DAY ONE
Check in from 1500 at Briarfields at Titchwell. The tour leader will be present to welcome you for introductions from 1800, as well as a chat about the days ahead, followed by your evening meal. Collection from King’s Lynn station can be organised by prior agreement—suggested pick up time is 1730.

DAY TWO
We spend our first morning along the coast at Burnham Overy, where a great variety of coastal habitats including reedbed, grazing marsh, estuary, sand dunes and saltmarsh can be found. It’s a great place to see and hear the summer migrant warblers, Cuckoo, Bearded Tit and even sometimes Bittern, plus the walk to the dunes gives great chances to see Great White Egret, Cattle Egret and Spoonbill—all of which breed nearby on the Holkham NNR. The dunes have hosted many rare and scarce birds over the years and if winds are from the east, will definitely be worth a look. After lunch, we move back west to the internationally famous Titchwell RSPB reserve. With luck, we may encounter Bearded Tit, as they feed their newly hatched young, and the freshmarsh is a cacophony of noise and activity at the large Black-headed Gull and Pied Avocet colonies. Black- tailed Godwit, Common Redshank, Northern Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Little-ringed Plover and Dunlin are all usually present. Breeding wildfowl include Gadwall and Northern Shoveler and there is always the chance of a Garganey or Temminck’s Stint. Regular visitors include Little Gull, Common Greenshank and Common, Little and Sandwich Terns. Marsh Harriers can normally be seen from here and Eurasian Hobby can sometimes be noted hawking insects. Making our way to the beach, we scan offshore for Northern Gannet, Common Scoter and Common Eider whilst species on the beach should include Sanderling, Red Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit. From here we make the short drive to Choseley Farm where Yellowhammer, Yellow Wagtail, Red-legged and Grey Partridges, Stock and Eurasian Turtle Doves and small numbers of Corn Bunting might be found.

DAY THREE
A full day in the Norfolk and Suffolk Brecks today, we visit the RSPB reserve at Lakenheath Fen. Grasshopper Warbler, Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tit, Cetti’s Warbler and Great Bittern all breed, while other species could include Garganey, Common Crane, Common Kingfisher and Common Cuckoo. Eurasian Hobby is a speciality and several birds can often be seen hawking for dragonflies over the lagoon. Nearby on the open sandy heathlands the cryptic Stone Curlew occurs, and we will look for this mainly nocturnal member of the African thick-knee family here in its UK stronghold. Santon Downham is a great location for a range of woodland birds such as Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Treecreeper, European Nuthatch, Eurasian Siskin, Garden Warbler and Marsh Tit, as well as Firecrest. Nearby forest tracks can also be checked for Woodlark and Tree Pipit. Nearby East Wretham Heath holds Common Redstart and a range of waterfowl on the mere – in fact Breckland has so many superb spots that we certainly wont have time to visit them all! In the evening, we will operate an optional excursion to search for European Nightjar in its heathland habitat in Breckland. Although midges can occasionally be a nuisance, we often enjoy great views of the birds perching on overhead wires as well as delivering their bizarre churring call. Eurasian Woodcock, Barn, Tawny and Little Owls might also be seen.

DAY FOUR
We head back up to the coast and Cley NWT reserve visiting as many sites as time allows. Various pools and scrapes are good spots for species like Wood Sandpiper as well as the noisy groups of Sandwich Terns from nearby Blakeney Point. Along the East Bank Sedge and Reed Warblers are busy feeding young and this is the best time to see Bearded Tits as they have young on the wing and are constantly busy making dashing sorties across the reed tops. A wide variety of species should be encountered here in the excellent mixture of habitats. Shorebirds could include Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Whimbrel, Common Greenshank, Little Stint, Little Ringed Plover and several commoner species. Wildfowl might include Egyptian Goose, Common Teal and Gadwall and Eurasian Spoonbills are often present. We check for migrant passerines, which with good fortune and correct weather conditions could include a Marsh Warbler, Common Rosefinch or Icterine Warbler while in recent years, congregations of moulting large gulls on the pools have frequently included Yellow-legged and Caspian as well as the more common Mediterranean and Little. We will also try locally for Dartford Warbler, and in some years at this time the same locality can be good for flocks of Common Crossbills. Perhaps a roosting Tawny or Little Owl, or now resident Red Kites, will round off what will surely have been an excellent few days in Norfolk. We make our way back to the hotel in the mid afternoon where we conclude the tour. Drop off back there will be around 1500, with railway stations around 1530-1600.

*Please note that the weather is crucial for our success with seeing many of these species, and as such our itinerary will be flexible to take this into account.

“The skills and knowledge of our guide who knew all the best places to take us to was particularly enjoyable. He tirelessly worked to show us the best and succeeded. The food and accommodation were of a good standard too”

S.D. Liverpool

“An excellent trip with great views of all target species. Ashley’s local knowledge and birding experience made the tour. The sight of a male Golden Oriole feeding it’s young in my scope will live with me for ever as will the raptors. Over all an excellent time with everyone on the trip being good company. Also the the accommodation was comfortable and service was excellent with very tasty food”

A.M. Glamorgan

“We really enjoyed the close up views of the speciality species and the scenery. You were very welcoming hosts, informative and helpful and Ashley was very focussed in his quest to find everything for us. The food was very good too” S & LH Northants

“Just a brief note to say how much I enjoyed the last few days – despite the weather on most of 29 May!! You certainly ensured everything went as smoothly as possible, and although there were a few ‘misses’ they were more than compensated for by other birds we saw. And thanks for your expertise and unfailing help. I’ll most certainly book with Oriole again.”

B.S, London

“I’m already eyeing up my next trip. Ashley was very knowledgeable and approachable and made sure everyone saw everything. I also really enjoyed the small group size.”

L. M. Cardiff

“Thank you for all your attention, patience and hard work – we were totally cared for form start to finish”

P C Hertfordshire