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Welcome to the 2008
brochure
How
to book a holiday and flights
Anser website
2008 Birding Holidays
Identification
workshops
Birding day trips
Holidays for your group
Our commitment to
conservation
Guide profiles
Terms &
conditions
Welcome
to the 2008 brochure
We pride ourselves on
our knowledge and understanding of Britain and Europe’s birds, the selection
of events on offer in 2008 allows us to share this with you.
Whether you are a regular traveller in Europe or feel ready to venture
abroad for the first time, our extensive experience throughout the chosen
regions, coupled with our normally unhurried pace, will provide you with an
unforgettable birding holiday.
Anser is a small
venture offering a select choice of holidays, day trips and identification
workshops in Britain and Europe. Our aim to make it possible for people to see
sought after bird species and wildlife spectacles in the locations that are
visited whether it is local, around Britain, or elsewhere in the world. Each
year a selection of foreign destinations are included to promote the wonderful
and often breathtaking birding sights that can be seen during our trips.
We
hope everyone can find something that suits their needs in the new events list.
If you have any questions about our holidays, or any aspects of Anser,
then please do not hesitate to e-mail or give us a call. Wherever you decide to
go, we can guarantee that your holiday will be full of birds, good value for
money, relaxing and above all enjoyable. We look forward to going birding with
you in 2008!
If one or more holidays
in this brochure appeal to you and you would like to know more, then please
e-mail, write or ring. We can
discuss the holiday(s) you are interested in, answer any questions and send a
previous trip report where available. We can provide further details of what you
can expect on the holiday, as well as details of accommodation, transport and
what is included in the cost. If you would like to reserve a place then please
contact us for a booking form or download one from the website. We ask that you
return it to us, along with a deposit for the amount stated. A receipt can be
provided on request. Dates are
initially fixed but may change due to reasons beyond our control. We are
flexible and operate an open arrangement during the early stages of each holiday
and the trip can be built around the people involved. When the minimum number of
people is reached we make sure all are happy with suggested dates (if different
for the cheapest flights).
Our next step is to ask
for a deposit and proceed with hotel and flight bookings. After consolidating
the group a final balance will be payable (see Terms and Conditions). It is
important that insurance is purchased at the same time as your booking, if you
have an annual policy that they are informed of your travel dates.
Anser does not
include the flights or insurance in the price, we allow customers to arrange
their own if preferred. With many inexpensive flights from local airports it is
possible to fly direct to all of the destinations offered. It is not unusual to
purchase return tickets from£60-100.00. If you would us to book your flights
along with ours please just ask as we have a lot of experience. Flights from
Bristol International are usual but other airports can be used, we can meet you
in country if flying from a different airport.
You
can keep abreast of regular updates of local bird sightings with some images of
the birds also shown, view all of the 2008 holidays and when advertised, the day
trips, identification workshops and any other news.
The
events are sometimes advertised at short notice so it is worth checking
regularly. You can read trip reports from all of our holidays, look at images of
the actual birds seen and download itineraries, booking forms and information.
We also have a gallery to browse with images collected on our travels. We plan
to overhaul the site in 2008 to make even easier to use. To browse the site just
log onto www.anserbirding.com
Destinations
in Britain and Europe offer you the chance to see a different range of species.
Our destinations provide some breathtaking sights, often in stunning locations.
Using our extensive knowledge of Britain’s and Europe’s birds, their
habitats and movements, the Anser team have organised a number of birding breaks
and day trips that allow you to witness the best birding.
The holidays we have
chosen combine to give you the chance to experience the highlights of a typical
birding year in Europe. At the same
time each holiday is individual, with every one designed to produce a special
set of species in memorable surroundings. The British trips vary between two and
six days. We offer a variety of destinations to take in the best of British
Birding. They have proved very successful, they have produced some excellent
birding as we usually manage to turn up something special.
One
or two of the holidays are geared for a more intensive pace with longer field
sessions and travelling time. We specify our holidays with a rating; standard
birder (SB) or busy
birder (BB). The latter rating does not mean racing around but simply
that we try to fit in the most birding in the time available for more cost
effective birding. Northern countries in summer are the exception due to the
fact that birding at night is often essential the days are long and nights can
be disrupted with siesta in a quieter part of the day. Despite this, all
clients, of varying age who were initially apprehensive have found that they
enjoyed the trips fully, taking part in every birding session. Countries with
nocturnal target birds will also have optional birding offered to see them. Don’t
forget that WWT members receive a 5% discount (except English Holiday
Cruises based trips). Please note we may
add trips during the year, check the website for details.
Extremedura-
Spanish Birding Paradise
Suggested dates
8 or 9 -12 or 13 April: (four nights)
Cost
£499.00 (WWT members
£474.05)
Flight
Can be purchased from £50.00-110.00
Single room supplement
£40.00
Deposit
£200.00
Group size
6-8. SB
Five
species of eagle including the stunning Spanish Imperial Eagle on the nest, Black, Egyptian and Griffon
Vultures, Black Stork, Eagle
Owl, Black- shouldered Kite, Azure-winged
Magpie, Great and Little
Bustard, Great-spotted Cuckoo, Thekla,
Crested and Short-toed Larks, Black
Wheatear and Rock Bunting are just a few of the birds that occur. Monfragüe
National Park is outstandingly beautiful and contains internationally important
populations of many species. The view from the Castillo is wonderful with the added bonus of seeing vultures and
eagles soaring beneath you. The Black Storks and vultures nest on the cliffs
opposite so you can scope into the nests. The gently undulating open plains and
mountain views offer wonderful birding. It is the best time to see displaying
bustards and hear the larks in full song and the flora is worth the journey
alone. A detailed itinerary is available from the website or can be mailed on
request.
Watch and Cruise- Gloucestershire with English Holiday Cruises
Dates
16-20 April (four nights)
Cost
from £450 standard
double and £320 partners.
Single room occupants
from £515.00
Deposit
contact English Holiday Cruises
Group size
maximum of 10 per guide. SB
Contact direct
www.englishholidaycruises.co.uk
0845 6017895
Join
us on MV Oliver Cromwell for a unique bird watching holiday cruise in
Gloucestershire and along the Gloucester to Sharpness Canal. Watch a wide
variety of birds, usually over 100 species in 8 major locations including the
Forest of Dean, Ashleworth Ham GWT and WWT Slimbridge. Anser Birding will take
charge of the bird watching (maximum 10 watchers per guide) and also give bird
talks in the evenings. Bring your partner to socialise too - there’s a special
programme for non-birdwatchers with guided tours to local sights including
Tewkesbury Abbey and Berkeley Castle. Relax in the evenings over a delicious
dinner and enjoy a drink from our licensed bar. Retire at night to your own cosy
en-suite cabin. Cruise between outings along the mighty Gloucester &
Sharpness Canal aboard MV Oliver Cromwell, Britain’s biggest Riverboat Hotel.
This is a complete holiday package for all levels of birdwatchers and their
partners, including local travel, guided tours, lectures, all meals and 4-nights
accommodation.
Suggested dates
21-26 April (five nights)
Cost
£699.00 (WWT members
£664.05) Price dropped!
Single room supplement
£70.00
Deposit
£200.00
Group size
6-10. SB
Apart
from staying on Lewis we shall also be birding in the Gairloch and Ullapool
area. On this trip we shall be searching for Golden and White-tailed
Eagles. Divers are very much on the agenda with Black-throated, Red-throated
and Great Northern present and there is a great chance of White-billed
Diver as they have now been found to stop off on migration.
Sea-ducks are rather scarce on the west coast but Red-breasted Merganser and
perhaps Velvet Scoter will be present. Slavonian
Grebe is restricted to one area. White
winged gulls are on the agenda with Iceland
being by far the most likely. Black
Guillemots are among the auk species and skuas are also seen as they migrate
northwards.
Snowy Owl
is a possibility as they have been seen on the island regularly in recent years.
Peregrine and Merlin are
also found as well as sea-ducks too such as Long-tailed Duck and Scoters.
Twite should be around and often
there are geese passing through at this time of year. Other migrating birds are
likely to be discovered at this time of year.
Suggested dates
1-8 or 8-15 May (seven nights)
Cost
£549.00 (WWT members
£517.00)
Flight
Can be purchased from £170.00-200.00
Single room supplement
£70.00
Deposit
£250.00
Group size
6-14. SB
Huge
numbers of birds migrate through at this time of year. Spectacular migration and
resident/breeding species such as Little Bittern, Squacco, Purple and Night Heron, White and Black
Stork, Glossy Ibis, Ruddy Shelduck, Chukar, Little Crake, Stone Curlew,
Collared Pratincole, White-winged Black and Whiskered Tern, Alpine Swift, Bee-eater, Middle Spotted Woodpecker,
Red-rumped Swallow, Red-throated Pipit,
large flocks of mixed race Yellow
Wagtails, Citrine Wagtail, Rufous
Bushchat, Issabelline and Black eared
Wheatears, Icterine, Great Reed, Olivaceous, Ruppell’s, Subalpine,
Eastern Orphean and Olive Tree Warblers, Collared Flycatcher, Kruper’s and Western Rock Nuthatch, Sombre Tit, Rock Sparrow, Red-backed, Woodchat,
Lesser Grey and Masked Shrike,
Cinerous, Black headed and Cretzschmar’s Buntings are just some of what
may be seen. See the website or ask for a detailed itinerary.
Suggested dates
18-20
May: (two nights)
Cost
£299.00
(WWT members £284.05)
Single room supplement
£20.00
Deposit
£150.00
Group size
4-7. SB
Top
reserves such as Cley and Titchwell will be visited, they will be forever
associated with species like Avocet, and Marsh Harrier and both
species are fairly common. We will take in any scarce or rare birds and
breeding waders, tern colonies, wildfowl, and passerines fill the days, this
region is home to species that breed nowhere or rarely elsewhere in Britain such
as Woodlark, Dartford Warbler and Stone Curlew on the
Brecks, Golden Oriole at Hockwold Marshes, possibly Montagu’s
Harrier and of course pinging Bearded Tits. At this
time of year the days are long, some pre-breakfast and even post dinner birding
are always possible. Species such as Dotterel, Temminck’s Stint
and Bluethroat may be found at this time of year. Please ask for an
itinerary for full details.
Anser Andalucian Adventure
Suggested dates
23-30 May: (seven nights)
Cost
£799.00 (WWT
members £759.05)
Flights
Can be purchased from £60.00-100.00
Single room supplement
£70.00
Deposit
£200.00
Group size
6-8. SB
This
is a carefully constructed tour of this charming bird paradise staying in three
different places, Ronda, Cadiz and Seville areas for the specialities and
habitats. A huge array of species can be found, too many to name here so why not
study the itinerary to see what to expect on www.anserbirding.com . Target birds include Little
and White-rumped Swift, White-headed
Duck, Marbled Duck, Crested Coot, 5 species of eagle, Black-winged Kite,
Azure-winged Magpie, Red-necked Nightjar,
Black Wheatear, Western Olivaceous Warbler, Western Rufous Bushchat and much
more…..
Suggested dates
3-8 June: (five nights)
Cost
£940.00 (WWT members £893.00)
Flights
Can be purchased from £70-100.00
Single room supplement
£60.00
Deposit
£200.00
Group size
6-7 BB
In
2005, 2006 and 2007 we saw all the main owl species with Great Grey, Ural,
Hawk, Tengmalm’s, Pygmy, Long-eared (not in 06 or 07), Short-eared and
Eagle Owl (not in 06). Other forest/hill dwellers include Three-toed
Woodpecker, Pine Grosbeak, Hazelhen, the beautiful Red-flanked
Bluetail, Siberian Jay, Black and Willow Grouse and Parrot
Crossbill. Greenish and Arctic Warblers were also in the area.
The bays and wetlands of Liminganlahti hold Cranes, Whooper Swans,
Slavonian Grebe and many wildfowl and waders like lekking Ruff, Dunlin,
Spotted Redshank and Wood Sandpiper. The riverine and bog habitats
of Kuusamo hold Rustic and Little Buntings, Jack Snipe, Broad-billed
Sandpiper and Siberian Tit. Other species include Terek Sandpiper,
Caspian Tern, White-tailed Eagle, Common and Velvet Scoter,
Common Rosefinch, thousands of Little Gulls. To fully appreciate
what this trip offers ask for a detailed trip report or view the website for
details.
Iceland
Suggested dates
11-16 June (five nights)
Cost
£999.00 (WWT members £949.05)
Flight
Can be purchased from £140.00-240.00
Single room supplement
£80.00
Deposit
£250.00
Group size
6-8. BB
A
five night six day visit to the Land of Fire and Ice and where certain North
American species can be found breeding in Europe. The scenery is outstanding and
birds are numerous. Target birds include Harlequin Duck, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Great Northern Diver, Gyrfalcon,
and Brunnich’s Guillemot. Other
breeding species are present in vast numbers with waders, wildfowl and seabirds
very much in evidence. See www.anserbirding.com
for full details or request an itinerary.
Suggested dates
27-28 June (one night)
Cost
£229.00(WWT members
£ 217.55)
Single room supplement
£15.00
Deposit
£100.00
Group size
5-11. SB
We
will be looking for Red-billed Chough families playing in the cliff-side
updrafts, close views of Puffins, Razorbills and Guillemots as
well as other cliff nesting species on Skomer Island. Short-eared Owl
also breeds and sometimes hunts the Skomer Vole during the middle part of the
day. Harbour Porpoise and Dolphin are also possible. Many passerines, plants and
insects inhabit the boggy heaths; we have had great views of Grasshopper
Warbler and Whinchat. Orchids, Cotton grass and sundews grow upon the
bog. We shall be visiting the WWT National Wetland Centre of Wales where passage
waders, Mediterranean Gull and Little Egret always feature at this
time of year. Eurasian Spoonbills can often be found. Please see the
website or ask for an itinerary for full details.
The Highlands
Cost
£499.00(WWT
members £474.05)
Single
room supplement
£40.00
Deposit
£150.00
Group
size
5-11 SB
Highland
specialities like Scottish Crossbill, Capercaillie, Crested Tit,
Slavonian Grebe and Osprey are all possible but we shall be
targeting Dotterel, Snow Bunting and Ptarmigan. We shall also be visiting
some of the best sites for insects in the region with dragonflies such as Azure
Hawker, Downy, Brilliant and Northern Emerald, White-faced Darter and Northern
Damselfly and butterfly species to be seen. These areas are also rather good for
divers, Golden Eagle and woodland species. For full
details please ask for an itinerary or view the website.
Watch and Cruise- Gloucestershire with English Holiday Cruises
Dates
8-12 and 15-19 October (four nights)
Cost
from £450 standard
double and £320 partners.
Single room occupants
from £515.00
Deposit
contact English Holiday Cruises
Group size
maximum of 10 per guide. SB
Contact direct
www.englishholidaycruises.co.uk
0845 6017895
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly-
migrants and island hopping
Suggested dates
2-6 or 16-20 October: (four nights)
Cost
£629.00 (WWT members £597.55)
Single room supplement
£40.00
Deposit
£200.00
Group Size
5-7. SB
Migrants
from the east and west can appear at any time. Waders and wildfowl that may be
found on the Hayle Estuary, Marazion Marsh, Davidstowe Airfield, Drift, Crowdy
or Stithians reservoir’s can include American ducks like Black and Ring-necked
Duck as well as Blue-winged Teal. Waders such as Baird’s,
Pectoral or White-rumped Sandpipers are all seen most years. Seabird
passage along the coastline is often much in evidence. The valleys of west
Cornwall are migrant traps and we may find our own rarity. The excitement
of staying on the Isles of Scilly, some hard to find species on the mainland are
often seen well on islands, new species arrive daily, too many to list here.
Icterine, Yellow Browed, Pallas’s and even rarer warblers are
found annually, Short-toed Lark, Red-throated Pipit, Red-breasted Flycatcher,
Common Rosefinch, Rose-coloured Starling, Dotterel, Buff-breasted Sandpiper
and Lapland Bunting are all seen every year. A first visit often provides
a visiting birder with over 20 new species if you have not been before. You can
discover or revisit your favourite island of Bryher, Tresco, St Martin’s, St
Mary’s or St Agnes. The isles benefit from a mild climate, the flora is quite
different to that on the mainland. Tresco has a sub-tropical garden that you can
explore. See the website or ask for an itinerary for details.
Hungary-
the eastern hills, steppe and fishponds
Suggested
dates
28 October to 1 November (four nights)
Cost
£499.00 (WWT members £474.05)
Flight
Can be purchased from £60-90.00
Single
room supplement
£40.00
Group
size
4-14. SB
The
main focus of this tour is to see the spectacular migration of Common
Cranes of which up to 70,000 may occur. We shall watch them during the day
feeding in the fields and see them coming into roost in vast skeins. In addition
to this we shall search for speciality birds like Great
Bustard, Imperial Eagle and Saker
Falcon. Up to eight species of woodpecker occur here including Black,
White-backed, Grey-headed, Middle Spotted and Syrian. Mixed flocks of geese include Greylag, Bean, White-fronted
and Lesser-White-fronted Goose.
The
last of the summer visitors can be seen along with winter migrants. Red-throated Pipit, Lapland Bunting, Stone Curlew, Long legged and
Rough Legged Buzzards, White-tailed Eagle, Penduline Tit, flocks of waders,
herons such as Bittern, Great White Egret and
Night Heron, Pygmy Cormorant and Ferruginous
Duck are just some of the birds that can be seen in the fishponds and
marshes. This is a brilliant trip with a great variety of habitats. You will be
able to view a detailed itinerary on the website or ask for a copy to be mailed
to you.
North Norfolk - wintering and migrant birds
Suggested dates
21-23 November (two nights)
Cost
£299.00 (WWT
members £284.05)
Single room supplement
£20.00
Deposit
£150.00
Group size
4-7. SB
During
our three day trip we will visit a number of sites inland and along the coast. Bewick’s
and Whooper Swans and Pink-footed
and Brent Geese should be seen in
large numbers. Amongst
the ‘Pinks’ there will be smaller numbers of White-fronted
Geese and if we are lucky Snow or Ross’s. Species of duck will be
plentiful and should include Common
Scoter, Eider possibly Long-tailed Duck and Velvet
Scoter. Both Marsh and Hen
Harriers winter along the coast and Merlin,
Barn and Short-eared Owls are
all possible. The Norfolk coastline in winter plays home to several species
of passerine which are perhaps easier to see here than anywhere else in the
country. Twite, Snow
Bunting, Shorelark and Lapland
Bunting are present with large
numbers of arriving Redwing, Fieldfare and Brambling.
Suitable weather can produce Little Auks
and a chance of seeing rarer wintering birds such as Rough-legged Buzzard, Waxwing
or Northern Grey Shrike.
Suggested
date
mid January 2009 (seven nights)
Cost
£799.00 (£759.05)
Single
room supplement
£70.00
Deposit
£200.00
Group
size
5-13. SB
Our
aim is to see around 15 species or
sub-species of geese, we are going to target 100,000 geese in total. All of the
duck species that can be found in Britain in winter should be seen and may
number 100,000 in total. Every effort will also be made to see every sea bird,
wader, raptor and passerine as virtually every bird species will be targeted
including rarities, we hope to find around 165 species on this tour.
We
will be birding some of the best places in Gloucestershire, Lancashire, Cumbria,
Dumfries and Galloway, Islay or Mull, The Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Perthshire,
Fife, Lothian, Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire. Any counties that we pass
through with a good bird or birding site may also be taken in on this route.
Identification
days
Anser
identification workshops aim to help beginner birdwatchers with the basic skills
needed to identify some of the more difficult groups of British birds. During
the year we can offer a series of active day workshops.
Species that can be
covered in 2008 include; Wildfowl, Birds
of prey, Bird Song, Warblers, Waders,
Gulls and terns
as with our holidays, the workshops are held in small groups with a fun
atmosphere and relaxed pace. A full
day identification workshop will cost £35 per person. If you are
interested please contact us for more details. You can meet on site or arrange a
lift with an Anser guide.
Birding
day trips
The day trip/half day
trips are organised to offer the chance to see elusive species and to celebrate
our regional birds and sites. Maybe you have species that you would particularly
like to see or would just like a filled day out, whatever you require we always
try our best to maximise our time in the field. If there are any unusual or out
of place birds nearby we strive to see them to make the day a memorable one. We
appreciate that people love to see new species and are delighted to make this
happen.
During
2008 Anser will also be offering birding day trips to various locations in
Britain. They are intended to
provide you with a fun day, bird-filled day out with our guides in a relaxed
atmosphere. The location chosen will depend on the weather and birds that are
around at the time. We try to keep the travelling time to or from sites to a
minimum, most are between 1-2.5 hours. We
usually leave at 0700 for a normal winter day out and return by 1830. The summer
trips are similar but for forest or migration walks/watches it is best to leave
earlier. Half days are usually around 0800 to 1200, some may leave earlier.
Pick-up
points such as Gloucester Railway/Bus Station, WWT Slimbridge or at Whitminster
(M5 J13) can be arranged depending on which way we are travelling. If you are
en-route then you can suggest a pick up along the way. Car parking is often
arranged at or nearby the pick-up points. Where possible we encourage lift
sharing or even parking at other participant’s houses to minimise the time
involved in collecting everyone and reducing time in the bus. You can find out
about day trips via the website or ask to be kept informed by post. Each day
will cost around £30 per person and will include all travel expenses.
If you would like to be know more then please contact us.
Holidays
for your group
All
of the holidays in this brochure (and many more) are available for your private
group. We are also able to help you
with any ideas you may have for your own holiday. If you are part of a group of
friends who want a relaxing birding holiday without the hassle and worry of
making the arrangements then why not let us do it for you.
We
will organize and lead any holiday for an individual or a group with the same
high standards found on all of our holidays.
We will often be able to offer a discount when booking a holiday as a
group (6 or more). Please feel free
to contact us for a chat if you are interested.
Our
commitment to conservation
As
part of our commitment to conservation we offer a 5% discount on all holidays (except
English Holiday Cruises based holidays) to members of the Wildfowl
& Wetlands Trust.
By
encouraging membership we are helping the largest international wetland
conservation charity in the UK to conserve wetlands and their biodiversity.
By becoming a member you can help WWT to achieve the following:
•
Direct action for threatened wetland birds – by restoring habitats and
undertaking captive breeding programmes.
•
Research – providing the knowledge and information needed for conservation
action.
•
Management of around 2,000 hectares of wetland bird reserves – including 6
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), 5 Special Protection Areas (SPA)
and 5 Ramsar sites.
|
Please
contact us for details of WWT membership.
In
addition we also visit a huge number of nature reserves in Britain and abroad
and actively promote conservation on our travels. We actively advertise the
importance of protecting habitats and wildlife and enthusing about all we
experience to whomever we meet. We regularly visit WWT, RSPB, NNR, LNR and
county based nature reserves in Britain to support and help fund them.
Guide
profiles
As
a self-confessed Gloucestershire addict he counts good migration days in spring
and autumn, the winter spectacle at Slimbridge and the breeding birds of the
Forest of Dean among his most enjoyable birding experiences ever.
Graham
Clarkson
is currently the Marshside RSPB warden upon the Ribble Estuary in
Lancashire. He spent many years working around the UK which included three WWT
centres and over three years or more in the Middle East and Asia involved in
Bustard conservation. Having completed his University degree as a mature student
he has settled back at the reserve he grew up next to as a child. He has watched
birds and wildlife all over the world and is great at sharing his knowledge. He
is married with a son.
Jeremy
Squire
has travelled to Canada, South Africa, Egypt and around much of Europe.
He is based in Scotland at Loch Leven NNR which is one of the finest wetland
sites in Britain. Jeremy has worked for Scottish Natural Heritage since 2001
after initially learning many skills at WWT Slimbridge. He has a particular
interest in breeding birds around the Loch Leven area. His friendly leading
style is very popular and he is always very helpful.
Neil Smart
is an avid and experienced birder who has been a volunteer warden at WWT
Slimbridge since the 1970’s and is fortunate to have shared birding
experiences with the late Sir Peter Scott.
Originally from Bedfordshire, Neil now considers Gloucestershire his
home, where he has spent a happy 30 plus years with his family. Also someone who
is extremely proud of Gloucestershire and has seen most of the best vagrant
birds the county has offered over the years, he rarely misses a thing.
James
Lees is a
reserve/conservation warden at WWT Slimbridge. Having spent time at three
different bird observatories around Britain he counts a year at a bird
observatory in Canada (his wife’s home country) as one of the highlights. He
has travelled across various parts of North America, Europe and also visited
Kenya. Like most Anser guides he is a keen patch watcher. He has a strong
interest in bird-photography and his work is often seen in magazines.
Phil
Shepherd led his first
Anser trip to Pembrokeshire in June 2005 where his passion for this part of his
home country was obvious. His relaxed style and helpful nature makes him a
perfect guide. He is very well travelled with nearly every continent under his
belt. He is married with two children.
Ken
Shaw is a well respected
birder with a particular interest in the birds of his home country of Scotland.
He is a very relaxed and friendly guide with a wealth of knowledge and a very
inquisitive birding nature.
All
of the above guides are good friends and have worked together for many years.
This is a vital aspect as it adds a relaxed and fun atmosphere to the bird
finding holiday. On
some trips we may use leaders not detailed here, however you can rest assured
that all will be first class birdwatchers with the same easy going and flexible
approach as us. Local guides are involved with many of the destinations.
Reservations
Your place on any holiday can initially be reserved by phone or Email. We will reserve your provisional place for up to 10 days
after which your reservation will lapse. A
reservation is confirmed when we receive a completed booking form and a deposit
(for the amount stated in the brochure) from you and you receive a confirmation
letter and invoice from us.
Payments
The balance of the holiday is due no less than 70 days before the departure
date. If the balance is not
received within this time a reminder will be sent and if the balance is then not
received by 60 days before the departure date we reserve the right to cancel the
booking. If holidays are booked
within the 70 days prior to the departure date we require the balance within 7
days of confirmation of your booking.
Cancellation & Refunds
If you would like to cancel your holiday please inform us in writing, signed by
the person who signed the booking form. For
bookings cancelled prior to 70 days before the departure date any payments other
than the deposit will be refunded. If
the booking is cancelled between 70 and 29 days before the departure date 50% of
the holiday price will be refunded and if the booking is cancelled within 28
days of the departure date there will be no refund ( in some cases at the
discretion of the director some form of refund/partial refund may be possible).
Your insurance should cover you in the event of you being unable to travel, see
below. When monies have been paid to cover the land-costs, flights or any other
type of un-refundable expense, or if it is a small number of people in the group
which makes it a financially tenuous situation, it will not be possible to
refund with late notice.
Transfer of bookings
Your booking may be transferred to another holiday, in receipt of a signed
letter signed by the person who signed the original booking form.
This will be treated as a cancellation and then a booking for the new
holiday. Cancellation charges may
apply (see above) and you will have to meet any additional costs incurred by us.
Your booking may also be transferred to another person.
If there is no waiting list for the holiday then it may be a person of
your choice. Any additional costs
incurred by us have to be paid by you.
Cost increases
The costs of our holidays are carefully calculated to provide good value for
money, however for reasons beyond our control unexpected cost increases may
occur. Anser will absorb up to 2%
of the holiday price on any such cost increases but any amount after that will
be passed on to you. If the increase is greater than 10% of the holiday price
you may cancel your booking and receive a full refund.
Tour prices
The cost of our holidays includes all accommodation, transport and fuel, service
of leaders, and in most cases meals on a half board basis. An exact description
of what is included can be forwarded for each holiday. Insurance, visas, drinks
and items of a purely personal nature are not included.
Insurance The costs of our holidays do not include travel insurance. Suitable cover is required to travel with Anser to cover all belongings (full value), cancellation, health and all potential problems. We can arrange insurance (please contact us for details) or you can arrange your own cover. If you arrange your own cover you must provide us with a copy of your insurance certificate no less than 14 days prior to the departure date.
