Arrival at Dairy Barns at Hickling late afternoon. Your guide will be present to welcome you  for pre-dinner drinks and introductions from 18.00, as well as a chat about the days ahead, followed by your evening meal. Collection from Norwich station can be organised by prior agreement.

 

The woodlands and sand dunes of the Holkham area offer opportunities to look for butterflies such as Holly Blue and Brown Argus. Four-spotted and Broad-bodied Chaser dragonflies might also be seen. The small areas of reed bed hold Sedge, Eurasian Reed and Cetti’s Warblers. Breeding Marsh Harriers can often be observed over the grazing marshes. The bustling heron colony here is thriving, and as well as around twenty pairs of Eurasian Spoonbills, there is a good chance to see Great White Egret and even Cattle Egret too. We end the day on the North Norfolk heaths, where we should find the localised Keeled Skimmer, as well as Woodlark, Dartford Warbler, Turtle Dove, Garden Warbler and Firecrest. Silver-studded Blue Butterfly could possibly already be on the wing too. 

 

Thompson Common holds a healthy population of the rare Scarce Emerald Damselfly. Hairy Dragonfly may also be seen hawking along the fringes of the glacial pingos – an evocative feature of this ancient landscape. Amongst the scarcer Odonata, we might expect to see Emerald Damselfly and Black-tailed Skimmer. No visit to Breckland would be complete without a sighting of the rare Stone Curlew in its UK stronghold, and as well as looking for this local speciality we will also visit Lakenheath Fen to look for dragonflies and birds such as Bittern, Hobby and maybe even Common Crane. Scarce Chaser is a speciality here, along with a wide range of common species – Four-spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Hairy Dragonfly, Red-eyed Damselfly and Emperor included. After dinner, we return to the heath to where our quest for the bizarre European Nightjar puts the icing on the cake of a brilliant day in the field. Roding Eurasian Woodcock and both Barn and Tawny Owls are also possible.

 

Our day on the Broads should allow us to see Swallowtail and Norfolk Hawker dragonfly – two of Britain’s rarest insects. A specially arranged boat trip takes us across the quiet waterways to the 60ft tree tower in the woodland. From here, we can see across the whole area to Horsey Windpump and even north to Happisburgh lighthouse. Common Crane and Great Bittern are often seen from here, while Common Cuckoo and Eurasian Hobby can also be expected. Also resident here are Scarce Chaser dragonfly and Azure, Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Variable Damselfly. In the afternoon, we may visit Upton Fen which is another excellent site for odonata, especially Norfolk Hawker. Alternatively, if our views of Swallowtail have been unsatisfactory, we may visit Strumpshaw Fen where the cottage garden might allow us to see this species at close quarters – all we need is the weather!

 

WHATS INCLUDED
Three nights en suite accommodation on a bed, breakfast and evening meal basis, packed lunches on days two – four, all ground transport in Norfolk, services of leaders, boat trips, hot drinks in the field and any reserve entrance fees.

 

NOT INCLUDED
Travel to/ from Norfolk, travel insurance, drinks and items of a purely personal nature.

 

Norwich Railway Station

“The tour was taken at a reasonable pace and we really enjoyed the variety of wildlife an the boat trips as well as the knowledge and enthusiasm of the two guides”

 

“Hello Ashley, Just to say thanks for a great trip. It was lovely to have a pair of very willing guides”

 

“Many thanks for an excellent tour. There were so many highlights: Stone Curlew with young and, of course, the wonderful Swallowtail butterflies were great to see, but, for me, the fantastic views of the delightful Marsh Warbler, singing his heart out, was really special – can’t wait to see the video.”