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A great holiday with plenty of sightings of target species, and many others. Well-organised with great leaders.
E.T., Cornwall, May 25
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Butterflies & Orchids of Hampshire and The Isle of Wight
Tour Code: GBR153A 5-day holiday in search of Hampshire's spectacular array of butterflies and orchids. We will scour the wonderful chalk downs to the cliffs on the Isle of Wight for a variety of rare species.
5 days
from
£1,095
£1,095
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
Mid-May is the best time to see a variety of rare butterflies and orchids across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Add to this the plethora of commoner species, this dedicated butterfly and orchid tour is set to provide sightings of many sought-after species. The chalk downs in the west of the county will hopefully provide fine sightings of the rare and beautiful Marsh Fritillary - surely the most stunning of all the UK fritillaries alongside stunning Burnt Orchids. Blue butterflies will also be in abundance this time of year as Adonis, Common and Small Blues will all be on the wing, sharing downs with Fly, Bee, and Greater Butterfly Orchids. Venturing further afield and to the more wooded sections, we will search for yet more rarities such as Duke of Burgundy, Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Wood White with Long-leaved Helleborines under ancient Beeches. Lastly, we will catch the ferry to the Isle of Wight and search the southern coastline to encounter the Glanville Fritillary alongside Green-winged Orchids and other box-office plants such as Oxtongue Broomrape and Early Gentian. Birds will also feature with Nightingale, Firecrest, Dartford Warbler, terns, waders and possibly White-tailed Sea Eagle.
- Special butterflies of the chalk downs including Glanville Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary, Duke of Burgundy and Adonis Blue
- Woodland butterflies including Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Wood White
- A feast of downland orchids including Burnt, Fly, Bee, Green-winged and Greater Butterfly Orchid
- Rare Long-leaved Helleborines with White Helleborines and Bird’s-nest Orchids in ancient woodland
- Walking the spectacular downs and woodlands of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
Grading
Grade B: Expect either hilly or loose ground at the majority of sites we visit. No more than six miles per day will be walked.
What's Included?
- Food:
Breakfasts and dinners are included. Lunches are not included in the holiday cost and we expect to maximise our time in the field by having a packed lunch to take with us.
Reviews
Dates & Prices
2026
Departures
Availability
Cost
Mon 18th May – Fri 22nd May
SPACES
£1,095
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,095
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£245
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Mark Edgeller
Tour Leader: Mark Edgeller
Mark has had a life-long interest in wildlife and has been a birder for more than 45-years, initially around the heaths and woods of the Surrey/Hants border near his childhood home and at Pagham Harbour in Sussex.
After studying a degree in Geography, teacher-training brought him to Southampton and he spent 30-years teaching in local primary schools before taking early retirement in 2022. He is an active member of Hampshire Ornithological Society (HOS), serving on several committees, leading guided walks and as a writer for their annual report. He also takes part in local surveys for HOS, the National Trust and the BTO. More recently he has taken up moth-trapping and is enjoying the identification challenges that brings.
His current birding is mostly close to home along the Hampshire coast with regular forays to the bird observatories at Portland Bill and Gibraltar Point. He has been lucky enough to watch wildlife in more than 30 countries with Wallcreepers in the Pyrenees and Orangutans in Borneo a couple of the many highlights.
When not out birding, Mark and his wife Gilly enjoy walking, reading, music and gardening.
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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