Loading search...
Birdwatching day trip with Tom Brereton as guide. Tom is extremely knowledegeable about the area, ensuring super sightings of a range of birds. In addition, he ensures everyone can actually get on to the birds. He creates a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere which results in a super day. Excellent service as ever.
L.T. Oxfordshire, Dec 21
Tour Itinerary and Reports
Can I help you?
Winter Birds of Dorset's Chesil Fleet and Portland Harbour (Day Trip)
Tour Code: GBR195A day of guided birdwatching at Chesil Fleet, a spectacular shingle storm beach of international geomorphologic importance, together with the UK’s largest saline lagoon.
1 days
from
£50 (land only)
£50 (land only)
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
Can I help you?
Summary
Join Tom Brereton for a winter outing in some of southern Dorset's most bird-rich and scenic habitats.
Chesil Fleet comprises a spectacular shingle storm beach of international geomorphologic importance, together with the UK’s largest saline lagoon bordered by saltmarsh, reedbed and farmland. This beautiful area is internationally important for wetland birds, and supports the largest resident Mute Swan population in Britain, centred at the famed Abbotsbury Swannery.
- Superb coastal scenery in Dorset with a mix of habitats to explore
- Abundant waders and wildfowl with the possibility of scarcer auks, divers and seaduck
- Expert local knowledge from leader Tom Brereton
In the morning we will walk to some of the access points along the Fleet, which afford views of an impressive diversity of wildfowl, waders and gulls including Little Grebe, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Pintail, Wigeon, Shoveler, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Mediterranean Gull, Lapwing and Dunlin. Scarcer possibilities on the Fleet include Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Scaup and Long-tailed Duck.
Lunch will be taken at Ferrybridge, which attracts wintering waders, wildfowl and Little Egrets and has toilets and a café, with a small charge for parking.
In the afternoon we will visit the nearby sheltered waters of Portland Harbour, another excellent spot for winter birding, hoping to see a range of auks, gulls, divers, grebes and seaduck, including specialities such as Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Black-necked Grebe and Great Northern Diver.
The Day Trip will involve driving to make several stops, along with coastal walking that could total several miles but is likely to be much less. The itinerary will be somewhat flexible, to maximise our chances of seeing the best birds present at the time, using the latest information. A telescope would be a distinct advantage at some stops.
Day Trip Location
Reviews
Dates & Prices
2024
Departures
Availability
Cost
Mon 16th Dec – Mon 16th Dec
SPACES
£50
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£50
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Tom Brereton
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.
Tue 17th Dec – Tue 17th Dec
SPACES
£50
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£50
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Tom Brereton
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.
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.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
