78 BBC WILDLIFE December 2021the r
The UK has a wealth of wildlife easily
packed into weekend-sized chunks. RSPB
Minsmere, Suffolk, excels year-round.
Gawp at ‘dancing’ adders in spring, revere
breeding avocets in summer, admire rutting
red deer in autumn or peer into wintry
reedbeds to decipher bittern and bearded
tit. For something different, throw in a night
at Bawdsey Hall, where photo hides offer
close-range views of badgers, tawny owls
and – most excitingly – polecats.
In summer, travel by train to the Dorset
town of Wareham, then cycle or walk to
Purbeck Heaths’ new National Nature
Reserve. Here, Dartford warblers scold by
day while nightjars emerge at dusk, and
there’s a wealth of reptiles and minibeasts,
too, from the smooth snake to the silver-
studded blue butterfly.
Readily reached
by train, Penzance ia a fine
base to savour Cornwall’s
wildlife. Explore
Mount’s Bay by boat for
close-up views of grey
seals, harbour porpoises,
common dolphins and even
basking sharks. Celebrate
the chough’s return by
hopping on a bus to St Just or
Porthcurno; alternatively, take
the train to RSPB Hayle Estuary
for egrets and waders.wildlife TRAVEL 2022
With a week available, possibilities expand.
Two British destinations offer diverse
summer wildlife without burning excessive
carbon, while three European countries may
tempt you further afield.
Take the train to Norwich, then hire a
car to enjoy Norfolk’s varied wildlife. On
the coast, visit Britain’s largest spoonbill
colony at Holkham, the mixed seal colony at
Blakeney Point and Winterton’s natterjack
toads. Insect stars of Broadland sites
such as Hickling include the mesmerising
swallowtail butterfly and Norfolk hawker
dragonfly. In the Brecks – Britain’s answer
to the steppes – watch stone curlews evade
stoats at Weeting Heath before enjoying the
thriving colony of Spanish catchfly (a rare
plant) plus scarce day-flying moths such as
the forester at Cranwich Camp.Where to go
in a weekend
Where to go
in a week
The hide at Bawdsey Hall
offers close views of polecatsGlorious Purbeck
Heaths is home
to thousands of
speciesNowhere in mainland Britain is better
to witness the autumn bird migration than
East Yorkshire’s Spurn Point. But when
easterly winds and rain combine, focus
instead on Spurn’s fields, hedgerows and
scrub. During a ‘fall’ of migrant landbirds,
thrushes, flycatchers and goldcrests can
be everywhere – barely a weekend passes
without a scarce visitor being spotted.
If overwhelmed by wanderlust, consider
flying to Oslo. Combine a city break with
a guided trip into the snowy wilds to track
down sought-after owls that typify boreal
forests – Tengmalm’s, hawk, pygmy
and possibly great grey – plus avian
specialities such as the hazel grouse
and three-toed woodpecker.Encounter owls in wild NorwayFIND OUT MORE
● bawdseyhall.com
● dorsetaonb.org.uk
● spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk