SIBERIAN WEEK

MONDAY 17th - FRIDAY 21st OCTOBER 2022

siberian week…

The Suffolk Coast is an ideal place to observe bird activities in Autumn.  The last week of October is known by local birdwatchers as ‘Siberian Week’.  Migration will be in full swing, with birds that have nested in the high Arctic or escaping harsh weather in Eastern Europe and the continent, make their way through the Bawdsey peninsula or arriving to overwinter here.

There will be evening talks illustrated with slides and videos, while the days will be spent in the field at coastal watch-points that are a short distance from The Hall.  For the most part the course will consist of group work but there will be opportunities for individual support.

Bawdsey Hall is blessed with some amazing migration watch-points that are only a short distance away but these are weather and bird activity dependent.

We are likely to visit some of the following sites:

• Bawdsey Hall gardens

• Shingle Street

• East Lane coastal scrub and ponds

• Boyton and Hollesley RSPB Reserve

• The Deben Estuary and Ramsholt Marshes

• Hazlewood Marshes

• Minsmere RSPB reserve

Autumn migration will reaching its end, but invariably there’s a sting in its tail and late October can be the most rewarding for birdwatchers. Coastal bushes are often alive with thousands of tiny Goldcrest and are likely to be joined by jewels such as Yellow-browed and
Pallas’s Warblers and beautiful Firecrests. This is peak week for Ring Ouzels and although we’ll witness the exodus of our summering birds, others, such as Redwings, Fieldfares and Bramblings will be arriving to spend the winter here.

The course will involve a series of complementary activities to ensure you become familiar with the identification and behaviour of birds which are seen. 

These will include:

• Watching birds from a distance in the various habitats

• Viewing birds in close-up at the Bawdsey Hall ringing site (if bird ringing is able to be arranged)

• Learning the art of fieldcraft

• Learning key visual clues to help you identify species by sight
  and by their calls

• Learning key calls to help you identify species as they fly through migration watch-points.

Time will be divided between watching and listening to birds out in the field as well as working indoors reviewing and revising what has been learned. As many species as possible will be sought out to view in ‘real time’ but the course will also utilise the latest online technology to cover some of the more elusive species, ensuring you have as full a picture as possible.

A range of nocturnal wildlife including Badgers and Owls visit a purposely designed feeding areas most evenings at Bawdsey Hall which can be observed from your bedroom window. With the spectacular wildlife on offer there certainly are all the ingredients of an amazing course.  Despite the obvious wildlife distractions, the luxurious rooms provided by Bawdsey Hall should ensure a good night’s sleep ready for a spectacular birding weekend.

Weather permitting and if available, bird ringing demonstrations may be organised which will enable you to get ‘close-up and personal’ with some of the birds.  Seeing birds in the
hands of experts is an excellent way of understanding the nuances of bird identification and will reinforce the observations you can make through binoculars.

COST:

4 nights/5days: (Monday-Friday courses)

£845 per person