pictures of my holiday to the Gallery and tomorrow I start on Boughton Fen!!

Gillian

How do you intend to indulge the moths element of your hobby? I have run traps from self-catering accommodation and B&B's in a number of locations including Northumberland and Speyside and it is a good way of seeing moths that are not local to your area.

In addition, I have attended local moth group meetings in Devon and Suffolk in the past and again, this is an excellent way to see more species:-

http://devonmoths.org.uk/events/

http://www.suffolkmothgroup.org.uk/events/fieldevents.html

In Scotland, I would recommend the Insh area and the really welcoming individuals at Ivy Cottage and the local branch of Butterfly Conservation:-

http://www.highland-butterflies.org.uk/events.html

Clearly, that can be combined with the usual Speyside bird specialities.

In Northumberland, again, the locals are excellent and friendly:-

http://www.northumberlandmoths.org.uk/events.php

All the best

Here are some of my favourite destinations:

New Forest almost any time of the year
Blashford Lakes
Keyhaven / Pennington
RSPB Lakenheath
Just visited RSPB Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath
Porthgwarra or suitable headland in Cornwall for seawatching
Portland Bill
Salisbury Plain
Martin Down

So many - have fun!

Rob

Sea Life Surveys offer cracking 3 and 7 day holidays on Mull - the majority of which is getting out to see porpoises, dolphins and whales, but also landing on islands to catch up with the seabirds. The 7 day trip also includes a land safari on Mull so you can get a good chance of seeing some of the island's best birds including sea eagles, peregrines, great northern divers, hen harriers as well as otters.

Highly recommended: http://www.sealifesurveys.com/explore/package-holidays/

No doubt you could arrange some of this yourself and save yourself some money, but it's good to relax and have someone do all the organising for you, plus there's the advantage of local knowledge.

delia todd said:

Ooooh Gillian ... what a wonderful year you two have planned for yourselves.

For you Scottish bit.... you'll know Gordon Hamlett no doubt? Try and get hold of his book Best Birdwatching Sites in the Scottish Highlands.

And don't forget to add Blairgowrie to your itinerary so I can try and repay you for your wonderful hospitality!!! I'm still uploading pictures of my holiday to the Gallery and tomorrow I start on Boughton Fen!!

Click to expand...

It is fun now we have begun planning in earnest! We certainly hope to meet up with you Delia and glad you enjoyed your trip down here so much. I will get my hands on the book you mention I have heard before how good it is

Hi Paul, thanks for those links they will be really useful. I rather fancy taking a trap and having a go in different areas but am rather concerned about upsetting the locals with the light. Getting together with mothers in the area sounds good and I may post on the moth section here for help when we know exactly where we are staying. I would enjoy sharing my moth catch with visitors to our area, they would almost certainly have mor knowledge that me!!!
Where is Ivy Cottage Paul?

Paul Chapman said:

Gillian

How do you intend to indulge the moths element of your hobby? I have run traps from self-catering accommodation and B&B's in a number of locations including Northumberland and Speyside and it is a good way of seeing moths that are not local to your area.

In addition, I have attended local moth group meetings in Devon and Suffolk in the past and again, this is an excellent way to see more species:-

http://devonmoths.org.uk/events/

http://www.suffolkmothgroup.org.uk/events/fieldevents.html

In Scotland, I would recommend the Insh area and the really welcoming individuals at Ivy Cottage and the local branch of Butterfly Conservation:-

http://www.highland-butterflies.org.uk/events.html

Clearly, that can be combined with the usual Speyside bird specialities.

In Northumberland, again, the locals are excellent and friendly:-

http://www.northumberlandmoths.org.uk/events.php

All the best

Click to expand...

gillian said:

Hi Paul, thanks for those links they will be really useful. I rather fancy taking a trap and having a go in different areas but am rather concerned about upsetting the locals with the light. Getting together with mothers in the area sounds good and I may post on the moth section here for help when we know exactly where we are staying. I would enjoy sharing my moth catch with visitors to our area, they would almost certainly have mor knowledge that me!!!
Where is Ivy Cottage Paul?

Click to expand...

Insh Marshes RSPB Reserve. There is often a trap being run and I recommend if you try Speyside you get in touch to see if there is any activity planned:-

http://www.welcometoscotland.com/th...rms/insh-marshes-national-nature-reserve-rspb

I note that Pete set out some entirely sensible guidelines for mothing activity on the Reserve in the last copy of Atropos.

All the best

Thanks for those ideas, having fun planning it all and the list of places I want to go is growing longer!

West End Birder said:

Here are some of my favourite destinations:

New Forest almost any time of the year
Blashford Lakes
Keyhaven / Pennington
RSPB Lakenheath
Just visited RSPB Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath
Porthgwarra or suitable headland in Cornwall for seawatching
Portland Bill
Salisbury Plain
Martin Down

So many - have fun!

Rob

Click to expand...

JTweedie said:

Sea Life Surveys offer cracking 3 and 7 day holidays on Mull - the majority of which is getting out to see porpoises, dolphins and whales, but also landing on islands to catch up with the seabirds. The 7 day trip also includes a land safari on Mull so you can get a good chance of seeing some of the island's best birds including sea eagles, peregrines, great northern divers, hen harriers as well as otters.

Highly recommended: http://www.sealifesurveys.com/explore/package-holidays/

No doubt you could arrange some of this yourself and save yourself some money, but it's good to relax and have someone do all the organising for you, plus there's the advantage of local knowledge.

Click to expand...

Looks lovely, have to consider the funds!

I am enjoying reading about your 'big year' on your blog - I look forward to hearing about the rest of your adventures through the year.