Oriole Birding | Norfolk - Summer Wildlife |

This exciting break, co-led by expert entomologist Adrian Riley, opens up great opportunities for bug hunting and general wildlife watching. This tour really is action packed as we cover all aspects of Natural History amid some of the most beautiful Norfolk countryside. The Holkham area offers opportunities to look for butterflies such as Brown Argus, Large Skipper, Holly Blue and White Admiral. Four-spotted and Broad-bodied Chasers might also be seen, while out on the freshmarsh a Eurasian Spoonbill is often feeding. Small areas of reedbed hold Sedge, Eurasian Reed and Cetti’s Warblers and breeding Marsh Harriers can often be observed from the hide. Floral interest could include Bee, and Southern Marsh Orchids while the Creeping Ladies Tresses Orchid is also found here. A walk along the river Stiffkey provides an opportunity to look for Banded Demoiselle, with Green Hairstreak possible and our first glimpses of the Common and Atlantic Grey Seals hauled out on the sand bars. Little Ringed Plover, Spotted Redshank and Common Kingfisher should be looked for here too. On Sheringham Common, a search for Orchids could reveal Common Twayblade, Bee, Lesser Butterfly, Pugsley’s Marsh, Heath Spotted and Pyramidal. Sundew may also be observed here and Least Yellow Underwing Moth is a very localised day flying species which we will hope to encounter. After dinner a light to attract moths will be operated, so that we can observe a range of species at close hand, maybe including one or two kinds of Hawk moth. Thompson Common is a good place to look for Scarce Emerald Damselfly, often present in good numbers. Hairy Dragonfly might also be seen hawking along the fringes of the glacial pingos, an evocative scene of this ancient landscape. Amongst the scarcer odonata, Blue-tailed Damselfy and Emperor Dragonfly might be found. Back at the coast, we head for Morston to catch our afternoon boat to Blakeney Point. Out in the harbour, a range of shorebirds will be roosting and once the far point is reached, excellent views of feeding and resting terns such as Common, Sandwich and Little will give us a chance to look for scarce Arctic and delightful Roseate. The seal colony here is made up of both Common and Atlantic Grey, with very close views of both species possible from the boat. On Kelling Heath, we will seek the delightful Silver-studded Blue Butterfly, while Dartford Warbler may also be available! After dinner locally, we return to the heath to be serenaded by Common Nightingales before our quest for the bizarre European Nightjar puts the icing on the cake of a great day. Finally our broadland day allows us to view the wildlife of these quiet waterways by specially arranged boat. As well as Swallowtail and Norfolk Hawker, a range of birdlife can be expected and we round the day off with a trip to a site for the Small Red Damselfly, one of Britain’s rarest insects, concluding a magical three days.