Day Trips 2024 - Trips are a great way to improve your knowledge, meet like minded people and learn all important field skills to help you increase your enjoyment of nature. Groups are accompanied by 2 guides, and all trips are fully insured and risk assessed. Prices are based on meeting at site, although free lifts are available from Pontypool (NP4 6RR). We can also help facilitate car sharing. All participants receive full joining instructions including comprehensive directions, and a full trip report including photographs. Trips are for 6 to 12 people and require a minimum of 3 attendees to run (unless otherwise stated).​
Please note: All trips are advertised to run on Saturdays but if the weather is prohibitive then we may switch it to the Sunday of the same weekend. Butterfly trips may also be re-scheduled if emergence of the target species is delayed due to temperature/ weather - this is because we pride ourselves in only running trips when there is a good liklihood of seeing what we set out to see. Exclusive, tailored and trips for groups are also available on request.
Overview of Trips in 2024
>>TRIPS NOW INCLUDE A ZOOM HOSTED ONLINE BRIEFING SESSION FOR 1 HOUR ON THE THURSDAY BEFORE THE TRIP TO COVER THE SPECIES AND IDENTIFICATION FEATURES PRIOR TO THE TRIP<<
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Thursday 11th April - Free talk - Showcasing 2024 Field Trips - 7pm to 8.30pm
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Saturday 18th May - Spring Wildlife - Rodbourgh GL5 5BL and Frampton GL2 7EX
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Saturday 8th June 24 - Discover Colliery Wildlife - Blaenserchan and Garn Lakes, Pontypool NP4 6RP
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Saturday 15th June 24 - Wildlife of Coastal Sandunes - Kenfig, CF33 4PT
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Weekend 22nd/ 23rd June 24 - Wildlife of the North Wales Coastline
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Saturday 29th June 24 - Portland Wildlife, DT5 2JP
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Saturday 6th July 24 - Butterflies of Bentley - Near Sailsbury, SP5 3SA
Saturday 18th May 24 - Spring Wildlife (Rodbourgh GL5 5BL & Frampton GL2 7EX)
with online species familiarisation session via zoom, 7pm to 8pm Thurs 16th May - Full Day, £58pp
At Rodborough Common we’ll look for rare butterflies such as the Duke of Burgandy as well as Green Hairstreak, Small Blue, Brown Argus and Common Blue. After lunch and no doubt an icecream at the local producer we'll drive 20 minutes to our second site Frampton Lakes and if we are lucky and the weather is good, damselflies and dragonflies should be emerging and could attract migrating Hobby to add to a range of other bird species locally. The 1 hour familiarisation session on the Thursday before will cover the main features of the species we'll be looking for on the day to help you feel confident in identification. Walking will be relatively flat with a few undulating areas and slopes mainly at Rodborough.
By Clicking "Buy Now" you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions which can be found HERE
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Saturday 8th June 24 - Discover Colliery Wildlife (Blaenserchan and Garn Lakes, meeting NP4 6RP)
with familiarisation session via zoom, 7pm to 8pm Thurs 6th June. - Full Day, £42pp
On the day we'll look for a wide range of nesting bird species including stonechats and the possibility of Redstarts. With frequent reminders of the site's past, Blaenserchan has many micro habitats created by spoil and broken bricks providing places for a diverse range of butterflies including fritillaries, skippers, slow worms and orchids. At Garn Lakes we will focus our attention to damsel and dragonflies with a possibility of Emperor and Keeled Skimmer and hopefully find birds such as Whinchat. At both sites the walk will be slow paced with some uneven tracks but generally easy walking. The online familiarisation session the Thursday before will outline the wide range of species we may see with their distinguishing features.
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By Clicking "Buy Now" you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions which can be found HERE
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Saturday 15th June 24 - Wildlife of Coastal Sandunes (Kenfig, CF33 4PT)
with online species familiarisation session via zoom, 7pm to 8pm Thurs 13th June - Full Day, £58pp
On this walk we will look for the orchids, butterflies, dragonflies, birds and a range of other dune flora and fauna as we take a leisurely walk through the extensive sand dune system. Although we’ll be looking for interesting birds, which Kenfig is famous for, it’s the orchids and butterflies that will be the primary focus. We should find Early Marsh Orchid and Marsh Helleborine, Fragrant Orchid and the star of the show, the diminutive Fen Orchid. Butterflies will include commoner species including Common Blue, but we hope to find Britains smallest species, the Small Blue and the stunning Dark Green Fritillary. The 1 hour familiarisation session on the Thursday before will cover the species we'll be looking for on the day. Walking will be on established paths but may be undulating and wearing away in places with explosed tree roots. The walk will be relatively long but at slow pace.
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By Clicking "Buy Now" you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions which can be found HERE
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Weekend 22nd/ 23rd June 24 - Wildlife of the North Wales Coastline
Two Full Days plus online intro session on Thurs 20th June, for £120 pp ex travel & accomodation
We’ll base ourselves close to the Great Orme and travel east and west in search of coastal birds. We’ll use the best of the weather to look for the endemic subspecies of Silver-studded Blue and Grayling butterflies, found nowhere else in the world outside of North Wales! To the east, we’ll try and find Little Terns at their only Welsh colony, to the west we’ll head to RSPB Conwy for a range of Terns and other birds. If time permits we’ll finish off on Anglesey to look for Auks, including everyones favourite the Puffins, and other seabirds, such as Gannet and Fulmar.
**This trip will only run if we have 4 people registered. Please register your interest with us and we will give you details of how to book once we have sufficient interest.**
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Saturday 29th June 24 - Portland & Weymouth Wildlife (DT5 2JP & DT4 7TZ)
with online species familiarisation session via zoom, 7pm to 8pm Thurs 27th June - Full Day, £58pp
On Portland we’ll head to the quarries to look for Wall Lizards and the amazing array of butterflies. The endemic Portland subspecies of Silver-studded Blue will be the main target, along with Small Blue, Adonis Blue and Lulworth Skipper. We’ll hope for some late migrant birds, but also head to Radipole Lake, Weymouth in search of birds such as Bearded Tit.
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By Clicking "Buy Now" you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions which can be found HERE
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Saturday 6th July 24 - Butterflies of Bentley (Near Sailsbury, SP5 3SA)
with online species familiarisation session via zoom, 7pm to 8pm Thurs 4th July - Full Day, £58pp
This woodland site is famous for its butterfly diversity. White Admiral can be found fairly easily and both White-letter and Purple Hairstreak are possible. We may get lucky and find a Purple Emperor, but these can be elusive at this site. There will be woodland birds to look for as well as orchids, such as Broad-leaved Helleborine.
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By Clicking "Buy Now" you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions which can be found HERE
Every trip recieves a comprehensive Trip Report including photos from your actual trip. See our example report here;
PENNY, CARDIFF
Very knowledgeable & experienced field trip leaders - we saw our first Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies within 10 minutes of leaving the car park! Would highly recommend the field trips organised by Speckled Wood Wildlife.
