Wild animals in England? Yes! The Kingdom is a real birdwatcher's paradise if you know where to look!
The Owls and Migratory Birds in England trip is a journey to some of Europe's most interesting bird species and impressive natural spectacles.
Over 5 days, we head to the Norfolk region (about 3 hours north-west of London) in search of barn owls and short-eared owls, as well as huge aggregations of pink-footed geese that spend their winter here.
Our base is beautifully situated directly on the locally typical marsh, the meadows criss-crossed by small canals directly on the North Sea. The accommodation offers very stylishly furnished rooms and an excellent restaurant with regional dishes.
During our days we are often out and about by car to look for interesting bird species in various places. We also plan to go on a bird safari by boat in the marshes and get to know an incredibly diverse and fascinating area.

The aim of this trip is to encounter a wide variety of bird species. On the one hand, we focus on owls. In the Norfolk region, we have excellent opportunities to observe barn owls hunting during the day. Especially in winter, the birds are often active even in sunlight. While the barn owl lives here all year round, the short-eared owl is particularly attracted to these coastal regions in winter. These birds migrate from Scandinavia to milder climates where they can easily find prey. Hundreds of short-eared owls gather in Norfolk every year, and we can often even watch aerial fights! We also have the chance to see little owls.

In addition to the owls, however, there are many other species that need these regions for wintering, similar to the short-eared owl. We have the great opportunity to observe huge groups of thousands of pink-footed geese that spend the summer in Arctic regions. There is also the opportunity to see brent geese, greater white-fronted geese, various sandpipers, oystercatchers, as well as various birds of prey such as marsh harriers or red kites.

During our time on the coast of Norfolk, we stay in a wonderful hotel right on the marsh. The view of the canals and meadows is unbeatable, especially in the evening light. The rooms are all very comfortable and stylishly furnished. The hotel also boasts an excellent restaurant that reinvents regional dishes. Did you know that mussels are even harvested here?

We also visit local restaurants and pubs on the way, as well as stocking up on snacks.

Norfolk offers many bird species in winter, but unfortunately only relatively short days!
We usually set off at first light in search of owls, which are particularly active at this time of the day. After a hearty breakfast, we then set off on our longer day excursion, always taking the current weather into account.

After dark in the late afternoon, we return to the hotel for a well-earned drink. After a breather, we round off the day with a delicious dinner and a drink or two.

The climate on the English coast in winter can be cool and damp. Good clothing and waterproof shoes are therefore highly recommended. Rubber boots are also important as we also plan to visit the marshes and beaches.

For photographers, we recommend large lenses. The owls in particular are often a little further away. Wide-angle lenses, on the other hand, are good for capturing the beautiful marsh landscape and large flocks of geese.