Oenanthe Birding Adventures
Who are we?
We are an independent birding tour operator based in Pulham St Mary, Diss, deep in the Norfolk countryside. With a wealth of experience of birding to all 4 corners of the Western Palearctic we are able to offer guided tours by leaders who really know their stuff to a number of hotspots in the region and closer to home in Norfolk.
These vary from full length tours, targeted long weekends, single days and even bespoke tours to match your requirements. The emphasis of our tours is on adventure (hence our name), fun and real value for money in a traditionally expensive business.
Our Philosophy and Aims
The company was set up as to provide low cost but high quality guided birding tours. At Oenanthe we cater for birders of all abilities/experience and strive to make each tour a truly memorable experience for each and every participant. The only pre-requisites are a love of birds, the countryside, travelling off the beaten track and enthusiasm.
Whilst we love travel to far-flung corners of the Western Palearctic we remain true to our roots. Norfolk is arguably the best county in the UK for all year round birding and our tours cover the best the county has to offer throughout the seasons.
Our Promises
You will have fun- You will meet like-minded individuals who share your love of birds and travel
- You will see as many birds as we can possibly squeeze in to a trip
- You will take away new learning experiences on such diverse subjects as migration, identification, moult/ageing and fieldcraft
- You will want to use us again
Why Choose Oenanthe?
- With twenty five years independent birding and travel experience we are able confidently offer well planned tours to many Western Palearctic destinations and within our beloved Norfolk. Our tours are ideally suited to all levels of birding experience and for all ages. We provide an unparalleled friendly and personal service to our customers, many of whom return to us again and again.
- We consider each birding trip to be an adventure rather than merely a tour. In these days where our daily lives and surroundings are gradually being sanitised and uniformed our tours are a chance to escape for a bit and do something worthwhile and inspiring amongst friends.
- We keep our costs as low as possible ensuring the best value for money in the field.
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There are a great many companies offering birding tours to all corners of the globe these days and one of the things that has always struck us is the high costs that most charge. One of our aims is to challenge this and provide tours that are genuinely affordable to more people. Especially important in the current economic climate where many are having to cut outgoings whilst striving to maintain a standard of living. And that means not giving up on birding trips! - We fully recognise that budget airlines run flights to many of the destinations covered by our tours and with some shopping around some great deals are to be had. With that in mind we do not include the cost of flights within our packages. For each tour we will provide recommendations and travel possibilities but then leave the booking (and savings!) with you. Our tours are sensibly based around the arrival and departure times of flights. Choosing your own flights also gives you any flexibility should you wish to add extra days onto the beginning or end of a tour to do your own thing.
- Meals are generally not included except breakfast on some dates on some tours. The reasons for this are twofold. Firstly, due to the nature of birding conventional mealtimes are often the precise times we will want to be out in the field! Secondly, from experience we know that many of our tour participants prefer to choose where and what they eat rather than being provided with a set meal at a set location. After all this is one of the pleasures of travel. In some of our overnight locations there may not be much choice but in others the choice is wide. In either case transport to local restaurants/cafes/shops will be provided. Very often we all end up dining together in any case!
I have personally been birding since a very young age when the likes of the YOC and local RSPB Group inspired me to a love of birds which has never left me. After a brief break during my teenage years (when there were other things that turned my head!) I began birding in earnest again in the mid 1980’s.
My native Norfolk has always been my first love and I still actively bird in the country whenever I can. Indeed my keenly kept Norfolk list is a source of great personal pride. However much I love travel it’s always a wonderful, welcoming and inspiring place to return home to.
Over the past 20 years I have spread my wings (pun intended!) to all corners of the Western Palearctic and have built up an extensive CV of birding knowledge and contacts within the region. My travels have taken me to Finland, Cyprus, The Canary Islands, Madeira, Spain, Morocco, Israel, Kuwait, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, Scotland, Ireland, The Isles of Scilly and further afield to the US.
In those years I have been co-author of the Norfolk Bird and Mammal Report, taken part in the BTO Breeding and Wintering Bird Surveys and latterly been heavily involved in the Israeli Autumn Migration Survey.
Chris Lansdell,
Director, Oenanthe Birding Adventures
