There is no better guide than Simon to bird with in England, his homeland. I have a preference for sites of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) which have great trails, informative and educational signage, and hides (blinds) and they were often our destination. The British have embraced their birds and welcome visiting birders to enjoy them too - Simon knows the birds he grew up watching and is great at pointing them out. Of course we found a pub each day for lunch and the fish & chips with mushy peas never failed to satisfy! Great trip, thanks Simon!!
I have been to Jackson Park many times, but I learned so much during our morning with Mike! He is super knowledgeable about the entire park, including identifying habitats to find particular birds, what time of year particular birds can best be seen, and much more. This is a great trip to one of the birding hotspots in the Carolinas, both for those who frequent Jackson Park as well as newcomers.
Despite the very warm and windy conditions it was a good trip. Vicky pulled out 2 lifers for me and I am very happy. Looking forward to more day trips with Ventures
Normally, you need to get up early in the morning to have a productive birding experience. This tour proves that late afternoon and evening can be a fun time to encounter breeding species. Tour leader Vicky Burke had scouted out various spots in Cleveland Co., NC with a good variety of breeding species including Kentucky Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Loggerhead Shrike, Dickcissel, and Grasshopper Sparrow. In the evening, we headed over to a spot in York Co., SC with several Chucks-Wills-Widows and Whip-poor Wills calling and occasionally landing along the road. How often do you get to see that! Vicky did a great job ensuring we got good views and enjoyed the experience. A very fun trip indeed..