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White-tailed Eagle N E T H E R L A N D S Red-breasted and Brent Geese a large area enclosed over 80 years ago to form the enormous artificial shallow lake of the IJsselmeer. This has now been drained and further enclosed to form the well-known Dutch “polders” of which the Flevopolder is the largest. Depending on the weather (and birds present) we can spend the first whole day focussing on the wintering birds in the Flevopolder. Besides the vast numbers of geese and ducks we will focus on finding species like Great White Egret, Smew, Red-crested Pochard, White-tailed Eagle, Western Marsh and Hen Harriers, Rough-legged Buzzard, Merlin, Great Grey Shrike, Water Pipit, Bearded Tit and Great Bittern. In the afternoon we visit the Veluwe, an extensive area of forest, and try to find species like Crested and Willow Tits, Short-toed Treecreeper and Black Woodpecker. On one day we will venture northwards to the province of Friesland. This thinly populated area of polders, with its characteristic windmills and lovely villages, is the wintering ground for tens of thousands of geese, including many Pink-footed. We will try to find the rare Red-breasted Goose, as well as Snow Goose which is also usually present here, and which the Dutch treat as a genuine vagrant species. Other raptor species we will look out for are White-tailed Eagle, Rough-legged Buzzard and Peregrine Falcon. If they are present this winter we will also search out sites for roosting Long-eared and Shorteared Owls. Depending on what we have seen we will head southwest to the bird-filled Dutch ‘Delta’, in Zeeland and Zuid-Holland. Being another hotspot for wintering ducks and geese, we might find Red-breasted Goose and we can look out for one of the small wintering parties of Lesser White-fronted Goose. The North Sea off Brouwersdam usually holds good numbers of Red-throated Diver, Common and Velvet Scoter and usually a few Long-tailed Ducks are present amongst the many Common Goldeneye. Greater Scaup is also a possibility here. Each year brings some vagrants in the winter and depending on where they turn up we may be looking for a Gyr Falcon, Ross’s Goose, Spotted Nutcracker, Bohemian Waxwing, Caspian Gull or an American wader or duck. Day 5 This morning we head for the North Sea coast where we try to look for some seabirds, waders like Purple Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone and Red Knot and hopefully one of the rarer wintering gull species (Iceland or Glaucous). In the afternoon we head back to Amsterdam where we catch the flight back to London (or regional airports). Outline Itinerary Day 1 Fly to Amsterdam and transfer to Harderwijk Days 2-4 Harderwijk Day 5 Depart Amsterdam Party Size Maximum of 12 clients (two leaders with more than six clients). Accommodation Comfortable accommodation in twin/double and single rooms, with private facilities. Transport By minibuses driven by the leaders. Includes All flights, meals, accommodation, transport, entry fees, services of the leaders, VAT, airport taxes and tips. Gradings Good 120 Cool Low Normal Relaxed Good Easy Scheduled Northern Goshawk Winter sunset over the polders To make a booking please call Ornitholidays on 01794 519445 131
I C E L A N D Iceland Winter Wonderland Thursday 13 February – Monday 17 February 2014 Thursday 27 November – Monday 01 December 2014 Leader: Andy Jones 2014 Cost £1,499 single room supplement £100 Snæfellsnes Peninsula ICELAND Reykjavik Keflavík celand’s unique and dramatic landscapes provide a spectacular backdrop for our winter journeys I to this remarkable country. Roughly the size of England, Iceland is a land full of wintertime interest with sightings of its hardy wildlife complemented by hot springs, geysers, glaciers and volcanoes as well as the chance to see the aurora borealis during the winter nights. Eyjafjörõur Wildlife has to struggle to survive in the harsh conditions and we can no doubt marvel at the adaptations that species have made to exist here. We can search for Harlequin Ducks at sea; Barrow’s Goldeneye on the lakes and rivers, Gyrfalcons and White-tailed Eagles in the hills and valleys and, even at this time of year, there’s always the chance of seeing seals and cetaceans offshore. We spend time on the coasts looking at the large Common Eider flocks and hoping to see King Eiders amongst them. We also have lots of opportunities to sort out our identification of the sometimes confusing gull species and are sure of enjoying excellent views of both Glaucous and the eponymous Iceland Gulls. Iceland is a very good place to see the northern lights or aurora borealis. We stay near dark areas specifically to increase our chances of seeing this amazing atmospheric phenomenon. Solar radiation collides with molecules in the upper atmosphere to release energy as light. The dancing auroral displays are a truly remarkable natural sight on clear nights. The low angle of the winter sun also means some lovely sunsets and sunrises. Iceland’s vibrant geology is not forgotten and we have the chance to see areas that were affected by the recent eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull Volcano as well as glaciers, lava fields, craters and coastal landforms. We stay in warm and comfortable small hotels and the trip will be led by Andy Jones, an expert on Iceland’s natural history. ITINERARY Days 1 & 2 We take a flight to Keflavík from London and on arrival meet our local guide, Andy Jones. It is roughly an hour and a half’s drive to our hotel located on the flanks of the mid-Atlantic ridge. We can try to fit in a little birdwatching at some coastal sites on the way. After dinner on this, and each, evening we can hope for an auroral display. We stay here for the next two nights. The next day we visit the nearby coast and look out for Glaucous and Iceland Gulls. There will be lots of eider, perhaps Long-tailed Duck and Redbreasted Merganser, and, if the weather is calm, we have a chance of also seeing seals and cetaceans offshore. We can search for the Iceland race of Winter Wren near some impressive waterfalls. Later we travel to areas that were affected by the recent eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull and hope to see the new craters and lava flows. The evidence of the jökulhlaup or glacier burst flood is clearly visible. We shall look out for Gyrfalcon in this area and admire the great ice caps of this part of Iceland. On our return to our hotel there will be a chance to relax Aurora Borealis 132 For a previous tour report or further information please call: 01794 519445
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ORNITHOLIDAYS 2014 49 Our Forty-Nin
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49 Our Forty-Ninth Year ORNITHOLIDA
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I S O R N I T H O L I D AY S R I G
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L AT E 2 0 1 3 T O U R S Summary of
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T O U R G R A D I N G Tour Grading
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G R E E N TA X E S A N D C A R B O
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Bryce Canyon, Utah, USA
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U S A - U TA H & A R I Z O N A USA
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U S A - U TA H & W YO M I N G USA -
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U S A - N E W E N G L A N D USA - N
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U S A - F LO R I D A USA - Florida
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U S A - H A W A I I USA - Hawaii Ii
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M E X I C O Mexico Western Mexican
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C O S TA R I C A Costa Rica Classic
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C U B A Cuba Endemic Birds & Winter
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T R I N I D A D & T O B A G O Trini
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S T LU C I A St Lucia at Leisure Pi
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G U YA N A Guyana Rainforests, Wate
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C O LO M B I A Colombia Birding’s
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B R A Z I L Brazil Atlantic Forest
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B R A Z I L Brazil - Photographic T
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E C U A D O R Ecuador Tumbesian & A
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Waterhole at Etosha, Namibia
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S O U T H A F R I C A South Africa
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S O U T H A F R I C A & B O T S W A
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TA N Z A N I A Tanzania - Photograp
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G H A N A Ghana In search of Picath
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E T H I O P I A Ethiopia Undiscover
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U G A N D A Uganda Birds & Primates
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N A M I B I A Namibia Etosha & the
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T H E G A M B I A The Gambia A Tast
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E GY P T Egypt Birds & History Frid
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M O R O C C O Morocco High Atlas &
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M O R O C C O Morocco Atlantic Coas
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Sing-sing with Huli, Papua New Guin
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J O R D A N Jordan Birds & History
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K U W A I T Kuwait Birding in the G
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I N D I A India - Goa Birds, Beache
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S R I L A N K A Sri Lanka Teardrop
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M O N G O L I A Mongolia Eastern St
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TA I W A N Taiwan Island Endemics S
Page 83 and 84: B H U TA N Bhutan Birds & Buddhism
Page 85 and 86: N E PA L Nepal Chitwan, Koshi & Phu
Page 87 and 88: V I E T N A M Vietnam Land of the D
Page 89 and 90: B O R N E O Borneo Island in the Cl
Page 91 and 92: PA P U A N E W G U I N E A Papua Ne
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Page 95 and 96: Boating on the Danube Delta, Romani
Page 97 and 98: G R E E C E Greece - The Island of
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Page 101 and 102: S PA I N Spain - Coto Doñana & Sie
Page 103 and 104: S PA I N Spain - The Canary Islands
Page 105 and 106: S PA I N Spain - Coto Doñana & Ext
Page 107 and 108: S PA I N Spain - The Island of Meno
Page 109 and 110: S PA I N Spain - Southern Catalonia
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Page 119 and 120: P O R T U G A L Portugal at Leisure
Page 121 and 122: P O R T U G A L Portugal at Leisure
Page 123 and 124: I TA LY - S I C I LY Italy - Sicily
Page 125 and 126: I TA LY Italy Po Delta Po Delta Pal
Page 127 and 128: I TA LY Italy at Leisure Birds & Wi
Page 129 and 130: F R A N C E France - Wallcreeper To
Page 131 and 132: F R A N C E France - The Camargue,
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Page 137 and 138: I C E L A N D Iceland Land of Ice &
Page 139 and 140: T U R K E Y Turkey Turkish Delight
Page 141 and 142: B E L A R U S Belarus Europe’s La
Page 143 and 144: F I N L A N D Finland Owls, Woodpec
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Page 149 and 150: R O M A N I A Romania Danube Delta
Page 151 and 152: B U L G A R I A Bulgaria at Leisure
Page 153 and 154: O U R T E A M O F L E A D E R S Our
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Page 157 and 158: C A L E N D A R Calendar 2014 JANUA
Page 159 and 160: C O N D I T I O N S O F B O O K I N
Page 161 and 162: C O N D I T I O N S O F B O O K I N
Page 164: ORNITHOLIDAYS 29 Straight Mile Roms
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