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This was a three day break staying at an excellent and very attractive hotel in Corfe Castle. Everything was incredibly well-organised and we packed in a lot of different experiences without feeling rushed. We saw seabirds, waders, heathland birds, we watched birds being ringed and we opened a moth trap and learnt a great deal about the scores of moths in there. The knowledge of our two guides was second to none, not just about birds, but wildlife in general. There were some very experienced birdwatchers in our small, friendly, group and others, who, like me, were not so knowledgeable! It made no difference whatsoever, everyone was generous and helpful to a fault and I came away at the end of three days feeling I'd learnt a lot. I felt completely relaxed and happy being on my own - nobody was in any way excluded. The food at the hotel and on our lunch stops was great and we were lucky enough to have absolutely beautiful, warm, clear weather. Purbeck is a fabulous region of Dorset with a lot of variety, I could have happily spent a few more days there, and in fact several of our group decided to do exactly that. I shall definitely holiday with them again.
T.J. London, Oct 21
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Dorset - South Coast Migration Special
Tour Code: GBR63A superb 4-day break to enjoy the exciting autumn migration on the south coast, visiting such well-positioned sites as the wonderful Portland Bird Observatory.
£745
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Summary
Utilising sites such as the wonderful Portland Bird Observatory, and at a time when many birds will be passing through on their way back into Europe and beyond - anything is possible! Firecrests, Black Redstarts, Ring Ouzels or perhaps a Yellow-browed Warbler or Red-breasted Flycatcher. Birding at a site such as this can be very exciting indeed. We will also visit other sites including RSPB Radipole and Lodmoor with their vast reedbeds and wetlands, staying at a superbly located hotel on the Isle of Portland.
- Visit the famous Portland Bird Observatory!
- Spoonbills in Poole Harbour
- Look for exciting birds such as Yellow-browed Warbler & Firecrest
- Moth-trap - previous species include Palpita vitrealis and Convolvulus Hawk-moth
- Heathland species may comprise Dartford Warbler & Woodlark
- A chance for Eurasian Otter
- Led by an expert naturalist guide
The long distance migration of birds is a truly remarkable feat and certainly one of the real wonders of the natural world. During this exciting and varied new weekend break this phenomenon will be at the forefront of our minds as we explore some of Dorset’s finest nature reserves watching for migrant birds and learning about them as we go. We shall watch from headlands, join a bird ringing session, visit an observatory, cruise across Poole harbour and also open some moth traps. All this will be coupled with some superb hospitality.
We will be based for our three nights at the Heights Hotel on Portland. Meeting at the hotel in the early afternoon we shall visit a nearby site for our first exploration. We will enjoy a walk looking for migrants which may include Wheatear, Whinchat, migrant thrushes, and perhaps some birds moving over the sea before we return for a delicious dinner.
Across the nest three days we will enjoy a great range and variety of activities. At Durlston National Nature Reserve we shall join the local ringing group for a demonstration. Species caught may include warblers with Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps common, finches such as Brambling and Linnets and with birds moving anything can be found. We shall also open two moth traps here to see what we can find with this site very good for migrant moths as well as birds. A ferry across to Poole will provide us with wildfowl, waders and raptors with Spoonbill, Spotted Redshank, Brent Geese, Marsh Harrier and many more species possible.
We will also visit the wonderful Portland bird observatory and at this time many birds will be passing through on their way back into Europe and beyond. Anything is possible with Firecrests, Black Redstarts, Ring Ouzels or perhaps a Yellow-browed Warbler or Red-breasted Flycatcher. Birding at a site such as this can be very exciting indeed. We shall also visit sites including RSPB Radipole and Lodmoor with their vast reedbeds and wetlands.
Outline Itinerary
Reviews
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The variety along the coast of RSPB reserves found masses of different birds and wildlife. The leader was so knowledgeable that he made the trip for us. Naturetrek look after their clients in a way that exudes reassurance, especially in these strange times. Can fully see why they have been awarded the Good to Go Covid certificate and our welfare was of paramount importance to them.
M.M. Devon, Oct 20
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: Tom Brereton
Tom has had a lifelong passion for all forms of natural history, and a varied career in wildlife research and nature conservation spanning the last 15 years. After graduating in Environmental Science, Tom spent several years working for the RSPB on a number of bird, botanical and invertebrate survey and research projects. Following an MSc in Conservation at University College, he worked as an independent ecological consultant specialising in botanical surveys. Tom returned to academia in 1993, to complete a PhD on the ecology and conservation of the Grizzled Skipper butterfly. Tom currently works for Butterfly Conservation, as a monitoring and species ecologist, but remains an enthusiastic all-round naturalist, through extensive travel and involvement in a number of voluntary wildlife projects. Tom is active in local botanical, insect and bird surveys, and pursues his interest in seabirds and cetaceans as a founding director of the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme (now Marinelife), which carries out research, conservation and educational work in the English Channel and Bay of Biscay.
2026
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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We offer a truly mouth-watering selection of trips for those who wish to revel in the incredible autumn migration of birds, from several UK-based ‘staycations’ to short-haul ventures to other parts of Europe. Here we share some of our most popular autumn migration tours.
