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WildWings, 577 Fishponds Road, Fishponds, Bristol. BS16 3AF.UK
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Wild Insights offers a range of activities aimed at enjoying birds and other wildlife in the UK and selected overseas destinations. Increasingly popular are a series of workshops on specific groups of birds, for those wishing to improve their identification skills.
I run all the UK courses and workshops while Linda co-leads all the tours with me. It is a formula which is tried and tested and works well. Both of us are zoologists, experienced birdwatchers and most importantly really enjoy what we do – sharing the enjoyment of watching birds and other wildlife with like-minded people. For more information on what I do take a look at www.keithofford.co.uk.
Our approach has always been to take time watching birds and other wildlife, rather than rushing to satisfy some quantitative target. The response to our events since the inception of Wild insights in 2004 is the best indication that we are by no means alone in this view, and it will continue to be our ethos.
2007 has been another sell-out year with all our overseas tours fully subscribed and the trend seem set to continue through 2008 and 2009 so the trick is to get your name down as soon as you can. As long as the date has been decided, advanced bookings can be taken. If a trip appears to be full, we recommend you put your name down anyway – a place may come up, and if not, you get first call the next time we run the tour. The fact that Wild insights events seem to fill up so quickly may be frustrating but there are some advantages: You have the confidence that cancellation through lack of interest is extremely unlikely; we can secure the best flights and the best accommodation; instead of wasting money on advertising and paying for cancelled tours we are able to provide you with the best possible package for your money.
As usual there is a fabulous catalogue of experiences which we are able to look back on over the last twelve months both from trips abroad and activities in the UK, many of which will increasingly appear on the website.
The 2008 programme was presented in brief at the back of the last calendar and you were once again quick to respond. In addition to a number of familiar tour destinations we are looking forward to running our first tour to Costa Rica. Due to its immediate popularity, this is one we will be doing regularly.
Looking ahead, and in response to popular demand, we announced our 2009 overseas programme at Christmas last year. It features another enticing blend of tours to Holland, Costa Rica, Morocco, Namibia, Bulgaria and Northern India plus a new destination – Estonia – a great little country from which we have just returned. We will of course be working on further new destinations for future programmes. Back in the UK, the popular workshop programme will be expanded - in addition to Raptors, Waders and Wildfowl, it will include a new topic - the ever-tantalising “Little Brown Jobs”.
We are grateful for your continuing support and look forward to seeing you soon.
Keith & Linda Offord
Wild Insights overseas tours offer the following:
• Unrushed appreciation of birds and other wildlife with time to relax.
• Fully researched destinations.
• Carefully designed programmes providing the best chances of seeing a wide range of
species.
• Efficient pre-holiday service through the dedicated, experienced Wildwings team in Bristol.
• The best possible flight connections – the most civilised times with minimum changes.
• Quality accommodation with private facilities, chosen with care.
• Comfortable ground transport.
• Maximum ratio 7 participants to 1 leader.
• Friendly, experienced leaders with first-hand knowledge of each destination.
• Excellent value for money.
Our advance Wild Insights 2009 programme and detailed itineraries of the 2008 tours can be found at www.wildinsights.co.uk or by contacting WildWings. You may advance register for any of these by paying a refundable £50 deposit.
Wild Insights also offers a comprehensive programme of UK courses and workshops. Further details and information can be found on the fully updated Wild Insights website (see above) and in the new 2008 Wild Insights Calendar. For a copy please telephone 01691 718740 or e-mail keith.offord@virgin.net.
WILD INSIGHTS CALENDAR
| 2008 | |
| Wader & Wildfowl Workshop - Essex | 21 – 25 January |
| Costa Rica New! | 9 -24 February |
| Getting to Grips with Raptors - Mid Wales | 17 – 20 March |
| Texas | 5 – 20 April |
| Peak Birds - Derbyshire | 28 April – 2 May |
| Spanish Pyrenees | 17 – 24 May |
| Lakeland Birds - Higham Hall | 8 – 13 June |
| Namibia | 9 – 25 July |
| Andalucia | 6 – 13 Sept |
| Wildlife through the Camera - Higham Hall | 22 – 24 Sept |
| Beginners’ Birdwatching- Higham Hall | 13 – 15 October |
| Western Cape | 25 Oct – 9 Nov |
| Getting to Grips with Raptors - Mid Wales | 8 – 11 December |
| Winter Birds Higham Hall | 15 – 18 December |
| 2009 | |
| Holland | 17 – 24 January |
| Costa Rica | Please note date change 7 - 22 February |
| Getting to Grips with Raptors - Mid Wales | 16 - 19 March |
| Getting to Grips with Raptors - Mid Wales | 23 - 26 March |
| Southern Morocco | Please note date extension 8 - 19 April |
| “LBJ” Workshop - Essex New! | 27 April – 1 May |
| Estonia New! | 16– 23 May |
| Peak Birds - Derbyshire | 26 – 29 May |
| Lakeland Birds - Higham Hall | 7 - 12 June |
| Northern Namibia | 29 July – 13August |
| Bulgaria | 12 – 19 September |
| Beginners’ Birdwatching - Higham Hall | 5 -7 October |
| Wildlife through the Camera Higham Hall | 7 - 9 October |
| Western Cape | 24 – Oct - 8 Nov |
| Wader & Wildfowl Workshop - Essex | 16 - 20 Nov |
| Northern India | 28 Nov – 12 Dec |
| Winter Birds Higham Hall | 15 - 18 December |
| 2010 |
Not bookable until 15/1/2008 |
| Costa Rica | 29 Jan – 14 Feb |
| Morocco | 27 March – 10 April |
| Pyrenees | 15 – 22 & 22 – 29 May |
| Iceland NEW! | 26 June – 3 July |
| Andalucia | 11 – 18 September |
| Western Cape | 16 – 30 October |
| Florida | 29 Nov – 11 December |
