Dee Estuary with Keith and Linda Offord

Following the successful trip to Anglesey in 2008, Keith and Linda Offord have kindly agreed to lead another birdwatching trip for our group to the Dee Estuary, from Friday 4th to Monday 7th March 2011.

The spectacular Dee Estuary, lying between North Wales and the Wirral is one of the most important international wintering sites for a wide variety of wildfowl and waders. Extensive salt marshes and pools provide ideal feeding grounds and a large part of the area is now owned by the RSPB, including bird-rich scrapes and pools. As well as being a magnet for waders and wildfowl, the Dee is a wintering ground for Peregrine, Merlin, Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl - which can also be seen hunting the vast salt marshes.

Keith Offord is an experienced ornithologist, wildlife photographer, lecturer and leader with a particular interest in raptors. His articles and photographs appear regularly in Bird Watching and Birds Illustrated. Linda is also a zoologist with excellent birdwatching skills and together they run ‘Wild Insights'.

We will be staying at the Mollington Banastre hotel, which is very pleasant and comfortable, and offers excellent cuisine. All rooms are en suite. The price of £345 includes three nights’ meals and accommodation. There is a single supplement of £30 per person for the event.

I have already sent information about this weekend to those who went on the Norfolk trip in 2010. I would be happy to send further details and a booking form to any other local group members who are interesting in coming; please ask me at a group meeting, or send me an email - see contacts page. Please book as soon as possible, since the group size will be limited to a maximum of 20 (plus the two leaders).

Richard Swinbank