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Monday 9am - 6pm Tuesday 9am - 6pm Wednesday 9am - 6pm Thursday 9am - 6pm Friday 9am - 6pm Saturday 9am - 1pm

The Travelling Naturalist Birdwatching & Wildlife Holidays

Name: The Travelling Naturalist Birdwatching & Wildlife Holidays
Address: Long Barn South, Sutton Manor Farm, Bishop's Sutton, New Alresford, SO240AA, GB
Telephone: 01305 267994
Price range: $$

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The Travelling Naturalist Birdwatching & Wildlife Holidays

The Travelling Naturalist Birdwatching & Wildlife Holidays We are a small, specialist tour operator, with a simple aim - to provide the most enjoyable guided b

06/09/2024

Our bird of the week is the hyacinth macaw!

This species is native to South America and is the largest of all the flying parrots. With its stunning cobalt blue feathers and endearing facial features, this highly social bird is a favourite with bird watchers.

Hyacinth macaws have also been known to mimic human voices.

You could see them on our Wildlife of the North & South Pantanal tour in Brazil: https://bit.ly/46Sk3rl

27/08/2024

You don't have to travel far for incredible birding and wildlife experiences!

We offer a range of UK holidays, from the Outer Hebrides to the New Forest, all with different focuses and wildlife to be discovered.

Find out more here: https://www.naturalist.co.uk/destinations/uk

Images by Emma Healey and Dani Free

22/08/2024

We offer a wide selection of whale and dolphin-watching holidays so you can see these amazing creatures in their natural habitat!
Find out more here: https://www.naturalist.co.uk/tours/focus/whale-dolphin-watching-holidays

18/08/2024

Have you booked your autumn getaway yet?

You could see lynx in Spain, discover the endemic wildlife of Ethiopia, stay closer to home and photograph deer in the New Forest, and many more!

Find out more here: https://www.naturalist.co.uk/tours/calendar -2024

23/07/2024

Have you seen our featured trip to Svalbard?
The Svalbard Photo Expedition aboard the MS Stockholm gives you the chance to experience the region's rich wildlife and departs in May.

Find out more here: https://www.naturalist.co.uk/tours/svalbard-photo-expedition -info

19/07/2024

Our sister company, Wildlife Worldwide, has just launched its new Small Group Tour brochure!

Discover over 270 wildlife holidays, with new tours in Hungary, Antarctica, the Caribbean, Sri Lanka and Alaska - to name a few!

Order yours here: https://www.naturalist.co.uk/brochure

08/07/2024

Our Bird of the Week is the double-crested cormorant!

The double-crested cormorant is a sleek, black waterbird found across North America. Known for its distinctive double crest of feathers grown during breeding season, it dives underwater to hunt fish with remarkable agility. However, its feathers are not waterproof, and it can often be seen perched with its wings spread to dry. This adaptable bird thrives in a variety of habitats, from coastal waters to inland lakes and rivers, contributing to its widespread distribution and importance in aquatic ecosystems.

This bird communicates with a variety of sounds, including guttural grunts and croaks during breeding displays, as well as harsh, hoarse calls for territorial defence and interaction within colonies.

03/07/2024

Our Bird of the Week is the mountain bluebird!

This striking migratory thrush is found in the mountainous regions of western North America. Despite it's small size, its electric blue colouration makes it unmissable. Its iconic look has even granted it State Bird status in both Idaho and Nevada! The mountain bluebird migrates south to Mexico in winter, returning as far north as Canada and Alaska in summer, and is an omnivorous feeder.

Its calls are soft and simple, a repeated 'tew' or 'peu' sound, or an alarmed 'tink' call when startled.

17/06/2024

Our Bird of the Week is the green broadbill!

This jewel-like bird is a truly astonishing sight to behold in the broadleaf lowland forests of Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. Aside from its vibrant colouration, a male green broadbill is recognisable by the black 'comma' behind its eye, a dome-shape crest nearly concealing the beak, and clean black banding on the wings. Whilst still green, females have a duller colouration with no 'comma' or black banding.

With its small peak, the green broadbill feeds mostly on soft figs, distributing the seeds across the habitat in its droppings.

The green broadbill gives a soft, bouncing hoot increasing in frequency, calling in short bursts.

10/06/2024

Our Bird of the Week is the distinctive anhinga!

Sometimes called the 'snakebird' or 'devil bird', the anhinga hails from swamps across southern North America and South America. It has a long snake-like neck and an intriguing ability to control its buoyancy in water so only the neck and head remain above the surface. This allows them to hunt for underwater prey more easily, catching fish and aquatic invertebrates with lightning jabs of its long pointed bill. Whilst being a solitary hunter, they roost and nest in mixed colonies with heron, ibis and cormorant. The anhinga is sometimes confused with cormorant from their similar body shape, however its hookless bill, distinctive long fan-like tail and dappled white markings on the upper wings sets it apart. Male anhingas have a glossy black-brown or black-green colouration, whilst females are grey-buff.

The anhinga has a flat, simple call pattern comprised of croaks and clicks.

28/05/2024

Our Bird of the Week is the Japanese long-tailed tit!

This sweet-looking bird has a tendency to go viral thanks to its cute, round and fluffy appearance, reminiscent of a cotton ball. A truly minuscule bird, its tail accounts for nearly half of its body length, weighing in at less than 10 grams total! Known locally as shima enaga, it inhabits the forested lowland and mountainous regions in Hokkaido. These birds can often be seen licking frozen sap icicles from trees in February-March, a vital source of energy at the end of the long cold season.

Listen out for a single shrill "chii", which resembles calls of small birds in the Paridae family, and a more unique low-pitched "tsulyu-lyu".

20/05/2024

Our Bird of the Week is the northern white-faced owl! 🦉

Renowned as a shapeshifter, this owl can completely transform its appearance in response to environmental threats. When faced with an opponent of a similar size, they puff out their feathers, widen their eyes, and splay their wings into a fan-like shape around their body to make themselves appear large and intimidating. When wanting to avoid detection, they contract their bodies to appear long and skinny, narrowing their eyes to slits, a pose thought to make them appear twig-like so they can blend into the trees.

Though the northern white-faced owl is relatively small, it is actually larger than most other scops-owls. It has a predominantly pale grey plumage that resembles tree bark, with a white face bordered by black and vibrant yellow-orange eyes. This owl inhabits dry savanna regions across north-western Africa, where its soft, punctuated "huu-hooo" call can be heard.

17/05/2024

Only a few spaces remaining on our Isle of Mull Wildlife Extravaganza with renowned naturalist Mike Dilger, departing 9 June 2024! Here's what previous clients had to say...

"Tell Mike he gave us 110% (in-joke from the week). Seriously, I cannot praise Mike highly enough. His level of knowledge of wildlife and of Mull is outstanding, his desire to give us an amazing week was evident during the whole trip, he was kind, patient and a consummate professional."

"I can honestly say it was one of the best ever trips I have been on. Mike was amazing, making everyone feel special and also making sure we saw so much wildlife in a very respectful way."

"Mike was brilliant. Very knowledgeable and passionate about wildlife and made the whole week fun. He and all the guests gelled instantly on the first evening!"

"Mike was highly enthusiastic and (as expected) very knowledgeable. He brought that 'lucky' element in what we saw - always vital for such a trip!"

Find out more about this fantastic trip with Mike, observing sea otter, common dolphin, white-tailed eagle and more, by visiting https://bit.ly/3wkqktU.

13/05/2024

Our Bird of the Week is the hooded merganser! 🦆

This stately fish-eating duck is a migratory bird found across eastern North America. Mostly commonly found near bodies of freshwater, marshland and sheltered saltwater bays, these birds nest in tree cavities and often undertake brood parasitism, laying their eggs in the nests of other ducks. Some nests have been found with more than 40 eggs when mergansers usually lay about 13! Females are still protective of their own nests regardless of brood size, and will perform a 'broken wig' display when the nest is approached by a predator to draw attention away from it.

When males raise their crest, it creates a stunning sail-like shape, which they display during courtship, shaking and throwing back their heads and producing low gravelly calls.

08/05/2024

Our Bird of the Week is the majestic secretary bird! 🦅

With its distinctive long yellow legs and black quill-like crest, this 4-foot tall bird is hard to miss in the open grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa. Whilst they spend most of their time foraging on the ground during the day for small mammals, reptiles and insects, secretary birds roost high up in acacia trees at nighttime. On the ground, these birds will bludgeon any prey they find with their long legs. This method of terrestrial hunting is unusual amongst birds of prey - they are one of only two species to do so, alongside the caracara.

Although largely silent, the secretary bird has a harsh, sawing cry during courtship rituals, most frequently heard in the late dry season despite being able to mate all year round.

04/05/2024

Celebrate Bird Day with us - today, we honour the incredible diversity of bird species worldwide! 🦅🐧🐦🦉🦃

Whether you're just starting your birdwatching journey or a seasoned birder, a favourite trip for birdwatchers of all abilities is our Easy Birding in South Luangwa group. With over 400 bird species, South Luangwa National Park is home to some truly iconic highlights, such as southern carmine bee eater, yellow-billed stork, racket-tailed roller and the black cuckoo-shrike. Departing at the start of the green season, you can also expect to enjoy a simultaneous burst of mammalian new-born activity as well as avian activity, observable during safari excursions and magical night drives.

To find out more about this veritable carnival of birdlife, visit https://www.naturalist.co.uk/tours/zambia-birding-in-south-luangwa.

29/04/2024

Our Bird of the Week is the scarlet macaw! 🎨

With colouration that boggles the mind, this spectacular bird is found in the neotropical northern lowland forests of South America. They roost together in large trees at night, flying around in small groups during the day to forage for nuts, fruits, seeds and small invertebrates. They are thought to be important seed distributors in their habitats, aiding with forest regeneration via their droppings. They are also famously seen in large flocks at clay licks in Colombia, Peru and Brazil, where they gather vital minerals and nutrients. Rarely seen alone, scarlet macaws communicate vociferously through loud screeching calls, with pairs mating for life and raising their chicks together.

27/04/2024

Embark on a birdwatcher's dream expedition to magical Colombia on our Colombia's Birding Highlights trip! 🐦

With a staggering 1,900+ recorded species, this country is a paradise for bird enthusiasts. From vibrant hummingbirds to majestic toucans, this expert-led tour covers diverse habitats including the Choco, Rio Blanco Reserve's cloud forests, Santa Marta's isolated peaks, and Jardin's Andean cock-of-the-rock lekking site. And for those who enjoy the rarer species, don't miss this fantastic opportunity to spot the elusive buffy helmetcrest, endemic to Colombia’s central Andes.

To find out more, visit https://www.naturalist.co.uk/tours/colombias-birding-highlights.

Address

Long Barn South, Sutton Manor Farm, Bishop's Sutton
New Alresford
SO240AA

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm
Saturday	9am - 1pm

Telephone

01305 267994

Website

https://www.naturalist.co.uk/

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Videos

Knots at RSPB Snettisham by Nick Acheson

Spectacular footage from our trip to Norfolk, with Nick Acheson at the helm. RSPB Snettisham is surely home to one of the most magical sights in the British Isles as thousands of knots gather on the coast. Thanks to Nick for this remarkable footage. https://www.naturalist.co.uk/tours/norfolk-in-late-summer-with-nick-acheson

Knots at RSPB Snettisham

Earlier this month we were able to run our first wildlife tour in 6 months! Thanks to the expert guiding of Nick Acheson, our clients were able to enjoy a range of incredible wild delights, including over 50,000 knots! You can book your place here https://www.naturalist.co.uk/tours/norfolk-in-late-summer-with-nick-acheson

Nagarhole National Park

Our India’s Wild South trip has got off to a wonderful start in Nagarhole National Park with a tiger sighted yesterday afternoon and a magnificent sighting of the park’s melanistic leopard this morning! Thanks to client Janet Charity for this footage https://www.naturalist.co.uk/tours/india-indias-wild-south

Corsica April 2008 by Roger Wasley

Party in the Arctic

Shortcuts

Outstanding Birdwatching Holidays Worldwide

From bird watching in Costa Rica to dragonfly watching in France, blue whale watching in Sri Lanka to bear viewing in Finland, we offer an unparalleled range of small group tours to see the finest wildlife in the world.

For over 30 years our expert naturalists have led small group tours to some of the world’s most spectacular wildlife and birdwatching destinations. Our programme features over 100 nature holidays to choose from, including a range of specialised photography, flora, butterfly and dragonfly tours.